Model Railroading > Resetting a LokSound Decoder to Factory Settings - YUCK!

I was poking around on a LokSound 5 decoder, and got some of the logic messed-up for a Function Key.  I couldn't remember what I had changed to cause that issue.  No problem.  I would just reset the decoder to "Original Factory Settings".  Change the value of CV8 to 8.  Save.  Done.

In my mind, I had purchased it from ScaleTrains, so It was going to reset to the settings from the ScaleTrains factory.  NOPE!  The only lighting function that worked was the headlight.  The sound was scratchy and loud, and sounded HORRIBLE!!  Clearly, this was NOT what this Tunnel Motor sounded like when it came out of the box.  After a bit of head-scratching, it dawned on me.  Wrong factory.  It reset to the settings when it left the ESU factory.  DHOoooo!!

Of course, I had NOT saved-off a snapshot of the decoder's settings (like I should have done) prior to poking at it.  Luckily, I had a similar Tunnel Motor and copied its decoder's setting to the decoder I had whacked.  That did the trick. 

NOTE TO SELF:
Always make a copy of the decoder's settings BEFORE making any changes.

Both LokProgrammer (ESU) and Decoder Pro (JMRI) can make a snapshot of a decoder.  Give the file name the engine number, with a date and time stamp, such as:
     SP 8556 - Original - Feb 24, 2025

Those that have been programming decoders, you are smiling as a confirmation of my Rookie Error.  :-D

For those that are new to programming decoders (like me), think of it as the nuclear option.  You NEVER want to have to use it.  It will create more problems than it solves.  :-O 
If the decoder's firmware is corrupt and it's behavior is just absolutely lame, fine.  Nuke it.  Then copy-in a known, good snapshot afterwards.

This experience gave me a greater appreciation of the work ScaleTrains put into programming the decoder.  When all I have to do is unbox and run it on the layout, it is easy to take for granted the amount of fine-tuning involved.

Dave



Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/25 01:05 by tmotor.

Scaletrains has all of their sound (and non-sound) images for ESU decoders available to download on their website. No need to "reset" - just "reprogram" :)

They even update their images from time to time. I had already downloaded "newer ones than stock images" but as i was replacing the stock speakers with Scalesoundsystems ones i rechecked again, and "tadaa" there were again newer revisions of these files available.
Btw. my stock SP SD40T-2 from the first run definitely sounded different than with one of the later images (so i kept one unit stock and the others got newer versions). And yes, they have different images for different Releases or some roadnumbers (probably horns and ditch-lights ...).

For SP #8556 the corresponding (latest) images are located here (far down the page, under "Product Support").

https://www.scaletrains.com/rivet-counter-ho-scale-emd-sd40t-2-southern-pacific-roman-lettering-lobotomized.html

Btw. i was not aware that it is possible to "snapshot" ESU sound-images ... i always thought that only the "config" got backupped - not the soundfiles. Need to try that !

Christian

I don't think you can copy/backup the soundfile itself directly from the decoder/loco, only the settings.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/25 06:07 by tehachapifan.

You can not download and copy a sound file from one ESU decoder to another, but you can save your CV settings as a template and apply it to a downloaded soundfile from ESU or STX with your Lok Programmer.

tehachapifan, correct, only the settings. I wish I could grab the sounds from the decoder. In fact, you can't even sound the content from the decoder from within the software, you have to have the installed sound files, then you can also listen to the sound via the ESU software. 

Mike ONeill
Parker, CO

The stock files in the three 645 ST locomotives I dealt with had a nasty sound that turned out to be an air compressor sound that had some sort of ultra prototype logic to it. I was able to dig it out of the sound file at the time and set the volume to zero for that sound, everything worked great after that. I notice when I first enable sound it's still there but quickly drops out so the logic is still active.

Maybe a nice idea for some but doesn't represent what I remember the road locomotives sounding like. Fortunately it was a simple fix. The sample sound files from the ESU site don't have the compressor sound so it was a hide and seek project.

Probably ruined somebodies pet project at ESU. Kinda obtuse but an example of why it's a good idea to look into the tables and logic.

+ should add they sound really good now.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/25 09:10 by TCnR.

Greetings Christian! > Scaletrains has all of their sound (and non-sound) images for ESU decoders available to download on their website. No need to "reset" - just "reprogram" :)
EXCELLENT!!  :-DThanks for the Pro Tip.I was not aware those files were available.

