Review of The M500 and U384 USB Microphones from Pettersson Elektronik

Review of The M500 and U384 USB Microphones from Pettersson Elektronik

I actually wrote a review of The M500 USB Mic from Pettersson once before, exactly 5 years ago. It may be seen Here

What we'll be doing here, is having another (closer) look at The M500 - As well as the (newer) U384 USB microphone - Also by Pettersson Elektronik. 

Whenever ordering a bat detector from Pettersson Elektronik (in Sweden), you can always expect it to arrive very well packaged. In my experience, it's always been with the Pettersson / Batsound logo tape sealing the box.

These (USB-based) bat detectors, record the ultrasonic sounds of bats directly onto the device they are attached to. This is done in full spectrum; using various sample rates (kHz) depending on the model you select - As follows:

• M500 - 500kHz

• M500 - 384kHz

• U384 - 384kHz

• U256 - 256kHz

 

The M500's; require Windows, and BatSound Touch software to function. In other words, the computing device used with it, must have a Windows-based operating system. Android-based devices are not compatible (at time of this writing).

 

The M500-384 for example, is much more flexible: It may be used with all operating systems, and a variety of Apps.

In regards to the size and weight of these - The M500 or M500-384 - 43 x 114 x 13 mm (including microphone horn) 

Weight - 60 Grams

List price (directly from Pettersson) is £295 GBP / €343 Eur / $406 US (for either The M500, or The M500-384).

 

These USB-based bat detectors may be ordered from NHBS (in UK):

Or directly from Pettersson (in Sweden).

There are other wildlife monitoring equipment dealers who stock it as well, and there's probably one in the country where you reside.  

 

What exactly is The M500 USB Microphone?

 

• It is an advanced, ultrasonic microphone, designed to record ultrasounds directly to the device it is attached to. In the case of the M500: This may be a tablet, smartphone, or laptop PC. 

  I found The M500 easy to use: Plug it into the tablet (or laptop) you’re using, launch the BatSound software, and click ‘Record’. The software retains it’s settings from the last time it was used.

   

• Using laptop(s) proved to be an excellent arrangement for unattended recording of bats. Either for several hours - or in some cases, overnight - Laptop settings must be looked at / changed (to ensure it doesn't go to "sleep", turn off hard drives, etc.).

 

I have thoroughly tested The M500 on: Several types/brands of laptops; and several types of tablets - Without major issues.

It performed as one might expect: Issues such as Apps freezing, were eliminated, by closing additional Apps running in the background.

If you are planning to use a bat recorder situated on/near a window or windowsill - In other words, a stationary position: Then The M500 is actually ideal. This is exactly how I used it, when testing one for the (original) review. It worked very well in this capacity.

 

The M500 is provided with a removable cone, which helps it become more directional; as well as providing protection to the microphone element itself.

M500 with Directional Horn, and USB cable attached.

After installing The Batsound Touch software on a Windows-based tablet, The M500 proved fun and effective in use.

It produced excellent, clear recordings (and spectrograms) of bats.  It also possessed excellent sensitivity and pick-up range. I found that attaching a small foam windscreen (the type designed for lavalier mics) over the mic (both with, and without cone) reduced wind & background noise nicely. Most importantly - I determined that these small foam windscreens did not interfere with the recording of bat vocalizations. They may be found quite easily (and inexpensively) online; from various sources. I’d experimented with several ways of attaching The M500 to tablets: Including double-sided foam tape, and Velcro (“hook and loop fasteners”) - Which worked quite well.   For those who will be recording bats while on the go, The U256/U384 will likely be better suited. They simply plug-in to a handheld smart device (phone or tablet) and you're ready to move. Below, is a look at what you get when you open the outer box (directly from Pettersson).      Unpacking of The U384 Microphone from Pettersson:

The U384 USB Microphone with included accessories

If your device doesn’t have a USB Micro B jack, a simple/inexpensive adapter will get you operational.

BatSound software from Pettersson Elektronik (being installed).

Once again (as in years past) I’ve found BatSound to be a wonderful, sound analysis application. Producing Professional results. I have much more to learn about it...

