ESU How-To: Getting started/Writing and editing files with the ESU LokProgrammer

Welcome to a walk-though video on how to install the ESU programmer and download, write and, modify an ESU file with the Loksound Programmer. This is a fairly quick run though of how to install the program and download files onto your computer as well as how to write the files and make changes to setting to the decoder. I plan to do more specific and in-depth videos later on. This video will get you though the basics and will show you around the programmer and what all the tabs are.
If you have any notes for future video please put them below and I will try to work them into future videos when I get to them.
Hope you all enjoy!
Brakeman17 Custom Models
Shane Mason
Email: [e-mail]
MY TRAIN GUYS
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[@WestCoastRails]

Thank You very much for the info and tips. Always appreciate any new info on Lok decoders.

[@drbbhiggins]

Great video, easy to follow.

[@oldtown6240]

Nicely done!

[@realmagicjon]

That was awesome,thanks a lot.Jon.

[@espinozajos]

Very well done, thank you!

[@MO-Kan_Northern.AndrewCountyRR]

Nice video. Thanks for sharing.

[@ESUDCC]

Great Video Shane!

[@thebrakeman17]

ESUDCC thanks. I appreciate it!

[@TMandN]

Informative, thanks!

[@rickfletcher2599]

Hi Shane - thanks for your videos on the Loksound V4. Along with the ESU ones, they are a big help. I would like to add my request to another who has commented about custom sound files for these decoders. I would certainly like to see how you go about building your own sound files. I am in Australia and so many of our locos and rail-motors are not represented in the ESU master files. At present I am trying to create a file for a Detroit 6-71 diesel from some wav files I have on that motor. Thanks for the work you have put into the videos you have done, much appreciated - Regards, Rick.

[@thebrakeman17]

I will try to do a video about building a file. I do t do much of the looped audio. Most of mine are straight through radio recordings but it will show you through the basics.

[@padhyemihir]

Hi. Thanks for the detailed video. I have exactly the same setup and I tried to upload the ESU project 54823 onto a LSv4micro. Somehow the sound file is not getting written. I tried the same thing on another LSv4 micro decoder which came prefilled with another esu project which was working fine and then tried loading another esu project (along with sound). Same thing .. sound profile did not get uploaded. The LP version is latest, decoder firmware is latest. It would be great if you can give me some pointers.

[@simoncook4070]

hi I have a smoke unit and want to use aux1 and function 15 can you show me how it is done as I am using a loksound 3.5 sound decoder and what I have to do to install it on the decoder thanks

[@girotek]

Thanks for a great video Shane, any videos how to write your recorded custom sound to decoder?.

[@thebrakeman17]

girotek I will start working on that one next here very soon.

[@williammabbott2914]

Hi, just wondering if you can help me out. I have a Locsound V4.0 Micro sound decoder for a 4-8-4 FEF U.P. Steamer, sounds were installed at the store where I bought it, ( I live in the U.K. ) All the sounds are really nice, but for some reason the exhaust and bell are very low, i.e everything will drown them out. Thanks in advance WILLY

[@dario86707]

hello sorry I have a decoder and I have to insert the stayalive zimo sacc 16, but do I have to program with look programmer to make it work? Thanks again

[@RanmoreCommonRailway]

Can you backup/copy a decoder from one to another. I can see you probably can copy decoder data, but will the programmer read the soundfiles off a decoder chip?

[@csxbaltimoresubdivision7746]

I thought you go rewrite on lok sound select decorders.great video

[@geo11211]

I have a question I recently purchased a T1 loco from BLI and it has a paragon 3 in it. Can i replace it with a loksound decoder? i got this loco for Xmas so I can play xmas tunes in it but i was told I can't replace it but all it is a decoder right. I know I may have to do some soldering but is it possible? I looked in the website and couldn't find sounds for the T1 but that doesn't mean anything right? Thanks hope to hear from you

[@TheSongpolw]

Can you please show us ,how to make your own sound? I really want to see and puzzled me for long time how to make it, thank you so much

[@josephbenko5578]

Using Lok Programmer and latest software, and downloading factory sound project (73877 Select Direct Micro) in a Windows 10 PC. If you check the downloaded file the Functions and General tabs will display the factory Functions Descriptions (light, bell, horn...) and under the General it display a full locomotive description, but after loading project to decoder both areas are blank for the most part. How can I keep the factory information when moving the project to the decoder?

[@thetrainrev5483]

Hi! Great video series. What's your suggestion for saving after final loading of values - standard or modified? For example: 5543 F7 then the original file name so we have record of what we loaded into the decoder? Thanks TheTrainRev

[@thebrakeman17]

Duane Careb Thanks for watching. I usually save mine with the unit type and number. So let's say I did an install on UP SD38-2 #837. I save mine starting with unit type, company followed by the unit number. It helps group all the same type unit files together. So mine would look like: SD38-2 UP #837. Shane

[@thetrainrev5483]

Shane: I save mine like so - 5543 DRGW Consolidated 75837-LSNSelect-Steam-SP-GS-4-4449-V1-R1 That way, if I need to reload the sound file, for whatever reason, then I know which file to load from my saved "LokSound Sound Files" folder. The old man can get easily confused!!

[@DF6254]

Awesome video thanks a lot. Who makes the AT board you mentioned you were plugging the Loksound decoder into?? Thanks

[@thebrakeman17]

Thanks. That AT board is made by ESU. it's a part #51955.

[@DF6254]

@@thebrakeman17 Thanks, will do a google search for them

[@dario86707]

hello is zimo decoder compatible with lookprogrammer? thank you

[@NSReadingLineRailfan]

Hey do you do custom sound files for the Loksound decoders?

[@thebrakeman17]

NS Reading Line Railfan it depends on what you are looking for.

[@NSReadingLineRailfan]

Just to put a custom horn on a decoder

[@dario86707]

hello but to program can I connect on the esu tester instead of putting the locomotive on the track? thanks

[@thebrakeman17]

Yes just attach a set of wires from the programmer to the tester leads for track power in.

[@dario86707]

@@thebrakeman17 ok thanks 👍

[@robertravena]

hi, does ESU Loksound decoders use Mp3 or .WAV files or both types?

[@thebrakeman17]

.wav

[@robertravena]

@@thebrakeman17 thats what I thought. ty. Your vid is very informative and helpful to someone like myself who is just barely starting out using the programmer

[@dario86707]

Salve , come faccio ad aggiungere un suono senza cancellare gli originali?

[@paulreeves8679]

Is it possible to put v4 sound file into a v3.5?

[@thebrakeman17]

Sadly no. You can not write down with files but you can go up. So a V4 will go into a 5 but the 5 will not go to a v4.

[@paulreeves8679]

@@thebrakeman17 Thank you for the reply.

[@csxbaltimoresubdivision7746]

Is there any way you can give me a call, I'm having trouble with lokprogramer and I think you could help....

[@thebrakeman17]

CSX 8840 CSX Baltimore sub division shoot me and email [e-mail]