Arduino DCC Function Servo Sound decoder

Railway hobby friend Erik Holewijn came with the idea to add sound to the Arduino Function / Servo decoder. And moreover … he had created the Windows PC software to make it possible!

In a joint effort, we shared some ideas and worked them out together. We’re proud to present here … the combined Arduino DCC Function / Servo / Sound Decoder with accompanying PC sound software.

What can be done with the DCC decoder is:
•    Control digital outputs (max 16)
•    Control servo motors (max 12)
•    Control playback of sounds on a PC that is connected via USB
•    Start / stop of a function can be delayed for a specified time

You do not need to be a software expert to create your own function decoder. All that needs to be done is to configure the functions, the servos and the sounds. It’s all explained in the User Manual.

The software plus a User Manual will be available for download over here as soon as it has had it’s final touch. Please check back in a few days, we will add a new post when it is here. is available for download over here (edit 2015-02-15)

Function config:
accessory[0].address = 1; // The DCC address to react to
accessory[0].mode = 3; // 1=Continuous, 2=Oneshot, 3=Flasher
accessory[0].outputPin = 13; // Arduino Pin where the hardware is connected to
accessory[0].outputPin2 = 12; // Every Flasher has 2 outputs with opposing states
accessory[0].invert = 0; // 0=output HIGH if DCC enabled, 1=output LOW if DCC enabled
accessory[0].playsound = 1;  // 1=plays a sound via DCCSound.exe, which sound is configured there
accessory[0].ontime = 300; // Time that outputPin is HIGH and outputPin2 is LOW
accessory[0].offtime = 700; // Time that outputPin is LOW and outputPin2 is HIGH
accessory[0].ondelay = 2000; // Delay in ms before function switches on after DCC enabled
accessory[0].offdelay = 4000; // Delay in ms before function switches off after DCC disabled

Servo config:
servos[0].accessorynumber=0; // CONNECTION BETWEEN FUNCTION (accessory[n]) AND SERVO
servos[0].servo.attach(10); // Arduino pin number where servo is connected to
servos[0].angle=70; // Angle of servo. Make this the same as offangle to avoid startup jitter
servos[0].offangle=70; // Setpoint angle when DCC disabled
servos[0].onangle=110; // Setpoint angle when DCC enabled

Sound config: DCC address , soundfile , duration (0=no limit) , min_random_repat_time , max_random_repat_time
16,train_arrives.mp3,0,0,0
t13:00,churchbell_01.wav,0,0,0
t00:00,dogbarking.mp3,0,30,300