Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Manual
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Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Manual

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Song Meter SM4BAT FS
B I O A C O U S T I C S R E C O R D E R
User Guide
Last updated on March 19, 2018.

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Summary of Contents for Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter SM4BAT FS

  • Page 1 See Page 1 for Quick Start Checklist Song Meter SM4BAT FS B I O A C O U S T I C S R E C O R D E R User Guide Last updated on March 19, 2018.

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    5.4 Checking the Status of the Recorder ........... 28 5.5 Stopping a Recording Schedule ............29 5.6 Making an Instant Recording ............... 29 5.7 Retrieving and Analyzing Recordings ..........30 5.8 Recording Files ..................30 Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. page ii...
  • Page 3 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide Contents 5.9 Recording Metadata ................31 5.10 Recording Summary Text File .............. 31 6 Creating Custom Simple Schedules 6.1 Schedule Blocks ..................33 6.2 SM4 Configurator Software ..............34 6.3 Editing a Schedule ................35 6.4 Adding or Deleting Schedule Blocks ............
  • Page 4 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide Contents Revised and Translated User Guides This guide is regularly updated and improved. New versions can be downloaded from http://www.wildlifeacoustics.com/support/documentation. It is also available from the same webpage in Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Japanese translations.

  • Page 5: Quick Start Checklist

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 1 Quick Start Checklist Quick Start Checklist Release the side latch, open the security cover, and then open the middle section to access the battery bay. Install four (4) new alkaline or NiMH D batteries. Close the middle section.

  • Page 6: Overview

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 2 Overview Overview 2.1 Introduction The latest generation in the Song Meter series, the SM4BAT FS is a weatherproof, programmable, single channel, full-spectrum, ultrasonic recorder designed for the periodic, seasonal, and long-term monitoring of bats and other ultrasound wildlife in almost any environmental condition.

  • Page 7: Visual Tour

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 2 Overview 2.2 Visual Tour Power Switch Security Cover Display LED Indicator Memory Slot A Latch Lock Ring Memory Slot B GPS Connection Pressure Vent Keypad Headphone Jack Mounting Flange ITEM: DESCRIPTION: Security Cover Protects the recorder.
  • Page 8 Time Expansion Mode Listen to bat activity through headphones. Export Diagnostics Save status and troubleshooting information to an SD card to send to the Wildlife Acoustics Support Team. Set factory default Restore the original recorder settings to their factory- fresh values and revert to a like-new state.

  • Page 9: Setup And Installation

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 3 Setup and Installation Setup and Installation 3.1 Opening the Recorder When instructed by the procedures in this guide to open the recorder, follow the steps below. Locate the handle for the security cover on the front right side of the recorder as shown.

  • Page 10: Turning Power On And Off

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 3 Setup and Installation 3.2 Turning Power On and Off Follow these steps to switch recorder power on and off based on your choice of internal or external power source. Only one power source (internal or external) can be active at a time.

  • Page 11: Connecting External Power

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 3 Setup and Installation TIP: Use the Song Meter SM4 Configurator software to estimate the recording requirements for your schedules including battery life and memory storage. 3.4 Connecting External Power With the optional external power cable, the power connector can accept voltages from 5-17 volts DC.

  • Page 12: Inserting Sd Memory Cards

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 3 Setup and Installation When not in use, set the power switch down to INT to conserve external battery power. With no internal batteries installed, consider the INT position to be off. 3.5 Inserting SD Memory Cards The SM4BAT FS saves recordings to one or two SD memory cards installed in the memory card slots.

  • Page 13: Connecting And Mounting A Microphone

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 3 Setup and Installation Reformat card(s) using the built-in format utility (see Formatting SD Memory Cards in Chapter 7). Press Check Status and verify that the card is shown with an appropriate capacity. To remove a card when recording is completed, push it in and release it. The spring-loaded slot ejects your card so you can pull it away.
  • Page 14 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 3 Setup and Installation The higher signal-to-noise ratio means less noise from the microphone and higher signal. This allows the microphone to pick up fainter or more distant bats when recording. The SMM-U2 covers approximately 8 times as much airspace as the SMM-U1.
  • Page 15 To assure the best possible recording: Test the microphone when it is first received and regularly thereafter using an Ultrasonic Calibrator available from Wildlife Acoustics. This will allow you to quickly detect a loss in sensitivity. Mount the microphone away from all solid surfaces including the recorder itself, walls, ground, water, tree branches and trunks and foliage to avoid recording echoes or dispersing the sound.

