In general, there are two approaches for creating a sound stimulus during an EthoVision trial. You can either use a sound-producing device that takes a TTL input or play a tone over the computer speaker. The latter is only recommended when there is only a single arena or when sound presentation will be synchronized across all arenas.
Also note that when using a computer tone, the volume will depend on the computer’s volume setting, and any other computer sounds will also be audible through the same speaker.
If you are using a PhenoTyper, there is a built-in tone stimulus which can be used instead.
To set up a TTL-controlled sound stimulus, you’ll need the Trial & Hardware Control Module and either the USB I/O Box or Mini USB I/O Box. You’ll also need a suitable cable from the RJ45 connectors on the I/O box to your TTL device. Since every device is different, consult Noldus technical support if you need assistance or want to purchase a compatible cable.
In the Experiment Settings, check the box for "Use of trial control hardware". (If this option is not visible, the Trial & Hardware Control Module is not available.) Then click the Settings button next to it. Select the appropriate I/O box. For the TTL port connected to your sound device, set the device type to "Custom Hardware".
In the Arena Settings, click the Arena-Hardware Mapping button in the lower right. If you have a single arena, each device should appear on its own line. If not listed, click Add Device. Ensure the device appears under Arena 1. The Device Name listed here is how it will appear in the Trial Control Settings.
For multiple arenas, each type of device should have its own line. For example, a Tone device would have one line, with individual devices selected in each arena column. The Device Name shown is what appears in the Trial Control Settings.
You can test the device by selecting it for the arena and clicking Test. Use "Output 1 High" and click Test to activate output 1, and "Output 1 Low" to deactivate it. Similarly, "Output 2 High" and "Output 2 Low" control the second output on the TTL port.
In the Trial Control Settings, add a Hardware Action, select the device, and choose Output 1 (or 2) High to activate it or Output 1 (or 2) Low to deactivate. Insert these actions where appropriate in your trial control sequence.
To create a tone using an external command, download the required files from here: Beep files
Right-click the downloaded file and choose "Extract All." Copy or move the three files it contains to:
C:\Users\Public\Documents\Noldus\EthoVision XT
(Note: You may use another folder, but if so, edit the "beep.bat" file to reflect the new location.)
Edit the "beep.ps1" file if you want to change the frequency (the first number, default is 1500 Hz) or the duration (the second number, default is 1000 ms or 1 second).
In EthoVision’s trial control settings, add an External Command action. Click the ... button, change the file type in the bottom-right to "Batch Files (*.bat; *.cmd)", and select the beep.bat file. You can leave the "Command line options" field blank.
In recent EthoVision versions, use the Test button in that dialog to check whether the sound plays as expected.