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open-ephys / plugin-GUI

Software for processing, recording, and visualizing multichannel electrophysiology data
https://open-ephys.org/gui
GNU General Public License v3.0
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Issue synchronizing Neuropixel and NI-DAQ data streams #634

Open ellecj729 opened 5 days ago

ellecj729 commented 5 days ago

Hello!

I am trying to synchronize multiple analog inputs from a NI-DAQ (NI USB-6211) with the data stream from a Neuropixel 2.0 probe. I am trying to use the Neuropix-PXI as the main clock. As recommended the SMA is set to output and the cable is connected to DI0 on the NI-DAQ. I am using a merger node with Neuropix as input A and NI-DAQ as input B and have the 1st digital channel set as the sync line for the NI-DAQ in the record node. With this configuration, once I start acquisition, I am able to read the analog inputs accurately through the LFP viewer and the probe is synchronized but the NI-DAQ sync line never turns green.

I have confirmed through NI-MAX that the DAQ is receiving the 1Hz signal from the basestation and followed the recommendations in the synchronization tutorial but so far nothing has resolved the issue. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

medengineer commented 4 days ago

Hello!

I just tested this with a different USB based NIDAQ device and found the GUI’s online synchronizer only works when the sample rate for the NIDAQ device is set to 1kHz. Can you confirm that lowering the sample rate in your NIDAQ device has the same effect (there may be a different min sample rate for your device?)

Regardless of sample rate, if you’re seeing the 1Hz signal in both NI MAX and the LFPViewer’s NDQ stream, it’s safe to assume you will be able to perform offline synchronization without issue. I will take a closer look at what’s going on with the online synchronizer in this case by early next week.

ellecj729 commented 4 days ago

Thanks for the reply!!

I tried lowering the sample rate to 1kHz but have the same issue. Also I should clarify that I don't see the digital 1Hz signal (at least the event overlay) in the LFP viewer.

medengineer commented 4 days ago

Ah okay, that's a separate problem then. So you can see the NIDAQ analog inputs in the LFPViewer but not the digital 1Hz event overlays.

Is there any error message in Debug console of the GUI? Does changing the digital input connection on the NIDAQ device make any difference, (ex: from line 1 to line 2)?