Multichannel Systems MC_Rack Manual - Manual (Page 73)

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4 MC_Rack Features
4.1 About MC_Rack Features
This section provides more detailed information on all features of MC_Rack. The topics
are in a systematic order.
4.2 Data Acquisition Settings
4.2.1 Data Source Setup
From the Edit menu, select Data Source Setup to configure the software according to your
MC_Card or USB based data acquisition and amplifier hardware. Data Source Setup is only
available as long as your current virtual rack is empty (that is, only a Recorder, but no MC_Card /
USB based data acquisition or Replayer in the virtual rack). Configure the channel layout first
and then set up the rack configuration, because it is not possible to change the data source setup
or channel layout later.
The data source and channel layout configuration is saved together with the rack (*.rck) file, that
is you can set up different racks for different hardware configurations. For example, the number
of electrode channels may vary in different ME-System setups. As a MEA-System user, you only
have to decide whether you have a MEA60-System (with a 64 channel MC_Card) or a MEA120-
System (with a 128 channel MC_Card) or a USB based data acquisition. The number of electrode
channels is fixed and cannot be changed for a MEA-System, but it can be altered in USB based
data acquisition systems.
You can also select Simulation as the data source. In Simulation mode, no data is acquired
from the MC_Card, but simulated waveforms are played and can be used for trying out MC_Rack
features. You can choose between sine waveforms on all channels, or the default simulation
(different waveforms on a number of channels). If no MC_Card is installed (or if it is not properly
installed), only Simulation is available as the data source.