Getting Real Column - 3
downtown sounds, where the additional bass adds to the
ambiance. Also, in these locations I used both right and left
speakers to take advantage of the "stereo" effect. Otherwise I
used only the left speaker, so most sound tracks are mono.
Each MP3 player needs the speaker that holds the amplifier and
connects to the power adapter. This is the right-side speaker in
each set, and I installed them in the cabinet under the layout,
along with the MP3 players
For the stereo locations, I attached speaker wire to the leads,
bringing the wiring outside the unit and under the layout to
the location where the sound would be heard. I cut the wire
on the left speaker and spliced it to the speaker wire under
the layout. Where space allowed, I used the left speaker. Often
the location would require a custom speaker size, so the left
speaker became surplus.
Sound quality is better if the speaker is installed within a box
or baffle. The idea is to prevent the sound waves coming from
the front of the speaker from traveling around to the back and
canceling out the sound wave. In many places I constructed a
simple styrene box that the speaker fits into. In other places
where the speaker is installed in one of the retaining walls, this
acts as an "infinite" baffle. There is no way for the sound from
the front of the speaker to travel directly around to the back of
the speaker.
In order to house the 20 MP3 players and associated right-
sided power supply/amplifier/volume control/on-off switch, I
built a cabinet from plywood and Masonite. This cabinet rolls
on small caster wheels and is located under the layout.
Sound Tracks
Sheffield Steel :
At the time I was building the steel mill,
Walther's offered a sound track tape for their steel mill kit. The
3: This is a sketch of the MP3 / speaker cabinet that holds the
components
.
3
tape is 45 minutes per side, for a total of 90 minutes. It is the
longest non-repeating sound effect on the layout.
In this location I decided to get "two for one" with the use of
the sound track. The left speaker was installed deep within the
Sheffield Steel complex on the left, and the right speaker was
installed within the Ford auto stamping plant on the right. This
would also produce a stereo effect on the right hand side of the
layout. The sounds are appropriate for either heavy industry.
Wilson Avenue:
In the real world, Wilson Avenue makes a sharp
turn to the right, and dives under the Terminal Railway tracks just
MRH-Jun 2013
