Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter Mini User Manual
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Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter Mini User Manual

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Recorder & Configurator App Setup

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Summary of Contents for Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter Mini

  • Page 1 Select a Recording Schedule Song Meter Mini Recorder External Features Internal Features Adding a Second Microphone Lithium-ion Battery Lid Upgrading Firmware Song Meter Mini Configurator App Recorders Screen Status Screen Configure a Paired Recorder Ultrasonic Settings Screen Acoustic Settings screen Set Location screen...
  • Page 2 Online User Guide You can download the guide for printing at www.wildlifeacoustics.com/resources/user-guides Contacting Support For issues or questions not addressed in this guide, contact the Wildlife Acoustics Support Team: Email: support2020@wildlifeacoustics.com • North America (toll-free): 1-888-733-0200 • Outside North America: US+1 978-369-5225 (Toll •...
  • Page 3 Song Meter Mini Models This manual covers both the Song Meter Mini and the Song Meter Mini Bat models. Throughout this user guide, when features of the two models are in common, the recorder will be referred to as the Song Meter Mini.
  • Page 4 The Song Meter Mini captures audio up to 48,000 Hz • frequency with its built-in acoustic microphone. The Song Meter Mini has the option to connect a • second acoustic microphone. When a second microphone is connected, the Song •...
  • Page 5 Follow these instructions to use the Song Meter Mini for the first time. Installing Batteries The Song Meter Mini can be powered by four AA batteries or the optional lithium-ion battery lid. For use with the optional lithium-ion battery lid, please •...
  • Page 6 The Song Meter Mini enters a low-power sleep state between scheduled recordings to conserve energy and maximize efficiency for long deployments. TIP: Use the Song Meter Mini Configurator app to estimate the recording requirements for your schedules including battery life and memory storage.
  • Page 7 Mini is powered on. Power the recorder off before removing the SD memory card Installing the App The Song Meter Mini is programmed via the Song Meter • Mini Configurator app. The Song Meter Mini Configurator app is available for •...
  • Page 8 • Pairing must be done manually. NOTE: The first time the Song Meter Mini is configured, or if the batteries have been removed for an extended period of time, the internal clock will not be set. This will result in the Bluetooth LED flashing red.
  • Page 9 Song Meter Mini recorder. Select a Recording Schedule Tap the Configure icon for the paired Song Meter Mini in the Recorders screen. The Paired Configuration Editor screen will open. Select a preset recording schedule.
  • Page 10 Song Meter Mini Recorder The Song Meter Mini is a system that utilizes two components - a hardware recording device and a software app. This section will describe the hardware recording device. External Features The Song Meter Mini recorder is designed for long- •...
  • Page 11 The following information is printed inside the lid cover: To Get Started How to download and install the Song Meter Mini • Configurator app Instructions to install batteries • Instructions to pair the Song Meter Mini with the • Configurator app...
  • Page 12 User accessible features of the Song Meter Mini recorder Power source jumper Power source jumper (currently set to AA) Lithium-ion battery lid connector The power source jumper is a block of plastic which • connects two points on the circuit board.
  • Page 13 The Song Meter Mini can be powered by internal AA • batteries or Lithium-ion batteries in the optional Lithium-ion battery lid. The power source jumper determines which source will • be used. The jumper block connects the center pin to either the •...
  • Page 14 On: Battery power is enabled. Schedule is started. Off: Schedule is stopped. Battery power is disabled. NOTE: When the Song Meter Mini is powered off, it goes through a routine to end and save any current recording. This can take a few seconds.
  • Page 15 No activity: can be ejected Red Blinking SD card full Red Solid SD card issue * Song Meter Mini Bat in Bat Mode only. Function button and LEDs Function LEDs Press the FUNCTION button multiple times to cycle • through the functions.
  • Page 16 • Prefix.miniconfig The configuration file on the SD can be used to load the • configuration onto other Song Meter Mini recorders. Load Loads configuration file (.miniconfig) and/or firmware file (.smm), if present, from the SD card. See Upgrading firmware section for more information.
  • Page 17 • problems, the card may be defective. SD memory card slot The Song Meter Mini recorder saves recording files to • an SD memory card installed in the memory card slot. The SD card can be connected to a computer to transfer •...
  • Page 18 Meter Mini will not record to a write-protected card Right microphone connector If a second acoustic microphone is connected to the Song Meter Mini or Song Meter Mini Bat, this is the connection point for the optional microphone. Adding a Second Microphone...
  • Page 19 Connect an optional second acoustic microphone to the Song Meter Mini or Song Meter Mini Bat: Open the cover to reveal the inside of the recorder. In the upper right corner is a removable black plastic bolt. The bolt threads though a black plastic nut.
  • Page 20 Thread the wire connector for the second microphone through the hole. Do not connect the wire to the circuit board yet. Turn the second microphone clockwise to screw it into the internal nut. Make sure the thread is not crossed. Tighten with fingers or lightly with pliers.
  • Page 21 Please carefully read the following specifications and instructions. Wildlife Acoustics sells high-quality lithium-ion batteries that have been tested and approved for use in the Song Meter Mini. It is HIGHLY recommended that you use these batteries. The cell must be between 68mm and 69mm to make •...
  • Page 22 Install 2, 4 or 6 lithium 18650 batteries Connect the battery lid to the recorder. Upgrading Firmware To upgrade the Song Meter Mini or Song Meter Mini Bat firmware Download the firmware file from www.wildlifeacoustics.com. Copy this file to the top level directory of a flash memory card.
  • Page 23 Song Meter Mini Configurator App All internal settings and schedules for the Song Meter Mini are configured on an iOS or Android device via the Configurator app. A Song Meter Mini recorder that is detected by the • Configurator app will automatically upload its current status to the app.
  • Page 24 Only one recorder at a time can be paired with the • Configurator app. To pair a Song Meter Mini recorder with the • Configurator app, press and hold the PAIR button on the recorder for 3 seconds. The detected recorder will show...
  • Page 25 Ready to pair Tap the Pair icon for the recorder in the app. The detected recorder will now be displayed as paired and will be available for programming. Sort by Clear All icon Sort By icon Tap the Sort By icon to sort the recorder list by time last detected or recorder name.
  • Page 26 Configure Configure icon When a recorder is paired to the Configurator app this option becomes available. When the Song Meter Mini recorder pairs with the • Configurator app, It automatically uploads its current configuration to the app. Tap Configure to display the current configuration and •...
  • Page 27 Tap Unpair to un-pair the recorder and the Configurator app. NOTE: Pairing does not affect the schedule of recordings nor interrupt a recording in progress. The Song Meter Mini will not go to sleep while paired. If the recorder finishes a schedule and is ready to go to sleep, it will not go to sleep until it is unpaired.
  • Page 28 Press and hold the PAIR button on the recorder to send a Bluetooth beacon. Unpair any currently paired recorder. Do this by tapping the Unpair icon in the Recorders screen. Press and hold the PAIR button of the next recorder to be programmed.
  • Page 29 Bluetooth range of the recorder. The Song Meter Mini does not need to be paired with • the Configurator app in order to upload is current Status.
  • Page 30 Audio Levels If the Song Meter Mini recorder is currently paired with the Configurator app, and is in record mode, the Audio Level meters will show any audio activity present at the built-in and optional microphones (If installed). If the recorder is not paired, or is paired but not in record mode, the Audio Level meters will not be visible.
  • Page 31 Recorder Name By default, this will display the serial number of the Song Meter Mini recorder. If the Song Meter Mini recorder name has been edited, the edited name will be displayed. Serial Number The serial number for the Song Meter Mini recorder is displayed.
  • Page 32 If the Song Meter Mini recorder is currently not detected by the Configurator app, the time when the recorder was last detected will be displayed. Start Time Of Current Recording The start of the current or next scheduled recording is displayed.
  • Page 33 Send Bluetooth Beacons? Record Schedule Editor Load Tap this icon to display a list of any saved configuration files. Select the saved configuration file and tap OK. The saved configuration and settings will be loaded to the paired Song Meter Mini recorder.
  • Page 34 Ultrasonic Settings Screen The parameters on the Ultrasonic Settings screen describe how audio is recorded by a Song Meter Mini Bat recorder. If the paired recorder is a Song Meter Mini Bat model, • this option will be available.
  • Page 35 Recording format The Song Meter Mini Bat can record full spectrum or zero crossing format files. It can also record both formats at the same time. Values: Full-Spectrum, Zero-Crossing, Zero-Crossing and Full- Spectrum Default: Full-Spectrum Full spectrum sample rate The sample rate can be set to 256 kHz, 384 kHz, or 500 kHz.
  • Page 36 Maximum Recording Length It is possible to specify the maximum length (time duration) of recordings to comply with file size restrictions of analysis software or to fulfill a specific recording protocol or definition of a bat pass. Values: 3 second to 60 seconds in 1-second increments Default: 15 seconds Trigger Window The recording continues for this amount of time after the last...
  • Page 37 The parameters on the Acoustic Setting screen describe how audio is recorded by a Song Meter Mini recorder, or the acoustic microphone of a Song Meter Mini Bat that is equipped with a second acoustic microphone. If the paired recorder is a Song Meter Mini or a Song •...
  • Page 38 For example, if a recording schedule is set to record always and the maximum record length is set to 60 minutes, the Song Meter Mini will create 24 60-minute files per day. Values: 1 second to 60 minutes in 1-minute increments...
  • Page 39 • if sunrise/sunset times are to be used in a recording schedule. When the Song Meter Mini recorder is paired with the • Configurator app, a window opens asking if the location and time zone should be set based on the location and time zone of the device.
  • Page 40 Tap this icon to scroll the map view to the manually entered address or latitude/longitude. This will also program the new address into the Song Meter Mini recorder. The map view displays the manually entered location. It is also possible to tap on the map to create a “pinned” location. The...
  • Page 41 Delay Start It is possible to program a paired Song Meter Mini recorder so that it’s recording schedule will not be started until a specified date. The Song Meter Mini will sleep until the Delay Start date •...
  • Page 42 Tap this icon to show a calendar which displays the currently programmed schedule Schedule Editor A schedule determines when the Song Meter Mini recorder is in record mode. When the Song Meter Mini is not in record mode it goes • to sleep, which conserves batter power.
  • Page 43 Song Meter Mini Bat recorder. A schedule that uses only acoustic schedule blocks can • be loaded onto a Song Meter Mini, or a Song Meter Mini Bat that has the second optional acoustic microphone installed.
  • Page 44 On a Song Meter Mini Bat which is equipped with the • optional acoustic microphone, the ultrasonic and acoustic microphones cannot record simultaneously. If a configuration file that contains incompatible • schedule blocks is loaded to a Song Meter Mini, there will be an error message and the configuration file will not be loaded.
  • Page 45 Always means the Song Meter Mini will be in record • mode continuously between the Start and End times. Cycle provides hour and minute settings for Duty On • and Duty Off. For example, if Cycle is the selected Duty...
  • Page 46 Note: It is possible to create a schedule that contains overlapping schedule blocks. If this is done with a Song Meter Mini Bat, an acoustic schedule block will always take priority over an ultrasonic...
  • Page 47 Record Continuously All Hours of Every Day The following schedule records continuously all day and night, 24 hours per day: Whenever the start and end times are identical and DUTY is set to always, your schedule will record continuously. Record Continuously for a Portion of Each Day The following schedule records continuously for the same six (6) hours daily:...
  • Page 48 Record in 5-Minute Segments Every Hour The following schedule records for 5 minutes at the beginning of each hour all day and continues indefinitely: Record Continuously from Sunset to Sunrise The following schedule starts every day at sunset and records continuously until sunrise on the following day:...
  • Page 49 Record in Multiple Blocks Relative to Sunset and Sunrise The following schedule uses two blocks: 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 50 Access the Utilities menu at the top right of the configuration screen. Format SD card Reformats the SD memory card in the Song Meter Mini. Test microphone This will display any signal present at the ultrasonic or acoustic microphone in dB. This information is used to check the function and calibration of the microphone.
  • Page 51 Turn the calibrator ON and set the mode toggle switch to CAL. The calibrator generates a 40 kHz tone. Place the Song Meter Mini Bat so its edge touches the on/off and cal/chirp switches. Observe the dB level in the Test microphone window. If the value is higher (less negative) than -32 dB the microphone has passed and is ready to use.
  • Page 52 The calibrator emits a 100ms long 40kHz (+/- 10Hz) tone every 500ms. The amplitude of the tone is 104dB SPL (+/- 3dB) at 10cm. The signal can be picked up by the Song Meter Mini Bat recorder at distances up to 20 meters. Make a recording and then analyze the recording file to verify the system is operating as expected.
