This query should probably be posted on the ESU forum but since it involves a Marklin loco I will post it here first.

I recently bought a second hand loco that came with a LokSound v3.5 decoder. It works fine and the sound is ok with all the assigned sounds slots to the function buttons. I have even been able to reassign these with my LokProgrammer.

I want to learn how to the sound assignments work and how one can adjust it using LokProgrammer but this is where I get stuck. The program has only one read button (Read Decoder Data) but it has three write buttons (Write Decoder Date, Write Sound Update and Write Sounds Assignments). Q1 – How do I read Sounds and Sound Assignments? When I read the decoder with the one and only read button I don’t get any of the blue squares like the manual shows, nor can I play any segments. My suspicion is that the LokProgrammer has not read it.

I know that there is a Sound Wizard which helps you upload sound that one download from the ESU web site (or your own file) but I am not keen to try it in case I need to go back to what I have there now, and since I don’t seem to be able to read it I obviously can’t save it either. Q2 Are sounds and Sound Assignments normally visible and playable in LokProgrammer after reading a decoder?

It seems that unlike the basic decoder date which one can read and write freely the sound related info is write-only oriented. Assuming this is the way it is then Q3 How do I find out which downloaded file was uploaded into the decoder? (so that I can go back to it if uploading a new sound does not work out)

Any help or tips would be welcome. Thanks.

Read Decoder: change your settings as you wish and than write decoder.
for instance if you change the lokonumber from 3 to 4 write 4 and write decoder, the changes will appear under loco number or the CV's.
If you would like to increase or decrease the light level change the lever from left to right (1-15)or change the type of light you prefer. e.g. dimmer, etc etc.
when you've done all your changes, write decoder. "do not write sound".
Use the Loksound #.5V handbook and find the CV's you need to change.
If you like to change the sound or increase the volume to 200%, download your Loksound V3.5, open by clicking a specific loco sound file e.g. BR 01.
A new window will open BR 01 sound file, go to sound decoder and you will find all the sound program written in a window.
It will give you all the sound slots at 100% sound volume or 200% sound volume.
If you like to increase the sound go to 200%.
when you've finished changing everything, write sound,
Leave your loco on the track and it will automatically download the sound onto your loco.



regards.,
John

Having played around with this I have figured it out for myself, but I will share it here in case anyone else needs to merge two projects. First of all the answer to Q4 is yes, which makes the merging a bit tricky. Here are the steps if you want to do a firmware update (which is optional)as well:

1. Read the decoder data and save it as the "as bought" project. This will not have any sound data.
2. This step is optional: Run the decoder firmware update program after having downloaded it. (NB: will erase all data & sounds in the decoder)
3. Open the "as bought" project and write the decoder data from step 1 to the decoder.
4. Open the downloaded project from which you want to extract the sound without the decoder data and write only the sound and sound assignments to the decoder.
5. Read the decoder data into the open project which will replace the default data, but leave the sound as is.
6. Save the project using "save-as" with a new name. You now have both the "as bought" decoder data and the downloaded sound and sound assignment in one project.
7. You may need to go into "Sound Settings" under "Decoder" and change which number sound slot you want for each function key.
8. If you needed to change setting in step 7 you also need to write the decoder data (only) to the decoder and then save the project as well.