NeuroNexus SmartBox Pro User manual


SmartBox Pro | Allego
Quick Start Guide
V 2.6.2
April 9, 2021

TableofContents
TableofContents 2
Introduction 3
Gettingupandrunning 4
What'sintheBox 4
ComputerRequirements 4
SystemOverview 5
FrontPanel 5
BackPanel 5
ConnecttheSmartBoxProtoYourComputer 6
DownloadandInstalltheAllegoSoftwareApplication 7
Windows 7
macOS 7
AllegoInterface 8
AllegoDashboard 8
ActivatingAllego 9
CheckingHardwareConnection 11
TrainingwithAllego 12
Quickstreamingandsaving-Determineifaheadstageandprobeareconnectedprop-
erlyandcanstreamdata 13
SmartBox Pro
DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NeuroNexus Technologies, Inc. ©2020 | 5200 S. State Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA
Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone] | [email protected]
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Introduction
Congratulations  on  your  purchase  of  the  SmartBox  Pro /  Allego  acquisition  system! This 
advanced  new  system  from  NeuroNexus  enables  and  accelerates  neuroscience  research 
throughitsuniquecombinationofperformance,easeofuse,andforward-lookingadvancedfea-
tures,whichinclude:
lPlug-and-playcompatibilitywithallNeuroNexusprobesandelectrodearrays
lHigh-qualityacquisitionandrecordingofupto512channelsofneuralandbio-
logicalsignals
lUnique,  highly  interactive,  probe- centric  user  interface  that  allows  the 
researchertoremainfocusedontheexperimentathand
This“QuickStartGuide”isintendedtoprovideabriefoverviewoftheSmartBoxPro/Allegosys-
temandsomeofitsbasicfunctions.
Anoteonbasicterminology:“SmartBoxPro”referstothehardwarecomponentofthesystem,
i.e.,the“SmartBoxProbox.”“Allego”referstothesoftwareapplicationthatinterfaceswithand
controlsthehardwarebox.
IMPORTANT:Pleasecheckthe NeuroNexus websiteat www.NeuroNexus.com for regular
updatesofthisdocumentandrelatedsystemdocumentation.
ForquestionsregardingoperationofthesystemorifyouhaveanyissueswiththeSmartBox
Pro,pleaseemailusat[email protected].Youcanalsocallusat+1.734.913.8858.

SmartBox Pro
DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NeuroNexus Technologies, Inc. ©2020 | 5200 S. State Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA
Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone] | [email protected]
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Gettingupandrunning
What'sintheBox
lSmartBoxProunit
lACPowerAdapter
lUSB3.0cable
l(2)Banana-to-bananacables
l(2)BNC-to-BNCcables
l(2)BNC-to-Alligatorcables
lSelectedSmartLinkheadstageamplifier(s)andheadstageinterfacecable(s)
thatarespecifiedintheorder.FormoreinformationaboutourSmartLinkhead-
stagespleasevisitourwebsiteatwww.NeuroNexus.com
l(optional)Windowslaptopcomputerthatwasspecifiedintheorder
ComputerRequirements
Thecomputersystemrequirementsinclude:
lStorage:SSD.Traditionalmagneticharddisksmaynotbefastenoughinsome
recordingconfigurations
lUSB3.0
l3rdGenerationIntelCorei7processors(4cores),orequivalent
SmartBox Pro
DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NeuroNexus Technologies, Inc. ©2020 | 5200 S. State Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA
Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone] | [email protected]
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4

