MODEL SOUNDS ShockWave 3 Quick user guide

ShockWave®3 Sound Module
Version 5.1.1 Hardware Reference Manual
For ShockWave 3 Rev. 08 boards
Date: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 1 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
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ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 2 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 –THE BASICS –GETTING STARTED .......................................................................................... 6
Terminal Block and Connectors H1/H2 Detail........................................................................................ 6
HEADER 1 Detail –Use Male-Male or Male-Male-Female Servo Leads......................................... 7
Terminal Block TB1 Detail –Use 22AWG solid core wire............................................................... 7
HEADER 2 Detail.............................................................................................................................. 7
Mounting the Module............................................................................................................................. 8
What Battery Capacity Do I Need? ......................................................................................................... 8
Applying Power to the ShockWave 3...................................................................................................... 9
Removing Power From the ShockWave 3 .............................................................................................. 9
Supply Voltage Considerations ............................................................................................................. 10
Basic Hardware Settings ....................................................................................................................... 10
Why Do I Have to Wait So Long For The LEDS to Stop Flashing? ......................................................... 10
Correct Switch-On sequence for Transmitter/Receiver/Sound Module.............................................. 10
CHAPTER 2 –RADIO COMPATIBILITY........................................................................................................ 11
Use RC Industry Standard PWM Receivers........................................................................................... 11
Telemetry And Some Gyro Stabilized Receivers May Cause Problems................................................ 11
You May Have to Adjust the Startup Delay Period............................................................................... 12
Pistol Grip Radios Not Recommended.................................................................................................. 12
CHAPTER 3 –HOW TO WIRE THE SHOCKWAVE 3 MODULE..................................................................... 13
Wiring for One Throttle With Receiver Battery.................................................................................... 13
Wiring for One Throttle Without Receiver Battery .............................................................................. 14
Wiring For Twin Motors/ESCs With ONE Throttle Channel.................................................................. 15
Wiring For Twin Motors/ESCs With Two Throttle Channels ................................................................ 16
CHAPTER 4 –HOW TO SELECT THE SOUND SET FOR YOUR OWN MODEL............................................... 17
The ShockWave 3 Sound Module’s microSD Card................................................................................ 17
What is a Sound Set (.sfx8) File?........................................................................................................... 17

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 3 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
Selecting The Sound Set for Your Model .............................................................................................. 18
Selecting a Sound Set by Editing the SELECT_YOUR_SOUNDSET_HERE.txt File .......................... 18
Introducing Scroll Through Mode to Select Your Sound Set ........................................................ 19
How to Use On-Board Button Operated Scroll through Mode .................................................... 20
How to Use RC Remote Scroll Through Mode.............................................................................. 20
CHAPTER 5 –WHAT ARE SYSTEM SOUNDS AND THE SYSTEM SOUNDS FILE........................................... 21
Switching The Initial Voice Announcement ON and OFF...................................................................... 21
CHAPTER 6 –HOW TO CONFIGURE YOUR SOUND MODULE REMOTELY................................................. 22
Initiating Remote Configuration Mode................................................................................................. 22
Remote Scroll Through Mode............................................................................................................... 22
Remote E-Z-Sync................................................................................................................................... 23
CHAPTER 7 –CONNECTING THE SHOCKWAVE 3 MODULE TO YOUR PC.................................................. 24
How to Correctly insert the micro-USB Plug into the micro-USB connector ....................................... 24
Power Up The Transmitter and Receiver First...................................................................................... 25
Transferring files Between the PC and the ShockWave 3 Sound Module............................................ 25
CHAPTER 8 –VOLUME/BALANCE CONTROLS AND EXTERNAL AMPLIFIERS............................................. 26
Volume Control..................................................................................................................................... 26
Balance Control..................................................................................................................................... 26
Remote Volume Control –RC or Wired................................................................................................ 26
Connecting to An External Amplifier .................................................................................................... 27
CHAPTER 9 –CALIBRATING THE SHOCKWAVE 3 THROTTLE INPUTS........................................................ 28
Automatic Throttle Setup ..................................................................................................................... 28
Voice Assisted Precision Manual Button Throttle Setup...................................................................... 28
CHAPTER 10 –HOW TO CONTROL THE SOUNDS...................................................................................... 30
Controlling the Engine Sounds.............................................................................................................. 30
Changing Engine Sound Volume With Throttle Position...................................................................... 32
Controlling Engine Sounds with an Analog Input ................................................................................. 32
Starting Up Jet/Turbofan/Turboprop/Helicopter Sounds .................................................................... 33
Controlling “Regular” (Non-Engine) Sounds......................................................................................... 34

