A new version of ObserVIEW (2026.1) is coming soon. In this latest software release, record field data 24/7, identify transient events in a recording, and more.
24/7 Recording
Continuous Data Acquisition and Analysis
For long-duration or static monitoring programs, ObserVIEW can now connect to a Vibration Research I/O hardware unit in 24/7 mode for continuous data acquisition and analysis.
Applications
- Shaker monitoring and maintenance
- Critical and rotational equipment monitoring
- Site monitoring
- Seismic monitoring
- Acoustic monitoring
- Long-duration field environment capture
- Life cycle acquisition
- Vibration criteria (VC) acquisition/analysis
In ObserVIEW 2026, engineers can set their recording to 24/7 mode, compute peaks and statistics on the recorded data, and access remote files.
Continuous Acquisition
You can change an I/O unit’s recording mode in VR Mobile. In ObserVIEW, navigate to the Configure Hardware dialog and select the I/O unit. In the drop-down list, select “Open VR Mobile in browser.” In VR Mobile, navigate to Settings > Recorder Settings.
In 24/7 mode, recording is always active and begins immediately after connection. Data are recorded on the on-board SD/USB drive in blocks (rather than a single .vfw file). The files automatically roll over after storage is full.
To stop recording, you must reconfigure the VR Mobile Recorder Settings to Normal mode.
Peaks and Statistics
In addition to raw data, ObserVIEW can capture peaks and statistics in 24/7 mode as .vfw.peaks and .vfw.stats files. This option eliminates the need for post-recording computations if desired. Statistics are often used to detect changes, errors, or outliers in rotating machinery. On statistics waveforms, engineers can add a trendline (mean, average, etc.) to view changes over time.
Statistics Examples
- RMS: Increasing trendline can indicate imbalance, misalignment, or bearing wear
- Peak or peak-to-peak: Sudden changes/transients can indicate impact, looseness, or transient fault
- Crest factor: High or increasing trendline can indicate bearing defects or gear tooth damage
- Kurtosis: Sensitive to impulse events; changes can diagnose early-stage bearing faults
- Skewness: Can detect asymmetrical wear patterns or directional bias
- Standard deviation: Increasing spread may indicate instability
Continuous Analysis
Engineers can access the live data files remotely without downloading them, which includes the ability to pan and scrub the data. Once downloaded, engineers can apply their available ObserVIEW tools.
- Overlay and compare
- Export data and report
- Load pre-defined layout and analysis
To view recorded files, select Remote File option in the start menu, select the I/O device, and select the 24/7 folder.
Event Detection
ObserVIEW 2026.1 introduces “events” for transient event detection and analysis. Events are moments in time defined by a trigger threshold. Engineers can use these triggers to annotate or edit waveforms. Reasons for defining events include:
- Identifying/isolating responses to a repetitive event
- Identifying/isolating harmonics from rotational equipment
- Identifying/isolating acceleration peaks exceeding a threshold/limit
By default, the Events pane is to the left of the main graph. The engineer defines the trigger threshold and hold-off, and the program detects all events in a list format and as graph cursors.
You can add events to any time-domain waveform, including statistics graphs. Use the up/down arrow keys to pan through individual events. Event lists can be imported/exported.
Check In/Out Floating Licenses
In ObserVIEW 2025, Vibration Research added a “floating license” mode for more convenient software management. This license is a shared key for a specified number of concurrent users accessing any PC on the same network. In 2026, you can check in/out a floating license rather than waiting for individual access to reset after 24 hours of inactivity with the server.
Improved Home Screen Experience
In our commitment to continual improvement, the ObserVIEW team has re-evaluated the program’s start view. After several years of feedback, they have implemented changes that reflect typical behavior. This new interface has the same options for opening files, connecting devices, and creating projects, but in a cleaner and more familiar layout.
The main ribbon in the home view has also changed. ObserVIEW’s open, close, and export options will appear in the main ribbon under File, including the options that were in the former Export tab.
The Cursors tab was renamed Annotations, and the options include Add Cursor, Add Note, and Add Event.
Additional Features
- Tachometer channels expanded from 2 to 4
- TTL/Quad support added (VR9700 and VR10500)