Using Event Markers, Cursors, and Notes in DewesoftX for Data Analysis

Course overview

This course deep-dives into DewesoftX’s powerful Markers and Cursors toolkit, essential for advanced signal processing and analysis. You’ll will also learn how to insert Event markers in real time—via keyboard, mouse, or even voice—to highlight acquisition moments, and later explore User Note markers for manual annotations directly on graphs. These tools help you easily reference, filter, and review significant events during post-processing.

The training then introduces the Cursor module, enabling you to automatically detect and capture min/max extrema or level-crossing events, and compute time/value differences between cursor pairs—all crucial for precise signal timing and threshold analysis  . You’ll also become adept at manipulating cursors within plots, customizing reference channels, and extracting meaningful delta metrics.

Central to the course is the use of Processing Markers in 2D and 3D analysis plots—ranging from basic free and max peak markers to specialized tools like RMS, damping, sideband, vector cuts, and trigger markers. These markers offer rich analysis capabilities: signal interpolation, peak region search, and RMS calculations over segments can be visualized and exported via widget tables  .

Finally, the course schedules hands-on sessions with Kinematic markers, tailored for bearing fault detection using envelope analysis and kinematic cursor databases. You’ll learn to map mechanical component frequencies (cage, rolling element, races) via FFT and identify anomalies in vibration signals  . Practical exercises include adding marker modules, adjusting modes (current vs. history), and integrating output channels into further math or reporting workflows.

By course end, you’ll be equipped to accurately tag, extract, quantify, and share key signal information—turning raw acquisition data into actionable insights.

When analyzing data, we are often interested only in specific information, such as the maximum, minimum, or RMS value of a signal. At other times, it may be important to record when a specific event occurred, either during data acquisition or in post-processing.

With this in mind, Dewesoft has implemented a series of markers and cursors—powerful tools that simplify complex data analysis—called Event Markers, User Notes, Cursors, and Processing Markers.

In this lesson, we will demonstrate not only how to use these tools but also when each type should be applied.

More detailed information can be found in our F1 manual, specifically in the following sections:

• Working with events

• Cursor

• Marker table

• Processing markers

Some information regarding User Notes has already been covered in our Visual Display Widgets PRO training, specifically in the  Recorder and Vertical recorder section.

All data files used in this lesson have been conveniently gathered in our  Google Drive archive, Markers.

During data acquisition, we may encounter events that are important for proper data analysis. To distinguish data acquired during these events from other recorded data, Dewesoft has implemented Event Markers. These markers are used to highlight areas of interest for later review.

Event Markers can be added to the Recorder widget in Measure mode during data acquisition or in Analysis mode. They can be inserted by pressing the corresponding key on the keyboard or by clicking the appropriate button located on the left side of the Event Selector.

You can choose between the following three event types:

• Keyboard Event – Added by pressing the <spacebar> or the icon marked with 1.) in the image above. On the Recorder, a keyboard event appears as a thin vertical gray line marked with a K symbol. The notice is also added to the Event Selector.

• Notice Event – Added by pressing the <n> key or the icon marked with 2.) in the image above. Once inserted, a text input dialog box will appear.

• On the Recorder, a Notice Event is displayed as a thin vertical green line marked with an N symbol, along with the entered text. The notice is also added to the Event Selector. This event is always placed in the Recorder at the point where the entry was started.

  • Voice Event – This event can be added by pressing and holding the <v> key on the keyboard or by clicking the icon marked 4.) in the Event Selector, then speaking into the microphone. On the Recorder, the event is shown as a vertical blue line with a V symbol.

  To use Voice Events, a DirectX-compatible sound card must be installed. The audio card can be downloaded from our  Plugins Google drive. Follow the instructions in the Manual – Add extension installation procedure to install the sound card. After installation, enable Recording of Voice Events in Settings, under the User Interface tab, in the Sounds dropdown menu.

In Analysis mode, one additional event can be added—Cursor Info. To add it, press the <c> key on the keyboard or click the icon marked 3.) in the Event buttons. On the Recorder widget, this event is displayed as a thin olive-colored vertical line marked with a Cn symbol, where n represents the cursor info number.

For example, suppose we have recorded a data file containing a series of Keyboard, Notice, and Voice events, as shown below:

As mentioned earlier, all of these Event Markers are saved in the Message Window, which essentially serves as an event list. It is located in the top-right corner of the software, directly below the Edit and Options buttons.

The Event Selector provides an overview of the following events:

• The beginning of data recording – In the Event Selector, this event is named Storing started. On the Recorder widget, it is indicated by a vertical red line with the letter B (beginning) at the top.

• The end of data recording – In the Event Selector, this event is named Storing stopped. On the Recorder widget, it is marked with a vertical red line and the letter E (end) at the top.

• Keyboard, Notice, Voice, and other events.

Each entry contains the exact date and time when the event was added, the type of event, and (for Notice events) any note that was entered.

To modify an event, click on it once so that the entry is highlighted in blue in the Event Selector, then right-click on it.

From the drop-down menu, you can choose between three options:

• Edit – Enables you to edit the selected marker.

• Remove – Enables you to delete the selected marker.

• Time – Allows you to choose whether to display the event time as an absolute timestamp or as relative time since the start of data acquisition.

If the DirectX Sound Card is installed and recording of voice events is enabled in Settings, a voice event can be replayed by clicking on it.

If you double-click an event directly in the Event Selector, the yellow cursor in the Recorder will move to the timestamp at which the event occurred.

For a clearer overview of Event Markers, go to Setup in Analysis mode and open the Events module. Here, you will see an expanded Event List that provides an overview of all events at once, eliminating the need to scroll through the Review tab.

Let’s now focus on the Recorder widget.

When you hover over an Event Marker, Dewesoft displays a gray box containing the time, date, type, and note associated with that event.

