There is usually one output, and this actually works better than many of NI’s simpler DAQ boards, in that DMA is used so you will get an accurate waveform out, not to mention the greatly decreased cost. LabVIEW’S functions can be used with the sound card’s inputs, and there are usually two such inputs: line in and microphone.
LABVIEW ALTERNATIVES GENERATOR
Another option is shown in Figure 8-1, the current version of a free function generator that works very well with common sound cards.
![labview alternatives labview alternatives](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71o9X2GrBzS._SL1500_.jpg)
LabVIEW has VIs in its Functions»Graphics & Sound palette that can interact with sound cards. Signal-to-noise ratios are now commonly above 90 dB (15 bits), which is good enough for most DAQ work. Sound cards vary widely in quality, but with the advent of MP3, they went from low quality to high quality right away. Sound cards have built-in DACs and usually ADCs, and as a bonus, they can use DMA for both input and output! Sound cards work in the 20 Hz to 20 kHz range, which is the frequency range of human hearing.
![labview alternatives labview alternatives](https://www.topbestalternatives.com/wp-content/small/agilent-vee-32839-1.jpg)
See for a current list of these publications.Īre you the do-it-yourself type? I sure am! If so, this section is for you.Ī common sound card can be used for limited analog I/O. There are a number of DAQ-related publications, such as Test And Measurement World. Table 8.1 provides a listing of some of the more popular DAQ device suppliers. I cannot vouch for these companies’ technical support, so be wary. For unbelievably low-cost DAQ products, get the current copy of Circuit Cellar magazine. There are many other companies that make DAQ products, however. These companies change all the time, so the above link should help. Finally, we mention PLCs.Ĭheck out and see the DAQ Companies section for current information. We discuss homemade hardware, including sound cards, relay interfaces, and using the parallel port for DAQ. In this chapter, we discuss non-NI hardware that could be used for DAQ. Unless you have lots of spare time, you don’t want to write your own DAQ drivers! If you choose hardware from another company for use with LabVIEW, you are well advised to make sure the hardware has LabVIEW drivers.
![labview alternatives labview alternatives](https://alternative.me/media/512/labview-thumbnail-ngapcazg4j2yk1pw-c.png)
The obvious reason is that one company, NI, makes both the hardware and the software, and they’re designed to work together. However, you are going to spend the least amount of time with DAQ in LabVIEW if you stick to NI hardware products. But I’m keeping this section in the book at the risk of getting evil looks from my NI contacts, as LabVIEW can be used with any sort of hardware. This section is guaranteed to rile you readers who have been working at NI, as it mentions many direct competitors to NI.