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Introduction

Welcome to SigGenRZ, the most complete Windows-based signal design package available today. SigGenRZ is designed to work with the RZ6 Multi I/O processor and BioSigRZ for ABR and OAE studies and includes standard stimulus files which can be selected and modified through BioSigRZ. Most researchers using BioSigRZ for animal screening or similar tasks will NOT find it necessary to work directly in SigGenRZ.

Scientists who wish to work with stimuli beyond the scope of the standard stimuli can use SigGenRZ to design, specify, and preview complex auditory stimuli in a fully interactive, high-level signal development environment.

Important

All BioSigRZ users are encouraged to read the BioSigRZ Manual before investigating the more comprehensive SigGenRZ capabilities covered in this manual.

What Is SigGenRZ?

Signal generation is an integral part of virtually all tests and experiments involving acoustic stimuli. The SigGenRZ stimulus design application enables scientists to quickly design, specify, and preview the complex auditory stimuli used in their experiments. It offers a fully interactive, high-level signal development environment that can be used to generate sophisticated signals to be used with TDT's BioSigRZ signal acquisition and processing application.

SigGenRZ Capabilities

SigGenRZ is a complete stimulus design environment with many desirable features. Combined with TDT's BioSigRZ, it becomes a comprehensive design platform where stimuli for all trials of an experiment are specified. SigGenRZ provides control over the type of stimulus, frequency content, gating function, level, starting time, overall duration, and calibration. SigGenRZ even provides a means for controlling the systematic variation of these parameters from one stimulus interval to another.

Calibration

SigGenRZ allows you to specify all signal levels in terms of a calibrated reference level. This reference level can be specified as 0 dB SPL or some other reference.

Signal Design

SigGenRZ allows you to design a wide variety of signals. Signal components can be specified in the time or frequency domains. You can choose between tones, clicks, noise, bands of noise, harmonics, FM sweeps, and waveforms from disk. SigGenRZ's features enable you to build complex tones and amplitude modulated signals. You can also specify exact signal onset and offset times.

Playback Preview

SigGenRZ allows you to simulate stimulus presentation for an entire experiment by playing through all of the signal intervals. The values of variables are displayed and are reflected in the real-time generation of the signals.

Displays

SigGenRZ's two main displays are the Signal window and the Segment editor. The Signal window displays the overall stimulus signal, showing the placement of segment waveforms along a temporal axis. The Segment editor displays design parameters, the time-domain segment waveform generated by these design parameters, and the magnitude spectrum of the segment waveform. You can zoom-in on a specific area of the signal. Values associated with the displayed signal are viewed in an information window. You may place this window anywhere within the screen display.

Hardware Support

SigGenRZ supports TDT's RZ6 Multi I/O processor. The program uses a software emulation of the System II array processor to design signals. The generated waveform is then loaded to a memory buffer on an RPvdsEx circuit. SigGenRZ uses this circuit to control stimulus presentation, sample period, the maximum number of channels that are played out, and also the triggering properties of the system.

SigGenRZ comes with several preconfigured RCO circuit files designed for use with BioSigRZ. See Device Select for more information.

The Power of SigGenRZ

SigGenRZ provides a simple, yet powerful, means for designing and previewing a wide variety of signals. Signal design, however, is often just the first step in a larger process. The real power of SigGenRZ lies in its ability to generate files that can be used to in BioSigRZ software to present stimuli across multiple intervals or SigGenRZ Indices (SGIs) during an experiment.

What is the SigGen Index (SGI)?

In most cases, a signal is built to be presented as an auditory stimulus in an experiment or test. The stimulus may be presented over multiple intervals with signal parameters varied as a function of the interval.

The SigGen Index (SGI) is simply another name for the interval number. During stimulus presentation, signal parameters are varied as a function of the SigGen Index (SGI).

Using SigGenRZ Signals

The process of designing and using SigGenRZ signals is as follows:

  1. Design the signal with SigGenRZ.

  2. Save the signal to a file.

  3. Use the file with BioSigRZ or your own custom signal processing application.

  4. Process output.

Signal File Formats

SigGenRZ signals may be saved in the following formats:

  • SigGenRZ format

  • Binary file format

SigGenRZ File Format

Files saved in the SigGenRZ format contain signal parameter information and the variable information necessary to control the presentation of stimulus signals across multiple intervals, or SigGenRZ Indices (SGIs).

Binary File Format

Files saved in binary format may be easily used with many commercial application software packages or user's programs. These files are saved in 16-bit integer binary format and consist of the waveform only.

Before You Begin

With a bit of preparation, signal generation with SigGenRZ is quick and easy.

What You Need

You should be familiar with your System 3 hardware and understand the parameters necessary for specification of a signal in the frequency and time domains.

Installing the Software

Requirements

To run SigGenRZ, you must have the following:

  • Computer running Microsoft Windows XP or greater.

  • TDT Drivers software (version 72 or greater)

  • A monitor with at least VGA resolution graphics. Super VGA (1024 x 768) resolution graphics highly recommended

  • RZ6 Multi I/O processor (required for playing signals in SigGenRZ)

  • Optibit Interface Card in your PC to communicate with RZ6

Installations

SigGenRZ is installed automatically when BioSigRZ is installed. If you are not using BioSigRZ, SigGenRZ can be downloaded from the TDT Website Downloads page or from the USB supplied with your system.