Air sound from locomotive

[markyisri]

Recently I listened to an MPIexpress MP40PH-3C (EMD 710G) go by in real life. I heard lots of air noises and hissing.

In the simulator, I seem to only hear the direct engine sounds with practically nothing else. I'm using the Matt Florack 710G sounds.

Can anyone assist with this problem?

[qballbandit]

Can't speak to that particular set, as it's been years since using it.
For the 710's, I now use the MLW sets, which are specific to each SD60/SD70 type. And yes, they do have compressor sounds, spitters/airblasts.

I highly recommend these! 710G3A, B, C, 710G3CII

[markyisri]

Can't speak to that particular set, as it's been years since using it.
For the 710's, I now use the MLW sets, which are specific to each SD60/SD70 type. And yes, they do have compressor sounds, spitters/airblasts.

I highly recommend these! 710G3A, B, C, 710G3CII

Thanks for the suggestion. I am using the MLW sounds now, instead of the Matt Florack ones, but I'm still not hearing airblasts.

[wwhall]

A couple of things: First, check the .sms file to see if it has a compressor line. Some do, some don't. An example of a working compressor section looks like this:

Stream (
Skip ( **** This stream allows the Compressor to be played at the same time **** )
Priority ( 6 )
Triggers ( 2
Discrete_Trigger ( 12 StartLoopRelease ( 1 File ( "x_aircomploop.wav" -1 ) SelectionMethod ( SequentialSelection ) ) )
Discrete_Trigger ( 13 ReleaseLoopRelease () )
)
)

I've added them to many of my .sms files. Second, with OR, I don't like random compressor files--I like to hear the compressor running when it's actually supposed to be running. A note here: Many of the .wav sound files for random compressors do not have the cue points inserted that will allow them function in an operating compressor file, so I usually copy a working compressor file from a sound folder that has a working compressor to my "target" sound folder, then copy the compressor lines from the working compressor .sms file to the target .sms file, overwriting the random compressor stream section.

Third, check the .eng files of the various locomotives in your consist. Look at the compressor start and shut-off pressures. Some are set to come on at, say, 125 psi and shut off at 130 psi. The shutoff number usually is either 130 psi or 140 psi. I try to keep locomotives in a "lashup" with the same compressor shut-off pressure and vary the startup pressure by a few pounds, usually between, say, 122 and 126 psi. (Note that locomotives not directly connected to the lead locomotives--e.g., swing and rear helpers or distributed power--will just stay at full pressure, as OR is currently configured. I consider that a "bug," that OR may eventually correct.)

Fourth, almost no .eng files have this line in the file. It is a piece of MSTS code that MSTS never utilized, but OR does. It is TrainPipeLeakRate ( your number here ). TrainPipeLeakRate inserted in the lead locomotive .eng file does just what the name implies, it introduces some air leakage into the air line of the train. This, of course, will cause the air tanks of train locomotives to lose a little pressure over time, which will eventually trigger the air compressor(s) to run. This is the "real world" way to get a "random" compressor run. As OR is currently configured, TrainPipeLeakRate only has an effect in the controlling locomotive .eng file. As the air tank pressure drops, whichever locomotive(s) in the lashup that has/have the highest compressor re-start number will be the one that will come on to respressurize the air system. In prototype railroading, too much train pipe leakage is not permitted in an operating train, so I usually set TrainPipeLeakRate at around 0.3 to 0.8 to emulate some, but not excessive, train pipe leakage.

Here is an example of the air section of an .eng file that I just modified. The lines that I added/edited are in bold:

AirBrakesAirCompressorPowerRating( 3.8 )
AirBrakesMainMinResAirPressure( 14.7 )
AirBrakesMainMaxAirPressure( 130 )
AirBrakesMainResVolume( 10.2 )
AirBrakesAirCompressorWattage( 16000 )
AirBrakesCompressorRestartPressure( 125 )
AirBrakesAirUsedPerPoundsOfBrakePipePressure( 1.4 )
AirBrakesHasLowPressureTest( 1 )
AirBrakesIsCompressorElectricOrMechanical( 0 )
TrainPipeLeakRate ( 0.7 )

One final note, while one is editing an .eng file. Almost no North American diesel MSTS/OR diesel locomotive has a handbrake enabled in the .eng file, and they should. With OR's capability of jumping from locomotive to locomotive and from train to train, it sometimes is necessary to set the handbrake on locomotives that don't have a train coupled to them. This allows you to do that in OR. Here is an example of a locomotive with the handbrake enabled, my edit in bold:

BrakeEquipmentType( "Triple_valve, Auxilary_reservoir, Emergency_brake_reservoir, Handbrake" )

I do these edits on sort of a "pay-as-you-go" basis, making a point to edit the .eng file and/or .sms file as I build consists using that particular locomotive.