SystemOverview
FrontPanel
PowerLED/Button Indicatessystemstatus.
ABCD HeadstageInputPorts ProprietaryHDMI-styleportsforconnectingSmartLinkhead-
stagestoPortsA-D.
RE ReferenceElectrode BananajackforconnectiontoReferenceElectrode(poten-
tiostat/galvanostat).
CE CounterElectrode BananajackforconnectiontoCounterElectrode(poten-
tiostat/galvanostat).
V/I Potentiostat/GalvanostatPort
ProprietaryHDMI-stylemultifunctionportforconnectiontothe
SmartBoxProMUXadaptertoprovideaccesstopotentiostat
andgalvanostatfunctions.
BackPanel
DI/DO Digital/AnalogInputsand
Outputs BNCconnectorsforconnectingauxiliarysignalsfromotherinstruments.
SystemGround Bananajackforconnectingtheboxtoalow-noiseearthgroundpoint.
USB
3.0 USB3.0Connector ConnecttoaUSB3.0portonPC/MacusingthesuppliedUSB3.0cable.
9VDC DCPowerInput UseonlythesuppliedACpoweradaptertoprovidetherequiredDCvoltage
input.
AudioOutput StereoaudioAuxjackforconnectiontospeakerstomonitortheAnalogOut-
put(AO)channels.
SmartBox Pro
DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NeuroNexus Technologies, Inc. ©2020 | 5200 S. State Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA
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ConnecttheSmartBoxProtoYourComputer
lUnpacktheSmartBoxProunitfromitspackagingandplaceitonasecuresurfacewith
adequateventilation
lPlugtheACadapterintoastandard(110-220V)walloutletandconnectitsDCpowerout-
putpinintotothepowerportoftheunit
lConnecttheUSBcabletotheSmartBoxProandaUSB3.0portonyourcomputer
lWiththecomputeronandconnectedtotheinternet,pressandreleasetheSmartBoxPro
powerLEDswitch.Yourcomputershouldindicatethatithasdetectednewhardware(Opal
KellyXEM6310-LX45).Thenecessarydriversshouldbeautomaticallyinstalledwithnofur-
theractionnecessary.IfthedriverdoesnotinstallortheAllegorecordingsoftwarecannot
detectyourSmartBoxProunit,trydownloadingandinstallingthedriverfromwww.Neur-
oNexus.com.
lConnectaSmartLinkheadstageamplifiertoaSmartLinkHDMIcableandthenconnect
theotherendtooneoftheSmartBoxProamplifierports(portsA-D)
lOptional-UseabananacabletoattachtheSmartBoxProgroundporttoalow-noiseearth
ground.Thismaybebeneficialforremovingextrinsicnoiseonthesignallinesdepending
onthelaboratoryenvironment.(Note:Regardlessofthegroundportconnections,the
recordingreferenceandgroundsignalsareprovidedthroughtheconfigurationofthe
SmartLinkheadstageamplifier(s))
lNote:DonotconnectthemultiplexeradaptortoportsAthroughD
SmartBox Pro
DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NeuroNexus Technologies, Inc. ©2020 | 5200 S. State Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA
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DownloadandInstalltheAllegoSoftwareApplication
AllegoisthesoftwareapplicationforinterfacingwiththeSmartBoxProunit.Thelatestversionof
AllegocanalwaysbefoundontheNeuroNexuswebsite.
https://neuronexus.com/allego-software-downloads-page/
Oncethere,selectthelinkfortheappropriateoperatingsystemandthenselect“Download”to
beginthetransfer.

Windows
Launchtheinstaller.
Ifyoureceiveawarningagainstrunninganunrecognizedapp,select“MoreInfo”,then“Runany-
way.”
Aftertheinstallationcompletes,Allegowilllaunch.

macOS
DownloadtheAllegoinstaller.
Double-clicktheinstallertolaunch.
DragtheAllegoiconintotheApplicationsfolder.
OpentheApplicationsfolderbydoubleclickingthefoldericon.
IntheApplicationsfolder,double-clicktheAllegoiconwhileholdingdownthecontrolkey(hold-
ingdownthecontrolkeyoverridestheMacOSsecuritycheck,whichisonlyneededduringthe
initiallaunch).
Aftertheinstallationcompletes,Allegowilllaunch.
SmartBox Pro
DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NeuroNexus Technologies, Inc. ©2020 | 5200 S. State Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA
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AllegoInterface
AllegoDashboard

