NeuroNexus SmartBox Pro Radiens Allego User guide



SmartBox Pro

Radiens Allego

V 2.6.2

April 9, 2021

TableofContents

TableofContents 2

Introduction 3

Gettingupandrunning 4

What'sintheBox 4

ComputerRequirements 4

SystemOverview 5

FrontPanel 5

BackPanel 5

ConnecttheSmartBoxProtoYourComputer 6

DownloadandInstalltheAllegoSoftwareApplication 7

Windows 7

macOS 7

AllegoInterface 8

AllegoDashboard 8

ActivatingAllego 9

CheckingHardwareConnection 11

TrainingwithAllego 12

Quickstreamingandsaving-Determineifaheadstageandprobeareconnectedprop-

erlyandcanstreamdata 13

SmartBox Pro

DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT

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Introduction

CongratulationsonyourpurchaseoftheSmartBoxPro/RadiensAllegoacquisitionsystem!This

advanced  new  system  from  NeuroNexus  enables  and  accelerates  neuroscience  research 

throughitsuniquecombinationofperformance,easeofuse,andforward-lookingadvancedfea-

tures,whichinclude:

lPlug-and-playcompatibilitywithallNeuroNexusprobesandelectrodearrays

lHigh-qualityacquisitionandrecordingofupto512channelsofneuralandbio-

logicalsignals

lUnique,  highly  interactive,  probe- centric  user  interface  that  allows  the 

researchertoremainfocusedontheexperimentathand

This“QuickStartGuide”isintendedtoprovideabriefoverviewoftheSmartBoxPro/Allegosys-

temandsomeofitsbasicfunctions.

Anoteonbasicterminology:“SmartBoxPro”referstothehardwarecomponentofthesystem,

i.e.,the“SmartBoxProbox.”“RadiensAllego”referstothesoftwareapplicationthatinterfaces

withandcontrolsthehardwarebox.

IMPORTANT:Pleasecheckthe NeuroNexus websiteat www.NeuroNexus.com for regular

updatesofthisdocumentandrelatedsystemdocumentation.

ForquestionsregardingoperationofthesystemorifyouhaveanyissueswiththeSmartBox

Pro,pleaseemailusat[email protected].Youcanalsocallusat+1.734.913.8858.



SmartBox Pro

DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT

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Gettingupandrunning

What'sintheBox

lSmartBoxProunit

lACPowerAdapter

lUSB3.0cable

l(2)Banana-to-bananacables

l(2)BNC-to-BNCcables

l(2)BNC-to-Alligatorcables

lSelectedSmartLinkheadstageamplifier(s)andheadstageinterfacecable(s)

thatarespecifiedintheorder.FormoreinformationaboutourSmartLinkhead-

stagespleasevisitourwebsiteatwww.NeuroNexus.com

l(optional)Windowslaptopcomputerthatwasspecifiedintheorder

ComputerRequirements

Thecomputersystemrequirementsinclude:

lStorage:SSD.Traditionalmagneticharddisksmaynotbefastenoughinsome

recordingconfigurations

lUSB3.0

l3rdGenerationIntelCorei7processors(4cores),orequivalent

SmartBox Pro

DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT

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SystemOverview

FrontPanel

PowerLED/Button Indicatessystemstatus.

ABCD HeadstageInputPorts ProprietaryHDMI-styleportsforconnectingSmartLinkhead-

stagestoPortsA-D.

RE ReferenceElectrode BananajackforconnectiontoReferenceElectrode(poten-

tiostat/galvanostat).

CE CounterElectrode BananajackforconnectiontoCounterElectrode(poten-

tiostat/galvanostat).

V/I Potentiostat/GalvanostatPort

ProprietaryHDMI-stylemultifunctionportforconnectiontothe

SmartBoxProMUXadaptertoprovideaccesstopotentiostat

andgalvanostatfunctions.

BackPanel

DI/DO Digital/AnalogInputsand

Outputs BNCconnectorsforconnectingauxiliarysignalsfromotherinstruments.

SystemGround Bananajackforconnectingtheboxtoalow-noiseearthgroundpoint.

USB

3.0 USB3.0Connector ConnecttoaUSB3.0portonPC/MacusingthesuppliedUSB3.0cable.

9VDC DCPowerInput UseonlythesuppliedACpoweradaptertoprovidetherequiredDCvoltage

input.

