WILDLIFE Song Meter Mini 2 User Manual
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WILDLIFE Song Meter Mini 2 User Manual

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Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide
January 3, 2024

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Summary of Contents for WILDLIFE Song Meter Mini 2

  • Page 1 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide January 3, 2024...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide Table of Contents 1. Song Meter Mini 2 Quickstart Guide ................... 3 2. Introduction ........................4 2.1. About the Song Meter Mini 2 ................... 4 2.2. Battery Configuration Versions ................4 2.3. Useful Resources ....................5 3.

  • Page 3: Song Meter Mini 2 Quickstart Guide

    Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide 1. SONG METER MINI 2 QUICKSTART GUIDE Out of the box, the Song Meter Mini 2 can be quickly configured to run one of a few preset schedules that cover common use cases. Unlatch and open the lid on the Song Meter Mini 2.

  • Page 4: Introduction

    See Types of AA Batteries (page 64) for more information. • The Song Meter Mini 2 Li-ion can run on between one and six 18650 Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. NOTE These are two separate versions of the Song Meter Mini 2. Neither version can be converted or reconfigured to use the other type of battery.

  • Page 5: Useful Resources

    • Outside North America (toll charges may apply): +1 978-369-5225 2.3.4. Don’t Miss Out on Important Updates We continually add features to the Song Meter Mini 2. Stay up to date with the newest features and receive important technical support bulletins by signing up to our mailing list at:...

  • Page 6: Song Meter Mini 2 Hardware

    3. SONG METER MINI 2 HARDWARE 3.1. EXTERNAL FEATURES The Song Meter Mini 2 recorder is designed for long-term, outdoor deployment. Made from durable polycarbonate plastic, it is UV-resistant and weatherproof. Notable external features of the Song Meter Mini 2: Lockable Latch (page 7): Located along the top edge of the recorder.
  • Page 7 1, right. 3.1.3. Hinged Lid The lid for the Song Meter Mini 2 is permanently connected to the body of the recorder via a hinge and lockable latch. When the lid is latched close, a silicone gasket creates a watertight seal...
  • Page 8 3.1.5. Tripod Mount On the rear of the Song Meter Mini 2 recorder is a standard-sized threaded socket. This socket is typically used for camera tripod mounts or any other type of mount which uses the same thread size.

  • Page 9: Internal Features

    Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide 3.2. INTERNAL FEATURES ON/OFF Switch (page 10): Located in the lower left of the main internal panel. PAIR/STATUS Button (page 10): Located to the immediate right of the ON/OFF switch. Status LEDs (page 10): Four green/red LEDs laid out horizontally to the right of the PAIR/ STATUS button and to the left of the FUNCTION button.
  • Page 10 3.2.2. PAIR/STATUS Button This is a dual-function button. The Song Meter Mini 2 Status LEDs turn off after one minute without user input. Tap the PAIR/ STATUS button once to reactivate the Status LEDs. Press the PAIR/STATUS button once to check the Status LEDs.
  • Page 11 Red Solid SD Card issue 3.2.4. Battery Compartment The lid of the Song Meter Mini 2 holds the recorder's batteries. Depending on the version of the recorder, it holds either AA batteries or 18650 Lithium-ion batteries. AA Battery Compartment The AA battery compartment holds two plastic battery trays. Each tray holds four AA batteries, and you can power the recorder with four or eight AA batteries in total.
  • Page 12 3.2.5. SD Card Slot The Song Meter Mini 2 recorder saves recording files and a summary log to an SD card installed in the memory card slot. To insert an SD card, slide it into the slot until it clicks into place. To remove, gently press the card further into the slot until it clicks again, and let the internal spring mechanism eject the card.
  • Page 13 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide 3.2.7. Function Button and Function LEDs The physical controls on the Song Meter Mini 2 allow you to perform four basic functions without the Song Meter Configurator app. Available Functions There are four Function LEDs: •...

  • Page 14: Installing A Second Microphone

    If all four LEDs flash red six times, the function was unsuccessful. 3.3. INSTALLING A SECOND MICROPHONE The Song Meter Mini 2 has a port available for a second, optional microphone, which you can install yourself. To do so, you'll need to remove the plastic hex bolt that occupies the right-hand microphone port and install the microphone according to the steps below.

  • Page 15: Upgrading The Recorder's Firmware

    Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide Thread the wire connector for the second microphone through the hole. Do not connect the wire to the circuit board yet. Hand-turn the microphone clockwise to screw it into the internal nut. Make sure the microphone wires are not caught on anything as you turn the microphone.

