National Instruments Circuit Design Technical Library

Concepts & Fundamentals

Learn about simulation and design

Tutorial Videos

View introductory videos to Multisim

Schematic Capture & Simulation

Discover how to capture and simulate

Prototype Layout & Routing

Access tutorials circuit layout

Advanced Simulation & Test

Advanced design and simulation

User Guides & Product Info

Up-to-date manuals and user guides

Reference Designs & Tutorials

Explore reference designs

Support & Services

Contact support or join our community

User Solutions & Success Stories

Browse customer success stories

Concepts & Fundamentals

Learn about key concepts in SPICE simulation, PCB layout and the fundamentals of circuit design. Resources include an introduction to SPICE simulation fundamentals.

Featured Link: SPICE Analysis Fundamentals

• SPICE Simulation Fundamentals
• SPICE Simulation Options 
• SPICE Analysis Fundamentals
• Transitioning from PSPICE to NI Multisim: A Tutorial
• Simulation Fundamentals: Cosimulation in NI Multisim

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Tutorial Videos

These playlists include multiple videos to introduce and provide technical instructions on using NI Multisim and NI Ultiboard.

Featured Link: NI Multisim Technical Help Videos

• NI Multisim Technical Help Videos
• NI Multisim "Grapher View" tips
• NI Multisim Component Evaluator Analog Devices Edition
• Introducing NI Ultiboard (short video)

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Schematic Capture & Simulation

Looking to learn how to design with Multisim?  Browse these resources to learn how to capture, simulate and analyze your circuits.

Schematic Capture

• Learning How to Use the New NI Multisim 11.0 Schematic Features
• Transitioning from PSPICE to NI Multisim: A Tutorial
• NI Multisim Interactive Demonstration
• NI Multisim 101: An Introduction to Capture and Simulate for Board-Level Design
• Best Practices in Printed Circuit Board Design
• Repeating Common Circuits in NI Multisim: Hierarchical Blocks
• Creating Bus Vectors in NI Multisim
• How to Use the Filter Wizard in NI Multisim

SPICE Simulation

• Circuit Parameters and Parameter Sweep for Educators
• Power Electronics Design with NI Multisim
• Understand the Thermal Effects of Power Electronics
• Teaching Digital Logic and Fundamentals
• Optimized Circuit Design Performance With NI Multisim
• Power Electronics Design with NI Multisim
• Introduction to Multisim: Learn to Capture, Simulate, and Layout in Less Than 30 Minutes
• SPICE Simulation Models
• SPICE Analysis Fundamentals
• Export Digital Logic to Xilinx FPGAs With NI Multisim
• How to Use NI Multisim Snippets to Share Circuit Files
• Entering Expressions in Analyses in Multisim
• SPICE Simulation Options
• Explore Circuit Behavior Using Simulation-Driven Instruments in NI Multisim
• Simulation-Driven Instruments in NI Multisim
• Pausing Simulation with the Measurement Probe in NI Multisim
• Creating a Custom Component in NI Multisim
• What’s New in NI Multisim 11
• Microcontroller Unit Co-Simulation for SPICE-Based Circuits in NI Multisim

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Prototype Layout & Routing

Find detailed tutorials and resources on how to prototype, layout, route and export PCBs for fabrication.

Featured Link: Best Practices in PCB Design: Routing

Layout & Routing

• Complete Student Design Projects with NI Multisim and NI myRIO
• NI Multisim and Ultiboard—A Powerful Circuit Prototyping Platform
• Getting Started with NI Ultiboard
• PCB Design Fundamentals - Main Page
• Best Practices in PCB Design: Routing
• How to Forward Annotate from NI Multisim to NI Ultiboard
• How to Back Annotate from NI Ultiboard to NI Multisim
• NI Multisim Export to Mentor Graphics PADS Layout
• Repeating Common Circuits in NI Ultiboard
• NI Ultiboard: Viewing a PCB Design in 3D
• Best Practices: Verifying Footprint Mappings and Landpattern Dimensions in NI Multisim and Ultiboard
• Creating a Custom Component in NI Ultiboard
• Exporting Gerber Files from NI Ultiboard
• Completing the Design with Multisim and Ultiboard: Annotation Fundamentals
• Best Practices in PCB Design: Finalizing for Fabrication in Ultiboard

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Advanced Simulation & Test

Multisim combines with LabVIEW for a unique platform for advanced simulation. Using LabVIEW integrate real measurements into design, develop custom analyses and improve simulation.

