Can You Lower & Shorten Whistle Sounds?

Is it possible to reduce the volume of whistle sounds and also to shorten their duration? I found a particular ".wav" whistle sound that I want to use on a particular loco, but the external version of the whistle/horn ( the x_...version ) is way too loud and it's soooo darn long that I can't work a good long-long-short-long sequence for grade crossings. The interior version heard inside the cab is OK as is: the outside version is the one I'd like to change. If possible, I would like to lower the volume a bit and shorten the length. Can whistle volume and duration be altered by changing some value in the eng and/or cab files, or is it all locked into the ".wav" file itself? And if so, would somebody who knows how it's done tell me what to do, or point me in the right direction? (I have no idea how one could change a .wav file, or even if it's possible without having to buy some costly program.) Would appreciate some advice and help.

JonBuck

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RE: Can You Lower & Shorten Whistle Sounds?, Br5an, Mar-10-05, 05:01 PM, (1) RE: Can You Lower & Shorten Whistle Sounds?, drbarryk, Mar-15-05, 06:20 PM, (5) RE: Can You Lower & Shorten Whistle Sounds?, dcmorris, Mar-10-05, 09:28 PM, (2) RE: Can You Lower & Shorten Whistle Sounds?, Busdriver, Mar-10-05, 11:10 PM, (3) RE: Can You Lower & Shorten Whistle Sounds?, drbarryk, Mar-15-05, 06:22 PM, (6) RE: Can You Lower & Shorten Whistle Sounds?, jbuck36, Mar-11-05, 11:22 PM, (4) RE: Can You Lower & Shorten Whistle Sounds?, Busdriver, Mar-16-05, 00:03 AM, (7) RE: Can You Lower & Shorten Whistle Sounds?, drbarryk, Mar-17-05, 01:25 AM, (8) RE: Can You Lower & Shorten Whistle Sounds?, Busdriver, Mar-17-05, 01:44 AM, (9)

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You can modify the .wav file itself. WinXP comes with a simple tool. Type sndrec32 in the Start / Run box. Make a backup copy before starting and experiment a bit. A google search should turn up some fancier tools such as Cool Edit. It seems to me the main trick is cutting the .wav file right so the looping sound plays seamlessly.Regards,
Brian

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Bryce:I appreciated you input. Question: since there several places in the .sms file in which the horn appears with the priority line before it, where do you place the volume line? The first time horn appears, or each time there's a horn with the priority line? My problem is not horns that are too loud, but horns from views 2,3,4 and 1 with head out the window that are not loud enough.Thanks,
Barry

drbarryk

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Due to computer problems I haven't run MSTS for some time. But, when I was running it, I was able to control the duration by the length of time I held down the space bar. I could easily signal any combination of longs and shorts. Granted, the space bar was not immediately responsive but that may have been due to my inadequate system.As to the volume, I found the default acceptable so I have no idea how to adjust that other than using normal volume controls but that would effect all volume and that is not what you want to do. So, I will defer to wiser heads.DC

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To change the volume of any wav, you can go into the sms file for the engine and add a line:Volume ( 0.5 )You can put this line after the priority line of the stream for thh whistle. You can use 0-1.0 with 1.0 being 100%.You can also add "cues" in the wav file if you have a wav editor. This can allow you to have a shorter blast when you only do a short horn activation. If there are no cues, it will play the whole thing.BTW: Does anyone know of any wav editor applications that are free (or inexpensive) and decent? I have goldwave's evaluation version, and it will eventually run out of commands requiring paying to continue to use it. While I am more than willing to pay for a good product, it is a quite high-priced (several hundred dollars IIRC) product for professional use. Since I just occasionally adjust an MSTS sound, it probably is not appropriate for my level of use.Thanks.Bryce

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(sorry, I misposted this reply)Bryce:
I appreciated you input. Question: since there several places in the .sms file in which the horn appears with the priority line before it, where do you place the volume line? The first time horn appears, or each time there's a horn with the priority line? My problem is not horns that are too loud, but horns from views 2,3,4 and 1 with head out the window that are not loud enough.Thanks,
Barrydrbarryk

drbarryk

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Thanks guys. The tip about changing the volume worked. I'll see what I can do about the duration part of the problem. Thanks again. Much Obliged!!!

JonBuck

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LAST EDITED ON Mar-16-05 AT 00:04 AM (EST)

Barry,First, I want to clarify that any exterior view including having the head out the window view will be an exterior sms file usually looking like .....eng.sms. The interior sms will look like .....cab.sms.With that said, open the eng.sms for the engine in question. Right at the very top, look for a volume line. If there is one right at the beginning, it will affect all streams. This is a way that you can reduce all stream volumes in the whole sms file. If that is there, you might want to up it to 1. However, this might increase other sounds to be too loud such as engine noise.If there is no volume line at the very beginning, then it is assumed 1.0 or 100%. Then go to look at the horn streams. If there is no volume line for the individual stream, then your horns are at 100% of what the sms can produce. There are 4 Scalability Groups, and there will likely be a horn in 5, 3, and 1. 0 is for AI sound. The 5, 3, and 1 refer to the slider settings that you set in the options settings area. Since I always operate with my slider all the way up (SG5), I don't bother with the other groups when adding volume lines since they won't have any effect.Now that we have possibly established that there is no additional volume available from the sms, it is time to look at the wav file for the horn.Find that wav and open it with Sound Recorder that comes with Windows. Have a backup of the file. Now select increase volume 25% from the effects menu. Try playing it and listen for distortion. If no distortion, save the file. Now, increase again and listen. If distortion, then use the one that you just saved before you increased the volume. That is as loud as you can get it. If it is now too loud in the Sim, put a volume line in at that stream to decrease it.Good luck.Bryce

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Bryce:Part of joy of train simming is learning how things work and being able to make changes. Thank you so much for pointing me to the Sound Recorder and your tutorial on how to change bell and horn volume. I've adjusted an SW1500 that is aliased to GP38 sound. I've been able to tweak both internal and external horn and bell to my satisfaction. It worked beautifully.The value of these forums is proved by this example. I didn't have a clue about the Sound Recorder and how to adjust .wav volumes. Your help is better understanding the sms. file is also greatly appreciated. Thanks again!Barry

drbarryk

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Hi,Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad it worked so well for you.Bryce

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