  • Page 16: Loading A Configuration File From An Sd Card

    There must be only one firmware file on the card. Eject the card from your computer's operating system before physically removing the card. Insert the SD card into the Song Meter Mini 2's SD card slot. Turn on the recorder.

  • Page 17: Exporting Diagnostics And Configuration Files To An Sd Card

    It is possible to save both a .minidiags file and a .miniconfig file to the SD card using the buttons on the Song Meter Mini 2's main panel. The .minidiags file is a diagnostic file that Wildlife Acoustics Support can use to identify some kinds of hardware issues. The .miniconfig file contains a full copy of the recorder's settings.

  • Page 18: Song Meter Configurator App

    The Song Meter Configurator app provides a simple interface for configuring the schedule and settings of the Song Meter Mini 2. It runs on phones and tablets running iOS and Android, and, once it's installed, it does not require an internet connection.

  • Page 19: Recorders Screen

    The usable range of a Bluetooth signal varies from phone to phone and tablet to tablet, but it is usually under 30 feet, assuming a clear line of sight between the Song Meter Mini 2 and the phone or tablet. 4.1.2. Supported Operating Systems The Song Meter Configurator app is available for Android and iOS devices.
  • Page 20 While a Song Meter Mini 2 is paired with the Song Meter Configurator app on one mobile device, it will not broadcast Bluetooth beacons for other mobile devices to receive. Only the paired mobile...
  • Page 21 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide The Status screen displays the following information and interface elements, listed in order from top to bottom, left to right: Top-most Info Bar • < Status (back button) Tap this button to exit the Status screen and return to the Recorders screen.
  • Page 22 NOTE If the Song Meter Mini 2 is currently recording only on the left microphone, then the level meter for the right microphone will not respond to sound, even if the right microphone is installed.
  • Page 23 • START TIME OF NEXT RECORDING If the Song Meter Mini 2 is not currently recording, this displays the time of the recorder's next scheduled recording period. This text will only display if an SD card is installed with enough available space for the next recording period.
  • Page 24 4.2.2. Pair the Recorder with the Song Meter Configurator app In order to set the Song Meter Mini 2's date and time and to configure the recorder's settings using the Song Meter Configurator mobile app, you must pair the app with the recorder.
  • Page 25 Mobile device. Automatically Set the Recorder's Time Zone You can set the time zone setting of the Song Meter Mini 2 automatically when pairing with the recorder. During pairing, if the recorder's current time zone setting does not match the time zone setting...