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 4 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
“Switched RC 1xN” Mode: One transmitter ON/OFF channel is used to switch N sounds.......... 34
“Switched RC 1x1” Mode : One transmitter ON/OFF channel is used to switch 1 sound............ 35
“Proportional RC” Mode: One proportional channel is used to switch four sounds on/off” ...... 35
3-Position Switch .......................................................................................................................... 36
Using SOUND1/2/3 Inputs and The Offset # ................................................................................ 36
Using Mechanical Switches or Logic Level Voltage Inputs ................................................................... 36
Playing Multiple Sounds Simultaneously.............................................................................................. 37
CHAPTER 11 –SPECIAL PROVISONS FOR MODEL TANKS AND HELICOPTERS .......................................... 38
Special Provisions For Model Tanks...................................................................................................... 38
Special Provisions For Model Helicopters............................................................................................. 39
CHAPTER 12 –SYNCING ENGINE STARTUP/SHUTDOWN SOUNDS TO PROPELLER ROTATION ............... 40
How to use E-Z-Sync MODE 1 (using throttle stick movement to start-up engine sound).......... 40
How to use E-Z-Sync MODE 2 (using separate switched RC channel to start engine sound) ...... 41
CHAPTER 13 –WHICH LOUDSPEAKERS TO USE........................................................................................ 42
Loudspeaker Selection.......................................................................................................................... 42
CHAPTER 14 –HOW TO USE THE SWITCHED OUTPUTS ........................................................................... 43
DO NOT Switch Inductive Loads ........................................................................................................... 43
Recommended Separate Battery For High Current LEDs or Other Loads ............................................ 44
Switched Outputs for Smoker Fan Control........................................................................................... 45
Use external transistors for INDUCTIVE LOADS OR high currents........................................................ 46
CHAPTER 15 –HOW TO USE AFTERBURNER LED LIGHT SETS WITH THE SHOCKWAVE 3 ....................... 47
Use Header 2 (H2) for Afterburner LED Connections........................................................................... 48
Setting the Throttle Position for Afterburner Sound............................................................................ 48
CHAPTER 16 –HOW TO USE THE TWO PUSH BUTTONS .......................................................................... 49
Button1 Functions......................................................................................................................... 49
Button2 Functions......................................................................................................................... 50

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© Model SoundsTM Inc.
CHAPTER 17 –THE DOPPLERFX FEATURE................................................................................................. 51
Orientation of the 4-Wire Cable Connector On ShockWave 3 Board .................................................. 51
The DopplerFXSettings.txt File On The MicroSD Card.......................................................................... 52
DopplerFXSettings.txt File Default Contents ................................................................................ 52
CHAPTER 18 –HARDWARE SETTINGS....................................................................................................... 53
BasicHardwareSettings.txt file default contents .................................................................................. 54
CHAPTER 19 –MISCELLANEOUS............................................................................................................... 55
Updating the Firmware in the ShockWave 3 Module .......................................................................... 55
Setting Low Battery Voltage Alarm Sounds.......................................................................................... 55
What Do The LEDs Mean? .................................................................................................................... 56
CHAPTER 20 –TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................................................. 57
MAKE A BACKUP OF THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE MICROSD CARD USING THE INCLUDED
USB MICROSD CARD READER ON YOUR COMPUTER, BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE!
MAKING A BACKUP SIMPLY MEANS COPYING ALL THE FILES AND FOLDERS ON THE MICROSD CARD
TO PREFERRABLY TWO STORAGE DEVICES, EITHER INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL.
REMEMBER WHERE YOU PUT THE BACKUPS!