Whenever Event Markers are added, they automatically appear in the Recorder widget, which can sometimes make signal analysis more difficult. For this reason, events can be hidden. To do so, select the Recorder, open the Drawing Options drop-down menu under the Recorder settings, and deselect the Show Events checkbox.

All notes entered into the Event text bracket of the Notice Markers are saved in a file named PredefinedNoticeMessages.dxb, which can be found in the Dewesoft System folder.

This means that Event texts can be created prior to data acquisition and later selected from the drop-down menu during either acquisition mode or post-processing mode.

As with all .dxb files, Event texts can be shared across different measurement units.

User Note Markers are the simplest and least discussed markers in Dewesoft. They can be added to the Recorder widget and are used specifically to provide visual annotations when Event Markers are not required. Since they are only visual aids, they cannot be exported like other markers in this PRO Training.

As mentioned earlier, User Note Markers can only be added to a Recorder widget. They can be inserted both during data acquisition and during analysis. However, since the steps are the same, this functionality will be demonstrated only in analysis mode.

Let’s use the signal created previously when analyzing Event Markers. In that example, we noted a Voice Event before the event actually occurred, since the notes were added manually. The signal has already been added to the Recorder widget. The next step is to select the widget to access its settings and navigate to the Interaction section, where you can choose the widget’s Mode. By default, the mode is set to Normal, but it should be changed to User Notes.

Next, locate the position on the graph where you want to insert the input. Once identified, simply click on the graph.

You will then be automatically redirected to the Marker Settings. Here, the following options must be configured:

• Associated To – Select the channel the User Note will be linked to.

• Position – Choose the timestamp at which the User Note should be placed.

• Note – Enter a short description or note.

• Color – Select the color of the User Note Marker.

As shown in the animation above, new User Notes can be added continuously until the Recorder widget’s mode is switched back to Normal.

When a marker is selected, it is highlighted with an orange circle.

By right-clicking on a User Note Marker, a menu opens with the following options:

• Remove All Markers

• Edit Selected Marker

• Remove Selected Marker

The Cursor module allows us to interactively search for level crossings, as well as local minima and maxima of channels.

Although the module was originally designed for use in Analysis mode, it can also be added and configured in Measure mode. To add the module, press the More... button in the Setup or Ch. Setup tab, then select Cursor under the General section.

The Cursor module includes the following setup options:

A. Input – Select the input channel. The input channel is the channel whose value at a specific event is being measured. Multiple input channels can be assigned to one cursor.

B. Output – Defines the output channels to be monitored.

C. Reference Channel Settings – Configure the reference channel parameters. Two settings are available:

• Reference Channel – The channel on which specific values will be detected. Only one reference channel can be assigned per cursor.

• Search Mode – Defines the condition under which the input channel’s value will be retrieved. Six options are available:

  • Max – Outputs the value of the input channel at the timestamp of the first maximum value of the reference channel.

  • Min – Outputs the value of the input channel at the timestamp of the first minimum value of the reference channel.

  • Any Edge – Outputs the value of the input channel when the reference channel crosses a predefined value. This value must be set manually after selecting this mode.

  • Rising Edge – Outputs the value of the input channel when the reference channel’s rising edge crosses the predefined value. This value must be set manually after selecting this mode.

  • Falling Edge – Outputs the value of the input channel when the reference channel’s falling edge crosses the predefined value. This value must be set manually after selecting this mode.

  • Manual – Retrieves the value of the reference channel at a specified timestamp. The timestamp must be defined manually after selecting this mode.

D. Delta Values – When at least two instances of the Cursor module are configured, delta values can be calculated between them by selecting one of the cursors from the drop-down list.

E. Cursor Properties – Allows customization of the cursor color.

Cursors can be viewed on channels assigned to Recorder widgets, so let’s add them there.

In the image above, the cursors are shown in practice:

• Cursor 1 (Max): Positioned at the first maximum of the triangular channel.

• Cursor 2 (Min): Positioned at the first minimum of the triangular channel.

• Cursor 3: Located at the first point where the triangular signal crosses the value 0.5.

• Cursor 4: Located at the point where the rising edge of the triangular channel crosses 0.5.

• Cursor 5: Located at the point where the falling edge of the triangular channel crosses 0.5.

• Cursor 6: Positioned at the timestamp 0.2 s.

With the exception of the Manual setting, all cursors are calculated based on the visible timeline. This means that if you zoom into the file or move the zoomed-in region and recalculate, the cursors will reposition themselves to the points where the local conditions are fulfilled.

Let’s test this in practice: zoom in slightly, then move the zoomed-in region. During the test, set recalculation to Auto Recalculation.

We previously mentioned the functionality of this module: the Cursor module returns the value of an input channel when the condition for the defined reference channel is first met. This value is provided in the form of a channel, which can then be used in formulas or displayed on widgets.

Altogether, each marker generates three channels:

• Value at Cursor – Provides the value of the input signal corresponding to the cursor’s position on the time axis.

• Cursor – Indicates the cursor’s position on the x-axis.

• Search Position – Identifies the point at which the search began.

At this point, it is important to note that the module can linearly interpolate data, allowing it to extract values with higher precision than if it simply used the nearest synchronous or asynchronous sample.

For example, when the search mode is set to Any Level with a level of 0.5, the software takes the two samples from the triangular channel closest to this value—one just above 0.5 and one just below. It then calculates the exact time between these two points to determine when the signal crossed 0.5. Based on this time, the module interpolates all input channels selected for the cursor.

We can now add one more cursor to demonstrate the Delta Values functionality. Let’s add Cursor 7, with the sine channel as the input and the triangle signal as the reference. Set the Delta Cursor channel to Cursor 4 (Rising Edge cursor).

Returning to the Display, Cursor 7 can be seen on the graph. Channel 7 is again aligned with the first maximum of the triangular channel on the visible X-axis.

This functionality works by subtracting any inputs common to Cursor 4 and Cursor 7, producing a new channel: [Input Channel]/Delta. The module also generates an additional delta t channel, Cursor/Delta, which provides the time difference between the two cursors/events.

The Cursor setup interface can be accessed directly from the display. A Cursor icon is located at the end of the Data File preview, to the left of the Time Selector icon.

Clicking the Cursor icon opens a drop-down list of all available cursors. Selecting a cursor from the list opens its corresponding channel setup.

For cursors whose positions are set manually and depend on the time axis, pressing the Cursor icon provides an additional option: you can automatically move the cursor to the exact position of the yellow cursor, which displays the current timestamp of the data file.

As you know, there may be multiple points within a data file where a reference channel exceeds a certain value, either on a falling edge or a rising edge. In such cases, the Input Control widget can be used, with Display Type set to Control Channel and Input Type set to Next/Prev Button.

We will add three Input Control channels: one for Cursor 3, one for Cursor 4, and one for Cursor 5. Their corresponding Search Position channels will then be assigned to the widgets.

When analyzing data, we are often interested only in specific information, such as the maximum, minimum, or RMS value of a signal. To make finding these values easier, Dewesoft provides a wide range of Processing Markers, which are valuable tools for conducting in-depth analysis and gaining insights from complex data sets.

Processing Markers are used to analyze Vector or Matrix data that has been assigned to 2D or 3D graphs.

Processing marker types

Dewesoft offers a total of 16 different types of Processing Markers. However, not all marker types are available for every type of data, and not all can be applied to channels assigned to the 2D Graph or 3D Graph widgets.

At this point, it is useful to show which markers can be linked to Vector-type channels (such as FFT, CA pressure, or CPB channels) and which can be linked to Matrix-type channels (such as Order Tracking channels). Additionally, we can clarify which graph types each marker can be used with.

The table below shows which markers can be assigned to different types of data.

In the following sections, we will cover how to use each of the markers mentioned above, how to add them to widgets, and how to configure their settings.

How to Add a Processing Marker to a Channel on a 2D or 3D Graph

To add a marker to a channel, the channel must first be assigned to either the 2D Graph or 3D Graph widget. Once the channel is assigned, right-click on the widget and select Add Marker from the drop-down menu. A list of available markers for that channel will then be displayed for selection.

After adding a marker, you are immediately redirected to the Marker Setup, where the marker can be configured according to your requirements.

If you want to add a marker to a channel assigned to a 2D Graph, this can be done more easily using Marker Icons. Simply select a marker by its icon and add it to the channel by left-clicking on the widget.

Markers added this way will always be in Current Value mode, allowing you to quickly track and monitor specific data points. Unlike the standard method, when adding markers via Marker Icons you will not be redirected to the setup mode.

Marker Icons can be found in the 2D widget settings, under the Interaction tab.

Once you are finished adding markers, press the Selection icon, which allows you to freely click on the graph without adding a new marker.

By default, markers are linked to the channel they are assigned to. As a result, they are displayed on every graph widget where the channel appears. However, markers can be unassigned from widgets, allowing you to fully customize how they are displayed.

To do this, select the graph from which you want to unassign a marker, then navigate to the Channel Selector and open the Markers tab. From there, select the marker you wish to unassign by clicking its name.

When a marker is linked to a channel on a graph, it will be displayed using a predefined color.

When you hover over a marker, it turns orange. When you click on a marker, its color changes to yellow if the background is dark, or blue if the background is light. Once the marker is selected, its value is highlighted with a yellow circle on a dark background and a blue circle on a light background.

 What is a marker table?

Depending on the display configuration, the observed signal, and the number of markers added to the signal, it can sometimes be difficult to read marker values directly from the widget. Additionally, if markers are spread across multiple widgets, it may be useful to organize the values in a table for easier comparison.

In such cases, the Marker Table widget can be used. It is designed to present different parameters and values of Processing Markers in a single location. The Marker Table can be added to the display directly from Design Mode, just like any other widget. Once added, all currently available markers will automatically be listed in the table.

Let’s add another signal—for example, an Order Waterfall of a signal—to a 3D Graph next to the 2D Graph with the acceleration FFT. We will keep the Max Marker on the FFT signal and add a Min Marker to the Order Waterfall.

If we now add the Marker Table, both signals will be visible in it.

A Marker Table can also be added by enabling the Show Marker Table option, located under Display Options Settings of the 2D Graph or 3D Graph widget. In this case, only the markers connected to channels whose legends are enabled will be displayed in the table.

Since the Marker Table is a widget, its settings can be adapted to your needs. The first option you can configure is Visual Control, where you can choose between two modes:

• All Channels – Lists all markers from the visual display in the Marker Table.

• Selected Channels – Lists only the markers linked to specific channels.

If we look at the two Marker Tables we just added, the first table (added from the Widget tab) has the All Channels option selected, while the second table (added from the 2D Graph) has the Selected Channels option selected.

The second setting, called Edit Columns, allows you to choose which parameters will be displayed in the Marker Table.

You can choose between the following options:

• Label – The label of the marker, which is also displayed on the widget. It can be edited by clicking the label and entering a new name in the text box that appears.

• Type – Indicates the type of marker (e.g., Min or Max).

  Online Status – Shows whether the marker is in online or offline mode. If the marker is offline, additional recalculation is required to display it.

• Channel – Displays which channel is linked to the marker.

  Color – Displays the color of the marker.

  X – Displays the X-axis value or range of the marker. If only one type of data is present, the X will be renamed as the X-axis label (e.g., Freq).

• Y – Displays the Y value of the marker. If only one type of data is present, the Y will be renamed as the Y-axis.

