Model Sounds Inc.

Posted by Mark Reynolds on 13/11/2013 21:10:53: Well the software is very easy to use; you can drag and drop sound files, in the correct wav or mp3 format, onto the sound unit with ease once you have it all set up. I am busy setting it up now. I will save a few surprises for the maiden. Thumbs up, I will just point out for those that don't have our system, that you do not need to install or use the software in order to use the sound module - it comes ready to use. You only need to use the SW if you want to change any of the many configurable settings, or edit the sounds. Regards, David

Posted by Dave Miller on 09/11/2013 08:01:17: The speaker cable supplied is a very stiff twisted pair. If I untwist this cable to route the two wire cores separately will I experience any problems? One of the cores will run close to a servo lead for about a foot at one point. DO NOT untwist the speaker or battery wires under any circumstances. They are tightly twisted together for a very good reason - i.e. to reduce EMI (ElectroMagnetic Interference). When tightly twisted together the EM field generated by the current flowing in one wire will be cancelled out by the EM field generated by the current flowing in the opposite direction in the other wire. If you untwist them you will increase the EMI radiated by the wires. Regards, David Harrison

Mark, the ShockWave2 sound module comes with a 4GB micro-SD card. About 1/2 of that is taken up with our entire collection of aircraft sounds so the remaining 2GB could be used for extremely long sounds e.g. about 3.5 hours at 44100/16 bits. Also, by default, the sound loops will play indefinitely as long as they are switched on, so you don't really need a longggg air raid siren - only one that lasts long enough so the repeat sounds natural e.g. about 20 seconds. To change the default behaviour you use the SFXPC4 Windows SW. In the regular sound clip list you can right click on any sound and select the "Looping->Play Once" menu item. Then Click the Save Settings button. For remote volume control you need to configure that in the SFXPC4 Control Panel->Hardware Tab. The SOUND1 input can be set for remote R/C volume control. Then you'd use the SOUND2 input for selecting the regular sounds. You'd probably need to set the offset# for SOUND2 input to 0 as well. Regards, David

Posted by Martin Harris on 05/11/2013 13:55:54: Next step will be for an enterprising manufacturer to make an oil and smut distribution system for added realism so that the model will ooze oil and soot like the real thing! Just out of interest, how are sound equipped models regarded at "electric only" sites? These sound systems do come with a volume control that can be turned down if the full volume sound level is too much. Also our ShockWave sound module can be configured to adjust the volume remotely from the transmitter.

It doesn't help that U.K. VAT is a whopping 20%. The actual customs duty is a few %, I believe, but it is the dammed tax that gets you - blame that on the U.K. government, I guess. We cannot declare an artificially low value, or declare it as a gift, because a) that immediately raises suspicions by the customs officers and attracts their attention and b) it is illegal and we could be subject to fines and other financial penalties. Be careful when looking at alternative products based on price alone - as with anything else in this world - you get what you pay for.

Posted by Greybeard on 26/10/2013 10:49:00: I received a letter from Royal Mail this morning informing me that if I pay them £13.50 plus £32.65 Import Vat then they will deliver the system next Tuesday. I remain puzzled as to why goods from HK in China do not carry these penalty charges. I fully sympathize with our U.K. customers who have to pay U.K. customs duties and VAT, but any foreign country's importation charges are completely outside of our control. We know very well about import duties and taxes as when we import goods from China , HK and even the U.S, just across our border, we have to pay Canadian import duties, federal taxes, brokerage fees and taxes on the brokerage fees. I have no idea why U.K. customers do not have to pay taxes and duties on stuff from China/HK. But if it is any consolation, consider if you travelled on holiday to a country outside the EU, and returned to the U.K. with foreign goods purchased on holiday, the U.K customs people would clobber you right there when you arrived home. It seems to me it depends on what side of the bed, the customs officer got out of that day - sometimes you get charged, sometimes you don't. We all hate paying importation duties and paying taxes - we do too, but they are the facts of buying internationally, I'm afraid.

