Tsunami Digital Sound Decoder Features


Specifications
    TSU-1000
    TSU-750

Documentation
Sound Samples
PTB-100
Price List
DCC Home

New Sounds
To take advantage of Tsunami’s increased sample rate and dynamic range, all sound effects have been re-mastered and re-digitized for the best audio possible. Some of the many new sound effects added to the Tsunami repertoire include:

Multiple Horns and Whistles- Each Tsunami includes several horn and whistle selections within each model making it easier to select the right sound of your favorite model. For example, the Southern Pacific 4449 will have an air horn too! Diesel Tsunamis include up to 16 airhorns in each model!

Short Whistle (or Horn) - To supplement the primary whistle, a short whistle control has been added to produce a short, snappy toot needed for many common whistle signals.

Dynamo (steam) - The dynamo sound effect has been improved to include the sound of the turbine windup when it is first turned on.

Brake Squeal - This effect has been added to both steam and diesel models and may be activated manually using a function key or automatically when the engine is slowed to a stop.

Water Stop (steam) - The water stop effect can be activated with a function key whenever the engine is stopped and begins with the sound of the tender hatch being opened followed by the sound of water filling the tender.

In all, there are over 22 steam sound effects including the bell, air pump, exhaust chuff, coupler, steam release, cylinder cocks, snifter valves, brake release, side rod clank, Johnson bar/power reverse, blower, injector, pop valve and Fireman Fred. Diesel versions include engine startup, engine shutdown, dynamic brakes, poppet valve, aircompressor, radiator fans, bell and more.

Back to Top of Page

More Functions = More Fun!
To help control all these sounds, Tsunami will respond to up to 14 function keys. Function assignments are similar to the SoundTraxx LC decoder series in order to maintain consistency across product lines. Of course, Tsunami’s function mapping feature can always be used to change the control configuration to suit one’s personal taste.

Sound Effect Processor
Tsunami has four built-in sound effects that allow the individual sounds (i.e., whistle, bell, etc.) to be modified in a particular manner. Each effect is fully adjustable using the decoder’s CV settings and each effect can be turned on or off as desired.

Mixer
Tsunami’s new mixer design incorporates several new innovations. To begin with, there are 24 individual volume settings allowing each sound effect level to be independently adjusted. A master volume control has also been added so that the overall audio level can be easily changed with a single CV. Finally, the mute function has been improved to provide a more pleasing fade-off/fade-on effect

Playable Whistle
Owners of Digitrax DT-400 or NCE's latest code update will be able to 'play' the whistle like never before! 

Dynamic Digital Exhaust Processor (DDE) (steam)
The DDE processor has been greatly improved over the earlier DSD-150 design, sensing changes in the throttle setting, and automatically adjusting the timbre, volume and other parameters of the exhaust sound to simulate what would be heard from a prototype locomotive under similar conditions.

Reverb
A digital reverb has been included in the Tsunami system to add “spatial presence” to selected sound effects. By adjusting the reverb level and delay time, the user can simulate multiple prime movers for example, or the effect of operating in hilly terrain.

Multi-Band Equalizer
Each Tsunami sound system incorporates a multi-band equalizer similar to the “graphic” equalizer found on many of today’s home and automotive stereo systems. Tsunami’s equalizer allows the user to cut and boost sound levels by +/- 12dB over seven selected frequency ranges (62Hz, 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 1KHz, 2KHz and 4KHz) and provides the “ultimate” tone control.

Using the equalizer, the user can easily compensate for deficiencies in the speaker installation to produce a flatter and overall, a more accurate frequency response. Similarly, the equalizer can be used to match the sound system’s response to that of the speaker. Consider a typical 12mm speaker. Limited by the laws of physics, this speaker will produce very little bass no matter how big a signal is sent to it. If the low frequencies are too great, the speaker will distort and eventually burn out. In such an instance, the equalizer can be used to lower the bass levels resulting in a clearer and more satisfying sound as well as a longer speaker life.

Back to Top of Page

Hyperdrive Motion Control System
No, the Hyperdrive will not transport you to the next galaxy but it will make your locomotive run better! Tsunami’s motion controller incorporates all of the most advanced motor control features found in the DCC marketplace today plus a few new ones:

High Resolution Speed Steps
While most decoders today can support 127 speed steps, Tsunami has 2048 speed steps! Admittedly, there are no DCC systems on the market as yet supporting this many speed steps; however, Tsunami interpolates between speed steps during acceleration and braking and as part of its load compensation algorithm. The result is micro-fine speed control regardless of the speed step mode selected on the DCC system.

High Frequency PWM Drive
Virtually all DCC decoders used a form of PWM (Pulse-Width-Modulation) to control motor speed, At low frequencies, the PWM signal used to control the motor speed can result in an audible hum or buzz, especially in brass locomotives. To mitigate this problem, Tsunami uses an ultra-sonic PWM frequency adjustable to 39KHz, well beyond the range of human hearing and safe for coreless motors as well.

Speed Curves
Like all other SoundTraxx decoders, Tsunami provides a user-customizable speed table and an adjustment for starting voltage as well as 14 preset speed curves.

Adjustable Momentum
The acceleration and braking rates are independently adjustable and can be used to simulate the momentum of a heavy train. Additionally, in the event of a sudden direction change, Tsunami will first slow the motor to a full stop before changing directions and then accelerate back to the original speed.

Back to Top of Page

Hyperlight Lighting System
Tsunami TSU-1000 provides four function outputs for controlling lights. The Micro-Tsunami TSU-750 provides two function outputs for controlling lights. Each output can be independently set to any of SoundTraxx’s 14 different Hyperlight lighting effects including the on-off headlight, dimmable headlight, mars light and firebox flicker. Tsunami also has new effect for steam locomotives called the “Dyno-Light” which synchronizes the lamp brightness to the “output” of the dynamo such that the lamp brightness gradually increases as the dynamo builds up speed.

Another new feature added to the Hyperlight system is LED Brightness Correction. An LED exhibits a much different output response than an incandescent bulb. As a result, LEDs were historically not recommended for use with the lighting effects, as they tended to be over-bright and a bit lifeless. Tsunami now provides a control mode that corrects for the output differences resulting in a more eye-popping effect regardless of which type of light is used.

And of course Tsunami also includes the other the lighting features found on previous generations of SoundTraxx products such as choice of directional or Rule 17 lighting control, Grade crossing timers and an adjustable flash rate.