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 6 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
CHAPTER 1 –THE BASICS –GETTING STARTED
Figure 1: ShockWave 3 Rev. 08 Sound Module Layout
Power supply input and loudspeaker connections are made through the blue terminal block TB1.
All RC receiver inputs for throttles and sound select are at Header 1. Switched Outputs, and audio line
outputs are at Header 2. In order to hear sound from the loudspeaker, 4.5 –26Volts power must be on
the main terminal block terminals 1 and 4.
Recommended gauge for loudspeaker and battery wire is 22AWG solid core.
TERMINAL BLOCK AND CONNECTORS H1/H2 DETAIL
Header 1 (Inputs)
Header 2 (Outputs)
LEDS
Terminal Block
For Power and
Loudspeaker
Volume Control
MicroSD Card Slot
Micro-USB Port
Balance Control
BUTTON 1
BUTTON 2
Accessory
Socket SCKT3
These Pins
are Unused
6-Position
Switch.
Unused in
This Release

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 7 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
HEADER 1 Detail –Use Male-Male or Male-Male-Female Servo Leads
Pin
Numbers
Board
Legend
Function
Notes
1, 2, 3
SOUND3
Sound Select3 signal in from receiver. Pin 1 is GND,
2 is receiver power, 3 is Sound Select3 signal.
Receiver power is on pin 2
4, 5, 6
SOUND2
Sound Select2 signal in from receiver. Pin 4 is GND,
5 is receiver power, 6 is Sound Select2 signal.
Receiver power is on pin 5
7, 8, 9
SOUND1
Sound Select1 signal in from receiver. Pin 7 is GND,
8 is receiver power, 9 is Sound Select1 signal.
Receiver power is on pin 8
10, 11, 12
THTTL2
Throttle2 signal input from receiver. Pin 10 is GND,
11 is receiver power, 12 is Throttle2 signal.
Receiver power is on pin 11
13, 14, 15
THTTL1
Throttle1 signal input from receiver. Pin 13 is GND,
14 is receiver power, 15 is Throttle1 signal.
Receiver power is on pin 14
Terminal Block TB1 Detail –Use 22AWG solid core wire
HEADER 2 Detail
Pin
Numbers
Board
Legend
Function
Notes
1
--VE
Main Battery negative 4.5Volts –26Volts
Do NOT reverse Battery
leads!!
2,3
SPKR
Loudspeaker - Do NOT use less than 8 Ohms
on voltages above 14.4Volts. 4 Ohms is OK
on 4.5 - 14.4Volts.
Loudspeaker leads are
reversible.
4
++VE
Main Battery positive 4.5Volts –26Volts
Do NOT reverse Battery
leads!!
Pin
Numbers
Board
Legend
Function
Notes
1, 2, 3
SW 3/4
LED Switched Outputs 3/4. Pin 1 is SWITCH4,
2 is RECEIVER POWER, 3 is SWITCH3.
Receiver power is on pin 2.
4, 5, 6
SW 1/2
LED Switched Outputs 1/2. Pin 4 is SWITCH2,
5 is RECEIVER POWER, 6 is SWITCH1.
Receiver power is on pin 5.
7, 8, 9
THT2_O
Unused –reserved for future use.
DO NOT CONNECT.
Receiver power is on pin 8.
For Future Use.
10, 11, 12
THT1_O
Auxiliary Output Signal. Pin 10 is GND,
Pin 11 is receiver power, Pin 12 is AUXOP.
Throttle Output for an
afterburner LED controller.
Receiver power is on pin 11.
13, 14, 15
AUDIO
Line level Audio Out signals –1.0V RMS.
13 is GND, 14, is Left Signal, 15 is Right Signal.
Used to feed external
amplifier(s).

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© Model SoundsTM Inc.
NOTES :
1. LEDs for guns, afterburner lights or other switched loads can be connected between their Switch
1/2 terminals 4, 6 or Switch 3/4 terminals 1, 3 and any external positive power supply up to a
maximum of 30 Volts. DO NOT exceed 1A on each output or 4 Amps total for all switched outputs.
2. The supplied male –male –female Y servo leads for Throttle and male –male Sound Select inputs
are Futaba style colours (black, red, white), but with JR style male plugs for maximum flexibility.
The black wire is always the GND, 0V or –VE connection and should always be inserted towards
the outside of the receiver case and towards the board of the sound module.
3. The SPKR terminals MUST NOT be connected to anything other than the appropriate loudspeaker
for the supply voltage used.
4. The ShockWave 3 sound module receives its power from the receiver battery through the THTTL1/2
or SOUND1/2/3 servo leads. The ESC(s) should be connected to the receiver throttle output(s) using
the supplied male-male-female Y servo lead.
MOUNTING THE MODULE
Mount the module using screws through the three mounting holes and the attached spacers on the
underside of the board. Do not screw down the board if any of the three spacers are missing.
There are parts underneath the boards and the board may crack if you apply screw pressure without
the spacers present.
Mount the module where good air circulation can take place, especially when operating it above
18Volts. The module will get warm on 12Volts / 3S and quite hot on 24Volts / 6S if operated
continuously when playing sounds. Do not be overly concerned. The output amplifier is thermally
protected and will shut down if it gets too hot.
WHAT BATTERY CAPACITY DO I NEED?
The sound module will draw 1-2 Amps (2000mA) of current. Therefore, if using a separate sound
system battery, a capacity of 1000mAH will suffice for at least a 30-60 minute run time.
If using the same battery as your motor(s) then use a slightly larger capacity battery to maintain the
same run time.

