Rigol DS1000B Waveform Examples
Scott Prahl
Mar 2026
[1]:
%config InlineBackend.figure_format = 'retina'
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import imageio.v3 as iio
from RigolWFM import Wfm, DS1000B_scopes
repo = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/scottprahl/RigolWFM/main/tests/files/"
A list of Rigol scopes in the DS1000B family is:
[2]:
print(DS1000B_scopes[:])
['B', '1000B', 'DS1000B', 'DS1074B', 'DS1104B', 'DS1204B']
DS1204B-A
We will start with a .wfm file from a Rigol DS1204B scope which has saved all four channels.
Now for the .wfm data
First a textual description.
[3]:
# raw=true is needed because this is a binary file
wfm_url = repo + "wfm/DS1204B-A.wfm?raw=true"
w = Wfm.from_url(wfm_url, "1000B")
description = w.describe()
print(description)
General:
File Model = DS1000B
User Model = 1000B
Parser Model = wfm1000b
Firmware = unknown
Filename = DS1204B-A.wfm
Channels = [1, 2, 3, 4]
Trigger:
Mode = edge
Source = CH1
Derived Level = 3.00 V
Channel 1:
Coupling = DC
Scale = 1.00 V/div
Offset = -2.52 V
Probe = 1X
Inverted = False
Time Base = 2.000 ms/div
Offset = 0.000 s
Delta = 8.000 µs/point
Points = 8192
Count = [ 1, 2, 3 ... 8191, 8192]
Raw = [ 86, 86, 86 ... 163, 163]
Times = [-32.768 ms,-32.760 ms,-32.752 ms ... 32.760 ms,32.768 ms]
Volts = [ 3.04 V, 3.04 V, 3.04 V ... -40.00 mV,-40.00 mV]
Channel 2:
Coupling = DC
Scale = 5.00 V/div
Offset = -5.20 V
Probe = 1X
Inverted = False
Time Base = 2.000 ms/div
Offset = 0.000 s
Delta = 8.000 µs/point
Points = 8192
Count = [ 1, 2, 3 ... 8191, 8192]
Raw = [ 78, 78, 78 ... 78, 111]
Times = [-32.768 ms,-32.760 ms,-32.752 ms ... 32.760 ms,32.768 ms]
Volts = [ 9.40 V, 9.40 V, 9.40 V ... 9.40 V, 2.80 V]
Channel 3:
Coupling = DC
Scale = 5.00 V/div
Offset = -5.40 V
Probe = 1X
Inverted = False
Time Base = 2.000 ms/div
Offset = 0.000 s
Delta = 8.000 µs/point
Points = 8192
Count = [ 1, 2, 3 ... 8191, 8192]
Raw = [ 112, 112, 112 ... 127, 127]
Times = [-32.768 ms,-32.760 ms,-32.752 ms ... 32.760 ms,32.768 ms]
Volts = [ 2.80 V, 2.80 V, 2.80 V ... -200.00 mV,-200.00 mV]
Channel 4:
Coupling = DC
Scale = 10.00 V/div
Offset = 0.00 V
Probe = 1X
Inverted = False
Time Base = 2.000 ms/div
Offset = 0.000 s
Delta = 8.000 µs/point
Points = 8192
Count = [ 1, 2, 3 ... 8191, 8192]
Raw = [ 75, 75, 75 ... 75, 75]
Times = [-32.768 ms,-32.760 ms,-32.752 ms ... 32.760 ms,32.768 ms]
Volts = [ 9.60 V, 9.60 V, 9.60 V ... 9.60 V, 9.60 V]
downloading 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/scottprahl/RigolWFM/main/tests/files/wfm/DS1204B-A.wfm?raw=true'
[4]:
csv_file = repo + "wfm/DS1204B-A-original.csv"
csv_data = np.genfromtxt(csv_file, delimiter=",", skip_header=2, encoding="latin1").T
plt.subplots(4, 1, sharex=True, figsize=(10, 10), subplot_kw=dict(frameon=False, xlim=(-0.001, 0.001)))
plt.title("DS1204B from .csv file")
plt.subplot(411)
plt.plot(csv_data[0], csv_data[1], color="green")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlim(csv_data[0, 0], csv_data[0, 0] + 0.001)
plt.xticks([])
plt.grid(True)
plt.subplot(412)
plt.plot(csv_data[0], csv_data[2], color="green")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlim(csv_data[0, 0], csv_data[0, 0] + 0.001)
plt.xticks([])
plt.grid(True)
plt.subplot(413)
plt.plot(csv_data[0], csv_data[3], color="green")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlim(csv_data[0, 0], csv_data[0, 0] + 0.001)
plt.xticks([])
plt.grid(True)
plt.subplot(414)
plt.plot(csv_data[0], csv_data[4], color="green")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlim(csv_data[0, 0], csv_data[0, 0] + 0.001)
plt.xlabel("time (s)")
plt.grid(True)
# plt.xlim(center_time-0.6,center_time+0.6)
plt.show()
Plotting the .wfm results and the .csv values give us one single line.
