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APx500 Flex Audio Analyzer

Bringing APx500 measurement software to 3rd party audio interfaces

The APx500 Flex audio analyzer—comprised of APx500 measurement software and an APx500 Flex Key—allows you to select the ASIO-capable audio interface of your choice to use along with AP’s versatile and powerful APx audio measurement software. Start with the measurement options you need now, with the freedom to add additional measurements as your test requirements evolve. The APx500 Flex brings AP innovations such as one-click measurements, code-free automation and sophisticated reporting to off-the-shelf audio interface hardware solutions.

Features


APx500 Flex is compatible with ASIO-capable audio interfaces. Choose the interface product that matches your budget and your application’s performance requirements.

APx500 Flex continues AP’s tradition of highly-configurable measurement solutions. Select measurement options based upon your test requirements, with the ability to purchase individual measurements or value-priced Flex Packs.

APx500 Flex Base Configuration

  • 16 channel ASIO interface
  • File Analysis
  • Sequence Mode
  • Input Signal Monitors (including FFT monitor)
  • Level & Gain
  • THD+N
  • Loudspeaker Production Test (including Rub & Buzz)
  • Stepped Frequency Sweep
  • Pass / Fail Measurement
  • Signal Acquisition Measurement

Additional measurements

Additional measurements, available either as individual options or as part of APx500 Flex Packs, are listed in the Options tab or the APx500 Flex audio analyzer datasheet.

Any ASIO-enabled audio interface should suffice with APx500 Flex. However, AP has thus far verified the compatibility of the audio interfaces listed below and configuration templates for these devices are included in APx500 software (v5.0.2 or later).

Guides for setting up Flex with one of these audio interfaces are also available (see Downloads tab). Each of these verified compatible interfaces offer quality analog I/O (<90 dB THD+N, 192 kHz SR) and stable drivers with consistent delay. Please contact the manufacturers, or their authorized resellers, for more information.

Danville Signal dspInstrument spDAQ, Echo AIO-A2, Echo AIO-SA, Lynx Aurora (n), Lynx E22, RME Fireface UC, RME Fireface 802

Software licensing for APx500 Flex is facilitated by the APx500 Flex Key. Move your measurement licenses from one computer to another simply by moving your APx500 Flex Key.

Create custom interfaces and application-to-application automation using the comprehensive APx API. Extensive documentation and examples are provided for Visual Basic.NET, C#, MATLAB, LabVIEW, and Python. Projects and automation can be shared with other APx units anywhere in the world.

From a practical perspective, APx audio analyzers use a common software platform, making tests and results easier to share. All settings for a test are saved in a single project file, making it easy to replicate test setups between R&D and production facilities anywhere in the world.

Project files are compatible with APx500 Flex, B Series and legacy APx instruments and each project is self-contained—so there’s never any worry about dependencies or broken links. Users can even embed waveform files and images within a project file.

For sharing measurement results with customers, contract manufacturers or management, APx automatically generates rich graphic reports, with highlighted pass / fail limits and options to export as PDF, HTML, Excel, CSV, RTF or MATLAB files.

Channels

All licenses of APx500 Flex support up to 16 channels of audio measurement and provides Sequence Mode, input signal monitors, file analysis, level & gain, loudspeaker production test (including rub & buzz), pass/fail, stepped frequency sweep, signal acquisition and THD+N.

Individual Measurement Options

In addition to Flex Packs, APx500 Flex measurement options (e.g. Bench Mode, Acoustic Response, etc.) can be purchased individually, allowing users to configure their test system specifically for their application requirements. Measurements can be added to an APx500 Flex Key when ordering a new APx500 Flex analyzer or they can be delivered electronically to an existing APx500 Flex Key. Please consult the APx500 Flex data sheet for a complete list of measurements.

Flex Pack Options

APX-FLEX-PACK-2
Flex Pack 2 includes the following measurements: crosstalk, crosstalk sweeps, DC level, DC level sweep, DUT delay, frequency, frequency response, interchannel phase, level ratio, measurement recorder, noise, noise recorder, Q-peak noise, SNR, SINAD, and stepped level sweep.

APX-FLEX-PACK-3
Flex Pack 3 includes the following measurements: continuous sweep, digital error rate, dynamic range (AES17), IMD, IMD frequency sweep, IMD level sweep, input sample rate, maximum output, maximum output (CEA-2006), multitone analyzer, regulated frequency sweep, and signal analyzer.