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 9 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
APPLYING POWER TO THE SHOCKWAVE 3
The ShockWave 3 module’s low-level circuitry can be powered using two methods.
1. From the RC receiver through the THTTL1/2 or SOUND1/2/3 cables.
2. From the USB port when connected to a PC.
In addition, the audio power amplifier is powered from the Blue terminal block on the module.
Either of the first two methods will power the low-level circuitry and make the sound module
functional. Audio line output signals are available through the line output pins on Header 2.
However, if you want to hear sound from the sound module’s internal power amplifier you must have
power applied to the Blue terminal block as well as low-level power from methods 1 or 2.
If USB power is not connected, you must have receiver power applied through the THTTL1/2 or
SOUND1/2/3 cables, in addition to power supplied to the Blue terminal block.
REMOVING POWER FROM THE SHOCKWAVE 3
Because of large storage capacitors on-board the ShockWave 3 sound module, when power is
removed from the blue terminal block it may take as long as 20 seconds for the voltage at the
terminals to discharge to close to zero. Be careful not to short the power leads when they are
disconnected from the battery.

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 10 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
SUPPLY VOLTAGE CONSIDERATIONS
The minimum supply voltage for the power amplifier is 4.5Volts although at such a low voltage it will
not be very loud. The 26Volts maximum must not be exceeded. A 6S LiPo flight pack will give out a
nominal voltage of 6 x 3.7V = 22.2Volts, but close to 26Volts when fully charged. Be aware that output
power changes with the square of the supply voltage, so 1/2 the supply voltage results in 1/4 the
output power for any given loudspeaker load. At lower supply voltages the volume control should be
turned down to avoid distortion due to overdriving the audio amplifier.
The single channel audio amplifier to drive the loudspeaker is powered from the main terminal block
terminals 1 and 4. It will play a mix of the left (gunfire or horns etc.) and right (engine sounds) audio
channels.
BASIC HARDWARE SETTINGS
There are some Hardware Settings that control some basic operations of the sound module such as
start-up delay time and others. These are stored in a BasicHardwareSettings.txt file on the microSD
card and are detailed later.
WHY DO I HAVE TO WAIT SO LONG FOR THE LEDS TO STOP FLASHING?
During the initialization period when the red/green LEDS are flashing rapidly alternately, the sound
module is waiting for the receiver to stabilize and produce valid output signals. The default wait period
is 6 seconds but can be set to between 3 and 20 seconds using the ShockWave 3 PC Control
Panel->Hardware Tab or by manually editing the new BasicHardwareSettings.txt file. This is because
some receivers can take a long time to stabilize. If your receiver stabilizes much faster, you can reduce
this wait time down to as short as 3 seconds. Also, the wait period is to allow the accessory GNSS
receiver supporting the DopplerFX feature, if used, to power up and start outputting valid signals.
CORRECT SWITCH-ON SEQUENCE FOR TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER/SOUND MODULE
The radio transmitter should ALWAYS be switched on before the receiver. Some receivers give out
invalid signals when the transmitter is not switched on. If the sound module is connected to the
receiver and is switched on before the transmitter, some sounds may start playing.
In this case, switch off the receiver and sound module, switch on the transmitter FIRST and THEN
power up the receiver and sound module.

