Review of National Instruments VirtualBench

The VirtualBench is an all-in-one piece of electronic test gear that combines an oscilloscope, logic analyzer, function generator, DMM, triple output programmable power supply, and an 8-channel digital I/O bus. It can be controlled with a dedicated NI app, or programmatically controlled with LabView or C. I show the device's usage and duggest which situations may benefit from using this device.

[@vlogerhood]

I loved playing with LabView so much in school. It was really neat.

[@VincentFischer]

I used this thing at school along with LabView and loved It. I always had to resist the urge to take it home and borrow it indefinitely.

[@Kezat]

I really look forward to your videos Ben, always interesting and I always learn something so Thanks!

[@mikeissweet]

Excellent review of a fine piece of equipment. I agree with your assessment at the end 100%. This thing has a ton of potential already (especially if you purchase LabView), but the regular interface only brings this thing about half way to it's ultimate useful/user-friendly-ness level. I imagine future software updates would bring this thing to a whole new level.

[@BenEtherington]

I recognized the Adafruit board as soon as you cut to it. Their boards look so good.

[@SeaCowsBeatLobsters]

I love this channel

[@NRBW]

I kept getting distracted in the first half by the SPI data stream.. :(

[@raymundhofmann7661]

And here goes my suggestion to NI and all others supplying drivers & apps for some instruments.

[@bruninie]

Good review!

[@PY4SR]

Good review Ben.

[@robmckennie4203]

This is super cool, I have something of a fetish for interfacing with hardware and I could see this being extremely fun to play with

[@MetricZero]

I have a question. How did you get to where you're at today? What schooling did you do/your job/how you're able to afford doing all the experiments and stuff. Individuals like you are essentially role models for what I'd like to do with my life.

[@David-xy2fb]

you crack me up ' ..a digital phosphor effect and a really fast update and really fast responding knobs is probably the best way to look at a signal with which you're unfamiliar and you're probably unfamiliar with it because you're using an oscilloscope to look at it, anyway..'

[@robmckennie4203]

Something that I think could be quite powerful with this product is combining all these tools into a single interface. Using serial output to trigger the oscilloscope, that kind of stuff. I believe oscilloscopes exist that trigger off serial signals, but that's just an example off the top of my head

[@RSP13]

Nice review

[@imagoatbah]

Interesting. Despite the versatility, it's pretty niche. I personally like the idea of having separate bench gear with physical knobs and clicky buttons for most things. I'm not sure this could replace a trusty set of standalone bench equipment for most people. The ability to program it inside out is nice but in practice probably isn't necessary unless, like you said, you have something specific in mind.

[@ChrisB257]

Nice detailed review Ben - bit outside my pay grade tho!

[@pooyamz]

I see that you have Vostro 1500 too ;) Best laptop ever

[@robertcalkjr.8325]

Thanks Ben.

[@TeraVoltLabs]

Have you ever used the Digilent Analog Discovery 2?