[5]:
for ch in w.channels:
if ch.enabled:
plt.plot(ch.times * 1000, ch.volts, color="green")
plt.title("Channel %d (%.2fV/div, offset=%.2fV)" % (ch.channel_number, ch.volt_per_division, ch.volt_offset))
plt.xlabel("Time (ms)")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlim(-6, 6)
plt.show()
Differences are all essentially zero!
[6]:
for i, ch in enumerate(w.channels):
if ch.enabled:
plt.plot(ch.times * 1000, ch.volts - csv_data[i + 1], color="green")
plt.title("Channel %d (%.2fV/div, offset=%.2fV)" % (ch.channel_number, ch.volt_per_division, ch.volt_offset))
plt.xlabel("Time (ms)")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlim(-6, 6)
plt.ylim(-1e-14, 1e-14)
plt.show()
DS1204B-B
Rigol DS1204B waveform with just the first channel saved.
[7]:
# raw=true is needed because this is a binary file
wfm_url = repo + "wfm/DS1204B-B.wfm?raw=true"
w = Wfm.from_url(wfm_url, "1000B")
description = w.describe()
print(description)
General:
File Model = DS1000B
User Model = 1000B
Parser Model = wfm1000b
Firmware = unknown
Filename = DS1204B-B.wfm
Channels = [1]
Trigger:
Mode = edge
Source = CH1
Derived Level = 15.20 V
Channel 1:
Coupling = AC
Scale = 10.00 V/div
Offset = 0.00 V
Probe = 10X
Inverted = False
Time Base = 1.000 ms/div
Offset = 0.000 s
Delta = 4.000 µs/point
Points = 8192
Count = [ 1, 2, 3 ... 8191, 8192]
Raw = [ 138, 138, 138 ... 60, 60]
Times = [-16.384 ms,-16.380 ms,-16.376 ms ... 16.380 ms,16.384 ms]
Volts = [-15.60 V,-15.60 V,-15.60 V ... 15.60 V, 15.60 V]
downloading 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/scottprahl/RigolWFM/main/tests/files/wfm/DS1204B-B.wfm?raw=true'
[8]:
for ch in w.channels:
if ch.enabled:
plt.plot(ch.times * 1000, ch.volts, color="green")
plt.title("Channel %d (%.2fV/div, offset=%.2fV)" % (ch.channel_number, ch.volt_per_division, ch.volt_offset))
plt.xlabel("Time (ms)")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlim(-6, 6)
plt.show()
DS1204B-C
Rigol DS1204B waveform with just the second channel saved.
