I think its because they need to fit up the loco or unit with more than just 1 mic input, they also need the driver to be able to hold different power settings at different times and stuff, so its very difficult to incorporate that into any kind of normal service. Take Care Gary
And ita something most museums can't really do either as they don't have the space or trackage for mainline speed runs.
it isn’t that he US railroads are anti as you say, they just don’t see any value in endeavor with the expense required. The other problem is with logistics… having to plan a trip over the pond, having a loco and crew available at the same time to coincide with the trip and not having. Operational concerns pre-empt the whole scenario is difficult. In country, where the travel is local does provide much more flexibility where such scheduling snafus would be easier to overcome. And from the discussions in these forums, it doesn’t sound as if all the UK and DE units have great recordings, probably again because of the logistics.
Yeah I can see that to a certain extent although my gut is telling me it is an excuse or I have had too many sausage rolls, lol. Didn't DTG use to travel to the US? Could be wrong but I thought they did. Where are DTG's owners from?
They traveled to the us several times such as with amtrak, peninsula corridor and Metrolink. For freight, I know one got cancelled because covid hit. They also usually don't allow sound recording sessions compared to passenger. Dtg need high quality recordings for the whole train, interior and exterior and sometimes they can't do that if the operator says no, rules say no or no train is available. They can't use YouTube or recordings from a cheap camcorder. So if no recordings are possible, they have to synthesize or hope they find someone who can obtain the sounds legally
It ain't that easy at home either- that's why the questionable 700 audio, reprocessed from a 485 that itself wasn't that great. It's not just coping with "a" mic and a recorder- there are a bunch of mics, installed all over the train (often in places the RR don't like outsiders to have access to)- and then the train has to be driven around according to the demands of the recording director: effectively it means the TOC has to loan DTG a train and crew for a day or two. Unsurprisingly, they're often reluctant. As for American railways, remember that as freight businesses they aren't nearly so eager to market themselves to the general public. Their customers are businesses, not consumer/passengers.
If it is indeed this difficult to get recordings it begs the question the they granted the licence. Surely if you owned a railway franchise and you granted a licence for it for a video game which would be represented far and wide you would want it to look and sound its best no, rather than with crappy sounds?
Not when doing so interfers with operations and adds to expenses - Lets face it - very little benefit to the Railways - most people that use railway simulators probably do little shipping - doesn't add to ridership and so very little ROI for the company.
Hi there, I'm a railway worker in Europe, on the side of traffic and safety management, so not on the field. Also, I've no qualifications for other countries of other companies than mine. I often manage "test rides" for signaling, private shooting, filming (movies,...) and stuff. The complexity of safety systems requires to put out of regular service big areas who can't be used before (install safety measures, check the mesures with the field staff), during and after (check the end conditions with the field staff, uninstall the measures) the rides. I'm gonna give 2 examples. - For a movie filming, just stopped in a station (so no ride) you'll need to put off service the track with the train and the platform where the shooting is done AND, to master final rendering, the nearby tracks and platforms. Do that in a major station and watch your money fly away. Here's an example of an official music video on tracks (I'm crying facing so little safety) - For a signaling test ride at full speed on a HSL (320km/h in France) you'll need to protect a distance of... 50km with, once again, nearby tracks and platforms. Classic lines (160km/h) needs 20km protected. So, please do your test in the middle of the night and please don't disturb freight trains who can't disturb passengers trains during the day. Here's an example of a test gone wrong, another one, successful (about the need to protecting the area...). Even if you own a commercial license to use the name and the branding for a train, infra management gonna make you pay for privatize the track and when you know that delaying a train cost up to 650€ a MINUTE (in my country), I can understand why DTG struggle to have "wind sounds" and each particularities of each engine in the game. I'm not gonna lie. As a railway worker, I've bleeding ears with some of sounds in simulations games but I know its complicated to do better... SO... My point is : thumbs up to DTG for the progress between the first and the last TSW and maybe, go to unofficial forum/modding sites like Train Sim Community to find some good sounds.
Actually it's quite common for films that can afford it to only close one platform and use CGI if necessary...
Yeah I can understand that But I always think of that Birmingham (UK) driver. Can't remember if it was TSC or TSW, sure it was TSW. He was under instructions to record the train sounds, obviously he was given permission to do it but he was keen to do it. This was for no gain to himself but for the satisfaction of see the train he drives in a video game with the correct sounds. From what I remember he got other staff to help as well. Birmingham is very busy but he still was keen and over the moon at results. Surely they are more drivers like this one or has apathy taken over?
You're probably talking about Daisy who was the guard and helped with bcc who had to pay the driver with a pound cake to basically spend an entire day or two to do stuff with the train. Recording sounds is very time-consuming. You have to go through each notch separately and all types of variations and press each button, etc. The driver probably had time for it and was able to use a certain piece of track to not interfere with the schedule. Remember the wtt always takes priority
It was a youngish male driver and I'm sure he had to come in early to work to set it all up, I'm sure he made a video or was on a video.
All and good if a person who has access and the time and permission to do so. But there are always concerns and liabilities that have to be taken into consideration, There was one pilot that is well known and respected for doing quality YouTube videos of his life as a professional pilot. He was very knowledgeable and made safety a major point of his videos. Even so, he got sideways with the FAA over his endeavors and ended up where he could not video if there were any revenue passengers onboard. Was able to work out when he was ferrying an empty flight, or carrying non revenue passengers he could film. I am not saying it is impossible, but such considerations are paramount on a company’s decision. Imagine the liabilities if an incident occurred where an engineer or conductor were distracted by recording, whether or not it was the main factor causing the incident. Again not many rail companies would be willing to take the risk. In the states, there are more and more laws being passed about “distracted driving”. Again, not saying recordings can not be accomplished, just pointing out some of the real hurdles and concerns a company must consider.