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 11 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
CHAPTER 2 –RADIO COMPATIBILITY
USE RC INDUSTRY STANDARD PWM RECEIVERS
The ShockWave 3 sound module is compatible with any radio control (RC) industry standard
transmitter and receiver that outputs 1- 2ms PWM (Pulse Width Modulated) pulses with a frame rate
(repetition rate) between 50 and 100 Hz. Any RC radio can be used on any transmission frequency. It
cannot be used with proprietary serial bus signals such as Futaba S-Bus, Spektrum X-Bus , FlySky IBus
etc.
TELEMETRY AND SOME GYRO STABILIZED RECEIVERS MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS
Telemetry equipped receivers can cause problems in two areas. Similar problems have also been found
in Spektrum AS3X receivers.
1. The telemetry receiver is actually a transceiver (transmitter/receiver) which is receiving RC control
signals part time and transmitting telemetry data back to the remote-control radio part time.
Because the ShockWave 3 sound module’s RC inputs respond so fast they may be susceptible to
picking up radio interference from the telemetry transceiver on the servo leads which can cause
erratic control of the sounds.
This can generally be corrected by using our special Resistor-Capacitor filter servo leads which are
available at extra cost from us. Please email us at [email protected] for further
details.
2. A further issue arises with some new so-called SMART ESCS/transceivers such as the Spektrum
AR637T AS3X and the Spektrum Avian smart ESC. These go a step further and use "Single wire
telemetry" which means the single ESC signal wire is time multiplexed between sending
conventional ESC signals from the receiver to the ESC and the ESC sending telemetry data back to
the transceiver, for transmission back to the remote control radio.
That multiplexed data line simply confuses the sound module as it doesn't know what to do with
the telemetry data that is also present on that signal wire. These systems are incompatible with
our ShockWave 3 sound module.
There are two workarounds if problems arise with a telemetry enabled ESC. The issue here is the ESC
generating telemetry signals on the same wire that the receiver is sending throttle control signals to
the sound module.
Possible solutions are:

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 12 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
1. Change the ESC for one that does not generate telemetry signals on its main signal wire.
2. Make a secondary throttle channel output on your receiver by making a mix on your radio to
output the main throttle channel from an additional channel. Then use the main throttle
channel to drive the ESC and the secondary throttle channel to drive the sound module.
In this way the sound module is not receiving any telemetry information on its THTTL1/2 inputs
to confuse it.
YOU MAY HAVE TO ADJUST THE STARTUP DELAY PERIOD
The ShockWave 3 sound module must have stable RC inputs from the radio receiver before it can be
used. To this end, there is an adjustable Startup Delay period that allows the ShockWave 3 sound
module to wait for the receiver to complete its own initialization and start outputting valid and stable
RC pulses.
This delay period defaults to 6 seconds, as delivered from Model Sounds Inc. This is adequate for most
receivers. However, some advanced receivers such as the gyro stabilized Spektrum AS3X series require
considerably longer than this before it provides stable outputs.
If you experience unexpected startup behaviour of the sound module and non-sensical throttle
controlled engine sounds, then a Startup Delay period that is too short may be the cause.
In that case, you need to increase the Startup Delay period by editing the BasicHardwareSettings.txt
file on the microSD card of the ShockWave 3 module. It has a minimum value of 3 seconds and a
maximum value of 20 seconds.
PISTOL GRIP RADIOS NOT RECOMMENDED
We DO NOT recommend the use of pistol grip style radios which are popular with some model boaters.
The extremely small range of throttle trigger movements on this type of radio makes it very difficult to
start up and shutdown the engine sound unless you are using a separate switched radio channel for
engine sound startup and shutdown.
If you want to use the throttle control to startup and shutdown the engine sound, it is highly
recommended to use an airplane style stick radio instead.