  Z – Displays the Z value of the marker. Similar to X and Y, if only one type of data is present, the Z will be renamed as the Z-axis.

  Time – Shows the current time relative to the yellow cursor position.

  Value – Provides the output value of the marker.

  Add Info – Displays additional information about the marker. This is only shown when a marker is placed on Order Tracking data.

  Mode – Indicates the marker’s current mode. Options include Current Value or Full History mode.

  Edit – Redirects to the Marker Settings when pressed.

  Remove – Deletes the marker in the corresponding cell when the (X) button is pressed.

How to configure the marker setup?

Up to this point, we have already added a Min and a Max marker and mentioned adjusting the Marker Settings when zooming in and out of the graph. But how do we access the Marker Setup, and what do the specific settings mean?

When adding a marker by right-clicking on the graph, you are automatically redirected to the setup for the newly added marker. If a Marker Table is present, you can also enter the setup by pressing the Edit button there. If a marker was added using the Markers icon, or if you simply want to modify an existing marker, there is another method.

First, navigate to the graph and channel containing the marker you wish to modify. Once located, click on the marker to select it. A selected marker is highlighted with a yellow circle.

Next, right-click on the marker, and an options menu will appear. Select Edit Selected Marker to open the Marker Setup.

The Marker Setup is divided into the following sections:

A. Marker Mode – Defines how a marker will be presented. Two options are available:

• Current Value – Displays only the current marker value. It can be interacted with while storing data but cannot be used as an input for other modules.

• Full History – Stores all marker values and creates additional output channels. These output channels can then be used as inputs (math channels) in other modules. If a marker set to Full History is moved directly on the graph, the data must be recalculated for the marker value to update.

B. Input Channel – Specifies the channel to which the marker will be pinned. This is especially useful when multiple channels are assigned to the same widget.

C. Marker Scaling – Defines the scale used to calculate the marker value. The widget’s label on the graph always follows the scaling from the widget’s Y-axis settings. However, the value shown in the Marker Table and the channel value (which can be assigned to a Digital Meter) always follows the scaling defined in the Marker Setup. Four scaling options are available:

• None – No scaling is applied.

• 0 dB – Scales in decibels, providing the best estimation of signal noise, assuming 0 dB is the maximum measurable value.

• Sound dB – Uses the equation 20·log10(p/p0), where p is the measured value and p0 is the reference of 20 μPa.

• Ref. dB – Allows you to define a custom reference value.

D. Complex Presentation – Defines the type of complex representation used for the data from the added marker. A marker will only appear on the widget if the complex presentation of the data and the marker match. This option is available only for certain channels, such as those from the Order Analysis module. Six different presentations are available:

• Magnitude

• Phase (deg) [–180° to 180°]

• Phase (rad) [–π to π]

• Real

• Imaginary

• Phase (deg) [0° to 360°]

E. Marker Placement – Controls whether marker placement is restricted to data points or allowed between them.

• Disabled – The marker always aligns with an actual data point (markers can only be placed on existing data points).

• Enabled – The marker can be placed between two data points, effectively allowing free placement. In this case, the value between data points is interpolated, as shown in the animation.

F. Peak Search – Helps identify peaks in the data. Two parameters can be configured:

• Find Peak in Region ± – Selects the region in which the peak should be located. Note that only one peak can be found within this limited range.

• Interpolate Peak – Enables peak detection between spectral lines (data points).

This option uses three neighboring lines on both sides of the peak line to estimate the interpolated peak value and axis location. The interpolated amplitude is calculated from the energy sum of all seven lines. If this energy sum is too high compared to the original peak line energy, it indicates multiple peak components, and an interpolated peak cannot be determined. In this case, the calculated value defaults to the original peak line value. The same occurs if the peak line is buried in the noise floor. The interpolated peak axis location is derived using an energy-weighted calculation of the seven lines.

G. Marker Color – Allows selection of the marker color.

H. Line Thickness – Defines the thickness of the marker line on the 2D/3D graph. Options range from 1 to 5, with 1 being the thinnest and 5 the thickest.

I. Marker-Specific Settings – This section includes configuration options unique to the type of marker currently being used. Instead of covering these settings here, they will be explained in the next section, where each marker type is introduced in detail.

What is the markers module?

The Markers Module is functionally the same as the Channels Module, but it applies to markers instead of channels. It provides an overview of all markers added to the widget and offers a simple way to access the setup for each individual marker.

The Markers Module can be added like any other module in Channel Setup by pressing the More tab and selecting Markers from the General section.

The module includes all the standard columns: Online and Store, Color, Name, Sampling, Sample Rate, Data Structure, Data Type, Min and Maximum, Value, Unit, and Setup.

A marker-specific column is Marker Mode, which allows you to easily switch a marker (or multiple markers at once) between Current Value and Full History. To change the mode, simply click the current mode and select the other option from the drop-down menu.

A word on marker channels

Whenever a new marker is created, it generates additional math channels for the X- and Y-axes. If the marker is added to a 3D graph, the software also creates a channel for the Z-axis.

These channels can be added to widgets such as Digital Meter, Analog Meter, Horizontal and Vertical Bar, Discrete Display, Indicator Lamp, and the Recorder widget. When working with Matrix-type data, the Z-axis marker can also be assigned to a 2D/3D Table.

These channels can also be used in mathematics from the Math Module, but only if the Marker Mode of the corresponding channel is set to Full History. If the Marker Mode is set to Current Value, an error will occur.

If a Vector Cut, X Cut, Y Cut, X Harmonic Cut, or Y Harmonic Cut marker is added to a channel on a 3D Graph, Z-axis channels are created. These channels can then be added to a 2D Graph.

While discussing cut-type markers, it is important to note the following: additional markers can be linked to cut-type marker channels (once assigned to a 2D Graph), as long as the cut-type markers are in Full History mode.

