Supported File Formats

V-Listen supports a comprehensive set of file formats for importing measurement data, exporting analysis results, and exchanging data with other NVH software. This page lists all supported formats organized by category.

Time-Domain Data

Format	Extension	Import	Export	Description
V-Listen HDF (Time)	.hdf	Yes	Yes	V-Listen native time-domain format. Stores multichannel recordings with calibration metadata, channel names, and sampling rate. This is the primary recording format used by V-Listen hardware acquisition.
WAV	.wav	Yes	Yes	Standard audio format. Supports 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit float PCM. Multi-channel files up to 256 channels. Import auto-detects sampling rate and bit depth.
CSV / TXT	.csv, .txt	Yes	Yes	Comma-separated or tab-separated text files. Configurable delimiter, decimal separator, header rows, and column mapping during import.
ATFX	.atfx	Yes	No	ASAM ODS Transfer Format. XML descriptor with binary data files. Used for data exchange in automotive testing environments.

Format

Extension

Import

Export

Description

V-Listen HDF (Time)

.hdf

Yes

V-Listen native time-domain format. Stores multichannel recordings with calibration metadata, channel names, and sampling rate. This is the primary recording format used by V-Listen hardware acquisition.

WAV

.wav

Yes

Standard audio format. Supports 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit float PCM. Multi-channel files up to 256 channels. Import auto-detects sampling rate and bit depth.

CSV / TXT

.csv, .txt

Yes

Comma-separated or tab-separated text files. Configurable delimiter, decimal separator, header rows, and column mapping during import.

ATFX

.atfx

Yes

ASAM ODS Transfer Format. XML descriptor with binary data files. Used for data exchange in automotive testing environments.

V-Listen HDF files use a structured binary format that is not compatible with generic HDF5 tools such as h5py or HDFView. Use V-Listen to open these files.

Frequency-Domain Data

Format	Extension	Import	Export	Description
V-Listen HDF (Frequency)	.hdf	Yes	Yes	V-Listen result format for spectra, spectrograms, and order analyses. Contains frequency axis, single values, and matrix data.
UFF/UNV Type 58	.uff, .unv	Yes	Yes	Universal File Format dataset 58 (function at nodal DOF). Supports frequency response functions, auto/cross spectra, and time histories.
CSV / TXT	.csv, .txt	Yes	Yes	Frequency-amplitude pairs exported as text. Column headers indicate quantity and unit.
Excel	.xlsx	Yes	Yes	Microsoft Excel workbook. Each sheet can contain one spectrum or a collection of curves. Import supports named ranges and automatic axis detection.

Format

Extension

Import

Export

Description

V-Listen HDF (Frequency)

.hdf

Yes

V-Listen result format for spectra, spectrograms, and order analyses. Contains frequency axis, single values, and matrix data.

UFF/UNV Type 58

.uff, .unv

Yes

Universal File Format dataset 58 (function at nodal DOF). Supports frequency response functions, auto/cross spectra, and time histories.

CSV / TXT

.csv, .txt

Yes

Frequency-amplitude pairs exported as text. Column headers indicate quantity and unit.

Excel

.xlsx

Yes

Microsoft Excel workbook. Each sheet can contain one spectrum or a collection of curves. Import supports named ranges and automatic axis detection.

Transfer Function / Modal Data

Format	Extension	Import	Export	Description
V-Listen HDF (Transfer Function)	.hdf	Yes	Yes	FRF data with coherence, stored in HEAD proprietary format. Includes reference and response DOF information.
UFF/UNV Type 55	.uff, .unv	Yes	Yes	Data at nodal DOF. Used for mode shape animation data in modal analysis.
UFF/UNV Type 15	.uff, .unv	Yes	No	Coordinate data (node locations). Defines the geometry for modal visualization.
UFF/UNV Type 2412	.uff, .unv	Yes	No	Element connectivity data. Defines mesh topology for finite element geometry display.

Format

Extension

Import

Export

Description

V-Listen HDF (Transfer Function)

.hdf

Yes

FRF data with coherence, stored in HEAD proprietary format. Includes reference and response DOF information.

