58. Speakers, don't make your next installation a dud pt 2

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

I really enjoyed this! I just watched both Videos. As a Retired Sound Engineer and Audiophile, I found that to be an excellent way to teach People who might not have a grasp on the concept of Sound production. "Sugar Cube" Speakers have almost been a revolution in the sound portion of the Hobby! Their Sound output vs. Size is unmatched. There's one thing about Sugar Cubes that about 90% of the People don't realize.... They're not actually "speakers", but Transducers. Unlike a typical Speaker, they don't actually move any real volume of air... Instead, they create vibrations in the surrounding environment, that are part of producing Sound. That's why Phone Manufacturers spend tons of money for elaborate, and strange shaped, enclosures! The entire Enclosure is producing Sound. Even the little Boxes for our use, is responsible for more than half of the total Sound! IF you want to try a little experiment, take any one of your Sugar Cubes, and firmly attach it to a 2' x 2' piece of 3/8"-1/2" Plywood.... See if you can tell the "slight" difference in Sound. 😉 Another thing that MRR Manufacturers know, but is not cost effective to use.... WOOD. Wood Enclosures produce the richest, deepest Sound. Of course it's completely impractical to have large Wood Boxes. They won't fit anywhere!! When I set up my Locomotives with Sugar Cubes, if there's room, I'll glue a strip of 1/16" Plywood to the inside of the Roof, then glue the Cube to the Wood. Granted at that scale, the Sound difference isn't dramatic... But you can tell that the frequency response is a bit wider, and the Bass, just a bit sharper. Maybe it's just my Ears, but it IS richer by some measurable degree. Of course you can take it or leave it. I just wanted to share a little out of the Hobby knowledge! 😉 Carmine ✈🚂🚙

[@TheDCCGuy]

Very interesting about the actual way they generate sound, I’ve never heard or read that anywhere. Maybe that explains why the volume is so much louder and richer once the body is on the model. I have seen at least one KZbin video by a fellow who glues little balsa enclosures together-there may be a video comparison in that!

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

Balsa is too soft... It will end up sounding muffled. But with Hobby Plywood, you might be on to something! Sadly, information like that doesn't get spread around these days... Not sensational enough, and can't be explained in short bytes. 😖😞 The nature of what the World has become. There WAS a guy on Evilbay, selling Sugar Cube Plywood Speaker Enclosures. That was about 7 years ago though.

[@joeraderblackrockcentralrr]

Found your channel last night and all I can say is WOW. Very well done and informative. Going back and watching your earlier videos. Thank you for taking the time to explain all thats involved in DCC

[@TheDCCGuy]

Hope you enjoy them. Some of the videos older than about a year were done when I was first experimenting with different cameras and microphones, etc. and are not very good as far as sound and camera presence but I‘ve left them up until I have a chance to reshoot. It takes a while to figure this stuff out if you don’t have training in video and audio production, and even longer to feel comfortable talking to a camera. It keeps getting easier the more I do.

[@chuckgilly]

Hi there, I couldn't find a follow up video on the iPhone 4 speaker, I first heard about them about a year ago. I have since bought a few different iPhone speakers for testing (4,5,6,7 and 8), in the end the iPhone 4 speaker won out, I'm sold on these speakers. Not long ago I installed a iPhone 4 speaker in my Overland Santa Fe Zebra Alco HH-1000 along with a Tsunami 2 decoder and Current Keeper, I just love it. I have a Overland Santa Fe FP45 (as delivered) on the bench, I Glued (epoxy) 4 iPhone 4 speakers together wired in series/parallel back to 8 ohms, monster sound. Sorry Model Train Dealers, The Cat is out of the bag, even though the iPhone 4 speaker is still hush hush, it won't be for long. I bought 50 or so of them at $1 -$2 each.

[@keithiritsky1426]

How can you lower the master volume and not have the sound come out of the speakers while the loco is on the track while programming the decoder? As soon as you place the engine on the track would sound start up?

[@TheDCCGuy]

It depends on the decoder type. Some require a power reset to activate changes whereas others will change immediately if you use programming on the main.

[@sscalercourtney5486]

Great technical info, but nothing on how to wire them into you DCC locomotive.

[@TheDCCGuy]

There are a number of other videos on this channel showing how to install decoders and yes speakers. You just have to take a little time to watch them too. Also video 91 shows how to wire sugar cube speakers specifically.

[@TractorMonkeywithJL]

Hi, I know this is off topic, but I have a Jmri question for you. I built a PanelPro layout panel for switching. I just noticed that when I try and start DecoderPro to use the on screen throttle, I cannot start PanelPro at the same time. I get a com port 3 already in use error. Is there a way to have both running at the same time? I use an Nce power cab. Is it possible is assign more than one com port? My goal is to have my layout switching on the screen with the throttle panel on screen over to the side and use both together. Thanks for any advice.

[@TractorMonkeywithJL]

Never mind. lol. I just noticed there is a throttle option under tools in PanelPro. I can delete this if you want or you can. Sorry.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Let’s leave it in case someone else runs into this question.