For example, let’s say two Vector Cut markers are added to a 2D Graph—one in Full History mode and one in Current Value mode. If the cut channels are then added to two separate 2D Graphs and a new marker is added to each channel:

• Adding a Free Marker to the Full History channel works without issue.

• Adding a Free Marker to the Current Value channel results in an error: Input channel cannot be in 'Current value' mode.

Putting processing markers into practise

In the following sections, we will examine each type of Processing Marker separately using an actual dataset. This approach will make it easier to see the key features of each type and to better understand when and where they should be used.

Free Markers can be added to any position on a 2D or 3D Graph. Their main function is to provide the X-axis value (usually frequency) and the Y-axis value (usually amplitude) at a desired point on the graph.

To demonstrate, let’s add an FFT channel from an accelerometer to a 2D Graph, and an Order Waterfall of this acceleration channel to a 3D Graph.

We will first focus on the Free Marker in the 2D Graph. For easier analysis:

• Marker Mode will be set to Full History.

• Marker Scaling will be disabled.

• Marker placement between data points will be allowed, but the Peak Search option will not be enabled.

• The marker color will be red, and the line thickness will be set to 3 for better visualization.

The key setting for a Free Marker is the Position Source, which provides two options:

• Manual – The marker position is defined manually by entering the desired value in the Position field. For example, we will set the position to 4000 Hz.

• Channel – The marker position is defined by the current value of a selected reference channel from the Channel drop-down menu. In this case, the reference channel is “accelerometer.”

We set the Marker Mode to Full History so that markers can be added as mathematical channels and displayed in the Tabular Values widget. In this example, we created a mathematical channel only for the X-axis to demonstrate that, for a marker whose position is derived from a channel, the X-axis value corresponds to the value of the reference channel (in our case, “accelerometer”).

We can divide the display into six sections:

• • Section 1 – Visually shows the positions of the two markers added to the FFT channel of the “accelerometer” signal.

  • Section 2 – Displays the “accelerometer” signal on a Recorder widget.

  • Section 3 – Shows the markers’ parameters in a Marker Table.

  • Section 4 – Displays the X-axis and Y-axis values for the first (light red) Free Marker.

  • Section 5 – Displays the Y-axis value for the second (dark red) Free Marker.

  • Section 6 – Displays the X-axis value for the second (dark red) Free Marker and the “accelerometer” signal value in a Tabular Display. At the given timestamp, the two values coincide, as expected.

  We can now examine the Free Marker on the 3D Graph, where both a Vector-type channel and a Matrix-type channel can be displayed. In this case:

  • Marker Mode is set to Full History.

  • Marker Scaling is disabled.

  • Marker placement between data points is allowed.

  • Markers are colored red and purple.

  For the Matrix-type channel, the Free Marker-specific settings are the X-axis position (in this case, Orders) and the Y-axis position (in this case, Speed). We will set the Order position to 40 and the Speed to 50 rpm.

  For the Vector-type channel, the Free Marker-specific setting is the X-axis position, which we will set to 4000 Hz. Alternatively, as in the case of a 2D Graph, the Position Source can be set to Manual.

The RMS Marker is used to calculate the RMS value of the channel it is assigned to. It does this by summing all the FFT lines within the selected frequency band.

Let’s create an amplitude FFT of a signal consisting of two sine functions. We will add this FFT signal to both a 2D Graph and a 3D Graph, and then assign an RMS Marker to it.

As in previous cases:

• Marker Mode will be set to Full History.

• Marker Scaling will be disabled.

• Marker placement between data points will be allowed.

• The marker will be colored red.

The RMS Marker-specific setting is the cursor position, which defines the area in which the RMS value is calculated. In this example, the frequency range is set to [1500 Hz, 5000 Hz].

If you want to change the region, simply drag the cursors that define the calculation range. When the area is adjusted, the RMS value is automatically recalculated.

Max marker

We will now use the Max Marker to find the highest peaks (maxima) in the spectrum of the previously generated FFT signal.

In this case, the Marker Setup will be configured as in the previous examples for the general settings, so that we can focus only on the Max Marker-specific parameters.

The following parameters need to be defined:

• Search For – In the drop-down menu, we can choose between:

  • Peaks – Finds values where both the left and right neighboring points are smaller than the peak itself.

  • All Maxima – Finds the highest peaks in the spectrum, regardless of the values of neighboring points.

• Number of Peaks – Specifies how many peaks should be displayed.

• Set Custom Search Area – When enabled, defines the frequency range in which peaks will be calculated.

• Set Threshold – When enabled, defines the minimum value that still qualifies as a peak. Any peaks or maxima with values lower than the threshold will not be shown in the Marker Table or displayed on the graph.

For this example, we will search for two peaks in the frequency range [1000 Hz, 6000 Hz]. We will not set a threshold, as we do not want to exclude any peaks for the given channel.

We can now make a slight change and search for the first six maxima in this frequency range.

If we are linking markers to a Matrix-type channel (for example, a Waterfall) instead of a Vector-type channel, the settings for 3D Graph Max Markers—and the corresponding calculations—change.

Let’s now link a Max Marker to an Order Waterfall channel (Matrix-type channel) assigned to a 3D Graph.

The basic settings remain the same as for a Vector-type channel, with one key difference: we can now define the search area for both the X-axis (Orders) and the Y-axis (Speed). By pressing the Show Advanced Settings button, we gain access to additional configuration options:

• Threshold – Defines the threshold for the detected peak area, exactly as in the case of a 2D Graph.

• Limit Peak Closeness – Defines the width of the peak area along both the X-axis and Y-axis. If multiple peaks are found within this area, only the central peak is considered valid.

