Is there a way to control more than one QA403 on a single PC other than running one on the PC and another on a VM?
Hi @abarbeau, not in the current 1.x software. The V2 software will allow you to connect several of the same analyzers. In the plot below, you can see the “Trace Pool” in the lower left. That has two devices, called HW1 and HW2. When you first plug in a new device, you have an opportunity to assign the serial number a friendly name such as HW1. And then, for each graph, you specify if a trace is source by HW1 or HW2, for example.
There are limitations. For example, all analyzers share the same generator and input range. These aren’t HW limitations, but SW. The V2 software will be out later this year.
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Just for my understanding, the two units will be sampling independently, unlike the single unit that samples the A/D and D/A at the same time?
A USB controlled audio switch would be a nice product to have to test multiple channels when they do not have to be done simultaneously.
Yes, we need the analyzers to work independently and not simultaneously. This is an audio board tester. We need to provide outputs to left and right stereo headset as well as an mono mic channel. If we can’t control two QA403’s, we will probably use a single QA403 and do the switching on our test fixture. Or, as you say we could see if there is an audio switch around. I know of AB switches for guitar amps. If anyone has a recommendation, let me know.
Matt, actually the V2 software might would work for us. As I said in my reply to markg, One analyzer is connected to the two stereo headset channels. The other QA403 is connected to the mic. The tests are separate so we could configure both analyzers identically and just use a relay on out test fixture to shut the unused analyzer off. Let me know when V2 is available.
Audio Precision makes great switches:
Of course, with the needed APIB interface and maybe software license you will spend several times the cost of a QA403.
A USB controlled audio switch with slightly lower specs would match well with the QA403.
You could use something like this but crosstalk may not be great:
They are easy to use, just send commands to a virtual COM port.
Hi @markg, the units are synchronized within a few mS of each other. It could maybe go tighter. Yes, a USB switch would be nice too and could address a lot of test scenarios especially if integrated in with the automated tests