With MixPad multi-track recording and mixing software, you can access all the power of professional recording and mixing equipment through a single platform that streamlines the process and makes mixing a breeze.
See mixing software screenshots >>>Mixing Software Features
Easily record multiple tracks by putting more than one track into record standby mode. MixPad has many powerful recording features including the ability to record several different sources into different tracks at the same time.
MixPad includes a built-in MIDI editor for finite control of MIDI files and tracks, streamlining the entire audio production process. Add or delete notes from MIDI tracks and files while humanizing your MIDI productions.
Create a beat track by using one of the included percussion kits or customize your own kit with sounds from your computer. Customize one of the sample beats or use the simple click-and-drag interface to start from scratch.
Easy-to-use beat maker includes intuitive controls to enable and disable individual sounds. Make a beat with bass/kick, snare, hi-hats, tom, cymbals, cowbell and more. You can also add your own custom kit and sounds!
This is an overview about programming Digitrax SoundFX decoders. After reviewing the existing sound project examples, one comes to realize the only limit to their functions, other than memory size, is our own imagination. It is possible to program any function key to perform an action, even depending on whether the loco is idle, moving forward, or in reverse.
Pressing F2 when the loco is idle and in forward, results in two toots.
Pressing F2 when the loco is idle and in reverse, results in 3 toots.
F2 Horn works normally when the loco is moving.
F7 is the grade crossing horn with ringing bell, the bell stops when F7 is pressed again.
F10, F11, F12 are used for cab chatter - voice instructions recorded from rail traffic heard thru a scanner.
The horn sound I used was obtained from the internet.
MS Windows, XP or Vista work well.
SoundLoader software downloaded for free from the Digitrax website along with any of the existing sample sound projects in the SoundDepot www.digitrax.com/sounddepot.php . To create ones own sounds, download and install the free version of WAVEPAD from www.nch.com.au/wavepad/ .
No problems were encountered installing any of the software mentioned in this note. The PR2 requires a serial port on the pc or a serial-to-usb adapter, one may have to do some debugging getting an adapter to work. The 12v DC power supply plugs into the PR2 system which is connected to a standalone piece of track. The PR2, www.digitrax.com/prd_compint_pr2.php , comes with a DB25 TO DB9 adapter.
The SoundLoader software, available for free from the Digitrax website, is used to create sound projects (SPJ) and download them into a decoder thru the PR2 Programmer. This program can be used without the PR2 to examine existing sample spj files and play the individual .wav sound files contained in them. SoundLoader is used to create a single "package" which contains the .wav sound files, SDF function code, a MAP file, and a TXT text description file. A double mouse click on any of the displayed .wav files will play them, a right mouse click is used to change them.
You will see labels for HORN_START and HORN1_START, HORN1 is the default standard horn and the HORN files are for the alternate horn. The alternate horn .wav files can be removed to make room for others you wish to use.
With the SoundLoader program one can export the MAP and TXT files from one of the samples to review or edit them and then reload them into the SPJ. The Digitrax SoundDepot currently contains 23 sound projects which can be downloaded for free, examined or edited with SoundLoader, and installed in a decoder. These projects are a good starting point and may completely meet your needs. It's easy to change the sound files such as the horn or bell, just right mouse click the .wav file you want to change and assign your own file, then download the SPJ to the decoder.
When downloading the sound files to the decoder, it's easy to put more .wav files into the project than the decoder can hold. When this happens, the decoder will not respond to movement instructions or play any sounds. The solution is to re-edit the sound project and remove some of the sound files and download it again. SoundLoader does provide information about the size of the project but it is easy to miss the fact that the result is more than the amount of decoder memory.
The yahoo Digitrax sound group was created as a place to share files. Unfortunately, in the past 18 months only one horn sound has been submitted. The owner of the group is concerned about copyright which effectively limits sound submissions to those we have recorded ourselves or obtained permission to use. With the huge amount of sound files available on records, CDs, DVDs, and the internet, many of us will not be posting our sound files to that group collection but editing existing files for ourselves and sharing with friends and thru model railroad clubs.
The apparent lack of existing sound files should not discourage anyone from using these excellent decoders. The WAVEPAD program can be used to edit any existing sound file for your own use. It can also be used to copy sounds from any sound project. When creating your own sound files it is important to keep them as short as possible to minimize memory usage. Horn sounds are the most complex, they are made up of 3 pieces, part of the beginning, a second or less of the middle of the sound, and a short part of the ending. The middle part is what is played continuously as you press F2.
Anyone considering using SoundFX decoders should download the SoundLoader program and one of the sound projects from the SoundDepot and study it and browse the text description and export the MAP file.
Downloading my SPJ file to the decoder takes 2.5 minutes and one hears static from the speaker while this is happening. After downloading, SoundLoader has a menu option, SoundTest, which can be used to simulate operating the locomotive. It has 28 function keys as well as direction control and speed. The locomotive does not move on the track, only the sound function of the decoder is tested. This is a very handy feature.
Most model railroaders will be happy using SoundLoader as described above. The next part of this note is for those who want to modify any of their locomotive functions or add new features by customizing a Sound Definition File.
For this it helps to have experience programming computers. Previous use of a macro assembler is an advantage, any programming knowledge is second best, third best is an inquisitive nature to determine how this code works. For all others, I recommend joining a model rail club (or use the internet) to find someone with the necessary experience to do the coding for you or provide advice.
There are two necessary files, snd_cmd.inc and snd_macs.inc, that can be obtained free from Digitrax or someone who has a copy. These are called Include files and are required to assemble an SDF file. Digitrax asks that we do not charge for any SDF or SPJ files we create but share them freely with others. Charging a fee for downloading to a decoder is ok. Only files that do not have possible copyright issues can be posted to the Digitrax site.
The software required to convert our macro assembler language code can be obtained for free from www.microchip.com by going to the MPLAB IDE page and downloading version 8.01. Install it on your pc, when first started select the CONFIGURE/SET DEVICE menu option and choose the name of the computer processor chip that the decoder uses, PIC18F242. This can be found in the first line of any existing SDF macro assembler language program. Start by joining the yahoo SoundFX group and downloading a copy of the generic_diesel3e.asm file. This is a complex example of what can be done with the decoder but provides a good basis to modify for one's own use or to learn from.
Create a new folder for your programming and put the Include files in there too. Your programs can be edited with the MAPLAB Interactive Development Environment (IDE). To compile the code, choose the menu option PROJECT/QUICK BUILD. You will be notified of any errors in the assembly. Assuming there are none, there will now be a .HEX file in your folder, this is the new SDF file.
7fc3f7cf58