• Peaks per Order Width – Specifies the maximum number of peaks to be displayed per order. The width of the order area must also be defined (the range in which peaks will be searched). Once the defined number of peaks or maxima is found in the current order range, the system will proceed to search for the next peak within the defined limits.

To begin, we will configure only the basic settings. Specifically, we will search for the first five peaks within the Order range [0, 30] and the Speed range [0, 100].

Next, we can add the Advanced Settings. While we will not set a threshold, we will configure the other parameters:

• The X-axis peak area will be defined as 10 orders.

• The Y-axis peak area will be defined as 100 rpm.

• The number of peaks will be limited to two per order.

• The Order width will be set to 20.

Min marker

Min Markers operate in the same way as Max Markers, except they are used to calculate the lowest valleys or minimum values in the spectrum. Let’s use the same FFT signal of a sine function and link a Min Marker to it.

The marker settings for a Vector-type channel are identical to those for the Max Marker. As before:

• Marker Mode will be set to Full History.

• Marker Scaling will be disabled.

• Marker Placement between data points will be allowed.

• The marker color will be red.

Next, we define the Min Marker-specific parameters:

• Search For – In the drop-down menu, we can choose between:

  • Valleys – Finds values where both the left and right neighboring points are larger than the valley itself.

  • All Minima – Finds the lowest values in the spectrum, regardless of neighboring points.

• Number of Valleys – Specifies how many valleys should be displayed.

• Set Custom Search Area – When enabled, defines the range in which valleys will be calculated.

For this example, we will search for two valleys in the frequency range [1000 Hz, 6000 Hz]. Unlike the Max Marker, the Min Marker does not include a threshold option, meaning we cannot define the minimum value that qualifies as a valley.

Now, let’s take a look at the first six minima in this frequency range:

Unlike Max Markers, there are no Advanced Settings for 3D Graph Min Markers linked to Matrix-type channels. The only difference between Min Markers linked to a Vector-type channel on a 3D Graph and those linked to a Matrix-type channel on a 3D Graph is that, in the latter case, you must specify the custom search area for both the X-axis and Y-axis.

What happens if we add a Min or Max marker on a Zoomed-in area on a 2D graph?

Let’s take the amplitude FFT of a signal consisting of two sine functions from the previous examples. We will assign this FFT signal to a 2D Graph and zoom in on the frequency range between 4000 Hz and 6000 Hz. At this point, we decide to add a Max Marker and a Min Marker to the zoomed-in channel.

We now want to view the maximum and minimum values of the FFT signal across the entire frequency range. To do this, we unzoom the 2D Graph to display the full range. To calculate the marker values over the full spectrum, we must either adjust the marker settings or disable the custom search area.

The Delta Marker is used to display the difference between two positions on the X-axis (frequency) and the Y-axis (amplitude).

Let’s use this marker to calculate the difference between the peaks of the FFT of a sine signal. The basic settings will be configured the same as in the previous examples. The Delta Marker-specific parameter we need to define is the Position of the two cursors that mark the area over which the difference will be calculated. We have already determined the X-axis positions of the two peaks using Max Markers, and we will now enter these values into the fields. The first cursor will be placed at 1748.05 Hz, and the second at 4667.97 Hz.

As always, two markers are generated: one calculates the Delta value between the cursors along the X-axis, and the other along the Y-axis. The X-axis column for the two markers shows the positions of the first and second cursors. From this, we can see that the two peaks are 2919.9 Hz apart on the X-axis, while the difference in their amplitudes is 1.3.

Imagine that we have intercepted an amplitude-modulated radio signal. The carrier frequency is 1000 Hz, and the modulation frequency is 40 Hz. The equation of the signal is as follows:

1Modulated signal =(1-sin(40)) * sin(1000)

We now want to monitor the modulated frequencies to the left and right of the selected centerline. This is where Sideband Markers are used. Let’s create an FFT of the amplitude-modulated signal and assign it to both a 2D Graph and a 3D Graph. Next, we will add a Sideband Marker with the same basic settings applied in the previous marker examples.

The Sideband Marker-specific settings are as follows:

• Position Source – Defines the source of the carrier frequency position. Two options are available:

  • Manual – The position is set manually. If this option is selected, the next setting will be Position, where the carrier frequency must be entered in Hz.

  • Channel – The position is taken from a selected channel. The next setting will be a Channel drop-down menu, where we choose the channel that provides the carrier frequency position.

• Number of Bands – Specifies how many bands to display to the left and right of the centerline.

• Delta – Defines the frequency spacing between bands. For simple amplitude-modulated signals, this corresponds to the modulation frequency.

• Lock Fundamental Frequency – When enabled, the fundamental frequency cannot be moved once the Marker Setup is closed. However, the Sideband Markers can still be moved.

For this example, we will manually set the carrier frequency position to 1000 Hz. The number of bands will be set to 1, and the Delta will be set to 40 Hz (the modulation frequency).

As mentioned earlier, Sideband Markers consist of one center marker and several equally spaced sideband markers. If we move any one of the Sideband Markers to a different position, the others will also move automatically, maintaining their relative spacing.

Trigger Markers are used to define a trigger level. When this trigger level is exceeded by the signal to which the marker is linked, the marker output changes from 0 to 1. In other words, Trigger Markers are used to monitor signals.

To observe how Trigger Markers behave, we will use a signal composed of sine waves of different frequencies, generate an FFT channel from it, and assign it to a 2D Graph. Note that a Trigger Marker cannot be linked to a channel assigned to a 3D Graph.

When we add a Trigger Marker, its setup appears as shown in the image below:

As before, we set the Marker Mode to Full History and ensure that Marker Scaling is disabled. On the right side of the setup, there is only one Marker-specific setting: Position.

To demonstrate the functionality of this marker type, let’s perform an experiment. We know that the amplitude of the FFT peaks changes over time. Suppose our system operates correctly when amplitudes remain between 0.10 and 0.13. In this case, we will set two triggers: a green trigger at an amplitude of 0.13 and a red trigger at an amplitude of 0.10. In the Marker Table, we will enable the Y column to keep track of the marker positions.

Finally, we will assign the two resulting channels—Pulse/AmplFFT/Trigger_1 and Pulse/AmplFFT/Trigger_2—to an Indicator Lamp widget to monitor when their values are 1 or 0.

We will also add an equation to monitor the timestamps at which the FFT amplitudes fall within the allowed range. To do this, we will create a new equation:

1timestamps within bounds = if('Pulse/AmplFFT/Trigger_1'=0 or 'Pulse/AmplFFT/Trigger_2'=1,0,time)

If the lower amplitude marker (red) is 0, or if the upper amplitude marker (green) is 1, the formula outputs 0. If the lower amplitude marker is 1 and the upper marker is 0, the signal is within bounds, and the current timestamp will be displayed.

With this, we have successfully created a tool that monitors the timestamps at which the system operates correctly.

Damping Markers are typically used in Modal Analysis to evaluate how a transfer curve is damped. In practice, this means they are used whenever we are interested in parameters such as the quality (Q) factor, damping ratio, or the attenuation rate of a selected peak.

Let’s first define these parameters:

• Q (Quality) Factor – This represents damping. In an FRF (Frequency Response Function), damping is proportional to the width of the resonant peak around its center frequency (fc). It can be calculated by determining the frequencies f₂ and f₁, which correspond to the points on the signal that are typically 3 dB below the peak level. The higher the Q, the narrower and sharper the peak.

  The Q factor is defined as:

1Q = fc/(f2 - f1)

• Damping Ratio – This describes the level of damping in a system. In other words, it measures how quickly a system returns to its equilibrium position after being subjected to an external force. The damping ratio is calculated as follows:

1ς = 1/(2Q)

• • Attenuation Rate – This describes how quickly the intensity of any type of flux decreases as it passes through a medium. Attenuation is typically measured in dB per unit length of the medium.

  We can now use the Modal Test module to determine the transfer characteristics of a system—Frequency Response Functions (FRF). These are used to identify the natural frequencies and damping ratios of mechanical structures, which means we can use these channels alongside Damping Markers. Since FRF channels cannot be assigned to a 3D Marker, we can also generate an FFT of the acceleration signal.

  Once the channels are assigned to the graphs, we can open the Damping Marker Setup::

The left side of the setup is the same as for other markers. However, it is worth noting that we may want to work with different Complex Presentations, since Modal Analysis often considers both Magnitude and Phase. In this PRO Training, we will keep the presentation set to Magnitude for simplicity.

Damping Marker-specific settings include:

• Position Source – Can be set to either Manual or Channel.

  • Depending on the selection, we either define the Position manually or select the Channel.

• Damping Factor Type – Choose one of the previously defined parameters:

  • Q Factor

  • Damping Ratio

  • Attenuation Rate

• Frequency Cutoff Limit – Defines how many dB below the peak the frequencies f₂ and f₁ are located.

To demonstrate the marker’s functionality, we will link three markers to a 2D Graph with an FRF channel, and three markers to a 3D Graph with an acceleration FFT channel. All markers will be configured the same:

• Position manually selected at 317.50 Hz (the highest peak of the FRF channel).

• Frequency Cutoff Limit set to the standard –3 dB.

• Damping Factor Type set differently for each marker on a given graph.

We have now determined the Q Factor, Damping Ratio, and Attenuation Rate for the highest peak of an FRF signal. These values can be read directly from the Marker Table shown in the image.

In Order Tracking Analysis, harmonic monitoring is essential. Fortunately, Harmonic Markers allow us to quickly identify harmonics of the fundamental frequency in the spectrum.

For a proper demonstration of the functionality of Harmonic Markers, we recorded a signal from an accelerometer positioned on a motor. As in the previous examples, we generate an FFT of the acceleration (acc) signal and assign it to a 2D Graph.

We can now link a Harmonic Marker to the acc FFT signal. The settings for this type of marker are shown in the image below:

Settings specific to Harmonic Markers include:

• Harmonic Position Source – Determines how the position of the first harmonic is set.

  • Manual – The position is defined manually in the next step.

  • Channel – A channel is selected to provide the harmonic position.

• Harmonic Count – Specifies how many harmonics to monitor (provided that many exist).

We will set the first harmonic position at 415.93 Hz and display the first four harmonics. From theory, we should observe peaks in the FFT signal at the corresponding frequencies.

• 415.93 Hz * 1 = 415.93 Hz

• 415.93 Hz * 2 = 831.86

• 415.93 Hz * 3 = 1247.79 Hz

• 415.93 Hz * 4 = 1663.72 Hz

The calculated values align well with the actual peaks shown on the graph.

Additionally, we can pick and drag the fundamental frequency across the FFT spectrum, and the harmonics will automatically adjust and follow.

Kinematic Markers are used to identify bearing frequencies and detect bearing faults.

To use Kinematic Markers, we must add an Envelope Detection math channel and ensure that at least one bearing is included in the bearing database.

Let’s first focus on the bearing database. This is where we select the type of machinery, which includes bearing data such as the cage, rolling element, outer race, inner race, and the frequency at which each component produces a peak in the frequency domain.

Adding a new bearing:

1. Open the Options menu and navigate to the Editors drop-down menu.

2. Select the Kinematic Cursor option.

• Once the Kinematic Cursors Editor is open, we can add a new kinematic cursor by pressing the (+) button. At this point, we can assign a new cursor name.

• We can then add individual components by pressing the (+) button or append a pre-existing bearing by pressing the Append Bearing button.

• Be sure to save the changes by pressing the Save button in the upper-right corner.