AudioOutput StereoaudioAuxjackforconnectiontospeakerstomonitortheAnalogOut-

put(AO)channels.

SmartBox Pro

DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT

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ConnecttheSmartBoxProtoYourComputer

lUnpacktheSmartBoxProunitfromitspackagingandplaceitonasecuresurfacewith

adequateventilation

lPlugtheACadapterintoastandard(110-220V)walloutletandconnectitsDCpowerout-

putpinintotothepowerportoftheunit

lConnecttheUSBcabletotheSmartBoxProandaUSB3.0portonyourcomputer

lWiththecomputeronandconnectedtotheinternet,pressandreleasetheSmartBoxPro

powerLEDswitch.Yourcomputershouldindicatethatithasdetectednewhardware(Opal

KellyXEM6310-LX45).Thenecessarydriversshouldbeautomaticallyinstalledwithnofur-

theractionnecessary.IfthedriverdoesnotinstallortheAllegorecordingsoftwarecannot

detectyourSmartBoxProunit,trydownloadingandinstallingthedriverfromwww.Neur-

oNexus.com.

lConnectaSmartLinkheadstageamplifiertoaSmartLinkHDMIcableandthenconnect

theotherendtooneoftheSmartBoxProamplifierports(portsA-D)

lOptional-UseabananacabletoattachtheSmartBoxProgroundporttoalow-noiseearth

ground.Thismaybebeneficialforremovingextrinsicnoiseonthesignallinesdepending

onthelaboratoryenvironment.(Note:Regardlessofthegroundportconnections,the

recordingreferenceandgroundsignalsareprovidedthroughtheconfigurationofthe

SmartLinkheadstageamplifier(s))

lNote:DonotconnectthemultiplexeradaptortoportsAthroughD

SmartBox Pro

DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT

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DownloadandInstalltheAllegoSoftwareApplication

AllegoisthesoftwareapplicationforinterfacingwiththeSmartBoxProunit.Thelatestversionof

AllegocanalwaysbefoundontheNeuroNexuswebsite.

https://neuronexus.com/allego-software-downloads-page/

Oncethere,selectthelinkfortheappropriateoperatingsystemandthenselect“Download”to

beginthetransfer.



Windows

Launchtheinstaller.

Ifyoureceiveawarningagainstrunninganunrecognizedapp,select“MoreInfo”,then“Runany-

way.”

Aftertheinstallationcompletes,Allegowilllaunch.



macOS

DownloadtheAllegoinstaller.

Double-clicktheinstallertolaunch.

DragtheAllegoiconintotheApplicationsfolder.

OpentheApplicationsfolderbydoubleclickingthefoldericon.

IntheApplicationsfolder,double-clicktheAllegoiconwhileholdingdownthecontrolkey(hold-

ingdownthecontrolkeyoverridestheMacOSsecuritycheck,whichisonlyneededduringthe

initiallaunch).

Aftertheinstallationcompletes,Allegowilllaunch.

SmartBox Pro

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AllegoInterface

AllegoDashboard



CONFIGURATION

System Configuresignalsources,whichportswillbeused,samplingfrequency,and

D/A(Outs).

Electrodes Connectedprobedesignsareselected,alongwithwhichportandSmartLink

headstagewillbeused.

SignalProcessing CreatevariousfiltertypesandcombinethemtocreateDSPgroupings.

SIGNALPROCESSING

Monitor Showsthesignalscurrentlybeingstreamed.

Impedance Impedancetesting.

VISUALIZATION

HDSnapshot Takesahighresolutionstillpictureofsignalsforcloserinspection.

SignalMetrics Configurespikedetectionparametersandviewkeyperformanceindic-

ators/signalqualitycharacteristics.

SpikeGrid Setspikedetectionthresholdusingvoltageorstandarddeviationofback-

groundnoisefromthemean.Displaysdetectedspikesacrossallchannels.

Settings Activatethesoftware,setvisualthemesandsettherecordingfilenameand

location.