[9]:
wfm_url = repo + "wfm/DS1204B-C.wfm?raw=true"
w = Wfm.from_url(wfm_url, "1000B")
description = w.describe()
print(description)
General:
File Model = DS1000B
User Model = 1000B
Parser Model = wfm1000b
Firmware = unknown
Filename = DS1204B-C.wfm
Channels = [2]
Trigger:
Mode = edge
Source = CH1
Channel 2:
Coupling = AC
Scale = 10.00 V/div
Offset = 0.00 V
Probe = 10X
Inverted = False
Time Base = 1.000 ms/div
Offset = 0.000 s
Delta = 4.000 µs/point
Points = 8192
Count = [ 1, 2, 3 ... 8191, 8192]
Raw = [ 61, 61, 61 ... 62, 62]
Times = [-16.384 ms,-16.380 ms,-16.376 ms ... 16.380 ms,16.384 ms]
Volts = [ 15.20 V, 15.20 V, 15.20 V ... 14.80 V, 14.80 V]
downloading 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/scottprahl/RigolWFM/main/tests/files/wfm/DS1204B-C.wfm?raw=true'
[10]:
for ch in w.channels:
if ch.enabled:
plt.plot(ch.times * 1000, ch.volts, color="green")
plt.title("Channel %d (%.2fV/div, offset=%.2fV)" % (ch.channel_number, ch.volt_per_division, ch.volt_offset))
plt.xlabel("Time (ms)")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlim(-6, 6)
plt.show()
DS1204B-D
Rigol DS1204B waveform with just the third channel saved.
[11]:
wfm_url = repo + "wfm/DS1204B-D.wfm?raw=true"
w = Wfm.from_url(wfm_url, "1000B")
description = w.describe()
print(description)
General:
File Model = DS1000B
User Model = 1000B
Parser Model = wfm1000b
Firmware = unknown
Filename = DS1204B-D.wfm
Channels = [3]
Trigger:
Mode = edge
Source = CH1
Channel 3:
Coupling = AC
Scale = 5.00 V/div
Offset = 0.00 V
Probe = 10X
Inverted = False
Time Base = 1.000 ms/div
Offset = 0.000 s
Delta = 4.000 µs/point
Points = 8192
Count = [ 1, 2, 3 ... 8191, 8192]
Raw = [ 175, 175, 175 ... 175, 175]
Times = [-16.384 ms,-16.380 ms,-16.376 ms ... 16.380 ms,16.384 ms]
Volts = [-15.20 V,-15.20 V,-15.20 V ... -15.20 V,-15.20 V]
downloading 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/scottprahl/RigolWFM/main/tests/files/wfm/DS1204B-D.wfm?raw=true'
[12]:
for ch in w.channels:
if ch.enabled:
plt.plot(ch.times * 1000, ch.volts, color="green")
plt.title("Channel %d (%.2fV/div, offset=%.2fV)" % (ch.channel_number, ch.volt_per_division, ch.volt_offset))
plt.xlabel("Time (ms)")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlim(-6, 6)
plt.show()
DS1204B-E
Rigol DS1204B waveform with just the fourth channel saved.
[13]:
wfm_url = repo + "wfm/DS1204B-E.wfm?raw=true"
w = Wfm.from_url(wfm_url, "1000B")
description = w.describe()
print(description)
General:
File Model = DS1000B
User Model = 1000B
Parser Model = wfm1000b
Firmware = unknown
Filename = DS1204B-E.wfm
Channels = [4]
Trigger:
Mode = edge
Source = CH1
Channel 4:
Coupling = AC
Scale = 5.00 V/div
Offset = 0.00 V
Probe = 10X
Inverted = False
Time Base = 1.000 ms/div
Offset = 0.000 s
Delta = 4.000 µs/point
Points = 8192
Count = [ 1, 2, 3 ... 8191, 8192]
Raw = [ 174, 174, 174 ... 25, 25]
Times = [-16.384 ms,-16.380 ms,-16.376 ms ... 16.380 ms,16.384 ms]
Volts = [-15.00 V,-15.00 V,-15.00 V ... 14.80 V, 14.80 V]
downloading 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/scottprahl/RigolWFM/main/tests/files/wfm/DS1204B-E.wfm?raw=true'
[14]:
for ch in w.channels:
if ch.enabled:
plt.plot(ch.times * 1000, ch.volts, color="green")
plt.title("Channel %d (%.2fV/div, offset=%.2fV)" % (ch.channel_number, ch.volt_per_division, ch.volt_offset))
plt.xlabel("Time (ms)")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlim(-6, 6)
plt.show()
DS1204B-F
This file has channels 2 & 4 saved.