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 13 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
CHAPTER 3 –HOW TO WIRE THE SHOCKWAVE 3 MODULE
WIRING FOR ONE THROTTLE WITH RECEIVER BATTERY
Although some modellers favour using their ESC BEC (Battery Eliminator Circuit) to power their
receiver, we do not recommend that set-up for high power systems. Depending upon the wiring,
currents involved, and the quality of the ESC BEC, it can introduce radio interference on the receiver
power leads. For this reason, we recommend using a separate battery to power the receiver, as shown
in the next diagram.
Figure 2: Wiring for Single Throttle with Separate Receiver Battery
Loudspeaker wires should be
tightly twisted together
Note : Centre wire IS NOT connected
if ESC has a BEC
8 Ohm
RX
Battery
4.8-6 Volts
+_
MOTORESC
Signal wire colour is white
Battery wires should be
tightly twisted together
Any spare radio
channel can be used
Receiver
THROTTLE
ANY AUX. CHNL
MSI Supplied
male-male-female
Y servo lead
Y Servo lead
female connector
MSI Supplied
male-male servo lead
ShockWave 3
MODULE
SOUND3
SOUND2
SOUND1
THTTL2
THTTL1
BATT -VE
SPKR
SPKR
BATT +VE
SW 3/4
SW 1/2
THT2_O
THT1_O
AUDIO OUT
THT4_O
THT3_O ACCESSORY
(GNSS) PORT
User supplied power
connectors to suit
batteries
Note: The simplest connections use a separate sound system battery, as above. You can use the same
battery as the ESC/Motor but you’ll need a Y Power splitter lead with suitable connectors to feed the one
battery to both the ESC and the sound module.
Can use up to a 6S LiPo if using two
20Watt 4Ohm speakers in series
SOUND SYSTEM
BATTERY
3S LiPo / 12V NiMh
+
_
MAIN PROPULSION
BATTERY
+
_
This arrangement is also recommended whenever the motor has a very high current draw so as to
isolate the sound system from the spiky, interference prone, motor wiring.
Note : When using a separate battery for the receiver, if the ESC has an active BEC
(Battery Eliminator Circuit), the centre wire of the servo lead MUST BE CUT. This avoids the
receiver battery and the ESC BEC “fighting each other”, which will likely damage the ESC.

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 14 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
See wiring diagram next for alternate loudspeaker wiring using two loudspeakers in series.
WIRING FOR ONE THROTTLE WITHOUT RECEIVER BATTERY
If you must use the ESC BEC to power the receiver, then the wiring is as follows:
Figure 3: Wiring for Single Throttle Using ESC BEC
Can use up to a 6S LiPo if using two
20Watt 4Ohm speakers in series
4 Ohm
Y Servo lead
female connector
Loudspeaker wires
should be
tightly twisted together
8 Ohm
Receiver
THROTTLE
ANY AUX. CHNL
MOTORESC
Signal wire colour
is white
Any spare radio
channel can be used
Single Loudspeaker
Connections
Solder Joint
Covered with
Heat-Shrink Tubing
or Electrical Tape
Alternate Connections for
Two Loudspeakers
4 Ohm
MSI Supplied
male-male-female
Y servo lead
ShockWave 3
MODULE
SOUND3
SOUND2
SOUND1
THTTL2
THTTL1
BATT -VE
SPKR
SPKR
BATT +VE
SW 3/4
SW 1/2
THT2_O
THT1_O
AUDIO OUT
THT4_O
THT3_O ACCESSORY
(GNSS) PORT
MSI Supplied
male-male servo lead
Note: The simplest connections use a separate sound system battery, as above.
You can use the same battery as the ESC/Motor but you’ll need a Y Power
splitter lead with suitable connectors to feed the one battery to both the ESC and
the sound module.
Battery wires should be
tightly twisted together
User supplied power
connectors to suit
batteries
SOUND SYSTEM
BATTERY
3S LiPo / 12V NiMh
+
_
MAIN PROPULSION
BATTERY
+
_

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 15 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
WIRING FOR TWIN MOTORS/ESCS WITH ONE THROTTLE CHANNEL
Figure 4: Wiring for Twin Motors/ESCs With One Throttle Channel
The wiring shown here is where
you have one throttle-controlled
radio channel on your receiver, as
you will for model airplanes and
helicopters.
You will require an additional
normal male-female-female
Y servo lead which can be
purchased from your usual RC
hobby supplier.
This wiring scheme shows
separate batteries for the motors
and the sound module and is the
recommended configuration.
Note : Both centre wires ARE NOT
connected if ESCs have BECs
Loudspeaker wires should be
tightly twisted together
8 Ohm
RX
Battery
4.8-6 Volts
+_
Signal wire colour
is white
ShockWave 3
MODULE
SOUND3
SOUND2
SOUND1
THTTL2
THTTL1
BATT -VE
SPKR
SPKR
BATT +VE
SW 3/4
SW 1/2
THT2_O
THT1_O
AUDIO OUT
THT4_O
THT3_O ACCESSORY
(GNSS) PORT
MSI Y Servo lead
female connector
MSI Supplied
male-male servo lead
MSI Supplied
male-male-female
Y servo lead
User supplied
male-female-female
Y servo lead
THROTTLE1
ANY AUX. CHNL
RECEIVER
Battery wires should be
tightly twisted together
MOTOR1ESC1
MOTOR2ESC2
User supplied
power
connectors to
suit batteries
Can use up to a 6S LiPo if
using two 20Watt 4Ohm
speakers in series
SOUND SYSTEM
BATTERY
3S LiPo / 12V NiMh
+
_
PROPULSION
BATTERY 1
+
_
PROPULSION
BATTERY 2
+
_

