Bah, Humbug! A New Solution for Multi-channel Noise Elimination
Cost-effective, compact & easy-to-use alternative to multiple Hum Bugs
Anyone who has spent hours or even days trying to isolate and remove 50/60Hz mains interference from their electrophysiological recordings will understand what a ground-breaking device the Quest Scientific Hum Bug represented. Within seconds of being connected, a signal that was previously plagued with that tell-tale 50Hz/60Hz hum were able to eliminate it and immediately improve the quality of their recordings.
Since its launch the Hum Bug has proved immensely popular and electrophysiology labs around the globe rely on it for a rapid, robust and easy to use instrument for active noise elimination. Time previously wasted trying to track down the source of intermittent interference could now be spent doing experiments.
Using more than one Hum Bug for multi-channel recordings
While the Hum Bug remains a fantastic device, it has one major limitation, in that anyone wanting to record more than one channel, previously needed to have one Hum Bug for each channels of interest. Use of 8 Hum Bugs on a single electrophysiology setup is complicated by the following considerations:-
- Each of the Hum Bugs requires its own power supply cable and socket.
- Each Humbug has to be controlled individually via the front panel controls making it impossible to globally and simultaneously apply “Hold”, “Bypass” or “Clear” functions to all channels at the same time.
- Signal connections have to be made using 16 individual BNC cables for both the input and output.
- Most importantly, eight Hum Bugs would currently cost in excess of £10,000, making them an expensive proposition for an academic lab with limited funds.
Fortunately there is another solution when more than one channel of noise elimination is required…..
“Bah, Hum Bug” – I need a better solution than that!
Prior to Digitimer’s acquisition of the Hum Bug from Quest Scientific, we were already developing our own multi-channel noise elimination device, based on the principles of operation and easy-to-use controls of the Hum Bug, but using our own algorithm for template based interference removal. Originally launched as a two and four channel device, our D400 Main Noise Eliminator is now available as an 8 channel variant which is ideal for users of our 8 channel D360 Isolated Amplifier or any other amplifier where 8 or more channels of noise elimination is needed. In terms of cost, the 8 channel D400 less than half the cost of 8 Hum Bugs, making it far more attainable when funds are limited. In fact each of our D400’s represent a considerable saving over the equivalent number of Hum Bugs.
The Digitimer D400 is a family of mains noise eliminators designed for real-time removal of 50/60Hz mains noise interference from amplified biological and other signals prior to acquisition by digital data recording systems. The D400 is unique as the first multi-channel, standalone noise eliminator, that doesn’t need to be used in conjunction with any specific data acquisition system, unlike other active 50/50Hz “silencers”.
Features of the new D400:-
• Cost-effective, multi-channel noise removal
• Cancels out 50/60Hz mains & harmonics
• 2 channel, 4 channel and 8 channel versions
• Easy to use, portable & standalone
• Analogue signal path with no degradation
If you would like to learn more about the D400 or the Hum Bug, arrange for a demonstration/trial or request a formal quote, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
