Abstract: In order to monitor two dimensional location of AE hypocentres and to record the output of the meter, we refitted the 4010 AE meter which has only the ability of location along a line. We added a synchronoue timer which controls two line-location units, and replaced the original single transducer with multitransducers, and put sound-conductive plates between the sample and the multitransducers, which reduce the error of AE location. The precision of the requipped d4010 meter is about 1.5% of sample size. A Z-80 computer controls the refitted 4010 and a typewriter. Records of two-axial location of same AE event with AE rate or AE number or AE energy can be obtained at the same time.The AE rate, strain of sample and locations of AE sources can be recorded using the refitted 4010 when a thin plate sample is compressed upto its failure. The results show: (1) A distinct gap of AE location is observed before failure of the sample; (2) areas of AE hy-pocenter concentration are all cut through by long and big macrocracks; and (3) the space patterns of AE sources are different through stages of loading on the sample.