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Background Sound Systems for Your Model Railroad

Posted on December 10, 2022

DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate We earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything through one of these links we will earn a commission.

In this video we are building a background sound system for Strebel Springs Pond logging railroad. While the locomotives will have their own sound systems, we are adding background sounds to the entire railroad as well as foreground sounds for several structures including the coating tower and turntable at the locomotive shops.

Adding background sounds and structure sounds really brings a layout to life!

We use Pro Tools to edit our sound tracks. It’s somewhat expensive so you may want to use Garageband or some other freeware. OR just go outside with your cell phone and record 30 seconds or so of the sounds you want.

The sound files must be in either WAV or OGG format but you can be convert them online from Mp3 or other files. Warning: NEVER DOWNLOAD A CONVERTER!! Most of these downloads are fake and/or malware.

16 thoughts on “Background Sound Systems for Your Model Railroad”

  1. Steve Heffernan says:
    December 10, 2022 at 6:36 pm

    Great job guys! Love it. And thanks for including Mr. Howes input for the board, hadn't heard of that one. Thanks!

  2. FunAtDisney says:
    December 10, 2022 at 5:50 pm

    When I heard the “eerie swamp” track I immediately thought of the opening bayou scene of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean that I was on just the other day. It’s the part where you leave the dock and go around the Blue Bayou restaurant as you make your way to the first drop. Amazing how a certain sound can just trigger your memories. And amazing that after 54 years that is still the quintessential Disney ride!

  3. Tims Antique Trains says:
    December 10, 2022 at 4:56 pm

    That little player might be what I need to add sound to my HO/ American Flyer railroad, including engine sounds, since none of my trains have built in sound. Fascinating video, as all yours are! Now I know why the audio in your videos is so good too, a professional sound man!
    (That must be why I spied a pair of Klipshorns? and a LaScala in one of your older videos?)
    My grandfather was an engineer on the Chicago Northwestern, and I install audio systems commercially so I have a love for both high quality audio (including Klipsch) and collecting and running model trains!

  4. Ronald Dwyer says:
    December 10, 2022 at 4:34 pm

    I love the back ground sound system. It makes it more realistic. I have though about adding it to my layout. I like to add it too with train trip sensor either optical or magnetic detector on the tracks. Then get sounds like trains crossing a wood trestle bridge, etc.. Thanks for the information and video on how to make sounds and the electronic circuit. The layout is looking and sounding fantastic. Be safe and look forward to Tuesday.👍🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂

  5. dkaustin98 says:
    December 10, 2022 at 3:45 pm

    You need to add in that "once in awhile" wood frame screen door slam caused when someone enters and exits. You may remember being told as a kid to not slam the door.

  6. John Rettig says:
    December 10, 2022 at 3:43 pm

    Don't forget to add Pine needles on the roof top and scattered around pretty much every where .
    I use Jute Twine separated to individual strands and in 1/20'th scale I would say cut them between 1/4 of an inch and 3/8 of an inch long

  7. John Rettig says:
    December 10, 2022 at 2:59 pm

    It does look like you have almost every frog sound that there is
    Except for the three most famous frogs …

    Bud

    Wis

    Er

  8. Roger Strate says:
    December 10, 2022 at 2:46 pm

    You guys never cease to amaze me. I loved this video

  9. Rangerstl07 says:
    December 10, 2022 at 2:11 pm

    Tree frogs are the only animal that can keep 2/3 of it's body weight stored as urine and expell it all in 1/8 of a second… Great googley moogley.

  10. John Clark says:
    December 10, 2022 at 2:06 pm

    Your figures look great and the background sounds sound great. Adding background sounds add so much to a layout, it really helps to set the scene. Well done.

  11. Magnificus says:
    December 10, 2022 at 1:56 pm

    Thank you for the great video! About to do this for my layout, so the timing was perfect

  12. Magnificus says:
    December 10, 2022 at 1:44 pm

    Could you provide a link to the 3W amplifier? Thanks!

  13. David Prins says:
    December 10, 2022 at 12:52 pm

    this soundboard may be the answer I've been looking for to add an Arduino based railroad crossing to the layout. The bell part was proving to be a problem as it was bogging down the Arduino, keeping it from flashing the lights correctly.

  14. ValConB says:
    December 10, 2022 at 12:20 pm

    I have been pondering how to get sound effects on our Dickens Christmas Village; this looks like just the thing! Thanks a bunch for sharing.👍

  15. Debbie Milka says:
    December 10, 2022 at 11:50 am

    does anyone have a sound effects system that has the sound of squealing wheel sets for rolling stock. I have been trying to find an example of it and so far I have had no success. Something that could be in several pieces of freight cars as they pass by on the layout. Thanks for a fantastic train video site !

  16. Fogheart says:
    December 10, 2022 at 11:33 am

    Hey, firstly, fantastic video and very interesting for someone who doesn't have their own model railroad!
    I'm an audio person helping a friend to bring some life to their railroad and I was wondering;
    Are you able to trigger multiple sounds simultaneously using the Adafruit soundboard?
    For example, I was thinking of having an ambient loop that plays constant as well as sounds for the Junction box levers being triggered when the trains approach the junction.
    Would this work?

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