Posted by Greybeard on 25/10/2013 07:49:44: Actually it is the machine guns that I really need. We can do machine guns, rockets firing, sirens, military music, national anthems - anything you like.

Posted by Concorde Speedbird on 24/10/2013 20:26:49: Calm down. But we all know we can't beat a real engine! All in good spirit! CS Hey, my post was in jest too!

Posted by Delta Whiskey on 24/10/2013 20:20:00: So basically you are all missing the sound of a good old engine ! Not sure I could justify $199 on a speaker system - no pun intended or glow v electric debate just a bit of fun - enjoy ! So would you like your model Spitfire to sound like a weed whacker, or a Rolls Royce Merlin Engine!!!

Posted by Greybeard on 24/10/2013 15:25:18: Posted by Model Sounds Inc. on 24/10/2013 13:40:47: Posted by Greybeard on 24/10/2013 07:54:50: David, As an aside it is not a good idea to use a postal system that links with our Royal Mail for delivery because not only do they take forever to sort out the taxes due but they also charge £10 for the privilege of doing it. FedEx are much better because they deliver without delay and just provide an invoice, without a clearing fee, which can be paid on line. I suppose I should have told you that when I placed my order. Hi, we always use the postal system for deliveries (to over 45 countries, BTW), unless otherwise requested by the customer since it ALWAYS works out to be less expensive for the customer. If we had used a courier service such as FedEx or UPS , they charge MUCH more than Canada Post even taking into account the £10 brokerage fee that Royal Mail charge. Regards, David

Posted by Greybeard on 24/10/2013 07:54:50: I am awaiting delivery of my system (which it seems has been in UK customs for a week) and intend mounting downward firing speakers in the wing. I’m wondering if, since the covering will be doped nylon, should I install balsa sheeting over the top of the speakers to act as sound reflectors? By "downward" I assume you mean the speaker cone is facing outwards, i.e. down when the plane is in normal, level flight? Doped nylon is not going to let the sound out very well. And using balsa in speaker box construction is not good because it is too soft. A speaker box should be as rigid and sturdy as possible.

Posted by Tim Mackey on 16/10/2013 19:21:32: I used the model sounds of Canada system some years back, in a short lived Sopwith Camel. The article did appear in the mag, and if you check the "customer videos" section on Model sounds inc website, it is still featured there for you to check out. ... Just so you know, Model Sounds Inc. is the new name for "Model Solutions of Canada Ltd." We changed our company name almost two years ago. The new name is simpler, easier to remember, and more relevant to what we do.

Posted by Mark Reynolds on 16/10/2013 13:45:16: So at long last the sound system has turned up. ... I am still reading the instruction manual as it is all quite complicated at first glance. I have never set up anything like this before so I will have to take my time... The printed quick-start guide, which is only 6 pages, is really all you need read to get started. Then later, if you want to learn all about its full capabilities, you can read the reference manual on the micro-SD card. Regards, David

Posted by Allan Bennett on 07/10/2013 11:17:23: Posted by Model Sounds Inc. on 06/10/2013 21:58:53: Posted by Allan Bennett on 06/10/2013 21:45:36: Posted by Model Sounds Inc. on 03/10/2013 17:09:36: ... I will also make a comment about the so called 2 x 40Watt output claimed by one competitor for his outboard amplifer. That is a theoretical maximum only and can only be achieved when it is drivng 2 Ohm loads and at 18Volts. When driving 4 Ohm speakers the theoretical maximum power is 2 x 20Watts at 18Volts. Since you can't buy 2 Ohm loudspeakers, that is a rather misleading claim, to say the least. Regards, David Harrison CEO, Model Sounds Inc. Maybe you can't buy 2-ohm loudspeakers, but isn't two 4-ohm speakers in parallel effectively the same? If so, that would presumably enable the 2x40 watt output that you mention. Yes, that's correct, but that would imply using a total of four 4oHm loudspeakers. Only the very largest models could accommodate that. -David I have no axe to grind on this topic, but it does catch my attention when one manufacturer/vendor starts rubbishing a competitor's offerings. As with most things, you have to read the spec. to see that 2x40 watts is available provided you use 2-ohm speakers. In fact, if you're talking about the manufacturer I think you are, that fact is stated in the headline descriptions of the amplifiers, not the "small print". So what's "misleading" about that? Allan, I think you are misinterpreting my intention here. I am not "rubbishing" anyone. In fact this other manufacturer has a good product. All I was doing is pointing out that you have to be careful when reading manufacturer's claims. Amplifier and loudspeaker manufacturers (all of them) have a notorious reputation for overstating the capability of their products and making claims of performance that, when you really look into it, are not achievable under typical operating conditions. Even though they may clarify their claims in the specs., the vast majority of modellers who are not well versed in electronics won't understand the significance of many of those specs. and may think that they can achieve the manufacturer's claims under any and all operating conditions. So, as with anything else, buyer beware.

