DCC Impulses Column - 2
North American market, they are best known for their decod-
ers: LokSound and LokPilot (non-sound). FYI, LokSound is not
pronounced LahkSound, but LōkSound with a long ō, like bōat.
Who is Matthew?
Matt’s title is General Manager, ESU, LLC. As such, he serves
the USA, Canadian and Australian markets. He is, in fact, the
spark plug behind the big steps that LokSound has made in
North American-style sound and operations.
A long-time modeler and railfan, Matt worked for Bowser after
he left the Marine Corps.
At Bowser, he was respon-
sible for the super-detailed
Executive Line of locomo-
tives, which fit with his nit-
picky personality.
Matt introduced
sound to Bowser, start-
ing with LokSound. He
then changed to the
SoundTraxx’ Tsunami, feel-
ing the detail of sound
was, at the time, a better
fit for the super-detailed
Executive Line locomo-
tives. His recent improve-
ments in LokSound’s sound
have prompted Bowser to
change back.
When Yvonne and Dennis
Gapinski, the prior import-
ers, retired in 2010, ESU
approached Matt to take over its North American operations.
The detail-oriented Marine and the German company make
for an interesting combination. Matt wanted to bring his
extreme interest in the minutiae to the product line. I believe
the modeler is the winner as a result of the give-and-take
relationship between Matt and the factory.
Matt states that his goal was to bring the best of all decoders
together to provide the modeler a better product and encour-
age development and enhancement by other manufacturers.
He has worked to create a product that has the sound qual-
ity of the Tsunami, the motor control of TCS, and the robust
horns of QSI. It is his goal to allow as much flexibility for the
modeler as possible and give them the best of all features
desired in today’s market. ESU has labeled it: “LokSound...
Sound Super-Detailed!”
1. Matt Herman, General Man-
ager of ESU North America.
ESU photo.
1
2. LokSound Select 21MTC 21-pin decoder, used in OEM
locos and available for separate sales, too. ESU photo.
2
MRH-Dec 2014