  • Page 16: Protecting The Microphone

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 3 Setup and Installation Ultrasonic Directional Horn Attachment for SMM-U1 The cardioid SMM-U2 and omnidirectional SMM- U1 are ideal for unattended monitoring where the precise direction of bat activity is not known in advance. In applications requiring more...
  • Page 17 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 3 Setup and Installation Do not handle or remove a wet windscreen as it is easy to accidentally squeeze the windscreen and push water into the end of the microphone. We also recommend positioning the microphone so that it is aimed at least slightly downward to minimize water entry.

  • Page 18: Connecting The Gps Accessory

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 3 Setup and Installation It is better to not ground the Song Meter or its power source so there is not a ■ clear path to ground through the SM4BAT. 3.8 Connecting the GPS Accessory The optional GPS accessory automatically sets the date, time, latitude, and longitude of the recorder.

  • Page 19: Securing The Recorder

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 3 Setup and Installation set the clock and location at the beginning of the deployment but do not keep it attached for the duration of the deployment. NOTE: If you are still prompted for latitude and longitude when starting a schedule, it most likely means the GPS accessory does not yet have a fix.

  • Page 20: Mounting The Recorder

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 3 Setup and Installation NOTE: This is not a cryptographic solution but the level of security is sufficient to prevent the casual user from changing configuration settings that could impact the success of a deployment.

  • Page 21: Replacing The Clock Battery

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 3 Setup and Installation 3.12 Replacing the Clock Battery A separate button cell CR2032 lithium battery maintains real-time clock settings when the four main D batteries are being exchanged or are no longer operational. The included battery should last up to 3 years. Use the steps below to replace the internal clock battery.

  • Page 22: Settings

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 4 Settings Settings 4.1 Navigating the Menus To navigate the main menu, select items, and configure the values for various settings, use the following basic steps. All procedures in this guide assume you are familiar with these steps.

  • Page 23: Setting The Device Prefix For Recorded Files

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 4 Settings 4.3 Setting the Device Prefix for Recorded Files The prefix appears in the name of every recording file to easily identify the recordings made on a specific recorder or from a common shared schedule. The default prefix combines the model number with the serial number.

  • Page 24: Setting The Solar Calculation Method

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 4 Settings Navigate to Main Menu > Settings > Location > Latitude. To enter degrees of latitude north of the equator, press ▲ To enter degrees of latitude south of the equator, press ▼...
  • Page 25 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 4 Settings Press ENTER to save your changes. Each audio setting is described below: Gain You can adjust the gain setting to boost the input level of the audio signal from the microphone. We recommend 12 dB unless the bats are very close in which case 0 dB might work better.
  • Page 26 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 4 Settings the maximum duration, and within the frequency range you specified. If two such signals exist, the file is saved; otherwise, the file is not saved. A value of 1.5 ms is recommended for recording bats.
  • Page 27 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 4 Settings Trigger Window The recording continues for this amount of time after the last signal that satisfies the trigger. (The recording is also truncated when it reaches the maximum recording duration set by Max Length.) Set the trigger window setting long enough to avoid a recording that ends after one echolocation call.

  • Page 28: Setting A Delayed Start

    It is best to experiment with your particular environment to make sure the increased noise is either undetectable or tolerable. Wildlife Acoustics’ Kaleidoscope Viewer and Pro software can natively open the compression formats. The free Kaleidoscope Converter can be used to convert the files to standard WAV format for use in other software packages.
  • Page 29 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 4 Settings cutoff, the schedule is suspended. The SM4BAT then wakes every 24 hours to check the voltage and resumes the schedule if the voltage is restored. Navigate to Main Menu > Settings > Advanced > Battery Cutoff.

  • Page 30: Making Scheduled Recordings

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 5 Making Scheduled Recordings Making Scheduled Recordings 5.1 Recording Operation Overview The SM4BAT FS is a full-spectrum recorder. It samples audio signals at a specified sample rate and saves full-spectrum 16-bit WAV files to SD memory cards.

  • Page 31: The Recording Screens

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 5 Making Scheduled Recordings Select Yes to continue loading the selected schedule. This overwrites the ■ old schedule. All other settings are unchanged. Tip: If you want to save any custom edits or blocks you made to a schedule, select No here to go back and export that schedule to a memory card.

  • Page 32: Checking The Status Of The Recorder

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 5 Making Scheduled Recordings 2017-Apr-25 23:50:48 Currently Recording: B 18:45-07:15 #00101 ARMED @ SR=384k 2017-May-22 23:50:48 Currently Recording: B 18:45-07:15 #00101 TRIGGERED @ SR=384k 2017-Apr-25 23:50:48 Currently Recording: B 18:45-07:15 #00101 PREPARING @ SR=384k...