CONFIGURATION
System Configuresignalsources,whichportswillbeused,samplingfrequency,and
D/A(Outs).
Electrodes Connectedprobedesignsareselected,alongwithwhichportandSmartLink
headstagewillbeused.
SignalProcessing CreatevariousfiltertypesandcombinethemtocreateDSPgroupings.
SIGNALPROCESSING
Monitor Showsthesignalscurrentlybeingstreamed.
Impedance Impedancetesting.
VISUALIZATION
HDSnapshot Takesahighresolutionstillpictureofsignalsforcloserinspection.
SignalMetrics Configurespikedetectionparametersandviewkeyperformanceindic-
ators/signalqualitycharacteristics.
SpikeGrid Viewspikewaveformandsetspikedetectionthresholdusingvoltageorstand-
arddeviationofbackgroundnoisefromthemean.
Settings Activatethesoftware,setvisualthemesandsettherecordingfilenameand
location.
SmartBox Pro
DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NeuroNexus Technologies, Inc. ©2020 | 5200 S. State Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA
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ActivatingAllego
lLaunchAllego.Onceithasfinishedinitializingandtheprogressbardisappears,navigate
totheleftsideoftheinterfaceandhittheSettingsbutton
lAcquisitionSettingsintheupper-rightliststhedirectorywhereyourrecordingfileswillbe
saved,aswellastherootfilenameofeachfile
lLicenseStatusdisplaysthecurrentstateofyoursoftwareactivation
lIfthestatusisinactive,unknownorexpired,youmay:
1. Clickthe“REQUESTTRIAL”button.Thiswillgrantalicenseforseveralweeks.
2. ChecktheemailsyouhavereceivedfromNeuroNexusforan18-digitlicensekey.Ifyoudo
nothavethisyet,contactNeuroNexusCustomerService([email protected])to
requestalicensekey.Pastethe18-digitkeyintothetextboxlabeled“Activate”andclick
thearrow.
lIfthisisatrialsystem,activationwillextendthelicenseandunlockotherpartsoftheapplic-
ation
lAccepttheEndUserLicenseAgreementtobeginusingAllego
SmartBox Pro
DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NeuroNexus Technologies, Inc. ©2020 | 5200 S. State Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA
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lYourlicensekeyallowstwocomputerstorunAllegosimultaneously.Ifyouneedtoactiv-
ate Allego onadifferentcomputer,youmaydeactivatethelicenseononebychoosingthe
Deactivatebutton.Thisremovesthecurrentcomputerfromtheallowedlist,freeingupthe
seattobeusewithanothercomputerinstead.
lIfyoursoftwarehasbeenactivatedbutappearsinactive,unknownorexpired,clickthe
REFRESHbuttontore-attempttoactivate.Ifthisdoesnotwork,checkyourinternetcon-
nection.
SmartBox Pro
DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NeuroNexus Technologies, Inc. ©2020 | 5200 S. State Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA
Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone] | [email protected]
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CheckingHardwareConnection
NavigatetotheDashboardandhittheSystembutton.WiththeSmartBoxProon(pressand
releasetheSmartBoxPropowerLEDswitch)andconnectedtoSmartLinkheadstages,your
softwarerecognizeconnectedSmartLinkheadstagesautomatically.Ifyouareusingadifferent
Intan-basedsystem,clickontheModemenuandselecttheappropriateoption.
OntherightsideofthebottombarintheSystemtab,youcancheckthestatusofconnected
portstotheSmartLinkheadstages.Greenlightindicateswhichportsareinuse.TheSmartBox
Prosupportssimultaneousrecordingofupto512channelsacrossallfourports.Forexample,
belowshowsthestatusoftwo64channelSmartLinkheadstagesconnectedtoportsA,andD.
ThesamplerateontheSystemviewcanbechangedtovaluesbetween1kHzto30kHz.

SmartBox Pro
DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NeuroNexus Technologies, Inc. ©2020 | 5200 S. State Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA
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TrainingwithAllego
TofamiliarizeyourselfwithAllegobeforeusingitwithaSmartBoxPro,returntotheDashboard
andselecttheSystemiconifthetabisnotstillopen.FromtheModedropdownmenu,choose
Training:Simulatedspikedata.Thismodesimulateshavinga64channelheadstageconnected
onPortsAandD.YoumayalsotestfilteringoptionsbychoosingTraining:Sinewaves.Sine
modesimulatesa64channelheadstageconnectedonPortsAandC.
SmartBox Pro
DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NeuroNexus Technologies, Inc. ©2020 | 5200 S. State Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA
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Quickstreamingandsaving-Determineifaheadstageandprobe
areconnectedproperlyandcanstreamdata

lFromtheDashboard,clicktheMonitoricon
lChooseanameforthismonitorifdesired
lClickStream.Datashouldbegintopopulatethewindow.
a. Ifitdoesnot,navigatetotheSystemviewtoverifythattheSmartBoxPro
detectsyourSmartLinkheadstage(s)
b. Youmightneedtoscalethestreamingtodisplaythewaveformsappropriately.
OnthebottomofMonitorview,clicktheVerticalControlsbuttontoincrease/-
decreasethetimespan,thespacebetweenyourwaveforms,andthemag-
nitudeorresolutionofyoursignals.

lFromtheSignalProcessingtaboftheDashboard,applyafiltersetthatissuitedforyour
research.Formoreinformationaboutthefiltering,refertotechnicaldocument.Tosave
SmartBox Pro
DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NeuroNexus Technologies, Inc. ©2020 | 5200 S. State Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA
Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone] | [email protected]
Page
13

streameddata,clickRecord.Thestreamingandrecordingstatuswillbedisplayedinthe
Statusbarvisibleallthroughouttheapplication.


SmartBox Pro
DATA ACQUISITION AND EXPERIMENTAL MANAGEMENT
NeuroNexus Technologies, Inc. ©2020 | 5200 S. State Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, USA
Telephone: [phone] | Fax: [phone] | [email protected]
Page
14