MRC Sound Decoders…

quick facts the competition doesn't want you to know.

In addition to the widest range of sound decoders, MRC decoders feature...

• Compatibility with NMRA DCC standards. 
• Dual mode decoders (analog and digital)
• Drop in decoders, including narrow body N scale locos. No wiring. Easy snap-in installation
• Sound-on-sound capability
• The widest range of decoders, including O through N scale for many popular locos
• Memory chips with up to four times more capacity than the nearest competitor allow us to put up to 34 different horns and 14 different bell sounds on a single chip
• More memory means we never have to skimp on realism
• Sounds are recorded at trackside from working engines… not computer generated or enhanced
• Each MRC decoder comes with a matched speaker
• Depending on the decoder, ours will work with 8 16 or 32 ohm speakers
• Supports two or four digit addressing, up to 9,999 addresses, and handles advanced consisting (CV #19)

Decoder features you shouldn’t do without.

Functions? We’ve got 28. Our 28 functions deliver more control/adjustments over more sounds than most other decoders. In addition to the prime mover with all its associated, random sounds, we’ve a long list of “on-the-fly” sounds that you can call up or change without stopping to access CVs. Simply use the function buttons. These on-the-fly sounds include exhaust chuff, air pump, multiple coupling and uncoupling sounds, bells, cylinder cocks, steam, air and brakes, cooling fans, blower, air release, poppet valves, dynamic braking, reverse throttle, blower injector and more.

Special steam sounds. The sounds of the firebox door opening and closing, and the shoveling of coal are available. Some of our decoders even reproduce the unmistakable sounds of a spinning auger delivering coal to the firebox.

You’ll hear the difference. While others still use 8 bit sound, MRC has new 16 bit sound decoders which improve overall sound

quality.

We’ll put the lights on for you. Some of our decoders feature lighting effects. Depending on the decoder there can be up to four function outputs for controlling lights, including on-off  directional headlight, Rule 17 lighting, dimmable headlight, firebox flicker, Mars light, ditch lights, gyra light and strobe light.

Noise Abatement. Like other decoders, ours utilize  Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to control the speed of your loco. Occasionally, at low frequencies, PWM causes “noises” like humming or buzzing from loco motors. Our decoders are designed to automatically eliminate the “noise” in just about all locos

Volume  Control. For precise volume control, many of our recently introduced decoders feature up to 16 separate volume steps, allowing you to alter the level of most sounds separately.

Back E.M.F. (Electro Magnetic Force.) Each of our decoders features built-in Back EMF which senses the motor’s load-speed and synchronizes the sound accordingly. For instance, as a loco strains to pull a heavy load uphill it slows down, sensing this, the decoder automatically slows the chuff to synchronize it with the loco’s deceleration. 

Leading the way in whistles and horns.  Multiple whistles and horns have become a standard feature in many decoders. MRC pioneered this capability and today offers up to 34 different ones so you can select the sound that best fits your loco.

Adjustable speed curves. Our decoders allow you to set your loco to react differently at every speed step. This ability lets you fine tune your loco to your specific parameters.

Brake Squeal. We have it. Whether you’re working with steam or diesel locos, the highly recognizable squeal of the brakes can be found in many of our decoders.

Here’s why we sound better and are easier to use

Ahhh, the tricks of the trade. Some decoder makers record train sounds at idle and then play them back at a faster rate and higher volume. It sounds like the loco is actually notching up and picking up speed… when in reality all they’ve done is modify the same idle sound!

MRC decoders deliver real digital sounds from real prime movers…At MRC, our sound engineers go trackside and record each loco at its various speed notches. If the loco has eight notches, which most do, we record the eight notches in sequence as theRPMs are actually increasing. Our decoders allow you to hear a diesel motor actually change pitch relative to engine speed and load. When we say the sound is an actual SD45-2 with turbocharger or a specific GE or Alco loco, you can rest assured it’s for real.

More memory, more sounds, a difference you can hear… at this writing, our memory chips have four times more capacity than the nearest competitor.  This lets us put up to 34 different horns and 14 different bell sounds on a single chip, plus multiple prime movers, so you can pick the one that’s right for you. Our cutting edge decoder technology means we can do more. More memory means we don’t have to skimp on realism. If it’s in the real world, we’ll capture it for your real-life layout.  

Tiny drop-in sound decoders with matched speakers… MRC’s engineers and tech experts are model railroaders. They understand that while building a railroad is a labor of love, it takes enormous time and effort. That’s why every decoder and system we make is designed to make life easier for you. It explains why no one has more convenient, easy to install, drop in sound decoders than MRC. These include our unique and incredibly small, one-piece, dual mode N Scale on-board decoders, complete with mounted speakers. 

Want to change speakers? No need to test your soldering skills on a delicate PC board... because all our HO decoders have plugs for easy speaker change-outs. Just unplug one speaker and plug in another. MRC’s powerful speakers, aren’t just paired with any decoder. We make sure speakers are matched to decoders. The results are crisp, genuine sounds that elevate your model railroading enjoyment.

Why are our decoder sounds so loud?

Because we have nothing to hide…

we’re not ashamed of our sounds. Each one was recorded from real locos on a real railroad. And not massaged in a studio. We want you to hear it all… the clanging, moans, groans, hisses and squeaks. We want our decoders to express the symphony of heavy metal that signals a genuine loco is at work… including all the ambient sounds of a real railroad.

On the other hand, decoders using distorted, synthesized sounds don’t want you to hear everything. Look at it this way. You can always lower our sounds if you like. But when decoders have been programmed to maintain low volume you can’t ever raise it enough to  hear the real sounds of a working railroad.