Again I agree especially on a plane where safety should be paramount. But as far as placing a few mics and recorders surely once placed they should not affect the safety of a train in any way, obviously if it does then it should not be used especially if there are passengers. ~But with the example above the Driver came in early placed the devices, had help from other staff then went about his job. I'm not saying this example fits all but if its possible surely that is a good thing no? Everybody wins, the Train companies get advertisement if they are freight or passenger.
Well it depends on the company and the driver. Some companies are much more strict than others. Nice to have but it can't always happen
As I stated - it is good if the driver and rail company agree. But I think that is the exception rather than the rule. All I am saying getting good recordings is not as easy as many think. best
I used to work at and still have access to a shortline switching railroad. We use(d) an SW1200, GP8 (GP7 Paducah rebuild for Alaska), SD40-2, GP40-2, and a handful of others in inoperable condition. I have a Zoom Hn1 that I record audio with, and a few drones for reference shots. Is this something DTG might be interested in? I live in St. Louis, MO. I use the Hn1 to add audio to enhance my drone videos. Here's a sample of the 401 at Monticello last year; mic was on the tender (with permission). I need to re-edit this video, as Adobe locked me to 24 fps which seems too choppy to me.
And they have contacted https://www.store.searchlight-simulations.com/ They make good sounds for Train Simulator Locomotives, those sounds would be good for Train Sim World
Anthony Wood, one of the main members of Searchlight Simulations, has stated they wont work with DTG or on TSW for anything.
I don't know honestly. I've only heard rumors. I'm gonna guess ss wanted something dtg couldn't provide and they couldn't reach an agreement and things went sour.
From what I've heard, when DTG 1st approached SS awhile back, they lowballed the price for their work, which pretty much killed the whole deal. But the only people who know about the deal would be those in Searchlight Simulations, and whoever was in DTG's team who approached them.
SS have a history of being childishly unreasonable. They once pulled the CP AC4400 because it wasn't selling fast enough for their liking.
I hope you guys see this i know in a previous post i said this can also be used for other places and trains not just antelope valley also i know this is late The devs should make the horns so they can be heard for longer for example With a quiet background (countryside night time) 6-8 miles. Suburban, 2-3 miles. Loud city, 1 mile if you're listening for it also they should add like a 1st gen and 3rd gen k5lla for the bnsf and up aces the es44s should have a k5hl that is bit better it should be like when one bell on the horn is facing forward you can only really hear that horn bell but when it passes camera you can hear the bells facing backward or the other way around if that one bell is reversed it should be like that for all trains i know its alot to ask for but they can record the front facing bells and then the backwards on so they can cahmge when the train passes the camera i hope they know what im talking about aslo i hope they chamge the horns in the ac4400s to the video link skip to 4:43 and it shows the backward and forward facing bell thing i was talking about Also here is a better explanation Sound Variation: When a bell on the horn is facing forward, you should mainly hear that bell's sound when the train is approaching. As the train passes the camera, the sound should shift to emphasize bells facing backward. Recording Technique: Record the sound from the perspective of front-facing and backward-facing bells separately. This would allow for a realistic change in the sound as the train passes by, simulating the directionality of the sound.
The ones in the Searchlight Simulator work by making the horns like this, that's why the trains with those horns have realism. They set a horn that can be heard very far away when the locomotive is far away and they set a horn that can be heard up close when a train is nearby.
I heard that SS refuses to hepl dovetail with sounds so i guess SS is not an option i remember emailing them and they were kinda rude
Hi there I could probably talk to my company about giving you access to record heritage locos if you would like DTG Adam ?
I do have an audio recorder and some sound engineering skills. I can help capture some uncontrolled audio for USA. Unfortunately I don't have access to the cabs of these locomotives. I can capture ambient, passing rolling stock, and passing engine sounds.
I live near the railroad for CSX and I'd LOVE to record some C40-8W, SD40-2, and other sounds. But I don't know what equipment I'll need.
Some modders have done very nice train sounds; why don't you work together with them and implement their sounds? For example, I really like the ICE T sound mod from Myron. Unfortunately, since I am a PlayStation player, I can't use mods, so it would be great to work together with mod creators to get the best sounds.
I am just wondering the same thing! especially for US freight which suffers in the sound department. Griggs sound mods for example especially for the sand patch grade and clinchfield are fantastic with a clear turbo sound in the SD40-2! They could implement them ! Or they could record sounds at a railroad museum that offers tours with the locomotives
Depends on how the sounds were recorded, what equipment was used, whether it fits the requirements dtg needs in sounds and the quality of those sounds. There's a lot more than to just use the sounds
If anyone lives near FORESTBURG in AB CA to pick up some sounds of the Nathan K3LR-2 of BRR plus its New EKYRAIL Bell from Canada
Don't Neutral 8 and run 8 have the same sound on all American Locomotives? Why can't the museums just notch them up as if they are doing a load test?
No. Trains sound different when moving. There are probably restrictions at museums since it is a museum
When I watched that video they were recording for Railworks, the sound of the engine of the CNW EMD SD40-2 was not yet called Train Simlator Classic This is how they work it seems that it is a difficult job to get a good sound i like watching that video
I Was watching this video of the recording a Metra F40PH-3, and it looks like a tough job to get a good sounding recording. i really enjoyed watching that video.
That's why we don't see many American routes, first because of the licenses, second because of the sounds, because it's a realistic train simulator, it must have realistic sounds.
Even that would bring the sound closer to reality than it already is (doesn't need to be perfect , at least improved).
