GE 7FDL16 Dash 8/9 Enhancement Pack

[BNSFdude]

A cooperation of Kevin Schulz and myself for almost a year now, we're edging even closer to the end of this project and making it presentable for QA and final release.
It's been a rocky road fighting in game core mechanics, but at every stumble, we've thought to add more and more depth to compensate for areas we cannot change.

"So Anthony what's the big deal with this set? What makes it different from making and releasing sound packs?"

Well, it goes leaps and bounds beyond recording a locomotive, chopping it up and putting it to field as close enough. Hours of negotiation for recording sessions and a lot of money into audio recording equipment (I bought a new trimble and shotgun, as well as using the trusty DR-05) and cooperative work with other enthusiastic audiophiles is really what makes it what it is.

Then you have the months of work Kevin put into the advanced Lua script which controls so many aspects and features of this set.

Not to mention tons of field research and notes taken while operating the prototype I did, as well as locomotive pneumatic expertise provided by Nick O'Dell.

"What are the features?"
Audio:
High Fidelity Engine Audio, as to be expected of Oovee sound packs. All genuinely recorded from Dash 9s religiously holding true to behavior of the prime mover.
- Near/Far Sounds separately recorded, as well as under load stack talk
Layered Horns which was a foundation Kevin laid for us to use multiple recordings of the same horn at different distances to better replicate how the atmosphere affects the sound of a horn.
- Same goes for the bells, all reflective of different distances and reverb off of nearby objects.
- New recordings for horns to apply to the prototypes. NS K5LAR24, BNSF K3LAR2, CN K3LR2, SP P3, CSX K5HR24 (C40-8W).
- Each horn has an at-speed recording in cab for further immersion.
- Different air bells for each locomotive depending on typical era of locomotive build.
- Optional Graham White E-BELL for NS Dash 9, though we're not sure why you'd want to use it! ;)

Accessory Sounds, Super Detailed!
Complete Pneumatic system recordings including:
- Proper Brake Stand sounds depending on actual stand. (CCB-II, 30CDW, 26L)
- Brake system GW 686 Spitter Valve mounted under the cab
- Pilot Magnet Valve in AB Cabinet activating 580 Dump Valves on MR 1 and 2 on 90 second timer
- On CN and NS Dash 9, GW 975 Tower Air Dryer simulation.
- Towers will purge while compressor runs.
- Towers will switch on 60 second timer.
- Authentic Wabtec 3CDC Compressor Recordings with main cooling fan "WHOOP!"
Cab Sounds
- Proper throttle/brake stand sounds depending on the control stand you're using. AAR/Desktop.
- Contactor and relay sounds for power/DB on and reverser change
- Pneumatic clean up "psh" when coming out of power/DB
- HVAC System to keep yourself comfortable in extreme conditions (Please note, this doesn't affect room temperature IRL)
- Every operable switch uses a genuine recording.
- CDC Relay Pressure Switch audible in cab that tells the compressor when to pump and when to stop.
- Traction Motor and wheel running sounds (with small chance you have a flat spot) to give impression of movement.

Advanced Features
By the power of Lua, we grant you some unique features!
- Engine follows prototype RPM calls for each desired power and dynamic brake setting
- Hysteresis on tractive and dynamic braking effort just as prototype, slow loading.
- Realistic Tractive and Dynamic Brake effort with Extended Range Sawtooth effect when reaching 6 MPH in DB.
- AESS System which will shut down/start up your engine when conditions are met.
- Warm/Cold Start scenarios depending on external temperature (set by season)
- Working (selectable) Audible and HUD Visible Alerter
- Working Audible Distance Counter
- Working EOT Pressure Monitor (Pending) with audible "beep"
- Advanced CCB-II, 30CDW, and 26L brake scripting provided by Mike Rennie

Unfortunately due to the modeling of the current Dash 9, we were not able to add working IFDs to the model, but have all the material necessary to make them on the AC4400CW and future Dash 9.