I hope this helps.

[slipperman]

Hi markyisri,
Make sure the Sound Detail Level (in the Options > Audio tab) is set to 5.

Cheers,
Ged

[qballbandit]

Great stuff, Wade!

[R. Steele]

Wade, this thread reference is going into my library...indeed, great information. Thanks!!

[markyisri]

A couple of things: First, check the .sms file to see if it has a compressor line. Some do, some don't. An example of a working compressor section looks like this:

Stream (
Skip ( **** This stream allows the Compressor to be played at the same time **** )
Priority ( 6 )
Triggers ( 2
Discrete_Trigger ( 12 StartLoopRelease ( 1 File ( "x_aircomploop.wav" -1 ) SelectionMethod ( SequentialSelection ) ) )
Discrete_Trigger ( 13 ReleaseLoopRelease () )
)
)

I've added them to many of my .sms files. Second, with OR, I don't like random compressor files--I like to hear the compressor running when it's actually supposed to be running. A note here: Many of the .wav sound files for random compressors do not have the cue points inserted that will allow them function in an operating compressor file, so I usually copy a working compressor file from a sound folder that has a working compressor to my "target" sound folder, then copy the compressor lines from the working compressor .sms file to the target .sms file, overwriting the random compressor stream section.

Third, check the .eng files of the various locomotives in your consist. Look at the compressor start and shut-off pressures. Some are set to come on at, say, 125 psi and shut off at 130 psi. The shutoff number usually is either 130 psi or 140 psi. I try to keep locomotives in a "lashup" with the same compressor shut-off pressure and vary the startup pressure by a few pounds, usually between, say, 122 and 126 psi. (Note that locomotives not directly connected to the lead locomotives--e.g., swing and rear helpers or distributed power--will just stay at full pressure, as OR is currently configured. I consider that a "bug," that OR may eventually correct.)

Fourth, almost no .eng files have this line in the file. It is a piece of MSTS code that MSTS never utilized, but OR does. It is TrainPipeLeakRate ( your number here ). TrainPipeLeakRate inserted in the lead locomotive .eng file does just what the name implies, it introduces some air leakage into the air line of the train. This, of course, will cause the air tanks of train locomotives to lose a little pressure over time, which will eventually trigger the air compressor(s) to run. This is the "real world" way to get a "random" compressor run. As OR is currently configured, TrainPipeLeakRate only has an effect in the controlling locomotive .eng file. As the air tank pressure drops, whichever locomotive(s) in the lashup that has/have the highest compressor re-start number will be the one that will come on to respressurize the air system. In prototype railroading, too much train pipe leakage is not permitted in an operating train, so I usually set TrainPipeLeakRate at around 0.3 to 0.8 to emulate some, but not excessive, train pipe leakage.

Here is an example of the air section of an .eng file that I just modified. The lines that I added/edited are in bold:

AirBrakesAirCompressorPowerRating( 3.8 )
AirBrakesMainMinResAirPressure( 14.7 )
AirBrakesMainMaxAirPressure( 130 )
AirBrakesMainResVolume( 10.2 )
AirBrakesAirCompressorWattage( 16000 )
AirBrakesCompressorRestartPressure( 125 )
AirBrakesAirUsedPerPoundsOfBrakePipePressure( 1.4 )
AirBrakesHasLowPressureTest( 1 )
AirBrakesIsCompressorElectricOrMechanical( 0 )
TrainPipeLeakRate ( 0.7 )

One final note, while one is editing an .eng file. Almost no North American diesel MSTS/OR diesel locomotive has a handbrake enabled in the .eng file, and they should. With OR's capability of jumping from locomotive to locomotive and from train to train, it sometimes is necessary to set the handbrake on locomotives that don't have a train coupled to them. This allows you to do that in OR. Here is an example of a locomotive with the handbrake enabled, my edit in bold:

BrakeEquipmentType( "Triple_valve, Auxilary_reservoir, Emergency_brake_reservoir, Handbrake" )

I do these edits on sort of a "pay-as-you-go" basis, making a point to edit the .eng file and/or .sms file as I build consists using that particular locomotive.

I hope this helps.

Thanks! Very helpful information!

[csantucci]

wwhall,
thank you for all this info to simmers! It really increases value of OR towards people.