Whether you’re a student, hobbyist, or professional engineer, the Analog Discovery 3 paired with WaveForms software offers a powerful and easy-to-use solution for test and measurement. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the setup process and highlight some key features to help you get started quickly.
Step 1: Register Your Device and Download WaveForms
To begin, head over to the Digilent website and navigate to the Products page. After registering your Analog Discovery 3, download the WaveForms software. It’s available for Windows, macOS, and Linux — just choose the version that matches your operating system.
Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the prompts:
- Accept the license agreement
- Install all recommended components
- Choose installation for “Just Me” or “All Users”
- Click Finish to complete the setup
WaveForms will launch automatically once installation is complete.
Step 2: Connect Your Device
With WaveForms open, plug in your Analog Discovery 3. The software will automatically detect the device, allowing you to begin using its tools right away.
Step 3: Explore the Oscilloscope Tool
WaveForms includes a full-featured oscilloscope. Here’s how to get started:
- Add Measurements: Use the vertical and horizontal tabs to add measurements like Peak-to-Peak Voltage and Frequency.
- Pause and Analyze: You can stop the waveform to freeze the display and analyze values more easily.
- Configure Triggers: In the control toolbar, set up trigger conditions such as source channel, edge type (e.g., rising), and voltage level. For example, set the trigger level to 1V and keep hysteresis on auto.
Step 4: Customize Channels
Click the gear icon next to each channel to:
- Change color and line thickness
- Export data
- Add filters (e.g., low-pass, high-pass, band-pass)
- Set up internal loopback using Wavegen
You can also add:
- Math Channels for calculated signals
- Reference Channels from previous measurements
- Digital Channels for logic analysis
Step 5: Go Beyond the Basics
WaveForms is more than just an oscilloscope. It includes tools for:
- FFT analysis
- Spectrograms
- Histograms
- Data logging
- Cursors and annotations
These features make it a versatile tool for labs, classrooms, and personal projects.
It is that easy!
The Analog Discovery 3 and WaveForms software make it easy to dive into electronics testing and measurement. Whether you’re debugging a circuit or exploring signal behavior, this setup gives you the flexibility and precision you need.
We encourage you to explore all the tools WaveForms has to offer and make the Analog Discovery 3 a key part of your engineering toolkit.
