Overview
In LabScribe, Scope Mode functions similarly to an oscilloscope by capturing a fast, brief “snapshot” of an event rather than recording continuously.
This mode is ideal for short, repeatable signals such as action potentials and other neurophysiological events. Because these events occur quickly, proper triggering is essential to ensure the snapshot is captured at the correct moment.
Enabling and Configuring Scope Mode
To configure Scope Mode:
- On Windows: Go to Edit → Preferences
- On Mac: Go to LabScribe → Preferences
1. Select an Acquisition Mode
LabScribe offers three Scope acquisition modes:
Repetitive Mode
Each new sweep overwrites the previous one during recording. When recording stops, only the final sweep is saved.
Multiple Sweep Mode
Records and saves a user-defined number of sweeps.
- Set the number in the Number of Sweeps box
- Optionally define a Delay Between Sweeps
- A delay of 0 starts the next sweep immediately
Averaged Mode
Records multiple sweeps but displays and saves a single waveform representing the mathematical average of all sweeps.
2. Configure the Start Mode (Trigger)
The Start Mode determines when a sweep begins:
User
Recording begins when the Record button is clicked.
Trigger (External TTL)
Recording starts when a TTL signal is received. Use Pretrigger to capture data occurring just before the trigger event.
Channel (1–4)
Recording begins when a selected channel crosses defined high/low thresholds. Pretriggering is also available.
Timed
Recording begins after a specified delay (Wait time).
3. Set the Sweep Length (Stop Mode)
The sweep length defines how long each snapshot lasts.
- Set Stop Mode = Timed and enter the desired duration (seconds)
or - Use User mode and manually stop the sweep
4. Optimize the Sampling Rate
To accurately capture fast signals without excessive file size:
- Set the sampling rate to at least 5× faster than the highest frequency in the waveform
Viewing and Analyzing Scope Data
Main Window Navigation
To configure Scope Mode:
- Use the Sweep Selection Bar to view individual sweeps – highlighted in green
- Navigate with mouse clicks or left/right arrow keys
- Right-click a sweep number to rename or delete it
The Analysis Window
Open the Analysis Window for detailed comparisons:
- Select multiple sweeps using:
- CTRL (Windows)
- COMMAND (Mac)
Display behavior:
- Active sweep: black
- Other selected sweeps: grey
- Average of selected sweeps: red
Sweep Manager
In the Analysis Window:
- Click the arrow next to the Sweep Selection Bar to open the Sweep Manager
- Organize sweeps into named groups for easier analysis
