The sound card in your computer is useful for a lot more that just recording and playing audio tracks. With the right software, you can have a virtual electronics lab full of digital test & measurement tools that won't crowd your bench or break the bank!

Sounds too good to be true? Admittedly, the sound card is an audio device, so the "virtual" test instruments will be limited to work within the audio spectrum. They also lack some of the goodies that are available on their physical counterparts, such differential inputs and direct (DC) coupling - but the price is right!

This project will enable you to use your PC as a digital oscilloscope, spectrum analyser and signal generator. Other more specialised instruments are also available in software form, such as signal processors, loudspeaker analysers and enclosure designers, radio demodulators and decoders, and so on.

If you work in education, are new to electronics or would simply like to learn about digital instruments, then this project is for you.