[15]:
wfm_url = repo + "wfm/DS1204B-F.wfm?raw=true"
w = Wfm.from_url(wfm_url, "1000B")
description = w.describe()
print(description)
downloading 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/scottprahl/RigolWFM/main/tests/files/wfm/DS1204B-F.wfm?raw=true'
General:
File Model = DS1000B
User Model = 1000B
Parser Model = wfm1000b
Firmware = unknown
Filename = DS1204B-F.wfm
Channels = [2, 4]
Trigger:
Mode = edge
Source = CH1
Channel 2:
Coupling = AC
Scale = 10.00 V/div
Offset = -20.40 V
Probe = 10X
Inverted = False
Time Base = 1.000 ms/div
Offset = 0.000 s
Delta = 4.000 µs/point
Points = 8192
Count = [ 1, 2, 3 ... 8191, 8192]
Raw = [ 113, 113, 113 ... 113, 98]
Times = [-16.384 ms,-16.380 ms,-16.376 ms ... 16.380 ms,16.384 ms]
Volts = [ 14.80 V, 14.80 V, 14.80 V ... 14.80 V, 20.80 V]
Channel 4:
Coupling = AC
Scale = 20.00 V/div
Offset = 57.60 V
Probe = 10X
Inverted = False
Time Base = 1.000 ms/div
Offset = 0.000 s
Delta = 4.000 µs/point
Points = 8192
Count = [ 1, 2, 3 ... 8191, 8192]
Raw = [ 9, 9, 9 ... 10, 10]
Times = [-16.384 ms,-16.380 ms,-16.376 ms ... 16.380 ms,16.384 ms]
Volts = [ 14.40 V, 14.40 V, 14.40 V ... 13.60 V, 13.60 V]
[16]:
for ch in w.channels:
if ch.enabled:
plt.plot(ch.times * 1000, ch.volts, color="green")
plt.title("Channel %d (%.2fV/div, offset=%.2fV)" % (ch.channel_number, ch.volt_per_division, ch.volt_offset))
plt.xlabel("Time (ms)")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlim(-6, 6)
plt.show()
DS1204B-G
It turns out that my initial guess on how data was stored was incorrect. It seems to work fine for channels that are saved with 0x2000 bytes but fails with those with 0x4000.
Rigol DS1204B waveform with just the first channel saved with 0x4000 = 16384 points.
I made changes so this one and other files still parse correctly.
[17]:
wfm_url = repo + "wfm/DS1204B-G.wfm?raw=true"
w = Wfm.from_url(wfm_url, "1000B")
description = w.describe()
print(description)
General:
File Model = DS1000B
User Model = 1000B
Parser Model = wfm1000b
Firmware = unknown
Filename = DS1204B-G.wfm
Channels = [1]
Trigger:
Mode = edge
Source = CH1
Derived Level = 1.68 mV
Channel 1:
Coupling = AC
Scale = 2.00 mV/div
Offset = -2.00 mV
Probe = 1X
Inverted = False
Time Base = 5.000 ns/div
Offset = 0.000 s
Delta = 500.000 ps/point
Points = 16384
Count = [ 1, 2, 3 ... 16383, 16384]
Raw = [ 125, 125, 125 ... 125, 125]
Times = [-4.096 µs,-4.095 µs,-4.095 µs ... 4.095 µs, 4.096 µs]
Volts = [-80.00 µV,-80.00 µV,-80.00 µV ... -80.00 µV,-80.00 µV]
downloading 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/scottprahl/RigolWFM/main/tests/files/wfm/DS1204B-G.wfm?raw=true'
[18]:
for ch in w.channels:
if ch.enabled:
plt.plot(ch.times * 1e6, ch.volts, "og", markersize=2)
plt.title("Channel %d (%.3fV/div, offset=%.3fV)" % (ch.channel_number, ch.volt_per_division, ch.volt_offset))
plt.xlabel("Time (µs)")
plt.ylabel("Volts (V)")
plt.xlim(-0.01, 0.04)
plt.show()
[ ]: