Different Options of Synchronization with DAQmx in LabVIEW

Updated Mar 30, 2023

Reported In

Software

  • LabVIEW

Driver

  • NI-DAQmx

Issue Details

I want to synchronize my signal acquisition in with DAQmx in LabVIEW, how can I do that and what are my options?

Solution

There are several options that you can choose from depending on your application and they are briefly outlined below:

1. Start Trigger Synchronization

This method allows you to control when acquisition begins across multiple modules. Because the focus is to simply align the start time across multiple tasks, this method is the most rudimentary way to achieve synchronization.
 

2. Sample Clock Synchronization

A sample clock can be shared between both tasks, so that any task that uses the shared clock can take samples at the same time. Therefore, the two tasks will not drift from each other.
 

3. Multidevice Task

NI-DAQmx allows multiple Analogue Input channels from various modules to be placed in the same task. Channels from different modules should be included in the same DAQmx Create Channel if they are intended to have the same measurement configuration (voltage range, and units) and the same timing and triggering information.
 

4. Multirate Synchronization

When referencing multiple modules in one task, the same sampling rate will apply to all channels. However, some applications may require synchronization at different rates, this technique will allow us to do so.

For an extensive list of different techniques available and example code, please refer to our synchronizing tutorial here .