We’ve made it easy to learn RSpec. Our software is easy-to-use. And there’s a complete set of short tutorial videos that walk you step-by-step through getting started.
You can always use our contact form (link) to ask us questions.
Not sure where to start? Don’t miss our short Getting Started manual which will point you to the specific videos you need, walking you step-by-step through your first spectra with RSpec:
We recommend getting started with our hands-on workshop
Tom conducted this hour-long, hands-on workshop to almost 100 attendees at a joint SAS/AAVSO Symposium.
Now you can experience the workshop yourself. See this YouTube video: link.
We suggest that you follow along on your own computer. Download the sample data files from this link. If you don’t already have a copy of the software, you can install a trial version from this link.
Let us know about your experience. Were you able to follow along? Can you suggest some improvements for our next workshop?
How to watch these RSpec tutorial videos
There are three ways to watch the tutorial videos below:
- Watch our videos here on our site with the links further down the page.
- If you’re outside the US, you may want to watch our videos on YouTube: link. (Possibly smoother international playback as well as optional captions in other languages.)
- Or, in the RSpec program itself, you can watch the videos from the Help, Video Library menu option.
Tutorial videos
1. Getting Started. link
2. Capturing a Spectrum profile. link
If you’re not sure what star to start with, see the latest Getting Started Manual (link) on page 4 for a list of bright A-type stars.
2.1 Cropping Large Images. link
2.2 Raw DSLR Images. link
2.3 Using an astronomical video camera link
3. Calibrating your Spectrum. link
3.1 How to find the Balmer lines. link
4. Customizing the Profile Graph. link
5. Saving, Exporting, and Printing. link
6. Image Averaging (Stacking) link
7. Using the Focusing Tool. link
8. Translating RSpec into a new Language. link
9. How RSpec uses your chip’s multiple cores. link
10. Adjusting Image Quality with the Histogram stretch. link
11. Previewing images and combining them into a Video. link
12. Update 1 – Binning, FWHM. link
13. Update 2 – Enhanced background removal, 2nd Y-axis for Reference, Horizontal Align/Calibrate. link
14. Update 3 – Element Library, Manual dispersion entry, French/German support. link
15. Adjustment for Instrument Response (part of Update 3) link
16. Update 4 – Live Library Preview. link
17. Update 5 – Live Spectrum Synthesis. link
18. Normalizing (or “Rectifying”) for enhanced synthesized spectra. link
19. Update 6 – Slant, FWHM, Frame Rate Enhancements, Element Library. link
20. Non-linear Calibration – using more than one point to calibrate in Angstroms. link
21. Update 7 – Cropping videos (when Rotation = 0°), Saving Appearance data with .dat files. link
22. Update 8 – Enhancements to the Appearance screen, Most Recently Used file selection, and full 32-bit FITS processing. link
23. Non-linear, One-Point Calibration – (part of Update 8 ) link
24. One-point, Linear Calibration Revisited – This video doesn’t show any new features, but shows how to calibrate an unknown object in day-to-day operation. link
25. Update 9 – Zooming, negative flux, Dynamic scaling of Reference profile. link
26. Update 10 – Vertical call-out lines, equivalent width, enhancements to delete points. link
27. Update 10b – Pixel map, Color-fill of profile. link
Update 11
28. Smooth dispersion setting. link
29. Calibrating a spectrum captured on a slit spectrometer. link
30. Update 12 – Real-time flux calibration, discontinuous background removal, etc. link
31. Update 13 – 3D Inspector for spectra, read 1D FITS files and their headers, drag & drop files to open, poster: link
32. Update 14 – Rotate via dragline, image cropping: link
Update 15 – RSpec Version 1.9.0.30
33. Images are displayed in a larger format and processing speed improved. link
34. Enhanced video camera processing for more speed, flexibility, and control. link
35. Other features: faster histogram stretch, Raw header display, 1D FITS export, crop to visible profile, splicing profiles, etc. link
Update 16 – RSpec Version 1.9.0.40
36. Element Library font sizes, improved non-linear calibration, Y-axis label: link
37. Viewing the RGB color channels to determine exposure levels: link
38. RGB color channels in a video stream: link
Update 17 – RSpec Version 2.0.0
39. Introduction to the Presentation Manager: link
40. Presentation Manager with normalized OBAFGKM: link
41. Presentation Manager – Stitching two spectra side by side: link
42. Other features in this release: link
Update 18 – RSpec Version 2.1.0
43. Magnetic Mouse: link
44. Drawing a Continuum: link
45. Presentation Manager: 3D View: link
46. Presentation Manager: Anchoring Labels: link
47. Other new features: link
48. SharpCap Bridge: Import live images from SharpCap and other camera control programs: link
49. SharpCap Bridge: Import live video from SharpCap and other camera control programs: link
50. Adjusting your camera for best images: link
Update 19 – RSpec Version 2.3 – In beta testing. Not yet available for general usage.
51. Importing and Exporting Projects: link
52. Enhancements to the Appearance screen: link
53. Auto-open beeps and other miscellaneous enhancements: link
Download the What’s New “Read Me” PDF document for all releases with this link