Throttle Modes
Contents
Prototype Throttle Mode
Proto Notch
Proto Notch™ is the TCS exclusive approach to matching the motive power sounds of your model locomotive with the prototype. Using our advanced BEMF motor algorithm, Proto Notch™ decoders can sense exactly how much force is being applied to the rails to move your locomotive and train. By matching that information with prototype performance, we can scale the effort of the model to the real thing and play the right sound to match the work being done.
WOWDiesel
WOWDiesel decoders are configured with diesel-specific prototypical notching. The WOWDiesel decoder selects which notch (1-8) the prototype locomotive would have to be in to haul your scale load at your scale speed. Then it plays the corresponding prime mover sound to emulate the correct power for that notch.
WOWSteam
WOWSteam decoders are configured with variable chuff intensity to emulate prototypical throttling. Your locomotives will make faster and harsher chuff sounds as you ramp up speed or increase the load, and soften to slower and smoother chuffs under lighter loads and less pressure. When the locomotive is coasting, rod clanks and snifters also activate depending on coasting rate and track grade.
The video below can teach you all you need to know about Prototype Throttle Mode:
WOWDiesel Auto Notching
TCS brought auto notching to the model train hobby with the advent of the very first WOWDiesel decoder. It is arguably the coolest feature of the WOWSound decoder!
Auto notching is only available in the Prototype Throttle Mode. Auto notching allows the decoder to sense the load it is under, and decide what notch to be in. Auto notching is unlike Traditional Throttle Mode where the active notch is based exclusively on the speed. With Auto notching the prime mover sound is constantly changing as it goes up hills, around curves, picks up more cars, and coasts down hills!
In order to make the best use of auto notching, you must calibrate the locomotive in Audio Assist® so it knows what the ruling grade is on your layout and will be in notch 8 as it traverses it. Every locomotive is different, both in the sense of unqiue characteristics of the motor and gearing, as well as the "normal" operating conditions in which you run it. All of these factors need to be accounted for, and thus a calibration is needed in order for the decoder to "learn" your railroad.
To calibrate your WOWDiesel locomotive so that it knows the ruling grade and downhill grades on your layout enter Audio Assist® and go to the calibration menu (menu 3.2) and follow the audio prompt from the decoder. It will ask you to run the locomotive in a coasting condition and then a notch 8 condition. (PRO TIP: While on the calibration menu you can calibrate the coasting point by pressing function 1 or the notch 8 point by pressing button 2, even if the menu is telling you to do otherwise)
Behind the scenes Audio Assist® is saving the calibration data to indexed CV4:17 BEMF Calibration Low and CV4:18 BEMF Calibration High both CV's can be programmed tweaked manually. TCS recommends calibrating using Audio Assist® and then manually tweaking the CV's if need be.
WOWSteam Auto Chuff Intensity
Other Prototype Throttle Mode Features
In Prototype Throttle Mode, the default momentum values are set to the "Mainline Momentum" values stored in the decoder as part of the Momentum Modes feature. The Mainline Momentum values are typically high momentum values which create a more realistic operating experience. The higher momentum values require you to use the Train Brake to slow down your train, rather than simply using the speed control on your throttle.
Traditional Throttle Mode
Traditional throttle mode is how sound decoders of the past would "traditionally" operate, where the chuff intensity was one constant volume, or the prime mover notch is related directly to the speed. E.G. every (n) speed steps (of 128 speed steps) is a different notch, so the faster you go the higher the notch you will be in.
See the video below for a demonstration of Traditional Throttle Mode:
Configuration Options
Traditional throttle mode can be selected though and can be selected using Audio_Assist® menu 4.1. Both WOWSteam and WOWDiesel support Traditional Throttle Mode.
(WOWDiesel ONLY): The speed setpoints that the prime mover changes notches are controlled by CV165 through CV172 - where CV165 controls when the locomotive goes into Notch 1 and CV172 controls what speed step the locomotive goes into Notch 8.
(WOWSteam ONLY): To adjust the volume of the Chuff while in Traditional Throttle Mode, you need to change the volume level for the sound type "Chuff." This can be done easily through Audio Assist®. Note that making this change to the Chuff volume type will affect the maximum volume that the Chuff can reach when in Prototype Throttle Mode.
Other Traditional Throttle Mode Features
When you select Traditional Throttle Mode, the momentum values are set to the "Switching Momentum" values stored in the decoder as part of the Momentum Modes feature. The Switching Momentum values are typically low momentum values which disregard realism in favor of a "snappy" and "slot-car-like" operating experience which closely ties the speed of the locomotive to the speed on your handheld throttle. While it is still possible to slow down your locomotive using the Train Brake, it is not a requirement with Traditional Throttle Mode. That said, you can use the Momentum Modes feature to switch back to Mainline Momentum in case you only want to have the notching or chuff intensity be constant but the momentum be realistic.