Posted by Allan Bennett on 06/10/2013 21:45:36: Posted by Model Sounds Inc. on 03/10/2013 17:09:36: ... I will also make a comment about the so called 2 x 40Watt output claimed by one competitor for his outboard amplifer. That is a theoretical maximum only and can only be achieved when it is drivng 2 Ohm loads and at 18Volts. When driving 4 Ohm speakers the theoretical maximum power is 2 x 20Watts at 18Volts. Since you can't buy 2 Ohm loudspeakers, that is a rather misleading claim, to say the least. Regards, David Harrison CEO, Model Sounds Inc. Maybe you can't buy 2-ohm loudspeakers, but isn't two 4-ohm speakers in parallel effectively the same? If so, that would presumably enable the 2x40 watt output that you mention. Yes, that's correct, but that would imply using a total of four 4oHm loudspeakers. Only the very largest models could accommodate that. -David

Posted by Mark Reynolds on 03/10/2013 09:08:14: With your model sounds amp John, does it need to be in airflow? Or is inside the fuselage ok? I can see from your pictures that you have it inside, just wondered how hot it got? Just to clarify something, our ShockWave sound module does not use a separate ampflier board, like at least one competitor does. Our sound module incorporates its own 40Watt audio power amplifier right on the sound module board. Becaiuse of its highly efficient Class D power amp. it does not need a heatsink and it does not need to be in a moving airflow. It should, however, have free convection air around it and not be enclosed in a case. How warm it gets depends on what voltage you operate it at. It does get quite warm when operated on its maxmium 6S supply. It has built it thermal overheating protection and we have never known any of our sound modules to shutdown because they got too hot. I will also make a comment about the so called 2 x 40Watt output claimed by one competitor for his outboard amplifer. That is a theoretical maximum only and can only be achieved when it is drivng 2 Ohm loads and at 18Volts. When driving 4 Ohm speakers the theoretical maximum power is 2 x 20Watts at 18Volts. Since you can't buy 2 Ohm loudspeakers, that is a rather misleading claim, to say the least. Regards, David Harrison CEO, Model Sounds Inc.

Posted by John Holliday 1 on 30/09/2013 16:36:04: Hi, I have installed a sound system to my Hangar 9 Hellcat. The system was bought from Model Sounds. The people at Model Sounds were very helpful and the service was excellent. ... On this system when you fire the guns the engine noise stops therefore you can clearly hear the guns you can also clearly see the LEDS flashing even on a clear day. This behaviour is not the default since the ShockWave sound module can play two engine sounds plus gunfire sounds all simultaneously. John must have re-configured it to "Single Sound Mode" which will stop a currently playing sound when a second one is triggerderd. David Harrison CEO, Model Sounds Inc.

You can enquire to our company - Model Sounds Inc. that make some great sound systems for model airplanes, helis, boats, tanks, trains, just about anything electric. We have only a small colelction of car sounds, but would work you to find a suitable one for your car. Send an email to [email protected]. Regards, David Harrison, SMIEEE CEO/Chief Design Engineer Model Sounds Inc., Ottawa, Canada Bringing models alive with sound www.modelsoundsinc.com