A. Setting Up Your Hardware

A. Setting Up Your Hardware

• Data Acquisition Device (DAQ)
– Actual USB, PCI, or PXI Device
– Configured in MAX
• Simulated Data Acquisition Device (DAQ)
– Software simulated at the driver level
– Configured in MAX
• Sound Card
– Built into most computers

This LabVIEW course is designed for audiences with or without access to National
Instruments hardware.
Each exercise is divided into three tracks, A, B, and C:
Track A is designed to be used with hardware supported by the National Instruments
DAQmx driver. This includes most USB, PCI, and PXI data acquisition devices with
analog input. Some signal conditioning and excitation is required to use a microphone
with a DAQ device. (Some sensors, like microphones, require external power to work
(excitation)).
Track B is designed to be used with no hardware. Hardware can be simulated with the
NI-DAQmx Driver Version 7.5 and newer. A simulated NI-DAQmx device is a replica
of a device created using the NI-DAQmx Simulated Device option in the Create New
menu of MAX for the purpose of operating a function or program without hardware. An
NI-DAQmx simulated device behaves similar to a real device. Its driver is loaded, and
programs using it are fully verified.
Track C is designed to be used with a standard sound card and microphone. LabVIEW
includes simple VIs for analog input and analog output using the soundcard built into
many PCs. (This is very convenient for laptops because the soundcard and microphone
are usually already built-in.)