No (or low) cost sound solution

Mobi

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If you have a small rechargeable Bluetooth speaker that can offer ready made train sound solution.

Place the speaker inside loco (if space permits) or in a trailing wagon.

Then connect with your phone.

Technically you can play any sound via your phone but when I tried I found default sound players in phone often inserts a momentary pause when playing sounds in a loop.

So here is an AI generated code to play sounds in loop properly along with horn or other sounds playing simultaneously. This is plain JavaScript in HTML so any web browser can run it.

You need to source your own sounds though but that is easy as there are plenty of train sounds on internet.

You can use ffmepg utility to cut sounds to your needs using this command.
C:\Application\ffmpeg\bin\ffmpeg -ss 0:05 -i input.wav -t 0:03 output.m4a
assuming you want to extract from 0:05 seconds of input file for 3 seconds duration.

Of course, purists may frown upon this approach as the sound will not be speed dependent. However, you can manually play appropriate sound files for slow, medium and fast running of your chosen locomotive.

It works fine with my running style where I leave trains running in a loop at a fixed speed i.e. don't vary speed continuously.

I have attached the HTML file and some sample sounds for testing.
 

Attachments

I got myself a cracking little bluetooth speaker for a christmas wagon. Great sound and only £10 on Amazon.
 
It is a shame 'Model Sounds' went out of business as there were cracking speakers and ideal for all sorts on the railway.
 
I got myself a cracking little bluetooth speaker for a christmas wagon. Great sound and only £10 on Amazon.
I have similar MP4 player, bought Ebay too, with integrated little speaker. Bought it to run "generator" soundclip to run in WHR service coach. Superbly irritating sound, pity I cannot loop it to extend play beyond 40 secs :D Max

 
I installed a Blunami HO card in a tram loco and the Blunami created sound on the phone app, relevant to what was going on. Instructions told me to put a small speaker in the tram, which I did.
 
I have similar MP4 player, bought Ebay too, with integrated little speaker. Bought it to run "generator" soundclip to run in WHR service coach. Superbly irritating sound, pity I cannot loop it to extend play beyond 40 secs :D Max

I bought something similar (might even be the same). If the play button is pressed it plays and then stops at the end. If the play button is pressed for 5 seconds it loops the sound. WAV or MP3 files can be uploaded via a USB C lead or can be recorded with the inbuilt mic (not very good quality though. Adding a simple sound box (ie toilet roll) improves the sound a fair bit.


Rik
 
I bought something similar (might even be the same). If the play button is pressed it plays and then stops at the end. If the play button is pressed for 5 seconds it loops the sound. WAV or MP3 files can be uploaded via a USB C lead or can be recorded with the inbuilt mic (not very good quality though. Adding a simple sound box (ie toilet roll) improves the sound a fair bit.


Rik
The listing .....

Screenshot_2026-06-11-17-36-11-068.jpg

Rik
 
I bought something similar (might even be the same). If the play button is pressed it plays and then stops at the end. If the play button is pressed for 5 seconds it loops the sound. WAV or MP3 files can be uploaded via a USB C lead or can be recorded with the inbuilt mic (not very good quality though. Adding a simple sound box (ie toilet roll) improves the sound a fair bit.


Rik
Interesting tips Rik. Thank you, I'll try them out. It would be nice if the one I had operated with that "auto-loop" function. Max
 
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