I will be adding more features to the above list as we get them to work in game, so stay tuned! I'll also be posting audio previews here.

https://soundcloud.com/anthony-wood/norfolk-way-d9

[imnew]

Credit card ready

[ex-railwayman]

I bought a new shotgun,

Bloody hell, we didn't expect you to go to these lengths just to get a locomotive soundpack, I hope you didn't bully the Engineers too much.....

Cheerz. ex-railwayman.

[dr1980]

Sounds like this will be amazing, and a good reason to dust off the old dash 9

[ColoradoRailfan]

Layered Horns which was a foundation Kevin laid for us to use multiple recordings of the same horn at different distances to better replicate how the atmosphere affects the sound of a horn.

So does that mean that there is going to be a different individual sound recording at one distance? Like 1000ft 500ft 100ft 50ft, etc?

Unfortunately due to the modeling of the current Dash 9, we were not able to add working IFDs to the model, but have all the material necessary to make them on the AC4400CW and future Dash 9.

So now theres plans for a future Dash 9?

[BNSFdude]

Layered Horns which was a foundation Kevin laid for us to use multiple recordings of the same horn at different distances to better replicate how the atmosphere affects the sound of a horn.

So does that mean that there is going to be a different individual sound recording at one distance? Like 1000ft 500ft 100ft 50ft, etc?

Unfortunately due to the modeling of the current Dash 9, we were not able to add working IFDs to the model, but have all the material necessary to make them on the AC4400CW and future Dash 9.

So now theres plans for a future Dash 9?

No, the distance counter will sound off when the end of your Train passes a point in which you pressed the button. It just doesn't come with the nice visual counter the real ones have unfortunately.

Yes, eventually.

[imnew]

I bought a new shotgun,

Bloody hell, we didn't expect you to go to these lengths just to get a locomotive soundpack, I hope you didn't bully the Engineers too much.....

Cheerz. ex-railwayman.

[DrewG]

Well this is something I'm looking forward to!

One question, would it be possible to put these sounds on Ian's dash 8 models?

[eyein12]

Well this is something I'm looking forward to!

One question, would it be possible to put these sounds on Ian's dash 8 models?

anythings possible. the simulation file, and the engine bin, would have to match what the sounds call for and cab functions would have to match. Anthony and I have worked together on past projects Im sure in the future we'll figure something out.

[OpenRailer90]

Highly looking forward to this; will there be any way to apply the sound to repaints? From what I understand the repaints are based on the vanilla vehicles. Also want to know if all vehicles will receive an ND version where necessary, such as the Dash 9 Pack. Flashing ditch lights added in the original NS Dash 9?

[bnsfsubdivision]

Highly looking forward to this; will there be any way to apply the sound to repaints? From what I understand the repaints are based on the vanilla vehicles.

Yes.

Also want to know if all vehicles will receive an ND version where necessary, such as the Dash 9 Pack. Flashing ditch lights added in the original NS Dash 9?

I'm not sure about the ND versions yet however we did add the flashing ditch lights to both the original Dash9Pack01 NS C44-9W and the PennCoal NS C44-9W however both units do not come with seperate ditch light nodes anymore in the GeoPxDx file so you won't see the actual ditch lights flash but instead the flashing light on the ground.

[BNSFdude]

Adding the advanced scripting and sound to repaints will be documented thoroughly in the manual.
I don't own Ian's D8s so it will prove to be a bit of a challenge there. On top of the fact Ian puts a lot of extra features into his stuff, that means we have to mirror everything he does in his Lua as well.

[BNSFdude]

I will be streaming the new D9 sounds for a bit today.
https://www.twitch.tv/dpsowoody

[crocs4022]

Had a chance to watch the stream tonight and have to say that i'm very much looking forward to this sound pack, especially the brake stand sounds. Call it "rivet counting" if you want, but it's nice to actually hear the brakes being applied in the cab rather than a whole lot of nothing which is what you find on most things.

[bnsfsubdivision]

There's more to show as we move closer to release.