  • Page 33: Stopping A Recording Schedule

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 5 Making Scheduled Recordings The Check Status screen appears. For example: 2017-Oct-23 09:14:48 R:1.0.0 Mic:U2 SDA: 7/64 B: EMPTY Bat: 5.2V Temp:16.70 Line 1: The current date and time. ■ Line 2: The installed firmware version and connected microphone: ■...

  • Page 34: Retrieving And Analyzing Recordings

    The recordings are compatible with all popular third-party full-spectrum analysis programs available. Wildlife Acoustics recommends and supports our Kaleidoscope software, which allows you to easily view and classify your recordings.

  • Page 35: Recording Metadata

    5.9 Recording Metadata Values for the attributes listed below are stored as metadata in your recordings. The Wildlife Acoustics Support Team can use the metadata when troubleshooting issues. NOTE: You can open a recording in the SM4 Configurator computer software to view the schedule and settings used to make the recording.
  • Page 36 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 5 Making Scheduled Recordings LAT & LON: Latitude and longitude coordinates in decimal degrees with identifiers for north (N), south (S), east (E), and west (W). If the GPS accessory is installed at the time the log entry is written, the identifiers are capitalized indicating that the latitude and longitude was written from the GPS using the WGS-84 coordinate system.

  • Page 37: Creating Custom Simple Schedules

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 6 Creating Custom Simple Schedules Creating Custom Simple Schedules In addition to using one of the Quick Start schedules, you can create your own schedule using the built-in editor, or import a schedule from an SD memory card made on another recorder or the Song Meter SM4 Configurator software on your computer.

  • Page 38: Sm4 Configurator Software

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 6 Creating Custom Simple Schedules of hours and minutes (ON) followed by a period of inactivity (OFF). The duty cycle repeats as many times as possible before the END time is reached. The duty cycle begins at the START time, not when you begin running the schedule.

  • Page 39: Editing A Schedule

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 6 Creating Custom Simple Schedules intended. The software is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux at no cost on our website at www.wildlifeacoustics.com. You can also open a WAV file made with the SM4BAT in the configurator to see the schedule and setting used to make the file.

  • Page 40: Schedule Block Examples

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 6 Creating Custom Simple Schedules DUTY: always END: time 00:00 02/02 [ADD] [DEL] TIP: To move to the previous schedule block, press ▲ Up when on the START line. To move to the next schedule block, press ▼ Down when on the bottom line.
  • Page 41 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 6 Creating Custom Simple Schedules This schedule appears under the Quick Start menu as Record Always. It runs continuously until you press SCHEDULE STOP or it runs out of power or SD memory card space.
  • Page 42 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 6 Creating Custom Simple Schedules START: set -01:00 DUTY: always END: +01:00 02/02 [ADD] [DEL] The first block defines a period relative to sunrise and the second block defines a period relative to sunset. The combined result records for two hours centered at sunrise and two hours centered at sunset.

  • Page 43: Creating Custom Advanced Schedules

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 7 Creating Custom Advanced Schedules Creating Custom Advanced Schedules Creating and Editing an Advanced Schedule Use this procedure to edit the currently active schedule directly on the recorder using the LCD screen and buttons. To learn more about each command and available settings, see 7.3 Advanced Schedule Commands.

  • Page 44: Using Loops

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 7 Creating Custom Advanced Schedules To edit the new line, press ► Right to advance to the command or value and press ▲ Up or ▼ Down to make adjustments. When finished editing, press ► Right or ENTER/MENU.

  • Page 45: Advanced Schedule Commands

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 7 Creating Custom Advanced Schedules Advanced Schedule Commands Use the following commands to create schedules for your specific recording needs. An Advanced Schedule can contain up to 99 command lines. NOTE: Some commands listed in this section refer to sunrise or sunset in a general sense and depend on them in schedule calculations.

  • Page 46: How To Work With The Schedule Checker

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 7 Creating Custom Advanced Schedules NOTE: If UNTIME is set to the same time as AT TIME, the recorder will not repeat the loop indefinitely, it will interpret that you wish to start and then instantly stop the loop and will not make any recordings within that loop.

  • Page 47: How To Resolve Schedule Checker Errors

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 7 Creating Custom Advanced Schedules Before you press the SCHEDULE START button to run a schedule or if ■ the schedule starts automatically after 3 minutes of no activity. The Schedule Checker performs several tests on the current schedule and shows errors (if any), followed by warnings (if any), and their matching line number in your schedule.

