A finite impulse response (FIR) extractor includes at least one controller. The controller injects specified FIR tap values into a first captured waveform that results from transmitting a raw waveform through a transmitter circuit including a FIR filter having pre and post cursor tap values set to zero to create an expected waveform, and injects the specified FIR tap values into the raw waveform to create an ideal waveform. The controller further projects the expected and ideal waveforms onto a second captured waveform that results from transmitting the ideal waveform through the transmitter circuit with the pre and post cursor tap values set to the specified FIR tap values to create a compensated waveform, and extracts FIR tap values from the compensated waveform.