Processing and Programming Improvements in the LabVIEW Sound and Vibration Toolkit 4.0

Version 4.0 of the LabVIEW Sound and Vibration Toolkit offers significant improvements over previous versions in both analysis speed and ease-of use for programmers in applications such as audio measurements, fractional-octave analysis, swept sine analysis, sound-level measurements, frequency analysis, frequency response measurements, and transient analysis.

Processing Improvements

Performance of common acoustic and vibration analyses has been improved in the Sound and Vibration Toolkit 4.0. Here is a list of the benchmarks and improvements that were see on average:

• Power spectrum (1 and N Ch) is on average 28% faster
• Frequency response (1x1) is on average 28% faster
• Sound level measurements are on average 34% faster
• Vibration level measurements are on average 32% faster
• Weighting filters are on average 11% faster

Octave analysis performance is basically unchanged at only 1.7% faster. However with dual processor/dual core machines it is possible to achieve a 40% decrease in octave analysis processing time due to multithreading capabilities built into the algorithm.

The computer used to obtain these performance benchmarks is a Pentium 4 3.2 GHz with 1 GB of RAM. All tests were done using LabVIEW 8.0 with Windows XP SP2. All results are comparing the Sound and Vibration Toolkit (SVT) 4.0 performance to SVT 3.1.Version 4.0 of the LabVIEW Sound and Vibration Toolkit now incorporates Express technology to make it easier for programmers to do sound and vibration measurement and analysis. Express VIs deliver a higher level programming methodology through a configuration-based approach to programming. Express VIs group low-level LabVIEW VIs into functional components that you can configure through an interactive dialog box. LabVIEW users have embraced Express technology because it does not sacrifice the power and flexibility of the core LabVIEW programming language, yet reduces development time.
Included in the toolkit are 10 LabVIEW Express VIs for:

• Fractional Octave Analysis with A-, B-, and C-Weighting
• Vibration Level with Single and Double Integration
• Sound Level with A-, B-, and C-Weighting
• Baseband Power Spectrum
• Zoom Power Spectrum
• Peak Search
• Power in Band
• Frequency Response (FRF)
• Limit Testing
• Filtering

The folowing LabVIEW examples illustrate the differences in programming with Express technology versus traditional graphical programming. For example, a 1/3 octave analysis with A-weighting has been simplified from:
to:
The Fractional Octave Analysis Express VI combines lower levels functions of 1/1, 1/3, 1/6, and 1/12 octave analysis with weighting filter options.

A complicated vibration analysis application with power spectrum, power-in-band, and RMS level measurements such as this one below:
is simplified greatly with Express VIs:Try the LabVIEW Sound and Vibration Toolkit on-line at www.ni.com/trysv.
Did you know that the Sound and Vibration toolkit is compliant with the latest ANSI and IEC standards for acoustic measurements including weighting filter, octave analysis, and sound level measurement? Get certificates and detailed information on acoustic standards compliance on-line.

View multimedia presentations on the Sound and Vibration Toolkit:

• Octave Analysis in the Sound and Vibration Toolkit
• Amplifier Characterization using Swept Sine
• Vibration Measurement and Analysis

Related Links:
NI Sound and Vibration Portal
Sound and Vibration Interactive Application Tutorials

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