Daqarta
Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis
Scope - Spectrum - Spectrogram - Signal Generator
Software for Windows
Science with your Sound Card!

Sound Card Oscilloscope Features


[Daqarta Scope (42K image)]

Daqarta is in waveform (scope) mode by default, when neither Sgram nor Spectrum buttons in the toolbar are active.

The input range, channel, and line selections are set via the Input Control dialog (the thin button beneath the Input toggle in the toolbar).

The display magnification can be controlled via PgUp/PgDn keys, or by dragging the Y axis, or via the up/down buttons at the top of the axis.

The Y axis reflects the current Input range and magnification, unless only the Generator (output) is active.

When the Generator is active, the actual output levels are controlled by the Volume/dB dialog (F9 key, or button on the Generator Control dialog), but the screen display remains full-scale because it shows the digital signal as generated, before conversion to analog and attenuation by the output mixer volume controls. (The digital waveform size is set by the Generator Level controls for the active streams on each channel.)

The horizontal (time) axis is determined by the sample rate and the horizontal expansion ( eXpand), both of which are set in the X-axis Control dialog (shown at right in the above image). You can also change expansion by dragging the X axis, or using the left/right arrow buttons at either end. Alternatively, hitting CTRL+ALT+X will cause the display to expand to the limits set by the solid and dotted cursors. The X-axis toolbar button (ALT+X) toggles eXpand off and on.

Trigger Delay (in the Trigger Control dialog) slides the X axis to show the waveform at an earlier or later time than the trigger event. The X axis labels always show the actual time relative to the trigger.

The Trigger Control dialog also allows complete control over level and slope, as well as holdoff and hysteresis for difficult trigger situations. You can chose from Normal or two types of Auto triggering for any signal.

If you use the Generator to produce a stimulus signal, the Gen Sync trigger mode allows triggering on features of the stimulus (like FM modulation) that might otherwise be impossible with conventional triggering.

The cursors (solid and dotted vertical lines) can be dragged via mouse, moved via the left and right arrow keys, or set directly (or by macro command) to any X value via the X-position readouts below the trace area. At the right is a readout showing the difference between X values, here 0.500 msec.

The Y values at each position are displayed in the lower readouts. Colored buttons indicate the channel of each Y value, and can be toggled to select any active channel. Both are green in the above image, matching the L.Out display channel select button to indicate that Left Output channel values are shown. (That's why the readouts don't match the Y axis, which shows the Input range.)

To the right is the Delta-Y readout, which shows the difference between the Y values. Toggling the Delta button changes it to Sigma, which computes the true Root Mean Square (RMS) of the waveform between the cursors. (Note that for conventional overall RMS measurements the Voltmeter option is simpler, and has an large floating display.)

Note that inputs and outputs must be calibrated before the readouts can show true values. Daqarta includes an auto-calibration feature that scans through all mixer attenuator settings to perform a relative calibration, so you only need to perform an absolute calibration on a single range. This can be as simple as measuring one input or output level with an external voltmeter.

Daqarta also provides independent settings for external gain, so you can use preamps or power amps without having to recalibrate.

You can set user-defined units and conversion factors for any and all lines, which can be easily toggled on and off via menu or ALT+U. This allows direct readout of force, current, luminosity, or whatever units you choose, instead of Volts.

Features:

Oscilloscope

Spectrum Analyzer

8-Channel
Signal Generator

(Absolutely FREE!)

Spectrogram

Pitch Tracker

Pitch-to-MIDI

DaqMusiq Generator
(Free Music... Forever!)

Engine Simulator

LCR Meter

Remote Operation

DC Measurements

True RMS Voltmeter

Sound Level Meter

Frequency Counter
    Period
    Event
    Spectral Event

    Temperature
    Pressure
    MHz Frequencies

Data Logger

Waveform Averager

Histogram

Post-Stimulus Time
Histogram (PSTH)

THD Meter

IMD Meter

Precision Phase Meter

Pulse Meter

Macro System

Multi-Trace Arrays

Trigger Controls

Auto-Calibration

Spectral Peak Track

Spectrum Limit Testing

Direct-to-Disk Recording

Accessibility

Applications:

Frequency response

Distortion measurement

Speech and music

Microphone calibration

Loudspeaker test

Auditory phenomena

Musical instrument tuning

Animal sound

Evoked potentials

Rotating machinery

Automotive

Product test

Contact us about
your application!

Questions? Comments? Contact us!

We respond to ALL inquiries, typically within 24 hrs.
INTERSTELLAR RESEARCH:
Over 35 Years of Innovative Instrumentation
© Copyright 2007 - 2023 by Interstellar Research
All rights reserved