An abstracted digital memory acquisition circuit, including an analog input configured to receive an analog signal, an analog-to-digital converter configured to receive the analog signal and convert the analog signal to a first digital signal, a digital input configured to receive a second digital signal, a controller configured to receive the first digital signal and the second digital signal and output a stream of bits, the stream of bits including the first digital signal and the second digital signal, and a control signal, and an output configured to electrically connect to a digital input of a test and measurement instrument and output the stream of bits and the control signal.