Unofficial open-source cross-platform tool for the QA402/QA403

1

Hi Matt,

I’m a QA402 owner and I’ve built an unofficial, open-source desktop app to
drive the QA402/QA403 from macOS/Linux/Windows — a from-scratch Rust + Tauri
implementation of the USB protocol, with spectrum/scope/THD/frequency-response
measurements. It’s called “qa40x-rs” (named to avoid any confusion with your
official software) and I may release it under a permissive MIT/Apache
license when the features and tests will become satisfying (at least for myself).

Before I publish, I wanted to give you a heads-up and check you’re comfortable
with it. A few points I’ve been careful about:

  • It’s clearly labelled unofficial / not affiliated with or endorsed by
    QuantAsylum    , and it credits your PyQa40x / QA40x_BareMetal references.
  • It does not bundle any of your firmware or software — the firmware
    helper only reads an installer the user already downloaded from you (or can download from the github release page directly in the app), verifies
    it against known hashes and its signature, and (with explicit confirmation)
    flashes it. Nothing of yours is redistributed.
  • I’d gladly add any wording or disclaimer you’d prefer, or adjust/gate the
    firmware feature if you have concerns there.

Is there anything you’d want changed, or anything I should be aware of? Happy
to share the repo privately first if that’s useful.

Thanks for making great hardware — and for the open reference material that
made this possible.

Best,
Raphaël

8 Likes
2

That’s great! I’ve been a Mac user since 1985 and much prefer Macs to PCs. I have no programming knowledge at all, so any intuitive “point and click” interface that makes it easier and user-friendly (especially on the Mac) is very welcomed!

3

That’s great to hear! Fellow Mac user waiting for public release.
The one thing the current version of the official app is missing is the ability to do full loopback tests of USB audio interfaces (full frequency response, THD+N, dynamic range). If your app will be able to do that that would be a real gamechenger.

4

Hey, thanks for the greetings @ScottRichardson and @piotrmdaniel , much appreciated.

I’ll open the source as soon as I get something useable and with numbers looking ok. The main idea behind this development was curiosity and also rendering mac usage more friendly but it looks like that the V2 by QuantalySum may solve this(?).

@piotrmdaniel as I’m not an expert would it be possible that you detail what you are missing, I’m not sure I fully understand that. You mean that you want to measure an audio interface you have at your disposal and you want to get the same QA40x features with out of your audio interface plugged in the input of this interface?

Thanks

5

Very interested! What is the time plan?