System Level Simulation of Analog Circuitry and Digital Logic

• 3-Phase Back-to-Back Inverter Research Board with NI Multisim and the NI GPIC
• H-Bridge DC Motor Controller Implementation with NI Circuit Design Suite and NI Single-Board RIO
• Introduction to Digital and Analog Co-simulation Between NI LabVIEW and NI Multisim
• How to Design and Simulate a Brushed DC Motor H-Bridge Circuit Using NI Multisim
• Complete System Simulation of a 3-Phase Inverter Using NI Multisim and LabVIEW

Advanced Simulation with Real Measurements

• Automate Assessment with the Multisim API Toolkit
• Improving Circuit Simulation, Design, and Validation through Multisim Automation with LabVIEW
• Exporting NI Multisim SPICE Simulation Data to NI LabVIEW
• Flight and Camera Electronics for a Satellite System - A NI Multisim National Lab Application
• Using the Cycle-Accurate ARM Microcontroller Simulator
• Download the LabVIEW Multisim Connectivity Toolkit for Free at ni.com/labs

Custom Multisim Simulation Driven Instruments & Analyses for Download

• NI Multisim Custom Simulation Instruments and Analyses – Powered by LabVIEW
• Digital Waveform Generator: Using the NI6551 Instrument in NI Multisim
• Biomedical Application: Multisim Simulation with an ECG Amplifier
• Outputting Signals from a NI Multisim Simulation to a NI DAQ Device
• Multisim PXI Instruments

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User Guides & Product Information

Quickly find online resources such as user guides, manuals and release notes to find product information on what features are available and how to use them.

Featured Link: Getting Started with NI Circuit Design Suite

User Guides and Manuals

• Getting Started with NI Circuit Design Suite
• NI Multisim User Guide

Product Information

• NI Multisim Version Comparison Chart [version 5 to version 12.0]
• New Features in NI Multisim
• NI Multisim Components and Models

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Reference Designs & Tutorials

View reference designs on how to design custom hardware for NI platforms such as M Series DAQ, CompactRIO and Single-Board RIO

Featured Link: Designing a RIO Mezzanine Card for Beer Brewing Automation with NI Multisim and NI Ultiboard

• SPICE Simulation for Aerospace and Defense Electronic Design
• 3-Phase Back-to-Back Inverter Research Board with NI Multisim and the NI GPIC
• How to Integrate Circuit Simulation and Layout Projects in AWR Microwave Office with NI Multisim
• RIO Mezzanine Card Reference Design with NI Multisim and NI Ultiboard
• Rapid OEM Prototyping of Medical, Biotech, and Industrial Devices and Products Using Multisim, Ultiboard, and NI Single-Board RIO
• Using NI Multisim to Design a Custom CompactRIO Module with Freescale MMA7260Q Acceleration Sensor
• Design Templates for CompactRIO Custom I/O Module PCB Design
• Resources for NI CompactRIO and NI Single-Board RIO Custom Design
• CompactRIO Single-Board GPIC Development Bundle
• sbRIO Daughter Board Reference Design for Multisim & Ultiboard

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Support & Services

For customers with SSP contact National Instruments Support or join our free design community for assistance with your questions.

Featured Link: How to Activate NI Multisim

Contact Support

• NI Multisim Support
• NI Ultiboard Support
• NI Multisim Discussion Forum
• Circuit Design Community

Online Knowledge Base

• Search the NI Multisim Knowledge Base (FAQ)
• Search the NI Ultiboard Knowledge Base (FAQ)

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User Solutions & Success Stories

Learn how other customers are using NI Multisim, NI Ultiboard and other NI hardware to simulate better, prototype faster, and validate easier.

Featured Link: Designing a Solar Powered, Rechargeable Lantern for Developing Nations

• Building a Powerful Remote Leak-Detection Platform for Aerial Surveys With the LabVIEW Real-Time Module, Multisim, and PXI
• Rapid OEM Prototyping of Medical, Biotech, and Industrial Devices and Products Using Multisim, Ultiboard, and NI Single-Board RIO
• Designing a Solar Powered, Rechargeable Lantern for Developing Nations with NI Multisim and NI Ultiboard
• Studying Human Locomotion of Amputees Using Prostheses with NI Multisim
• Creating an Innovative Medical Instrument Using NI Products
• High-Performance Electronics for a Student Formula Race Car
• Rapid Design of a Military Communications System Using NI Technologies
• Flight and Camera Electronics for a Satellite System - A NI Multisim National Lab Application
• DeVry University Teaches Electronics and Circuits Courses Using NI Multisim
• Georgia Institute of Technology Simplifies Teaching Circuit Design with NI Multisim
• German User Solution: LetteVerein Use of NI Multisim, NI Ultiboard and PXI

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