  • Page 48: Importing And Exporting Schedules

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 8 Importing and Exporting Schedules Importing and Exporting Schedules 8.1 SM4 Configurator Software In addition to configuring schedules and settings on the recorder, you can use the Song Meter SM4 Configurator software to confirm schedule...

  • Page 49: Exporting A Schedule

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 8 Importing and Exporting Schedules Navigate to Main Menu > Schedule > Import Sched+Setts. At the Select Schedule File prompt, press ▲ Up or ▼Down to select a schedule file on your SD memory card. Press ENTER.

  • Page 50: Utilities

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 9 Utilities Utilities 9.1 Exporting Diagnostics This procedure exports a diagnostic file that can be used to assess the audio performance, settings, schedule, and status of the recorder. The Wildlife Acoustics Support Team can use this information to help diagnose problems.
  • Page 51 Testing SMM-U1: Install the clear calibrator microphone adapter by sliding it onto the calibrator from the bottom (the end with the Wildlife Acoustics logo) until it is touching the toggle switches. Position the side with the smaller diameter hole near the toggle switches.
  • Page 52 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 9 Utilities Place the microphone in the calibrator microphone adapter. Insert the microphone until it rests against the smaller opening of the adapter circle. While looking at the dBv level on the SM4BAT FS display, slowly rotate the microphone 360 degrees.

  • Page 53: Monitoring Ultrasound In Time Expansion Mode

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 9 Utilities Expansion Mode below) to verify that the signal is being picked up. Or, make a recording using Instant Recording (see Making an Instant Recording in Chapter 5) and then analyze the recording files to verify the system is operating as expected.

  • Page 54: Formatting Sd Memory Cards

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 9 Utilities When you are ready, select Start monitoring and press ENTER. The following screen appears: TIME EXPANSION MODE Ratio: 10 X Buffer: 2200 ms ARMED....CAUTION: Initial headphone volume may be loud. Press ▲ Up or ▼ Down to control the volume during playback.

  • Page 55: Updating The Firmware

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 9 Utilities Insert an SD memory card in slot A and an optional second card in slot B. Navigate to Main Menu > Utilities > Format All Cards. At the Confirm: Format All? prompt: Select No to cancel this procedure.

  • Page 56: Specifications

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 10 Specifications Specifications 10.1 Physical Length: 8.6 inches (218 mm) Width: 6.0 inches (152 mm) Depth: 3.1 inches (78 mm) Weight: 1.6 pounds (0.73 kg) Weight with 4 D Batteries: 2.9 pounds (1.3 kg) Operating Temperature: -4°F to 185°F (-20°C to 85°C) (excluding batteries)

  • Page 57: Power

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 10 Specifications 10.2 Power Battery Specifications: The recorder uses four (4) standard D size disposable alkaline batteries or rechargeable NiMH batteries. Estimated Recording Time (dependent on bat activity): Alkaline batteries (14,000 milliamp-hours at 1.5V each): 250 to 450 hours (25 –...

  • Page 58: Smm-U2 Ultrasonic Microphone

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 10 Specifications High Pass Filter: Selectable 2-pole at 16 kHz Anti-alias Filter: 2-pole at 156 kHz Equivalent Input Noise: in dBVrms (>10kHz, 0dB gain) Gain and High Pass Filter 256 and 192 kHz 384 kHz 500 kHz -82.4...
  • Page 59 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 10 Specifications Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. page...

  • Page 60: Smm-U1 Ultrasonic Microphone

    Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 10 Specifications 10.6 SMM-U1 Ultrasonic Microphone Enclosure: Weatherproof stainless steel Directional Pattern: Omnidirectional Element: Knowles FG Output: Differential Built in high pass filter: 4-pole at 8 kHz Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. page...
  • Page 61 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 10 Specifications Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. page...

  • Page 62: Warranty And Disclosures

    Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. Limited Warranty HARDWARE: Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. (“WAI”) warrants to the original end user (“Customer”) that new WAI branded products will be free from defects in workmanship and materials, under normal use. Refer to the Hardware Limited Warranty table at the top of this page for the applicable warranty period from the original date of purchase.
  • Page 63 Song Meter SM4BAT FS User Guide 11 Warranty and Disclosures Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. page...

  • Page 64: Wildlife Acoustics, Inc

    Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
  • Page 65 Wildlife Acoustics makes no claim to these trademarks. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, individually, as a series, in whole, or in part, Wildlife Acoustics, the publisher, and the author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, including any damages resulting from the express or implied application of information contained in this document or from the use of products, services, or programs that may accompany it.
  • Page 66 Wildlife Acoustics, Kaleidoscope and Song Meter are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. SM4BAT FS is a trademark of Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. SDHC and SDXC Logos are trademarks of SD-3C,LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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