  • Page 26: Configuration Editor Screen

    Tap YES to set the programmed location of the Song Meter Mini 2 recorder to the current mobile device location Tap NO to leave the currently programmed location of the recorder unchanged.
  • Page 27 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide 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.
  • Page 28 Delay Start (page 36) window. • Send Bluetooth beacons? Use this toggle switch to set whether the paired Song Meter Mini 2 will broadcast status beacons that can be received by the Song Meter Configurator app when not paired. • SCHEDULE Panel The lower section of the Configuration Editor screen contains many different controls for configuring the recorder's schedule.
  • Page 29 Open the Test microphone window. Pair the Recorder with the Song Meter Configurator app (page 24). Tap Configure > Utilities > Test microphone. Close the lid of the Song Meter Mini 2. Remove the foam windscreen from the acoustic microphone.
  • Page 30 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide Connect the calibrator to the acoustic microphone according to the calibrator's instructions. Turn the calibrator on. If the calibrator has the option of multiple test frequencies and amplitudes, select 1 kHz and 94 dB SPL.
  • Page 31 4.3.2. Acoustic Settings Screen The parameters on the Acoustic settings screen affect how the Song Meter Mini 2 records audio during its recording schedule. To make changes to any setting on this page, tap on the setting label. A new window will appear to...
  • Page 32 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide The Acoustic settings screen includes the following settings: • Sample Rate (page 32) • Recording Mode (page 32) • Maximum Recording Length (page 33) • Channel (page 33) • Left Channel Gain/Right Channel Gain (page 33) Sample Rate •...
  • Page 33 • Options: Left, Right, or Stereo. • Default: Stereo. If a second microphone is connected to the Song Meter Mini 2, there is an option to record one or two channels of audio. For single channel recording, either microphone can be selected. If stereo is selected, both microphones will record.
  • Page 34 If a test recording shows a faint signal, raise the gain setting. 4.3.3. Location & Time Zone Screen The Song Meter Mini 2 deployment location and time zone can be set in the Location & Time Zone screen, accessed from the Configuration Editor screen.
  • Page 35 One way to update the Song Meter Mini 2's saved location is to tap on the desired location in the map view with one finger. The red pin will be moved to the tapped location, and the address, latitude, and longitude fields will all update to match, reflecting the recorder's new saved deployment location.
  • Page 36 OK. 4.3.4. Delay Start It is possible to program a Song Meter Mini 2 recorder to not begin recording before a specified date. The recorder will sleep until the Delay Start date and then wake up to commence its programmed recording schedule.
  • Page 37 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide • Disabling Send Bluetooth Beacons? will not affect the recording functions of the Song Meter Mini 2 recorder. 4.3.6. Schedule Editor The Schedule Editor occupies the lower half of the Configuration Editor Screen (page 26).
  • Page 38 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide The Schedule Editor interface includes the following elements, listed from top to bottom, left to right. • Estimate battery and card life Tap to open the Estimate Battery and Card Life Window (page 39).
  • Page 39 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide When Rise or Set is selected: + specifies an offset after sunrise or sunset. - specifies an offset before sunrise or sunset. • Hours and Minutes drop-downs When Time is selected, these drop-downs define the fixed time when the schedule block stops running, using the 24-hour clock system.
  • Page 40 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide running its schedule. To specify an initial delay in the recorder's schedule, use the Delay Start (page 36) setting. • SD card size drop-down Select the card capacity to use for estimating when the card will be completely full.
  • Page 41 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide Using lithium-ion 18650 batteries with charge capacities other than 3500 mAh per cell will result in proportionally inaccurate battery life estimations. For more information about recommended lithium-ion batteries, see Lithium-Ion Battery Requirements (page 65).

  • Page 42: Configuration Library Screen

    Tap the schedule menu to select different preset schedules. If a customized schedule is currently programmed, this menu will display Custom Schedule. When a preset schedule is selected, it is automatically loaded onto the Song Meter Mini 2 recorder. The schedule settings are displayed and can be immediately edited.
  • Page 43 • Configuration files can be shared via standard iOS or Android protocols. • A shared configuration file can be copied from a PC to an SD memory card and the SD card can then be used to program the configuration into a Song Meter Mini 2 recorder. NOTE A saved configuration file can have a specific location and time zone as part of its settings.
  • Page 44 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide 4.4.2. How To Delete A Saved Configuration File In the Configuration Library screen, tap on the selection circle icon to the left of any configuration to select it. Selected configurations have the selection circle icon filled in with a check mark.

  • Page 45: App Information Screen

    Recorders or Configuration Library screens. It contains: • Information about the current version of the app • Links to user guides, tutorial videos, and frequently asked questions for Wildlife Acoustics recorders • Lanuage settings for the Song Meter Configurator app •...
  • Page 46 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide 4.5.1. App Version Number and Release Notes The current version of the Song Meter Configurator app is listed. Tapping this entry opens a screen with release notes for the installed app version. 4.5.2. User Guides, Tutorial Videos, and Frequently Asked Questions User guides for all versions of the Song Meter Mini and Song Meter Micro families of recorders can be accessed from within the app.

  • Page 47: Understanding Schedules

    4.6.1. Schedules and Schedule Blocks A schedule for the Song Meter Mini 2 can be made up of up to ten schedule blocks. If a schedule block were just a single recording period, having only ten would be severely limiting. For instance, let's say you wanted to capture a short snapshot of a soundscape over the course of each day by recording 5 minutes at the start of every hour.
  • Page 48 Duty Off: 00:55 END TIME: Time 00:00 With 5 simple commands, this one schedule block has told the Song Meter Mini 2 to record 5 minutes at the start of each hour. Let's break down how each command works. NOTE This example does not use the optional Date Range feature.
  • Page 49 START TIMES and END TIMES set relative to sunrise and sunset. NOTE When you start your deployment for the first time, the Song Meter Mini 2 will pick up in the middle of any schedule block that should be occurring at that time. The recorder does not need to wait for the next occurrance of the START TIME when it turns on.
  • Page 50 This means that, if your goal is to record the dawn chorus each day, the Song Meter Mini 2 can time its recording period to follow sunrise as it shifts earlier and later in the day over the span of weeks and months.
  • Page 51 For example, if block 1 includes a recording period from 13:45 to 14:15, and block 2 includes a recording period from 14:00 to 15:00, the Song Meter Mini 2 will treat the time from 13:45 to 15:00 as one single recording period, only broken up according to the...
  • Page 52 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide START DATE and END DATE These commands work similarly to the START TIME and END TIME commands, described in Schedules and Schedule Blocks (page 47). START DATE sets the date when the block should begin running, and END DATE sets the date when the block should cease.
  • Page 53 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide 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 54: Recording Files

    Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide 5. RECORDING FILES The purpose of the Song Meter Mini 2 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 55 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide • Length • Loc Position • Make • Model • Original Filename • Sample rate • Serial • Temperature Int • Timestamp • WA|Song Meter|Audio settings • WA|Song Meter|Prefix...

  • Page 56: Analysis Software

    Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide 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. Whether you...
  • Page 57 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide 6.1.3. Sound Pressure Level Analysis The Kaleidoscope Pro SPL Analysis feature allows you to scan recordings to analyze the noise spectrum, and generate reports of sound pressure levels in accordance with various standards. Sound level data is reported in a table that is easily exported into spreadsheet applications for pivot table and chart creation.

  • Page 58: Third-Party Software

    Kaleidoscope Pro trial. 6.2. THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE The Song Meter Mini 2 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 59: Maintanance

    • In the Location & time zone screen, set the location and time zone manually. 7.2. WATERPROOFING The Song Meter Mini 2 is designed to work in all kinds of weather, and will not let in any water under normal circumstances. However, there are a few routine checks that should be done to make sure that your recorder is as weatherproof as it was when you received it.

  • Page 60: Security

    Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide 7.4. SECURITY A cable lock can be threaded through the latch to work both as a mounting device and for security. Cable locks must be under 0.3” (7.6mm) diameter.

  • Page 61: Troubleshooting

    8. TROUBLESHOOTING The following is a list of symptoms for common problems. After each symptom are items to check. If the checks do not solve the problem, please contact Wildlife Acoustics Technical Support for further assistance. 8.1. NO LED ACTIVITY •...
  • Page 62 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide • www.wildlifeacoustics.com/contact-us • North America (toll-free): 1-888-733-0200 • Outside North America (toll charges may apply): +1 978-369-5225...

  • Page 63: Specifications

    Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide 9. SPECIFICATIONS 9.1. PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS Height 4.7 in (120 mm) Length (with no right microphone, with left 7.0 in (177 mm) microphone and windscreen) Depth 1.6 in (40 mm) Weight with no batteries AA Version: 0.54 lb (245 g) Li-ion Version: 0.52 lb (236 g)

  • Page 64: Batteries

    Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide Figure 1. Sensitivity and Noise Floor, Linear Frequency Scale Figure 2. Sensitivity and Noise Floor, Logarithmic Frequency Scale 9.3. BATTERIES 9.3.1. Types of AA Batteries AA batteries are available in several distinct categories: • Alkaline: This is the standard, single-use battery. When using AA batteries, the Song Meter...
  • Page 65 From one to six lithium-ion batteries may be used in any combination of positions in the battery tray. The redesigned lithium-ion battery compartment in the Song Meter Mini 2 can fit a slightly broader range of lithium-ion batteries than the optional lithium-ion lid accessory for the first- generation Song Meter Mini and Song Meter Mini Bat.

  • Page 66: Sd Cards

    Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide 9.3.3. Power Consumption and Expected Battery Life The tables in this section display measured power consumption for the Song Meter Mini 2 in various recording modes. All measurements were taken using the same SanDisk SD card.

  • Page 67: Warranty And Disclosures

    Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide 10. 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 Warranty Period Song Meter Mini 2...
  • Page 68 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide to WAI must be sent postage-paid and packaged appropriately for safe shipment. WAI is not responsible for Customer products received without a warranty service authorization and may be rejected. Repaired or replacement products will be shipped to Customer at WAI expense. All products or parts that are replaced become the property of WAI.
  • Page 69 Song Meter Mini 2 User Guide Conforms to the appropriate country standards and governing regulations listed below. As the manufacturer, we are fully responsible for the design and production of the above-mentioned equipment. • (FCC) Code of Federal Regulations, Title 47, Part 15, Subpart B: Class B Device (2015): Radio Frequency Devices –...
  • Page 70 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 alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this document.

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