Detailed Features about: Oscilloscope (dual channel, xy, time division, trigger); Spectrum Analyzer with amplitude and

phase display (linear, log, lines, bar, octaves band analysis 1/3, 1/6, 1/9, 1/12, 1/24); 3. Wave-form generator with "custom functions", triangular, square, sinus, white noise and pulse generation (NO ALIASING); 4. Frequency meter (in time and frequency domain) and counter; in time domain by means of a real time zero crossing algorithm; 5. Volt meter with DC, true RMS, peak to peak and mean display; 6. Filtering (low pass, hi pass, band pass, band reject, notch, "diode", DC removal); 7. Memo windows (data log) for analysis and storage of time series, spectrum and phase with "triggering" events; possibility to save in various formats and display them with a viewer; 8. A TRUE software digital analog conversion (for complete signal reconstruction using Nyquist theorem) ; 9. Frequency compensation: one can create/edit a custom frequency response and add it to the spectrum analyzer spectrum ; added standard weighting curves A,B,C in parallel with custom frequency response; 10. Support for 8/16/24 bit soundcard by means of API calls; 11. Unlimited frequency sampling (depend from the capabilities of your soundcard); 12. Cepstrum analysis; 13. Cross Correlation; 14. Extended THD measurements, with automatic sweep and compensation. 15. ZRLC-meter with Vector scope, automatic sweep in time and frequency for automatic measurement. VA main form (version 8.x.x)

1. 2.

(1) - Oscilloscope

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i.

Dual channel Bandwith : depends from your soundcard (typical 20 Khz) up to 96 Khz (192 Khz sampling frequency) Resolution from 8 bit (S/N 46 dB) up to 24 bit (S/N >120 dB) Time division adjust according the sampling frequency and sample resolution Trigger (positive/negative slope) independent for both channels Complete software D/A of digital samples : the Nyquist theorem allows reconstructing exactly the input signal Utilities for quick frequency determination (hold left mouse button down and move mouse to get frequency/amplitude) Y-axis in Volt and percent full scale Auto calibration of scope (and spectrum) in volts (need an input signal of known amplitude)

(2) - Spectrum Analyzer

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j.

Dual channel Bandwidth : same as point (1) (oscilloscope function): is the half of the sampling frequency. Typical for 44100 Hz is 22050 Hz (up to 96 Khz or ore depending of the acquisition board) Resolution from 8 bit (S/N 46 dB) up to 24 bit (S/N >120 dB) X-axis in Hz, logarithmic and linear; zoom x1..x16 Y-axis in dB or Volt (calibration needed); linear/logarithmic; zoom Average on spectrum up to 200 buffer Direct window for amplitude with mouse Auto-scale Capacity to modify the zero dB level (manually/automatically) Octave band analysis (1/1, 1/3, 1/6, 1/9, 1/12, 1/24)

(3) - Wave-form generator

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Dual channel Independent sampling frequency/resolution from scope/spectrum (up to 192 Khz/24 bit) Phase between channels (degree) Direct real time generation/ loop with predefined buffer Waveform CUSTOM, built with harmonics (with save/load in file ".fun" of defined waveform) Modulation of custom waveform with sinus/square/triangular Predefined waveform : sinus, square, triangular (parametric), white noise, pink noise, pulse, sinusoidal sweep Local volume levels Real time parameters variation (amplitude, frequency, phase between channels, type of waveform)

(4) - Frequency meter

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Dual channel Frequency meter in Hz/Time/Counter of the input signal being visualized in spectrum/scope Read the frequency of the harmonic of maximum amplitude Counter with threshold level

(5) - Volt meter (calibration needed)

y y y

Dual channel Vpp, True Rms Hold function

(6) - Filtering

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FIR low pass cut-off frequency user defined FIR high pass cut-off frequency user defined FIR band pass cut-off frequencies user defined FIR band reject cut-off frequencies user defined IIR notch cut-off frequency user defined IIR notch-inverted cut-off frequency user defined "Diode" function DC removal Dual filter (one for each channel)

(7) - Memo windows

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Aquiring of spectrum with average Edit offline (while VA running) of aquired spectrum: zoom, navigate Saving of spectrum in TXT format Clipboard for aquired spectrum Print of aquired spectrum Mark points for each valid point (harmonic) of spectrum Aquiring of scope points (points aquired in time domain) Edit offline (while VA running) of aquired time series: zoom, navigate Saving of samples in TXT format Clipboard for aquired samples Print of aquired samples D/A conversion: the points aquired may be converted using Nyquist theorem for full reconstruction of signal in time domain (see point 8 for D/A in real time)

(8) - real time DIGITAL/ANALOG conversion

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D/A in real time Dual channel Allows visualizing each aquired harmonic

Points (8) need a clairification:

VA has the unbeatable feature to perform a full real time Digital-Analog conversion for the oscilloscope function. Consider using a frequency sampling of (standard) 44100 Hz, with a 16 bit resolution (resolution is not relevant for the purpose of the discussion below...) Other programs similar to VA simply plot the raw points on the screen, which means you cant easily analyze signals with a frequency higher than 3000/5000 Hz (there are limited points to plot). Even worse, think a sinusoidal signal of 20 KHz. You would have only 2 points (more or less) per cycle! ... The Nyquist theorem says that it is sufficient to RECONSTRUCT the original signal...try to see what happens if you draw a sine with only two points ...it will appear like a triangular waveform... Try the power of VA enabling the function "full D/A", apply a sinusoidal signal of 15-20 KHz (for example using the Waveform generator included in VA) finally use the "Time division" control for the selected channel (mS/d) to display the signal at the desired detail level. You will see a perfect waveform with all the points of the original signal (not only two).

(9) Frequency compensation Visual Analyser allows you to apply a predefined frequency response to compensate (for instance) the frequency response of a microphone. You should know the frequency response of your microphone; normally professional microphone should be shipped with the typical frequency response. You can add a limited number of points in VA, and apply. VA will interpolate a continues curve by means of cubic spline interpolation algorithm. You can do it through the windows below.

illanum Soft & the author

My name is Alfredo Accattatis; I love electronics and software, and I have been working for years in commercial companies as software/firmware engineer and software designer. I've been writing programs for embedded systems (with DSP and MICROCONTROLLERS), for PC, for Avionic Computers and even for Mainframes, using C, C++, Pascal, Ada, REXX and assembly. I starting write VA during my free time just for fun and using (also) my DSP experience. The program was and is completely FREE. I've been collaborating with the University of Rome "Tor Vergata" from 2006 in the "Signal and image Measurements and Processing" group, as Ph.D. student; for furthers information see:

www.simplify.it A special thanks to the Professor Roberto Lojacono and Marcello Salmeri (see simplify web site above) for appreciating my qualities and let me collaborate with them! Then, I began also to collaborate with the professor Giovanni Saggio, which is the founder of the IGSgroup and thanks to him I've been able to further improve VA at a very very incredible level (introducing the ZRLC meter, for example); he adopt VA as basic instrument for the measurements on his electronic glove and more. for furthers information:

www.hiteg.uniroma2.it Why VA? Many people do not have the money to buy an expensive Oscilloscope or a Spectrum Analyzer. Or simply they do not want to invest money for something they will use rarely. Nevertheless many people love to build and test audio amplifiers or other kinds of simple circuits (oscillators, filters, etc); or simply they need monitoring some particular signal (an output of a sensor), and are only interested in the range of audio frequencies . A lot of musicians, for example, need a spectrum analyzer with an octave band analysis tool embedded. So, a good soundcard could be all the hardware they need. Together with their PC, that is, a lot of hardware already available at no cost. A recent soundcard with a sampling frequency of 96 or even 192 Khz will allows to manage signals with frequencies up to 96Khz ( well beyond the audio frequencies) transforming VA in a powerful set of instruments for general electronics and other applications. VA is useful anywhere you need a true oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, frequency meter, voltmeter, function generator and even a distorsiometer (THD, THD+n). For example when tuning a class B power amplifier: you need a spectrum analyzer (or a THD meter) to minimize the crossover distortion. Now introduced a powerful ZRLC meter. The idea of using the soundcard of a PC is not a new one (there are many of programs like VA) but I tried to write a program specifically made for the analysis of audio circuits for the electronics hobbyist. I think VA is probably less "extravagant" than other (i.e. less windows and frills) but full of substance and even a lot of original ideas. VA is a software "under construction", and in continuous evolution. Thanks to the feedback of a lot of people all over the world, and ... why not...my pure passion!

The future A lot of considerations made during all the years I spent to improve and fix VA, take me to the crucial decision of NOT create a commercial version of VA. Or, in other words, to continue improving VA only for free. A lot of new functions and bug has been fixed starting with the 10.0 version of VA, that likely could have been the first commercial release. So, please continue using VA and thank you for encouraging me with your feedback and - sometime - your donations.

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