Random Thoughts…

Discussion in 'Off Topic' started by OldVern, Jul 24, 2025 at 11:11 AM.

  1. OldVern

    OldVern Well-Known Member

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    …More at home in Off Topic!

    Had a ride on a couple of GWR Cucumbers yesterday. One five car, one nine. Both times in an end vehicle and yes, whether on diesel or electric power there is no traction sound really audible (though plenty of track noise as these things ride really hard). So I recant my lament that the pretty much identical Azumas on ECML are too quiet! Of course that’s not to say the sound couldn’t be buffed a bit for entertainment value. Otherwise if, as seems increasingly likely, we do get a GWR stretch as the UK route in TSW6 along with an 800/802, the thrash value will be very limited.

    Caught a Class 166 down from Bristol Parkway then round to Bath (it was a round trip Swindon - BPW - BTM - Swindon) and those things are absolutely knackered. Lovely engine sound in the saloon, but shake, rattle, high pitched whine (not me moaning) from somewhere in the ceiling. Refurbished with godawful uncomfortable seats. If they make it into the TSW6 route then they need to reflect the really run down state.

    Now this morning on the exercise bike watching the Videoscene Colas Spoil Train again, reached York to Northallerton. This has got to qualify as one of the most boring stretches of railway in the UK and certainly on the ECML. Really surprised it comes up so frequently in Suggestions. A concept that sounds better on paper than in practice. Guess the racetrack was valid when you had trains along there which took a bit of effort to reach line speed, but modern powerful trains which effortlessly reach and cruise at 125 MPH offer no real challenge.

    OLE equipment. On the cab ride it really shows how thin this is and DTG’s new system introduced with the ECML and cascaded onto subsequent routes including JT BPO and WCMLoS just looks too thick and chunky. Like those 70’s or 80’s OLE produced for model railways. Even more apparent where headspans are in use. So again, if as likely, the UK route is overhead electric - please do something about the thickness of the wires :) .
     
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  2. GooseWaffe

    GooseWaffe Active Member

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    I get the want for noise, but I think I’d rather have realistic sounds, or atleast an option for exaggerated sounds.

    I find with a lot of the trains in the game the motors or engine is a lot louder than it should be in your sound dampened cab.
     
  3. Strat-tastic

    Strat-tastic Well-Known Member

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    Two blue cars just passed by in a row. How unusual :o
     
  4. CK95

    CK95 Well-Known Member

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    I think the majority want to hear the traction sounds as that’s how they relate to the train IRL. The most prevalent thing about experiencing a train after seeing it, is hearing it.

    Personally I’d also rather have realistic interior sounds when you’re inside, but by & large DTG are really bad with both running sounds & interior reverb. Also there are a number of trains that have way over done ambient noise inside the cab, to the point it’s like sitting in an aviary.
     
  5. ididntdoit

    ididntdoit Well-Known Member

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    I don't know how many audio channels there are on Ue? Maybe dtg could split the sounds into various channels and give us some sort of audio menu with sliders to adjust the the various streams of audio. Probably too much to ask for though.
     
  6. CK95

    CK95 Well-Known Member

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    UE4 has just 32 channels, which is an issue on its own as multiple sounds are likely being tied together to get around that limitation.
     
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  7. ididntdoit

    ididntdoit Well-Known Member

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    Im guessing that's 32 split, 16 L 16 R ? Assuming tsw doesn't do 5.1 and above.
     
  8. CK95

    CK95 Well-Known Member

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    Well you can have all 32 in one direction if you wanted, there’s no limit that regard. Also no TSW doesn’t support 5.1 upwards.
     

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