APX-FLEX-PACK-4
Flex Pack 4 includes the following measurements: acoustic response, bandpass frequency sweep, bandpass level, bandpass level sweep, cumulative spectral decay, impedance/Thiele-Small, modulated noise, polar plots, and transfer function.

Perceptual Audio Test Options

Perceptual Audio Test: POLQA (SW-POLQA-2)
Perceptual audio measurement returns a subjective assessment of speech quality using the next-generation POLQA algorithm for wide-band speech devices or devices with acoustic coupling. (Successor to PESQ with support for HD Voice, 3G, 4G/LTE and VoIP technologies)

Speech Intelligibility: ABC-MRT Measurement (SW-ABC-MRT)
The APx ABC-MRT plugin is a software option for APx500 audio measurement software that provides speech intelligibility measurement based upon the ABC-MRT speech processing algorithm developed by the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) of the United States National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Speech Intelligibility: Speech Transmission Index (SW-STI)
SW-STI is a plug-in for conducting Speech Transmission Index (STI) measurements using the STIPA method.

APx500 Audio Measurement Software

Scalable, Flexible Audio Software

The APx500 Measurement Software is the most advanced audio measurement interface available. Complex procedures that include user prompts, limits, and calls to external applications can be created directly in the GUI, saving time and money while ensuring painless updates over time and no development is required. AP offers a wide range of options tailored to specific applications, including: electro-acoustic testing, perceptual audio test, and speech intelligibility.

Benefits

• Built-in measurements
• Intuitive user interface
• Powerful automation features
• API integrations
• Subscription & perpetual license

Specifications & Requirements


Any ASIO-enabled audio interface should suffice with APx500 Flex. However, AP has thus far verified the compatibility of the audio interfaces listed below and configuration templates for these devices are included in APx500 software (v5.0.2 or later). Guides for setting up Flex with one of these audio interfaces are also available (see Downloads tab). Each of these verified compatible interfaces offer quality analog I/O (<90 dB THD+N, 192 kHz SR) and stable drivers with consistent delay. Please contact the manufacturers, or their authorized resellers, for more information. 

View Full Specifications ››
  • Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit) operating system.
  • USB 2.0 or USB 3.0. Two are required for optional switcher or DCX-127 use.
  • Intel i5 or better processor running at a clock speed of at least 2.5 GHz. AMD processors with similar specifications are also supported.
  • At least 8 GB RAM. 16 GB is highly recommended.
  • Internet connection or an USB Type A port (to access APx500 software for installation).
  • At least 1.5 GB of free hard disk space. An SSD for the operating system drive is recommended.
  • A color monitor and video card with at least SXGA (1280 X 1024) video graphics support. Video resolution of 1900 x 1080 or greater is recommended.
  • More detailed information is available on our AP Software and Windows Compatibility chart
View Full Specifications ››
  • System performance is sensitive to processor speed; faster processors will yield faster results.
  • APx500 is data intensive and it is recommended that other data-intensive applications not be run concurrently. This includes Audio Precision AP2700, APWIN or ATS.
View Full Specifications ››

APx500 Flex Resources

Visit Our Technical Library

APx500 Flex Datasheet

This datasheet covers information on the key features, specifications, and software options for the Audio Precision APx500 Flex audio analyzer.

 

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APx500 Flex Getting Started Guide

Explore how the APx500 Flex audio analyzer allows you to select the ASIO-capable audio interface of your choice to use along with the APx500 audio measurement software.
 

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Qualifying an Audio Interface for APx500 Flex

This Technote discusses the process of qualifying an audio interface for audio test with APx500 Flex, covering some of the potential pitfalls of using an audio interface, rather than purpose-built test hardware.

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Introduction to APx500 Flex

This Quick Tip videp introduces the APx500 Flex audio analyzer and the ability to use APx500 measurement software with third-party audio interfaces (soundcards).

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Audio Test of USB Headsets

This Technote discusses testing the audio performance of USB headsets with APx500 Series audio analyzers using open-loop test techniques.

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Configuring the APx500 Flex

This Quick Tip video provides an overview of configuring the new APx500 Flex in conjunction with an ASIO-capable audio interface for making audio measurements.

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