Digital signal processors are a relatively new family of microprocesso
rs which are specifically designed for efficient execution of algorith
ms commonly used in signal processing. When interfaced to an IBM PC/A-
compatible personal computer, an inexpensive TMS320C25 digital signal
processor can compute a 1024-point Fourier transform and perform a sub
sequent magnitude determination in 63.5 ms. The system described is ap
plied to the analysis of acoustic emission signals in near real-time.