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 16 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
WIRING FOR TWIN MOTORS/ESCS WITH TWO THROTTLE CHANNELS
Figure 5: Wiring for Twin Motors/ESCs With Two Throttle Channels
The wiring shown here is where
you have two throttle-controlled
radio channels on your receiver,
as you might for some twin
motored model boats and tanks.
This wiring for two motors is very
similar to that for one motor, just
duplicated.
You will require a second custom
male-male-female Y servo lead
which can be purchased from
Model Sounds Inc.
This wiring scheme illustrates the
possibility of using one battery to
power everything. However, this
does require the use of two Y
power splitter cables and is not
recommended.
Usually, multi-motor setups have a separate battery for each motor. In that case a third battery for the sound module would also be
optimum.
Loudspeaker wires should be
tightly twisted together
8 Ohm
RX
Battery
4.8-6 Volts
+_
Note : Both centre wires ARE NOT
connected if ESCs have BECs
Battery wires
should
be tightly twisted
together Signal wire colour
is white
THROTTLE1
ANY AUX. CHNL
THROTTLE2
RECEIVER
ShockWave 3
MODULE
SOUND3
SOUND2
SOUND1
THTTL2
THTTL1
BATT -VE
SPKR
SPKR
BATT +VE
SW 3/4
SW 1/2
THT2_O
THT1_O
AUDIO OUT
THT4_O
THT3_O ACCESSORY
(GNSS) PORT
Y Servo lead
female connectors
MSI Supplied
male-male servo lead
MSI Supplied
male-male-female
Y servo lead
Extra purchased
male-male-female
Y servo lead
MOTOR1ESC1
MOTOR2ESC2
User supplied
power
connectors to
suit batteries
User
supplied Y
power splitter
cables
ONE
BATTERY
FOR
EVEYTHING
+
_

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 17 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
CHAPTER 4 –HOW TO SELECT THE SOUND SET FOR YOUR OWN MODEL
THE SHOCKWAVE 3 SOUND MODULE’S MICROSD CARD
The ShockWave 3 microSD Card is used to store our collection of sound sets, as appropriate to your
model type, e.g. airplane, helicopter, boat or tank, important configuration, settings and support files.
It is therefore very easy to add or change the sounds on a ShockWave 3 sound module by simply
plugging in a different microSD Card with new files. It also contains our Manuals and Instructions in
PDF format and a collection of RC related articles written by our co-owner and engineer, David
Harrison.
The ShockWave 3 microSD Card connector is a push-push type - you push the card in to insert and lock
it and push it again to release the card for removal. When inserting the microSD Card, make sure it is
pushed fully home so that the latching mechanism prevents it from accidentally being removed.
To remove the card, push it again and it will spring out so that it can be removed fully.
When the ShockWave 3 sound module has its microSD Card inserted and it is connected to a Windows
PC through its USB port, it will appear as a removable “external drive” in Windows Explorer. The name
of this drive, or its disk label, is ALWAYS SHOCKWAVE3. DO NOT re-label the ShockWave 3 microSD
Card as any other name. This specific disk label is searched for by the ShockWave 3 PC Software to
detect the necessary files on the module.
However, it is highly recommended to connect the ShockWave 3 sound module to the PC without its
microSD Card inside, but instead inserted into an SD card reader on the PC. When launching the
ShockWave 3 PC Software, if the microSD Card is missing, you will get a warning dialogue box, but this
is for information only. The dialogue box can be closed and the ShockWave 3 sound module will still be
detected. However, the Red LED will flash quickly to indicate the microSD Card is missing.
WHAT IS A SOUND SET (.SFX8) FILE?
The ShockWave 3 sound module uses files on its microSD card with a .sfx8 file extension. Some users
may not see any file extension as Microsoft, in their infinite wisdom, have deemed that ordinary users
do not need to see file extensions as a default setting in Windows Explorer. You can see file extensions
by changing the Folder View settings in Windows Explorer.
A .sfx8 file is a composite sound file containing all of the sound clips for a particular model plus
important configuration and addressing data to enable the sound module to correctly access each
individual sound clip. Therefore, a .sfx8 file is sometimes called a sound set file. The .sfx8 sound set
files are usually stored in a folder called ShockWaveSoundSets in either an Airplane, Helicopters, Boats
or Tanks sub-folder.

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 18 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
SELECTING THE SOUND SET FOR YOUR MODEL
There are three ways to select the sound set for your particular model:
1. Manually, by editing the SELECT_YOUR_SOUNDSET_HERE.txt file on your computer using a
simple Windows text editor such as Notepad.
2. By locally scrolling through a set of .sfx8 sound set files using BUTTON1 and BUTTON2 on your
sound module. This method could be used either on the bench or once the sound system is
installed inside your model, only if there is easy access to the buttons inside the model.
3. By remotely scrolling through a set of .sfx8 sound set files using a Switched RC channel on your
radio. This method could be used either on the bench or once the sound system is installed
inside your model.
The files on the ShockWave 3 microSD Card must be in a certain format and folder structure.
In the microSD Card Root Folder there is the following file : SELECT_YOUR_SOUNDSET_HERE.txt.
This file must contain at least one line as follows:
First line naming the folder containing the .sfx8 file(s) you wish to use.
Example:
ShockWaveSoundSets\Airplanes
Selecting a Sound Set by Editing the SELECT_YOUR_SOUNDSET_HERE.txt File
It can optionally contain a Second line naming the specific .sfx8 file in that folder that you want the
ShockWave 3 sound module to use.
Example:
SpitfireMerlinSoundSet.sfx8
If this second line is present, the .sfx8 file named there will ALWAYS be used when the ShockWave 3
module is powered up. In this case, Scroll Through Mode is disabled.
If this second line is blank, the Scroll Through Mode is enabled and you can scroll through the available
.sfx8 files either locally using BUTTON1 or BUTTON2 or remotely using a switched RC Channel
connected to the SOUND1 input.
Further lines may appear in the file after the first two lines, but these additional lines will be ignored by
the sound module.

ShockWave®3 5.1.1 Rev. 08 Hardware Manual Page 19 of 59 Published: January 20, 2021
© Model SoundsTM Inc.
Introducing Scroll Through Mode to Select Your Sound Set
There are two Scroll Through methods that do not involve any manual editing of that file to select a
new sound set.
Scroll Through Mode works best if the sound set folder contains 10 or less .sfx8 sound set files. Whilst
it can still work with a very large number, e.g. over 100 sound set files, it quickly becomes laborious
and time consuming to scroll through a very large number to find the one you want.
Therefore, it is best to pre-plan which sub-set of all the available sound set files in the Airplanes,
Helicopter, Boats or Tanks folder you may wish to scroll though in the future. Then you can create a
new folder called “MySounds”, for example, and copy those sound set files into that new folder.
The SELECT_YOUR_SOUNDSET_HERE.txt should be modified appropriately to name that new folder on
the first line.
The general Scroll Through process is as follows:
1. For Remote Scroll Through Mode only, make sure the BasicHardwareSettings.txt file on the
microSD card has its RemoteConfigurationTimeout field set to a usable value such as 10
seconds. If this is too short, you will not be able to enter Scroll Through Mode quickly enough.
2. Power up the ShockWave 3 sound module and allow it to reach its playback ready state
(i.e. after the red/green LEDS have stopped flashing alternately). You will hear a voice
announcement indicating the current sound set or it may announce the sound system is ready.
3. Enter Scroll Through Mode using either BUTTON2 or a remote RC switched channel on the
SOUND1 input (described in detail later).
4. Scroll down or up using BUTTON1 and BUTTON2 or the remote RC switched channel.
5. After each Scroll Down or Scroll Up action the sound module will self-announce the next (or
previous) sound set in the sound set folder.
6. Once you have reached the desired new sound set, you exit Scroll Through Mode using the
BUTTON2 or the remote RC channel.
7. At this point the ShockWave3 sound module will store the selected new filename in a memory
chip on the board. Thereafter, every time the ShockWave 3 is powered up it will use the new
file referred to in that memory chip.