> They even update their images from time to time. I had already downloaded "newer ones than stock images" but as i was replacing the stock speakers with > Scalesoundsystems ones i rechecked again, and "tadaa" there were again newer revisions of these files available.
Updates!  NICE!! >Btw. my stock SP SD40T-2 from the first run definitely sounded different than with one of the later images (so i kept one unit stock and the others got newer > versions). And yes, they have different images for different Releases or some roadnumbers (probably horns and ditch-lights ...).
PERFECT!
> For SP #8556 the corresponding (latest) images are located here (far down the page, under "Product Support").
> https://www.scaletrains.com/rivet-counter-ho-scale-emd-sd40t-2-southern-pacific-roman-lettering-lobotomized.html
Thanks for sharing the link.They sorta' buried the link at the bottom of the page, on a expandable tab.

> Btw. i was not aware that it is possible to "snapshot" ESU sound-images ... > i always thought that only the "config" got backupped - not the soundfiles. Need to try that !
It worked for me, but the Restore went faster than I expected.  (I had heard the Sound Files were huge, and would take a lot of time to load.)  It is possible the Reset didn't affect the Sound Files?  Not sure.  The only way to test it is to have a "blank" LokSound decoder (one that did not come pre-loaded with Sound Files) and perform Restore from another decoder that has sound.  (The only LokSound decoders I have came in ScaleTrains locomotives.)  Take care and God bless!Dave
 

Greetings tehachapifan!

> I don't think you can copy/backup the soundfile
> itself directly from the decoder/loco, only the
> settings.
Based on how quickly the Restore went, I suspect you are correct.
However, the sound was back to what I expected after the Restore, so perhaps the Sound Files were not clobbered when I did the Reset.  (CV8 = 8)

Take care and God bless!
Dave

Greetings M-636!

> You can not download and copy a sound file from
> one ESU decoder to another, but you can save your
> CV settings as a template and apply it to a
> downloaded soundfile from ESU or STX with your Lok
> Programmer.
Thanks for the confirmation.
I suspect the original Sound Files were not affected by the Reset.

Take care and God bless!
Dave

Greetings Mike!

> tehachapifan, correct, only the settings. I wish I
> could grab the sounds from the decoder.
That would be much more convenient!

> In fact,
> you can't even sound the content from the decoder
> from within the software, you have to have the
> installed sound files, then you can also listen to
> the sound via the ESU software. 
That is unfortunate.
Thanks for sharing the work-around.

Take care and God bless!
Dave



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/25/25 18:28 by tmotor.

Greetings TCnR!

> The stock files in the three 645 ST locomotives I
> dealt with had a nasty sound that turned out to be
> an air compressor sound that had some sort of
> ultra prototype logic to it. I was able to dig it
> out of the sound file at the time and set the
> volume to zero for that sound, everything worked
> great after that. I notice when I first enable
> sound it's still there but quickly drops out so
> the logic is still active.
Yikes! 
Nice to know LokSound has the ability to zero-in on a specific facet of the sound being generated.

> Maybe a nice idea for some but doesn't represent
> what I remember the road locomotives sounding
> like. Fortunately it was a simple fix. The sample
> sound files from the ESU site don't have the
> compressor sound so it was a hide and seek
> project.
Sounds like they fixed it, but now I know what to listen for.

> Probably ruined somebodies pet project at ESU.
> Kinda obtuse but an example of why it's a good
> idea to look into the tables and logic.
I'm cautiously trying to do just that with the Function Mapping and associated logic.  It is not as simple as I thought to see what ScaleTrains did.

> + should add they sound really good now.
Excellent!
The reward of all your effort to fine-tune them.  I am inspired.  :-D

Take care and God bless!
Dave

 

There is a Loksound discussion group at Groups dot io.

they get into some pretty heavy details in their discussions but also answer questions when people are trying to learn or are having well described problems. They have a format with a searchable database which is how I ran across a number of contributing factors. This TO post has some interesting ideas as well, nothing beats experience. hope this helps:

https://groups.io/g/Loksound/topics

 

Greetings TCnR!

> There is a Loksound discussion group at Groups dot
> io.
Thanks for sharing the link.  :-D

> they get into some pretty heavy details in their
> discussions but also answer questions when people
> are trying to learn or are having well described
> problems. They have a format with a searchable
> database which is how I ran across a number of
> contributing factors. This TO post has some
> interesting ideas as well, nothing beats
> experience. hope this helps:
It has helped.
I was able to search for some past posts for rookie questions I have concerning Output Terminals.
I'm sure it will be an invaluable resource when I start to play with sound files in the future.

Take care and God bless!
Dave