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

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Table of Contents

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1 Song Meter Mini Quick Start
2 Introduction
2.1 Song Meter Mini Models
3 The Song Meter Mini Recorder
3.1 External Features
3.2 Internal Features
3.3 Installing a Second Microphone
3.4 Preventing the Recorder from Leaking
3.5 Lithium-ion Battery Lid
3.6 Upgrading the Recorder's Firmware
3.7 Loading a Config File from an SD Card
3.8 Loading a Config File to an SD Card
4 Song Meter Mini Configurator App
4.1 Installing the App
4.2 Bluetooth Connection
4.3 Recorders Screen
4.4 Status Screen
4.5 Pairing the Recorder with the
Configurator app
4.6 Pairing with a Different Recorder
4.7 Paired Configuration Screen
4.8 Ultrasonic Settings Screen
4.9 Acoustic Settings Screen

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Summary of Contents for Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter Mini

  • Page 1 1 Song Meter Mini Quick Start 2 Introduction 2.1 Song Meter Mini Models 3 The Song Meter Mini Recorder 3.1 External Features 3.2 Internal Features 3.3 Installing a Second Microphone 3.4 Preventing the Recorder from Leaking 3.5 Lithium-ion Battery Lid 3.6 Upgrading the Recorder’s Firmware...
  • Page 2 4.10 Location and Time Zone Screen 4.11 Schedule Editor 4.12 Schedule Block Examples 4.13 Utilities Menu 4.14 Testing the Ultrasonic Microphone 4.15 Testing the Acoustic Microphone 4.16 Configuration Library Screen 5 Recording Files 5.1 Transferring Recording Files to a Computer 5.2 WAV Files 5.3 Zero-Crossing Files 5.4 Metadata...

  • Page 3: Contacting Support

    Online User Guide Download this guide at www.wildlifeacoustics.com/resources/user-guides Tutorial Videos Visit www.wildlifeacoustics.com/support/tutorial-videos view tutorial videos for the Song Meter Mini and Song Meter Mini Bat . Contacting Support For technical queries contact the Wildlife Acoustics support team: Email: support2020@wildlifeacoustics.com •...
  • Page 4 Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your mobile device. Launch the app. The Song Meter Mini will be detected by the app and will appear in the Recorders screen. Press and hold the Pair button on the Song Meter Mini recorder for 3 seconds.
  • Page 5 2.1 Song Meter Mini Models The Song Meter Mini family comprises two recorder models: the Song Meter Mini and the Song Meter Mini Bat. Both use the Song Meter Mini Configurator app for iOS or Android. In this guide, when features are common to both models, the Song Meter Mini and Song Meter Mini Bat are commonly referred to as the “Song Meter Mini recorder’, or just “recorder”.
  • Page 6 When the optional acoustic microphone is installed on a • Song Meter Mini Bat, it is possible to run a recording schedule which alternates between acoustic and ultrasonic microphones. The ultrasonic and acoustic microphones, however, cannot be used at the same time.
  • Page 7 3 The Song Meter Mini Recorder This section describes the Song Meter Mini recorder hardware. 3.1 External Features The Song Meter Mini recorder is designed for long-term, outdoor deployment. Made from durable polycarbonate plastic, it is UV resistant and weatherproof.

  • Page 8: Mounting Brackets

    An optional lid to hold Lithium-ion batteries is also available (see section 3.5). Microphones The Song Meter Mini utilizes a single built-in acoustic microphone, designed to record up to 48,000Hz audio. The microphone has a replaceable windscreen. An additional acoustic...
  • Page 9 The Song Meter Mini Bat utilizes a single built-in ultrasonic microphone, designed to record from 8kHz up to 250kHz. The microphone is flush with the enclosure edge and has a mesh screen to protect against physical damage.
  • Page 10 Security Strap A lockable security strap is available for the Song Meter Mini recorder. The strap is adjustable to accommodate the larger Lithium-ion lid...
  • Page 11 Off: Schedule is stopped. Battery power is disabled. • When the Song Meter Mini recorder is first powered on, the Status LEDs show Bluetooth, Recording, and SD Card status. After one minute with no further activity, Status LEDs are disabled...
  • Page 12 NOTE: When the Song Meter Mini recorder is powered off, it goes through a routine to end and save any current recording. This can take a few seconds. Power Source Jumper Block 3 pin connector power source connection with the jumper installed in...
  • Page 13 Remove batteries before storage. • SD Memory Card Slot The Song Meter Mini recorder saves recording files and a summary log to an SD memory card installed in the memory card slot. To insert an SD card, slide it into the slot until it clicks into place.
  • Page 14 Configurator app. Pairing must be manually confirmed from the app (see section 4.5) To unpair, press and hold the PAIR/STATUS button on the Song Meter Mini recorder for three seconds, or use the Configurator app. Status LEDs The three Status LEDs on the recorder provide Bluetooth, Recording and SD Card information.
  • Page 15 SD card full Red Solid SD card issue * Song Meter Mini Bat in Bat Mode only. Function Button and Function LEDs Press the FUNCTION button multiple times to cycle through the Functions. When the desired Function LED lights, press and hold the FUNCTION button for 3 seconds to select it.
  • Page 16 Wildlife Acoustics Support to evaluate the health of your Song Meter Mini recorder. o A configuration file named Prefix.miniconfig. This file can be used to load the configuration onto other Song Meter Mini recorders. Load: This loads a configuration file (.miniconfig) and/or •...
  • Page 17 Use a ¾” wrench to gently unscrew the bolt from the nut. When the bolt is removed the internal nut will stay in place. Thread the wire connector for the second microphone through the hole. Do not connect the wire to the circuit board yet.
  • Page 18 Turn the microphone clockwise to screw it into the internal nut. Be careful to make sure the connection wires are rotating freely as the microphone is turned. Make sure the thread is not crossed. Tighten lightly with pliers or a wrench. Do not over-tighten. Now connect the microphone wire to the jack labelled “Right Mic”...
  • Page 19 The optional second microphone is referred to as the Right Channel. 3.4 Preventing the Recorder from Leaking The Song Meter Mini family of recorders are designed with all kinds of weather in mind, and will not let in any water under normal circumstances.
  • Page 20 4 alkaline AA batteries. The lid adds ” (24mm) to the usual depth of a Song Meter Mini recorder. WARNING! Lithium-ion batteries can cause fires if not used correctly. Please carefully read the following specifications and instructions. Wildlife Acoustics sells high-quality lithium-ion...

  • Page 21: Battery Requirements

    All batteries must be fully and equally charged. A standard • battery charger specifically designed to charge 3.6/3.7V lithium-ion batteries can be used and is available from Wildlife Acoustics. Remove batteries before storage. • How To Add The Lithium-Ion Lid Connect the removable zip tie strain relief to the lid and to the recorder body.
  • Page 22 3.6 Upgrading the Recorder’s Firmware Download the firmware file from www.wildlifeacoustics.com. Copy this file to the top-level directory of your SD card. There must be only one firmware file on the card. Insert the SD card into the recorder’s card slot. Turn on the recorder.
  • Page 23 NOTE: The configuration file must match the model of recorder. A Song Meter Mini cannot load a configuration file that was created for a Song Meter Mini Bat. A Song Meter Mini Bat cannot load a configuration file which was created for a Song Meter Mini.

  • Page 24: Bluetooth Connection

    A Song Meter Mini that is detected by the Configurator app • will automatically upload its current status to the app. The Configurator app can be used to program the recorder • in real time. It can also create and save configuration files, which can be stored and uploaded to the recorder at a later time.
  • Page 25 beacon and the recorder will be detected and displayed in the Recorders screen of the app. NOTE: The Configurator app requires that the host mobile device has a minimum Bluetooth chipset version of 4.0. NOTE: It is possible to disable the recorder’s Bluetooth status beacon using the Paired Configuration screen (see section 4.7).
  • Page 26 Detected and paired Detected but not paired 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. Clear All Tap this icon to delete all recorders from the list. If a recorder is redetected it will reappear in the list.
  • Page 27 Bluetooth range of the recorder. The Song Meter Mini recorder does not need to be paired • with the Configurator app to upload its current Status, as long as it is within Bluetooth range.
  • Page 28 Displays whether the recorder is currently paired or unpaired with Configurator app. Audio/Ultrasonic Level If the Song Meter Mini recorder is currently paired with the app, and is in record mode, the Audio Level meter displays audio levels present at the built-in and/or optional microphones (if installed).
  • Page 29 If the Song Meter Mini Bat recorder is currently paired with the app, and is in ultrasonic recording mode, the Ultrasonic Level meter will show any ultrasonic activity present at the built-in microphones. If the Song Meter Mini Bat recorder is set to record using an optional acoustic microphone (if installed), the Audio Level meter will show audio activity at that microphone.
  • Page 30 Temperature Displays the recorder’s internal temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit. Slide the button to choose. Battery Level Displays the current total voltage of the AA or lithium-ion batteries as a percentage or actual voltage. Slide the button to choose. Note: To avoid damaging the batteries, the recorder automatically turns off when the voltage drops below 3.7V (0.9V per cell) for AA batteries, or 5V per pair (2.5V per cell) for lithium-ion batteries.
  • Page 31 Displays the current firmware version of the recorder. 4.5 Pairing the Recorder with the Configurator app If a Song Meter Mini recorder is powered on, and is within Bluetooth range of the mobile device, it can be paired or unpaired with the Configurator app.
  • Page 32 The Pair icon will appear in the Recorders screen. Ready to pair. Bluetooth LED on recorder is Blinking. Tap the Pair icon to complete the pairing of the Song Meter Mini recorder to the Configurator app. Recorder is paired with app. Bluetooth LED on...
  • Page 33 Setting the Recorder’s Clock The first time the Song Meter Mini recorder is configured, or if the batteries have been removed for some time, the internal clock will not be set.
  • Page 34 Unpair any currently paired recorder by tapping the Unpair icon in the Recorders screen. Press and hold the PAIR button on the next Song meter Mini recorder to be configured. That recorder will now become available for pairing in the Configurator app, and the Pair icon will appear.
  • Page 35 NOTE: Making a configuration change stops any recording in progress and pauses the schedule for 10 seconds. This allows changes to be made to the configuration without constantly starting and stopping a record schedule. Each configuration change resets the 10 second pause. 10 seconds after no further changes have been made, the recorder will resume its schedule, which may mean that it starts recording again if scheduled to do so.
  • Page 36 Tap the Load icon to display a list of any saved configuration files in the Configurator app. Select the saved configuration file that you would like loaded onto the recorder and tap OK. The saved configuration and settings will be loaded to the paired Song Meter Mini recorder.
  • Page 37 Tap the pencil icon to rename the currently paired recorder. The Recorder Name is added as a prefix to the file name of • all recordings made by the Song Meter Mini recorder. The Recorder Name will not be over-written when loading a •...
  • Page 38 (see section 4.10). Delay Start It is possible to program a paired Song Meter Mini recorder so its recording schedule will not start until a specified date. The recorder will sleep until the Delay Start date and then wake up to commence its programmed recording schedule.
  • Page 39 Disabling Send Bluetooth Beacons? will not affect the • recording functions of the Song Meter Mini recorder. Schedule Editor Use the Schedule editor to specify when the recorder is actively recording (see section 4.11).

  • Page 40: Recording Format

    The parameters on the Ultrasonic Settings screen describe how audio is recorded by a Song Meter Mini Bat recorder. This screen is not displayed if the paired recorder is a Song Meter Mini model. To make changes to any setting in this screen, tap the desired setting and the available options will be displayed.
  • Page 41 Full-Spectrum Sample Rate Options: 256kHz, 384kHz, or 500kHz. • Default: 256kHz. • A 256kHz sample rate will record up to 128kHz audio, sufficient for most North American and European bats. A 384kHz sample rate will record up to 192kHz audio but will use proportionately more storage for recordings.
  • Page 42 • Default: 3s. • The Song Meter Mini Bat continues to record for this amount of time after the last signal that satisfies the minimum trigger frequency is detected unless the recording reaches the Maximum Recording Length first (The recording is also truncated when it reaches the maximum recording duration set by Maximum Recording Length).
  • Page 43 The Acoustic Settings screen is accessed from the Paired Configuration screen. The Acoustic Settings screen parameters dictate how audio is recorded by a Song Meter Mini, or by the optional acoustic microphone of a Song Meter Mini Bat. To make changes to any setting in this screen, tap the desired setting and the available options will be displayed.
  • Page 44 • Default: Stereo. • This option is not available for a Song Meter Mini Bat. If a second microphone is connected to the Song Meter Mini, there is an option to record one or two channels of audio. For single channel recording, either microphone can be selected.
  • Page 45 If there are two microphones connected to the Song Meter Mini there are separate gain controls for each microphone. For the Song Meter Mini Bat, only Right Channel Gain will be displayed for the optional acoustic microphone. The default setting of 18dB allows for lower or higher gain settings.
  • Page 46 Address Latitude/Longitude Zoom to current location Select time zone Set Location to Address Specify a location based on a street address using Google maps’ database. This will automatically update the location’s latitude and longitude, and will be represented by the pin on the map. Latitude/Longitude Manually enter latitude and longitude information.
  • Page 47 Tap this icon to scroll the map view to the manually entered address or latitude/longitude. Tap the Set icon to update newly entered latitude and longitude. Zoom to Current Location Tap this icon to center the Pin in the Map view. If the mobile device is connected to the internet, the map view displays the manually entered location on a map.
  • Page 48 When not in scheduled record mode, the Song Meter Mini recorder goes to sleep, which conserves battery power. When the Song Meter Mini Bat is in record mode it will only • actually record when there is an ultrasonic trigger and continues recording until the Trigger Window has been satisfied.
  • Page 49 Estimate Battery and Card Life Tap the Estimate Battery and Card Life icon to open the Estimate Battery and Card Life utility. This utility estimates battery and SD card life for different battery types and card sizes, using the currently programmed configuration.
  • Page 50 Battery Life depleted on: gives the estimated date when • the battery life will be depleted. Show on Calendar Song Meter Mini Bat Song Meter Mini Tap the Show on Calendar icon to visually check schedules on a calendar. Color coding displays the day, night, and acoustic/ultrasonic •...
  • Page 51 NOTE: When using a Song Meter Mini Bat with the optional acoustic microphone installed it is possible to create one schedule for both microphones. However, where Acoustic and Ultrasonic recording are scheduled for the exact same time, recording in Acoustic mode will override Ultrasonic mode.
  • Page 52 When a pre-set schedule is selected, the schedule settings are displayed and can be immediately edited. MODE (Song Meter Mini Bat Only) This option is only available for a Song Meter Mini Bat with the optional acoustic microphone installed. MODE determines whether an individual schedule block will use the ultrasonic or acoustic microphone.
  • Page 53 If Time is selected, the start time of the schedule block is • entered in hours and minutes. Sunrise and sunset times are calculated based on the time • and location currently programmed in the recorder. If Sunrise or Sunset is chosen, the available parameters •...
  • Page 54 If you are making acoustic recordings on the Song Meter • Mini or Song Meter Mini Bat, the number of recordings for a given schedule will be determined by the Maximum Recording Length set in the Acoustic Settings screen, and the Duty Cycle within the Start and End times of the recording schedule.
  • Page 55 Whenever the start and end times are identical and the Duty Cycle is set to Always, the schedule will record continuously. Record Continuously for Part of Each Day The following schedule records daily from 4:00am to 10:00am:...
  • Page 56 Record in 5-Minute Segments Every Hour The following schedule uses the Duty Cycle and records for 5 minutes at the beginning of each hour: Record from Sunset to Sunrise The following schedule starts every day at sunset and records until sunrise on the following day:...
  • Page 57 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 2 hours before and after sunrise, and 2 hours before and after sunset.

  • Page 58: Utilities Menu

    To access the Utilities menu, tap the Utilities icon at the top right of the Configure screen. The Utilties menu brings up the following utilties: Test microphone. • Format SD card. • Restore recorder to factory defaults. • Email diagnostics to Wildlife Acoustics. •...
  • Page 59 Verify that you have saved any important schedules or recording files before running this utility. Restore Recorder To Factory Defaults Restores the Song Meter Mini recorder to its factory default configuration. Restoring factory defaults will not change the date and time •...
  • Page 60 Email Diagnostics to Wildlife Acoustics Generates a Diagnostics Dump file can then be sent to Wildlife Acoustics technical support for further analysis. 4.14 Testing the Ultrasonic Microphone The ultrasonic microphone calibration is bandpass filtered at 40kHz and designed to work with the separate ultrasonic calibrator available from Wildlife Acoustics.
  • Page 61 Turn the calibrator ON and set the mode toggle switch to CAL. The calibrator generates a 40kHz 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 on the app.
  • Page 62 Chirp Mode System Testing Prepare the Song Meter Mini Bat for recording and place it no more than 20m (65ft) away from the calibrator. Set the calibrator’s toggle switch to CHIRP. The calibrator emits a 100ms long 40kHz (+/- 10Hz) tone every 500ms.
  • Page 63 Note: This procedure is only valid for third-party microphone calibrators that emit a calibrated 1.0 kHz signal. Navigate to the Test microphone window under the Utilities menu. Remove the windscreen from the acoustic microphone. Connect the calibrator to the acoustic microphone. Turn the calibrator ON.
  • Page 64 Configuration Library in the app is where you can store multiple configuration files. A configuration file can be downloaded to a paired Song Meter Mini recorder from the Configurator Library (see section 4.7). A configuration file consists of settings and a schedule for the Song Meter Mini recorder.
  • Page 65 The saved location and time zone will over-ride the currently programmed location and time zone of a Song Meter Mini recorder when the saved configuration file is loaded, either to a paired recorder or via an SD card.
  • Page 66 Go to the Configuration Library screen and tap the Plus icon. The Add Configuration utility will open. Choose whether the configuration is intended for a Song Meter Mini or Song Meter Mini Bat. Tap Configuration Name to open a keyboard. Name the Configuration.

  • Page 67: Recording Files

    Changes made to a saved configuration file are saved immediately. 5 Recording Files The purpose of the Song Meter Mini recorder is to create audio files that are embedded with metadata. The files are initially written to the SD memory card, and from there can be transferred to a computer for analysis.
  • Page 68 Latitude • Longitude • Power (V) • Temp (C) • # FS files • # ZC files • # Scrubbed noise files • 5.1 Transferring Recording Files to a Computer After making a recording, remove the SD Memory card from the recorder.
  • Page 69 The .wav files created by the Song Meter Mini and Song • Meter Mini Bat contain embedded metadata (see section 5.4). The .wav files created by the Song Meter Mini Bat with the • ultrasonic microphone are also known as Full-Spectrum recordings.
  • Page 70 A .zc file can only represent a single frequency at a time and • does not contain any amplitude information. The .zc files created by the Song Meter Mini Bat contain • embedded metadata (see section 5.4). .zc files are written to the Data folder on the SD memory •...

  • Page 71: Analysis Software

    Firmware Version • Length • Loc Position • Make • Model • Original Filename • Serial • Temperature Int • Timestamp • WA|Song Meter|Audio settings • WA|Song Meter|Prefix • 6 Analysis Software 6.1 Kaleidoscope Pro Kaleidoscope Pro analysis software allows you to quickly sort, label, and identify bird songs, frog calls, and bat identifications from weeks, months, or even years of recordings.
  • Page 72 Kaleidoscope Pro includes: Automatic Bat Species Identification Kaleidoscope Pro’s bat Auto-ID function analyzes recordings of bat echolocations and automatically suggests the most likely bat species. Bat Auto-ID results are presented along with other metadata such as timestamps, temperature, etc., in a table that can be exported to spreadsheet applications for pivot table and chart creation.
  • Page 73 cluster settings to help you more easily search for a specific species or refine for classifiers. Noise Analysis The Kaleidoscope Pro Noise Analysis feature allows you to scan recordings to analyze the noise spectrum, and generate reports of sound pressure levels in accordance with various standards. Noise level data is reported in a table that is easily exported into spreadsheet applications for pivot table and chart creation.
  • Page 74 Smart Search and Cloud Storage Search your recordings based on details such as time, temperature, identifications, or even spectral qualities of the recording. Smart Search works on recordings stored locally in your own PostgresSQL database or in a Kaleidoscope Pro Managed Cloud Account.

  • Page 75: Third-Party Software

    6.2 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 76: Specifications

    7 Specifications 7.1 Physical Song Meter Mini Song Meter Mini Bat Height: 4.9in (124.4mm) Width (with no right 6.6in (167.6mm) 5.3in (134.6mm) microphone): Depth with lid: 1.4in (35.5mm) Weight no batteries: 0.42lb (190.5g) Weight with 4 AA batteries 0.64lb (290g)
  • Page 77 Sample Rate: 8,000 – 96,000Hz 192, 256, 384, 500kHz Record channels Left, right, stereo Ultrasonic or Acoustic (with optional mic) High Pass Filter 2-pole 100Hz 2-pole 8kHz Acoustic Microphone Directional Characteristic: Omni-Directional • Sensitivity: -11.0 ±4 dBfs/pa @ 1kHz, 0dB gain •...
  • Page 79 6 Lithium-Ion 18650: up to 1200 hours • (Based on mono recording at 24,000 sample rate) Song Meter Mini Bat Battery Life for Ultrasonic Recording 4 Alkaline AA: up to 30 ten-hour nights • 4 NiMH AA: up to 24 ten-hour nights •...

  • Page 80: Warranty And Disclosures

    Sleeping between scheduled recording periods: 0.5 mW • typical 8 Warranty and Disclosures Except as specifically provided herein, Wildlife Acoustics makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, with respect to this product. Hardware Limited Warranty Product Components...
  • Page 81 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 82 In no event shall Wildlife Acoustics, publishers, authors, or editors of this guide be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage caused or...
  • Page 83 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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