Scope Corder vs Oscilloscope: Yokogawa’s All-in-One Testing Solution

Understanding the Test Bench

In the world of test and measurement, it’s easy to fall into the trap of choosing either an oscilloscope or a power analyser, depending on whether you need fast signal capture or high-accuracy power data. But Yokogawa is offering a third option that gives you the benefits of both: the scope corder.

At Embedded World 2025, we caught up with Michael from Yokogawa to get a closer look at how their DL950 ScopeCorder integrates key features from both tools—and adds a few extras of its own.

Scope Corder vs Oscilloscope: What’s the Difference?

Oscilloscopes are built for speed. If you’re probing high-frequency switching events, debugging components, or characterising short bursts of activity, an oscilloscope is ideal.

But if your focus shifts to longer-term behaviour—minutes, hours, or even days—the scope corder steps in. It not only captures electrical signals over long durations, but also accepts physical inputs like vibration, strain, or temperature. You can even run basic power calculations in real-time—ideal for iterative testing during design and optimisation.

The Role of the Power Analyser

Power analysers are essential when precision is non-negotiable. If you’re verifying energy efficiency, complying with government standards, or validating spec sheets, their accuracy is unmatched.

However, if you’re in the early development phase and want to track whether your latest tweak improved or worsened power consumption, the scope corder provides a much more flexible and integrated approach—without the need to switch tools.

One Instrument. Three Roles.

Yokogawa’s scope corder isn’t just a middle ground—it’s a full-featured hybrid that brings together:

• Multi-channel signal logging
• High-speed oscilloscope functions
• Physical sensor integration
• Serial bus decoding
• Basic real-time power analysis

In short, it’s a complete development companion that helps engineers evaluate, validate, and optimise complex systems—particularly when multiple signal types are involved.

Try It in Your Workflow

Whether you’re working on embedded systems, industrial drives, or any power-sensitive application, Yokogawa’s approach helps reduce lab clutter while increasing insight. If you’re tired of switching between tools to get a complete picture of your design, the scope corder is worth your attention.