March 29, 2009 – National Instruments today announced expanded digital audio test capabilities with the latest version of NI AudioMASTER, a test solution for analog and digital audio validation and production test. The combination of the AudioMASTER 6.0 configuration-based software interface and high-performance, NI PCI- and PXI-based modular hardware gives users an easy-to-use, software-defined test solution that delivers the performance found in only high-end audio analyzers.
Users now can test devices with Sony/Phillips Digital Interconnect Format (S/PDIF) digital audio interfaces such as set-top boxes, DVD players and home theater systems by combining the AudioMASTER 6.0 software with an NI 7813R reconfigurable I/O device and NI CB-2180 FlexSPDIF accessory.AudioMASTER 6.0 software features a comprehensive set of audio measurements using single tone, multitone, amplitude sweep, frequency sweep and step response analysis. To help users reduce the development cost of automated audio test applications, the software directly integrates into NI TestStand test management software, making it easy for users to automate various audio tests, gather measurement results, compare the results to defined limits, generate reports and store the results in a database.
Users also can combine AudioMASTER 6.0 with the NI Sound and Vibration Toolkit and NI LabVIEW software to develop custom audio measurement steps and integrate additional instrumentation into their NI TestStand applications.For analog audio tests, users can pair AudioMASTER 6.0 software with either PCI- or PXI-based dynamic signal acquisition (DSA) devices including an NI 4461 with two inputs and two outputs or an NI 4462 with four inputs.
The DSA devices provide 24 bits of resolution at up to 204.8 kS/s sample rates. Additionally, AudioMASTER features a calibration manager to calibrate against the nonlinearities that occur when using anechoic test chambers, artificial mouths, microphones and other audio test system interfaces. For digital audio tests, users can combine an NI 7813R reconfigurable I/O device with the NI CB-2180 to provide two S/PDIF inputs, each with a BNC for coaxial and TOSLINK for optical connections.
“NI AudioMASTER 6.0 delivers both the performance and the flexibility needed to test a wide range of audio devices including media players, headphones, microphones and loudspeakers,” said Eric Starkloff, vice president of product marketing for test and measurement at National Instruments. “NI AudioMASTER integrates with the rest of the NI test platform, including NI TestStand and PXI and PCI modular instruments, so engineers can build a complete software-defined test system.”
About National Instruments
National Instruments is transforming the way engineers and scientists design, prototype and deploy systems for measurement, automation and embedded applications. NI empowers customers with off-the-shelf software such as NI LabVIEW and modular cost-effective hardware, and sells to a broad base of more than 25,000 different companies worldwide, with no one customer representing more than 3 percent of revenue and no one industry representing more than 10 percent of revenue. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, NI has more than 5,000 employees and direct operations in more than 40 countries. For the past 10 years, FORTUNE magazine has named NI one of the 100 best companies to work for in America.