  • Page 53 Restore recorder to factory defaults Restores the Song Meter Mini to its factory default configuration. Restoring factory defaults will not change the date and •...
  • Page 54 A stored configuration file can be loaded to a paired • Song Meter Mini recorder. When a Song Meter Mini recorder is paired with the • Configurator app, the recorder will upload its current configuration and settings, which can then be saved as a configuration file.
  • Page 55 Configurations screen, the Saved Configuration Editor screen opens automatically. To open the Saved Configuration Editor, tap on the • Song Meter Mini recorder icon in the Configurations screen. Changes made to a saved configuration file are saved • and updated immediately.
  • Page 56 Song Meter Mini recorder, or the acoustic microphone of a Song Meter Mini Bat that is equipped with a second acoustic microphone If the paired recorder is a Song Meter Mini or a Song • Meter Mini Bat with a second acoustic microphone connected, this option will be available.
  • Page 57 • section of this user guide. Delay Start It is possible to program a paired Song Meter Mini recorder so that it’s recording schedule will not be started until a specified date. The Song Meter Mini will sleep until the Delay Start date •...
  • Page 58 By entering the required information, the Song Meter • Mini app can calculate how long batteries and SD memory card space will last. This calculation takes into account the recording • schedule and all ultrasonic/acoustic settings. The calculation is based on high quality batteries that •...
  • Page 59 Calculations are based on the assumption that the • batteries are high-quality and have a full charge.
  • Page 60 Recording Files The purpose of the Song Meter Mini is to create audio files that are embedded with metadata. The files are initially written to the SD Memory card, and then transferred to a computer for analysis. To transfer the recordings from the Song Meter Mini to •...
  • Page 61 The Song Meter Mini embeds metadata according to the GUANO standard. Software that is capable of reading GUANO format metadata can access the information within the files. When the Song Meter Mini creates a recording file it embeds the following metadata: Firmware Version •...
  • Page 62 Analysis Software Kaleidoscope Pro Kaleidoscope software is developed by Wildlife Acoustics and can be downloaded from www.wildlifeacoustics.com. Kaleidoscope is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux. Kaleidoscope Pro includes: Automatic Species Identification Kaleidoscope Pro’s Auto-ID feature suggests the most likely bat species found in the recordings and provides an efficient workflow for manually vetting identifications.
  • Page 63 sorting them into groups of similar sounds called “clusters.” Users can label clusters and create classifiers to quantify vocalizations of interest. Kaleidoscope Viewer For examining ultrasonic and acoustic sound files visually, Kaleidoscope includes an easy-to-use viewer that displays the details of each recording. Listen to recordings, apply bandpass filters, and adjust playback speed and amplitude.
  • Page 64 Kaleidoscope Viewer and Kaleidoscope File Converter, free-of-charge Third-Party Software The Song Meter Mini creates standard .wav files that can be opened with most audio applications. The audio application must be able to support the sample rate of the recorded file.
  • Page 65 Specifications Physical Song Meter Mini Song Meter Mini Bat Length: 4.9 inches(124.4 mm) Width: 6.6 inches 5.3 inches (134.6 mm) (167.6 mm) Depth: 1.4 inches (35.5 mm) Weight no batteries: 0.42 lb (190.5 g) Weight with 4 AA batteries .64 lb (290 g)
  • Page 66 High Pass Filter 2-pole 100 Hz 2-pole 8 kHz Acoustic Microphone Directional Characteristic: Omni-Directional • Sensitivity: -11.0 ±4 dBfs/pa @ 1kHz, 0dB gain • Signal to Noise Ratio: 80 dB Typ. at 1kHz (1 Pa, A • weighted network) Max Input Sound Level: 105 dB SPL Typical. •...
  • Page 68 • (Based on 10% triggering at 256 kHz sample rate) For acoustic recording: Battery life is the same as the Song Meter Mini • NOTE: Battery life can vary based on how the recorder is used, quality, charge, and type of battery and other conditions such as operating temperature.
  • Page 69 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 70 In no event shall Wildlife Acoustics, publishers, authors, or editors of this guide be liable for...
  • Page 71 Copyright ©2020 Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Song Meter and Kaleidoscope are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. SDHC and SDXC Logos are trademarks of SD-3C,LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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