National Instruments Enhances Digital Audio Test Capabilities / NI AudioMASTER 6.1 Adds Support for SPDIF Digital Audio Generation

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 1, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- National Instruments today announced new high-performance software and hardware additions to the NI AudioMASTER suite. The comprehensive set of analog and digital audio validation and production test software and hardware deliver an exhaustive automated test solution with a performance level previously found only in high-end audio analyzers. The latest software addition, AudioMASTER 6.1, combined with an NI 7813R reconfigurable I/O device and the new NI CB-2181 digital audio I/O accessory, gives users an easy-to-use, software-defined test solution to generate and analyze SPDIF digital audio for testing consumer and professional audio devices.

"NI AudioMASTER 6.1 showcases the continued investment by National Instruments to create high-performance, flexible test solutions for audio devices including media players, headphones, microphones and loudspeakers," said Kurt Veggeberg, business development manager for audio test products at National Instruments. "AudioMASTER integrates with the NI test platform, including NI LabVIEW, NI TestStand and PXI and PCI modular instruments, so engineers can build a complete software-defined test system."

AudioMASTER 6.1 software features an expansive set of audio measurements using single and multiple tones, amplitude and frequency sweeps and step response analysis. The software directly integrates into NI TestStand test management software, which simplifies the development of automated audio tests and measurements by providing an interactive, configuration-based setup for audio measurements, limits evaluation and system calibration.

For analog audio tests, AudioMASTER 6.1 can use 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. For digital audio tests, AudioMASTER 6.1 combines the NI 7813R reconfigurable I/O device with the NI CB-2181, which features one input and one output, to support XLR, BNC or optical connections. The user can connect up to four CB-2181 digital audio accessories to a single NI 7813R device to provide a total of four inputs and four outputs for digital audio measurements, which greatly simplifies the test fixture required for multidevice testing.

Readers can visit http://www.ni.com/audiomaster to view tutorials and learn more about AudioMASTER product specifications.

About National Instruments

National Instruments (http://www.ni.com/) 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. Readers can obtain investment information from the company's investor relations department by calling [phone], e-mailing [e-mail] or visiting http://www.ni.com/nati.

Pricing and Contact Information NI AudioMASTER for Digital 11500 N Mopac Expwy, Priced* from $3,499; Austin, Texas 78759-3504 euro 3,199; 515,000 yen Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail] NI AudioMASTER for Analog Priced* from $5,999; euro 5,499;

882,000 yen Web: http://www.ni.com/audiomaster

* All prices are subject to change without notice.

LabVIEW, National Instruments, NI, ni.com and NI TestStand are trademarks of National Instruments. Other product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.

Editor Contact: Hilary Marchbanks, [phone] Reader Contact: Ernest Martinez, [phone]

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National Instruments

CONTACT: Editors, Hilary Marchbanks, [phone], Readers, Ernest
Martinez, 1-800-258-7022, both of National Instruments

Web Site: http://www.ni.com/