fastest method to output analog signal

[Quintin]

My DUT is a microphone and I want to test the frequency response between the DUT mic and a calibrated reference microphone.  Now to do this I want to output a analog signal from my PC via a loudspeaker to be the sound source that the microphones will be reading. 

My question is what is the best/fastest way to generate this analog sound source signal if after the test I will need to extract the magnitude and phase of the freq. response at multiple frequencies?

My entire test time needs to be less than 1 second.

[Nick_Storton]

Hi Quentin,

      Is your question:-

What type of signal will test your DUT the fastest?

or

Do you already have a signal defined and want to know the fastest way of generating it from NI hardware?

Nick

[Quintin]

Hey Nick, thanks for replying.

My question is the former, what type of signal will test my DUT the fastest?

[Nick_Storton]

Hi Quintin,

    Normally this can be done using a sine sweep signal but depending on how wide a bandwidth and how many steps per decade you program the test time can vary but will still be quite quick, generally under 1 second. Another method is to use a multitone signal where a number of sine tones are generated simultaneously with a spacing determined by the frequency resolution you need. But essentially these tones will mix with each other to produce intermodulation products so that you are stimulating the entire band of interest simultaneously. This method is quicker than the first for generation but is slightly longer on the analysis side.

Hope this helps,

Nick