SmartBox Pro

DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT

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ActivatingAllego

lLaunchAllego.Onceithasfinishedinitializingandtheprogressbardisappears,navigate

totheleftsideoftheinterfaceandhittheSettingsbutton

lAcquisitionSettingsintheupper-rightliststhedirectorywhereyourrecordingfileswillbe

saved,aswellastherootfilenameofeachfile

lLicenseStatusdisplaysthecurrentstateofyoursoftwareactivation

lIfthestatusisinactive,unknownorexpired,youmay:

1. Clickthe“REQUESTTRIAL”button.Thiswillgranta14-daytriallicense.

2. ChecktheemailsyouhavereceivedfromNeuroNexusforan18-digitlicensekey.Ifyoudo

nothavethisyet,contactNeuroNexusCustomerService([email protected])to

requestalicensekey.Pastethe18-digitkeyintothetextboxlabeled“Activate”andclick

thearrow.

lIfthisisatrialsystem,activationwillextendthelicenseandunlockotherpartsoftheapplic-

ation

lAccepttheEndUserLicenseAgreementtobeginusingAllego

SmartBox Pro

DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT

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lYourlicensekeyallowstwocomputerstorunAllegosimultaneously.Ifyouneedtoactiv-

ate Allego onadifferentcomputer,youmaydeactivatethelicenseononebychoosingthe

Deactivatebutton.Thisremovesthecurrentcomputerfromtheallowedlist,freeingupthe

seattobeusewithanothercomputerinstead.

lIfyoursoftwarehasbeenactivatedbutappearsinactive,unknownorexpired,clickthe

REFRESHbuttontore-attempttoactivate.Ifthisdoesnotwork,checkyourinternetcon-

nection.

SmartBox Pro

DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT

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CheckingHardwareConnection

NavigatetotheDashboardandhittheSystembutton.WiththeSmartBoxProon(pressand

releasetheSmartBoxPropowerLEDswitch)andconnectedtoSmartLinkheadstages,your

softwarerecognizeconnectedSmartLinkheadstagesautomatically.Ifyouareusingadifferent

Intan-basedsystem,clickontheModemenuandselecttheappropriateoption.

OntherightsideofthebottombarintheSystemtab,youcancheckthestatusofconnected

portstotheSmartLinkheadstages.Greenlightindicateswhichportsareinuse.TheSmartBox

Prosupportssimultaneousrecordingofupto512channelsacrossallfourports.Forexample,

belowshowsthestatusoftwo64channelSmartLinkheadstagesconnectedtoportsA,andD.

ThesamplerateontheSystemviewcanbechangedtovaluesbetween1kHzto30kHz.



SmartBox Pro

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TrainingwithAllego

TofamiliarizeyourselfwithAllegobeforeusingitwithaSmartBoxPro,returntotheDashboard

andselecttheSystemiconifthetabisnotstillopen.FromtheModedropdownmenu,choose

Training:Simulatedspikedata.Thismodesimulateshavinga64channelheadstageconnected

onPortsAandD.YoumayalsotestfilteringoptionsbychoosingTraining:Sinewaves.Sine

modesimulatesa64channelheadstageconnectedonPortsAandC.

SmartBox Pro

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Quickstreamingandsaving-Determineifaheadstageandprobe

areconnectedproperlyandcanstreamdata



lFromtheDashboard,clicktheMonitoricon

lChooseanameforthismonitorifdesired

lClickStream.Datashouldbegintopopulatethewindow.

a. Ifitdoesnot,navigatetotheSystemviewtoverifythattheSmartBoxPro

detectsyourSmartLinkheadstage(s)

b. Youmightneedtoscalethestreamingtodisplaythewaveformsappropriately.

OnthebottomofMonitorview,clicktheVerticalControlsbuttontoincrease/-

decreasethetimespan,thespacebetweenyourwaveforms,andthemag-

nitudeorresolutionofyoursignals.

lFromtheSignalProcessingtaboftheDashboard,applyafiltersetthatissuitedforyour

research.Formoreinformationaboutthefiltering,refertotechnicaldocument.

SmartBox Pro

DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Telephone: +1.734.913.8858 | Fax: +1.734.786.0069 | [email protected]

Page

lTosavestreameddata,clickRecord.Thestreamingandrecordingstatuswillbedisplayed

intheStatusbarvisibleallthroughouttheapplication.



SmartBox Pro

DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Telephone: +1.734.913.8858 | Fax: +1.734.786.0069 | [email protected]

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NeuroNexus SmartBox Pro Radiens Allego User guide

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