  The half-life of $^{19}$Ne has been measured using a real-time digital
multiparametric acquisition system providing an accurate time-stamp and
relevant information on the detectors signals for each decay event. An
exhaustive offline analysis of the data gave unique access to experimental
effects potentially biasing the measurement. After establishing the influence
factors impacting the measurement such as after-pulses, pile-up, gain and base
line fluctuations, their effects were accurately estimated and the event
selection optimized. The resulting half-life,
$17.2569\pm0.0019_{(stat)}\pm0.0009_{(syst)}$~s, is the most precise up to now
for $^{19}$Ne. It is found in agreement with two recent precise measurements
and not consistent with the most recent one [L.J. Broussard {\it et al.}, Phys.
Rev. Lett. {\bf112}, 212301 (2014)] by 3.0 standard deviations. The full
potential of the technique for nuclei with half-lives of a few seconds is
discussed.