UFF/UNV Type 55

.uff, .unv

Yes

Data at nodal DOF. Used for mode shape animation data in modal analysis.

UFF/UNV Type 15

.uff, .unv

Yes

Coordinate data (node locations). Defines the geometry for modal visualization.

UFF/UNV Type 2412

.uff, .unv

Yes

Element connectivity data. Defines mesh topology for finite element geometry display.

Geometry and 3D Models

Format	Extension	Import	Export	Description
STL	.stl	Yes	No	Stereolithography mesh format (ASCII and binary). Used to import CAD geometry for measurement point mapping and modal animation display.
OBJ	.obj	Yes	No	Wavefront OBJ format. Supports vertex positions, normals, and face definitions. Alternative to STL for CAD geometry import.
HMPL	.hmpl	Yes	Yes	V-Listen measurement point list. Defines point IDs, coordinates, directions, and labels for structured measurement grids.

Format

Extension

Import

Export

Description

STL

.stl

Yes

Stereolithography mesh format (ASCII and binary). Used to import CAD geometry for measurement point mapping and modal animation display.

OBJ

.obj

Yes

Wavefront OBJ format. Supports vertex positions, normals, and face definitions. Alternative to STL for CAD geometry import.

HMPL

.hmpl

Yes

V-Listen measurement point list. Defines point IDs, coordinates, directions, and labels for structured measurement grids.

Project and Session Files

Format	Extension	Description
V-Listen Project	.vlproj	Project file containing references to all loaded data, analysis configurations, display settings, and layout state. See Project Management.
Python HDF	.hdf, .h5	Standard HDF5 files created by Python (h5py/numpy). Import reads datasets as time or frequency data based on attribute metadata.

Format

Extension

Description

V-Listen Project

.vlproj

Project file containing references to all loaded data, analysis configurations, display settings, and layout state. See Project Management.

Python HDF

.hdf, .h5

Standard HDF5 files created by Python (h5py/numpy). Import reads datasets as time or frequency data based on attribute metadata.

Report and Export Formats

Format	Extension	Description
HTML Report	.html	Self-contained HTML report with embedded charts, tables, and analysis summaries. Viewable in any web browser without V-Listen installed.
JSON	.json	Machine-readable export of analysis parameters, results, and metadata. Suitable for integration with external processing pipelines.
AVI Video	.avi	Animated video export of spectrograms, waterfall plots, or modal animation sequences. Configurable frame rate and resolution.
Excel	.xlsx	Tabular export of numerical results, single values, and curve data. Multiple sheets for multi-channel or multi-analysis exports.

Format

Extension

Description

HTML Report

.html

Self-contained HTML report with embedded charts, tables, and analysis summaries. Viewable in any web browser without V-Listen installed.

JSON

.json

Machine-readable export of analysis parameters, results, and metadata. Suitable for integration with external processing pipelines.

AVI Video

.avi

Animated video export of spectrograms, waterfall plots, or modal animation sequences. Configurable frame rate and resolution.

Excel

.xlsx

Tabular export of numerical results, single values, and curve data. Multiple sheets for multi-channel or multi-analysis exports.

Format Selection Guide

Scenario	Recommended Format
Recording from NI DAQ or other hardware	HDF (automatic)
Exchanging FRFs with FE software	UFF/UNV Type 58
Importing CAD geometry	STL (preferred) or OBJ
Sharing results with non-V-Listen users	Excel or HTML Report
Scripted data processing pipeline	JSON or Python HDF
Archiving raw measurements	HDF or WAV

Scenario

Recommended Format

Recording from NI DAQ or other hardware

HDF (automatic)

Exchanging FRFs with FE software

UFF/UNV Type 58

Importing CAD geometry

STL (preferred) or OBJ

Sharing results with non-V-Listen users

Excel or HTML Report

Scripted data processing pipeline

JSON or Python HDF

Archiving raw measurements

HDF or WAV

When importing CSV or TXT files, always verify the column mapping and unit assignments in the import dialog. Incorrect unit scaling (e.g., g vs. m/s²) can lead to analysis errors that are difficult to trace.