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  5. Multifunction I/O for Test and Measurement

Multifunction I/O

NI multifunction I/O devices integrate essential measurement and control capabilities like analog input/output, digital I/O, and counter/timer functions into a single device. This combination of features reduces hardware complexity, simplifies test system design, and supports diverse applications from data acquisition to automation.

View all multifunction I/O products
NI PXIe, PCIe, and USB Multifunction I/O DAQ devices

What Multifunction I/O Hardware Is Right for You?

NI PXIe-6381 18-bit multifunction I/O DAQ module

18-Bit Voltage Input with Multiple Gain Settings

Multiple gain settings let you optimize accuracy based on your signal levels. Lower input ranges use the same ADC resolution, so each bit measures a smaller value.


Recommended Uses

  • Low-voltage (1 V) signals
  • Noisy signals
  • Voltage rails on PCBs
View 18-bit multifunction I/O DAQ devices

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Simultaneous sampling NI USB-6451 mioDAQ device

Simultaneous Sampling

NI multifunction I/O input devices with simultaneous sampling have one ADC per channel for a cleaner measurement and sample rates that don’t slow down as you add more channels.


Recommended Uses

  • Correlated measurements
  • I/V measurements on PCB
  • Stimulus response applications
Find devices with simultaneous sampling
The NI PCIe-6321 with four counter/timers

Built-In Counter/Timers and Frequency Generators

Most NI multifunction I/O devices include four 32-bit counter/timers with a 100 MHz base clock (20 MHz base clock for separate frequency generator function).


Recommended Uses

  • Pulse/event counting
  • PWM measurement/generation
  • Frequency measurement
  • Quadrature encoders
View devices with onboard counters/timers
NI PXIe-6368 with 2 MS/s/ch sampling rate

High-Speed Sampling

Capture transients, get better time resolution, or use software averaging to reduce noise on any of the 20+ NI DAQ devices that sample between 1 MS/s and 14 MS/s.


Recommended Uses

  • Ballistic/impact and shock tube applications
  • High-frequency harmonic measurements
  • Electronics sleep/wake event monitoring
  • Combustion analysis
Find devices that sample at 1 MS/s or faster
NI PXIe-6375 with 208 AI channels

High Channel Density: Up to 208 Channels

More channels on a single device lowers the cost per channel. For even more channels, install multiple PXI Express DAQ modules in a PXI Express chassis.


Recommended Uses

  • Cost-optimized manufacturing test systems
  • Research testbeds
  • Wind tunnels
Find devices with 80 or more channels

Shop by Bus

USB
PCI/PCI Express
PXI/PXI Express

Explore Related Categories

Counter/Timers
Digital I/O
Cables
Connectors

Additional Multifunction I/O Products

PXI Multifunction I/O Bundle

Featured Product

NI PXIe and PCIe DAQ devices

Multifunction I/O Device and PXI Multifunction I/O Module

A multifunction I/O device and PXI multifunction I/O module combines flexible channels, sample rates, and outputs for reliable data acquisition and control—ideal for applications such as laboratory automation, research, and design verification.


  • Supported buses: USB, PCI, PXI
  • ±10 V measurements
  • Includes analog input, analog output, digital input/output, counters/timers
Learn more about Multifunction I/O Devices and PXI Multifunction I/O Modules
Image of cDAQ-9173 with white background

An Engineer’s Guide to Data Acquisition

This guide consolidated decades of high-quality measurement expertise into one guidebook. We put this guide together to help you understand basic data acquisition (DAQ) principles and take better measurements with—or without—NI hardware.
Download now

Multifunction I/O Fundamentals

Terminology

Specifications Explained: NI Multifunction I/O (MIO) DAQ
Specifications Explained: C Series Modules
Data Acquisition Basics and Terminology
Specifications Explained: NI Multifunction Reconfigurable I/O
Pinout Terminology and Definitions for NI DAQ Devices

Selection Guides

How to Choose the Right DAQ Hardware for Your Measurement System
Is Your Data Inaccurate Because of Instrumentation Amplifier Settling Time?
How to Choose Between NI Data Acquisition Devices or Systems
Benefits of Delta-Sigma Analog-to-Digital Conversion

FPGA-Based Hardware

The NI LabVIEW RIO Architecture: A Foundation for Innovation

NI Software for Multifunction I/O Hardware

Help me choose software

Selecting Multifunction I/O Software


All NI multifunction I/O hardware without a user-programmable FPGA is programmed using the NI-DAQmx driver, which includes APIs for NI LabVIEW and other text-based programming languages. These devices can also be used with NI FlexLogger™ software for no-code data logging and visualization.


FPGA-equipped devices require the LabVIEW FPGA Module for full programming and customization.

NI FlexLogger

FlexLogger provides sensor configuration and data logging of mixed signals to verify electromechanical systems, all without programming.

NI LabVIEW

NI LabVIEW is a graphical programming environment that provides unique productivity accelerators for test system development, such as an intuitive approach to programming, connectivity to any instrument, and fully integrated user interfaces.

NI DIAdem

DIAdem is data management software for measurement data aggregation, inspection, analysis, and reporting.


Multifunction I/O Resources

Download NI-DAQmx

Download driver for most multifunction I/O hardware

Download a free trial of FlexLogger

Download data logging software for multifunction I/O hardware

Download a free trial of LabVIEW

Try LabVIEW for free

Programming with NI-DAQmx

Getting Started with NI-DAQmx
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Get Help from an NI Partner

The NI Partner Program offers domain, application, and overall test development expertise to help your team get ahead and stay ahead. Connect with our global community of trusted NI Partners ready to give your business a competitive edge.
Find a partner

Frequently Asked Questions About Multifunction I/O Products

  • There are several: USB DAQ devices offer portability and quick setup for benchtop testing, while PCI and PXI boards deliver high performance for automated systems. Ethernet modules enable remote and distributed measurements, and modular NI platforms like CompactDAQ and CompactRIO combine multifunction I/O with real-time processing for advanced control and monitoring.

  • These can include the number and type of channels, such as analog, digital, and counter or timer, along with resolution and sampling rate to ensure accuracy. Other considerations include connectivity options like USB, PCI, PXI, or Ethernet, software compatibility for easy integration, synchronization capabilities, signal conditioning, scalability, and environmental specifications such as operating temperature and isolation.

  • Advantages include high accuracy and reliability, broad signal support (analog, digital, counters), and easy integration with NI software like LabVIEW, NI-DAQmx, FlexLogger, TestStand, and DIAdem. Engineers also benefit from modular scalability, robust synchronization features, and support from NI and a community of users.

Advanced Data Acquisition Techniques with Multifunction Reconfigurable I/O Hardware
NI Multifunction RIO Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Timing and Synchronization Features of NI-DAQmx
NI-DAQmx High-Speed Streaming to Disk
NI-DAQmx User Manual

Multifunction Measurement Concepts

Measurement Fundamentals
How to Measure Voltage, Current, and Power
Data Acquisition Using NI-DAQmx and LabVIEW Course

Device Details

Calculating Absolute Accuracy or System Accuracy
DAQ Devices with Hardware-Timed Single Point Sampling Mode Support
Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) Used in NI DAQ Devices
Features and Differences of NI Multifunction DAQ PFI Lines