  For the purpose of this PRO Training, we have created custom Kinematic Cursor data:

In the Math Module, we can now add Envelope Detection math. The input will be an acceleration signal named Signal. In addition to this signal, we also used a Tacho to measure the TTL rotation signal, which will be used to determine the rotation speed.

We now need to set the channel calculated with Envelope Detection math as an input channel to the FFT Analysis module.

To determine the rotation speed of the motor, we use the Angle Sensor math. The relevant signal will be called TTL/Frequency.

Next, we add a 2D Graph to our display and assign the channel Signal/Envelope/AmplFFT to it. After this, we can configure the Kinematic Marker settings.

In this case, we will set:

• Marker Mode to Full History

• Marker Scaling to None

• Allow Marker Placement Between Data enabled

• Peak Search Region to 3 Hz

• Peak Interpolation enabled

Kinematic Marker-specific settings include:

• Kinematic Cursor – Select the appropriate marker from the Kinematic Cursor Editor.

• Position Source – Choose between two modes:

  • Channel – Select the proper channel in the next step.

  • Manual – Manually insert the frequency of rotation, which defines the position of the kinematic markers and can be entered in either Hz or RPM.

We will set the Kinematic Cursor to the one previously created. To demonstrate a different approach, we will set the Position Source to Channel, specifically TTL/Frequency. Since we have already calculated the RPM value, we could also insert it manually—in our case, 1490.79 RPM.

The Kinematic Markers are positioned at frequencies defined in the Kinematic Cursor Database. The results show that these values align well with the measured peaks of the FFT signal. In the Marker Table, we can also identify which mechanical component each frequency corresponds to.

Vector cut marker

The functionality of the Vector Cut Marker is straightforward: it outputs the selected region of a spectrum as a new vector channel. In other words, we use these markers when we want to focus only on a small portion of a vector channel.

For example, let’s say we have a signal consisting of multiple sine functions. When we perform an FFT of this signal, we obtain four peaks. If we are only interested in the region around the two middle peaks, we can use Vector Cut Markers to create a new channel, which we then assign to both a 2D Graph and a 3D Graph.

The Vector Cut Marker settings are also straightforward. In addition to the basic settings, all we need to define is the Position of the first and last cursor. Note that we can also move the markers directly on the graph to adjust their position.

Time cut marker

Time Cut Markers can be thought of as Free Markers with Full History mode enabled, which can be linked to a Vector-type channel on a 2D or 3D Graph.

The functionality of this marker type is best explained with an example. Let’s take the signal from the previous section—a signal composed of multiple sine functions, whose FFT produces four peaks. We will add this channel to both a 2D Graph and a 3D Graph, and then link a Time Cut Marker to it.

When we open the Marker Settings, we can see that the Marker Mode is automatically set to Full History Mode and cannot be changed. Let’s set the Marker Scaling to None and enable Marker Placement Between Data. We will then set the Position Source to Manual and position it at the 4th peak: 322.27 Hz.

We can now assign the Marker Channels to a Recorder Widget.

This allows us to observe how the actual frequency (theoretically set to 322.27 Hz) deviates over time.

X and Y cut markers

The X and Y Cut Markers can only be linked to Matrix-type channels assigned to a 3D Graph. They function similarly to Vector Cut Markers on a 2D Graph, meaning they output a new vector channel corresponding to one spectrum of a reference bin that we define.

This concept is easier to understand through an example. Let’s take a signal measured from an accelerometer along with a TTL signal and use them in an Order Tracking module. Among the resulting channels, the Order Waterfall and FFT Waterfall will be of the greatest interest, as they are both Matrix-type channels. We will assign these channels to a 3D Graph and then link an X Cut Marker and a Y Cut Marker to each channel.

On the left side of the Marker Setup, we are once again prompted to select the Marker Mode, Marker Placement, and Marker Color. On the right side, we choose the Position Source, which can either be a Channel (in which case we select the appropriate channel) or Manual (in which case we manually insert the desired Y- or X-axis position).

To make things clearer, let’s specify the X and Y axes of the two channels. In this example, we will manually insert the axis positions, so we will define these values as follows:

accelerometer/Order Waterfall:

• X-axis: Orders = 15

• Y-axis: Speed = 100 rpm

accelerometer/FFT Waterfall:

• X-axis: Frequency = 4000

• Y-axis: Speed = 100

The added markers will be displayed on the graph as planes (in the marker’s assigned color), indicating a cut. At the same time, each cut will create a new channel (as previously mentioned), which can then be displayed on a 2D Graph. These channels will show the channel value on the Y-axis relative to the parameter specified during the cut.

We can also move the markers directly on the graph or add multiple X- or Y-Cut Markers on the same graph:

 X and Y harmonic cut markers

X and Y Harmonic Cut Markers operate in the same way as Harmonic Markers, with the key difference being that they are linked to Matrix-type channels on 3D Graphs. In other words, they allow us to quickly identify harmonics of the fundamental frequency in the spectrum. As with X- and Y-Cut Markers, they also generate a Vector-type channel of all harmonic cuts, which can then be assigned to a 2D Graph.

Let’s illustrate this with an example. This time, we will use one channel — accelerometer/Order Waterfall — and link both an X- and Y-Harmonic Cut Marker to it.

The setup is the same as for Vector-type channels. On the left side, we configure Marker Mode, Marker Scaling, Marker Placement, and Marker Color. On the right side, we select the Harmonic Position Source (in this case, Manual), the First Harmonic Position, and the Harmonic Count.

For our channel (accelerometer/Order Waterfall), the positions will be:

• X-axis: Orders = 5

• Y-axis: Speed = 40 rpm

We will observe the first four orders.

In the end, we obtain the following results:

As in the previous examples, the markers can be freely moved directly on the 3D Graph Widget, and multiple markers of the same type can be linked to the same channel.