StimTracker has a number of capabilities. This page provides a starting point and a “road map” to other support notes.

To being, connect the universal AC adapter that’s included. StimTracker cannot be powered by the USB connector from the computer.

Connecting m-pod

m-pod provides a plug-and-play solution to your EEG, NIRS, eye tracker, and other data recorders. Skip this section if you did not purchase an m-pod with StimTracker.

• Open the m-pod box; it contains a white data cable.
• Connect either end of the data cable to the “m-pod 1” or “m-pod 2” connector on the back of StimTracker. On the Quad model, you can also plug the cable to the “m-pod 3” connector.
• Connect the other end of the data cable to your m-pod.
• Connect m-pod to your data recorder; see the m-pod support section for manufacturer-specific information.

When you turn on StimTracker:

• The rectangular light (🁢) on m-pod should be turned on; this indicates that m-pod has a working connection to its StimTracker host.
• The “m-pod 1” (or “m-pod 2”, or “m-pod 3”) light on StimTracker’s front panel should also be turned on. 

When StimTracker generates an event marker, e.g. due to onset of light on the light sensor, m-pod’s other LED (▲) will light up. This LED will be on when any output line is on. 

Next Steps

StimTracker accepts up to five sources of input:

• Light sensors, for marking onset of visual stimuli (2 on StimTracker Duo, up to 4 on the Quad model).
• Audio, for marking onset of auditory stimuli
• RB-x40 response pad for marking onset of a participant’s key presses
• Microphone, for marking onset of participant’s vocal response (Quad model only)
• USB, for sending event markers from stimulus presentation software

The first four types of input are handled directly and autonomously by StimTracker –no software drivers are needed. If you want to send event markers from the computer, you will need to install USB drivers.

Links for installing USB drivers and using the above features are described on the StimTracker main support page.

Advanced Features

Under the hood, StimTracker Duo and Quad provide some advanced and unique features that allow you to precisely control how and when event markers are generated.

With these features that are built into the XID firmware (and supported by speedy hardware), you can:

• Create hold-on and hold-off filters. This is quite useful with audio signals, voice key, and other situations.
• Enable single shot (one time) event markers for any given period.
• Control which event marker is delivered via m-pod, time-stamped USB, or both.
• Control which event marker gets to reset the internal timer.

These features are described on the Signal Flow page. They can be configured using the free Xidon 2 software or via our open source C++ and Python libraries.

These features are in addition to the m-pod signal mapping feature, which lets you assign any event marker to any output line.

Back to StimTracker Support main page
Last Revision: Aug 30, 2018