The model itself is quite excellent and to the standard we now expect from Acurascale. BUT, and it's a big but! >>>>>The sound file, however, is utterly diabolical and beyond doubt the absolute worst I have ever encountered! It's an absolute shocker, really awful! It's been completely messed up and needs redoing/reworking in the studio and then all of the existing sound decoders will require reblowing. Accurascale should offer this to all of their customers as it is a FAULTY SOUND FILE on the decoder.
Technically speaking, the audio recording, or during the editing process of the recording, the sound file level has been badly "clipping" and therefore distorting. This is due to the base level (volume) being set far too high and there not being enough "audio headroom left to maintain clear sound throughout the recording during volume peaks. When this happens, generally the level was set near to max/peaking during a quieter section of audio, and so as the recorded volume increases (as the engine picks up and heads towards a thrash) it hits the audio ceiling and distorts thereafter. This is why the engine tick-over part of the sound file seems fine in comparison, and doesn't distort
. Studios usually use a device called a compressor/limiter to automatically maintain clear sound throughout the volume/level fluctuations. This works by attenuating (cutting) the high volume peaks at and over a particular set level (adjustable) and can also amplify (boost) lower levels too in order to make all the sounds clear and audible across the range. This is pretty basic stuff for anyone creating a sound file. I can only imagine that a mistake was made, or the sound file creator didn't know what he/she was doing. Either way it is shocking that this faulty sound file product has found its way into the retailing loco.
Accurascale seem generally to have sound file issues. Their class 66 seems to be correct but other locos; the class 37 for instance, is too quiet. Come on Accurascale, you've had plenty of time to settle your product problems by now so sort these issues out in future BEFORE the model's release to market!
