Tsunami Digital Sound Decoders

Tsu ·na ·mi (tsoo-nä´-me) n. A huge wave of sound caused by SoundTraxx’s top-of-the-line, slightly unpronounceable product!

The Tsunami™ sound system is SoundTraxx’s high-performance, onboard locomotive sound system. Tsunami Digital Sound Decoders integrate a full-featured sound system, Hyperlight lighting effects, a motor controller and a DCC decoder into a single, integrated package and is compatible with the NMRA DCC standards and Recommended Practices. While Tsunami is first and foremost a premium DCC sound decoder, it is also capable of operating on a DC, or 'analog' layout. Take your prized locomotive to visit a layout running with a conventional powerpack!

Tsunami Digital Sound Decoders are designed for installation inside your locomotive and come in a variety of sizes to suit all scales. Tsunami Digital Sound Decoders are available in both Steam and Diesel versions, each featuring a full spectrum of prototype-specific sound effects.

At Tsunami’s core is a true 16-bit Digital Signal Processor, or DSP, capable of executing over 120 million instructions per second. With this new level of performance, SoundTraxx was able to give Tsunami 14 functions, over 22 individual sounds, and 4 special effects. The motor controller received numerous enhancements as well, including the use of high frequency PWM and load compensation. To keep the size down, only components available in highly miniaturized packages were selected for use in the Tsunami resulting in smaller form factors – and in some case, the smallest form factor available!

Real Locomotive Sounds

Tsunami's sounds are recorded by our sound engineers from real locomotives. Digital recordings from the actual prototypes, sometimes requiring travel to faraway places, are used to faithfully reproduce these sounds for you to enjoy in your favorite models!

Imagine, seeing and hearing your trains as they approach...as you come around the bend, signal the brakeman with a long blast, then three short toots. The brakes squeal as you slow down and come through this tight curve. At the yard limits, signal again, then ring the bell to clear the tracks as you enter the station. The airpumps pound out a steady beat as you come to a stop... whump! whump! whump! Let off some steam and open the injector valve while your passengers disembark. Your ears won’t believe these are just models!

Steam Sound Effects

Tsunami Steam decoders can produce as many as 24 sound effects, including the bell, whistle, airpump, dynamo, snifter valve, injectors, firebox blower, side rod clank, brake squeal, exhaust chuff and more. Pull up to the water tank and activate the Water Stop effect! Fireman Fred has a few new things up his sleeve as well, as he works to keep the locomotive in prime operating condition. - You can even customize how often you will hear Fred and his associated effects. The Auto-Exhaust™ feature may be set to accommodate different drive wheel sizes, and the cadence adjusted to correspond to a 2-cylinder, articulated or geared locomotive, or optionally use a cam for the perfect chuff.

Diesel Sound Effects!

Each Tsunami Diesel decoder includes over 14 digital sound effects for multiple airhorns, engine exhaust, bell, dynamic brakes, radiator fans and more. The engine exhaust notches up or down automatically in response to the throttle! The engine RPMs can be also be controlled independent of the throttle setting. Imagine a heavy freight lumbering up a stiff grade with the diesels thundering at notch 8!

Everything You Need, Nothing You Don’t!

Unlike many Digital Sound Decoders, we’ve built all the sound effects that are fun, necessary and prototypical into each Tsunami, without the need for special hardware, software or programming skills. You don’t have to be an electronics wizard, and you can select the sounds you want and adjust each decoder to suit your personal preferences without purchasing some special programmer at additional cost to you.

Tsunami Features
Tsuanmi Quick Reference Chart
Tsunami Sound Samples
Tsunami TSU-BW1000
Tsunami TSU-1000
Tsunami TSU-750
Tsunami TSU-AT1000
Tsunami TSU-GN1000
Retail Price List