Many Professionals around the world who work with bats, are quite fond of this piece of software. Further evidence of this can easily be seen whenever you pick up a book dealing with bat bioacoustics. See this book as just one an example.

The U384 USB Microphone’s Bat Recordings on BatSound

The U384 USB Microphone from Pettersson  The U384 has a built-in cone as part of it’s design. (Photo from Pettersson Elektronik)     U384 - 43 x 35 x 13 mm (including microphone horn)  Weight - 25 Grams. List price for The U384 Mic (directly from Pettersson) is £259 GBP. From NHBS (in UK) £299.17.      It is constructed of Aluminum with a flat black finish: Lightweight and sturdy.  What exactly is The U384 USB Microphone?  It is also an advanced, ultrasonic microphone, designed to record ultrasounds directly to the device it is attached to. (in the case of The U384: This may be a tablet or smartphone) It covers 1 kHz - 192 kHz, records in 384 kHz/16 bit format, and features an Anti-aliasing filter. I have tested The U384 on: Several types and brands of tablets with zero issues. I like the fact that it’s frequency range begins at 1 kHz (rather than 10 kHz) which allows me to record all kinds of interesting creatures! (mainly, singing insects).   I've found this USB microphone a joy to use - It’s sensitive, and produces very clean/accurate spectrograms (regardless of the software you use to analyse your recordings).     So, what's it like to use The U384 Microphone?   Well, it is smaller & lighter than The M500; and transforms your device into a very capable bat detector in an instant.  The U384 Mic is very easy to use! Plug the module into your device’s USB port, launch the App (of your choice), and you are monitoring/recording bats.    The U384 requires less current than The M500 units, which translates to longer battery life / operation in the field. The U384 uses a MEMS microphone element; as opposed to the electret type used on The M500 Mics.    This provides higher sensitivity, and a lower overall noise level. I’ve experienced this firsthand: In use, The U384 is remarkably quiet (the same goes for The U256 USB Mic). BatSound software is a very capable analysis platform.

Happy bat detecting!

From Pettersson Elektronik - The USB Ultrasonic Microphones - M500 & U384

"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time."

-T.S. Eliot

 

Coming up next here on the blog, will be:

A (second) look at The M500 bat detector from Pettersson - Full review.

And- A full, detailed review of The U384 bat detector. Both are USB-based ultrasonic units, which have been well received by bat professionals around the world.

 

In addition to the useful bits of kit which Wildlife & Countryside Services carries: See Here - They also have both of these Pettersson units in stock (as well as many others).

They provide exclusive extended warranties as well.

 

The M500 USB Microphone from Pettersson - A closer look... 

 

 

-- As well as --

The U384 USB Microphone - A full review.

Until then...

 

Happy bat detecting!

Review: The Song Meter Micro Recorder from Wildlife Acoustics Part 2 Of 2

Review of The Song Meter Micro Recorder from Wildlife Acoustics Part 2 Of 2

The Song Meter Micro is an unattended recording unit. It's so small and light, that I frequently put it in my pants pocket, before climbing up some steep terrain to deploy it. And, there have been several times (lately) when I've been very thankful for this ability.

 

In this instance, The SM Micro was placed just behind the small tree stump to the left of center in this pic.

The location for The Song Meter Micro (in pic above) was chosen, because a small animal was captured on trail cam video in that vicinity. Viewing the snapshot above, one might think it'd be easy to get to that tree stump...what isn't obvious however, is the very steep climb involved!

In general, it's easy to set-up and deploy. Whenever possible, I try to anchor it to a tree (using a small/short screw) -or- fasten/tether it to a branch, tree trunk, etc. I do this, to prevent the (unlikely) event of an animal walking off with it. Just in case some animal decides it would make a good chew toy?

As a side note: A Coyote were heard (close by) just last night (8/18/2021). A Great Horned Owl was heard today, it sounded like it was only about 40 meters away! 

 

The Song Meter Micro would be a great choice for Ecologists needing a programmable, unattended wildlife recording solution. The Micro is capable of recording vocalizations from a wide range of species. As mentioned in Part 1 of this review, the sample rate may be changed, to better suit the target species. Admittedly, I've failed to do this myself in the past. For no other reason than being hasty and too anxious to get it set-up before nightfall. Also, from years of using portable digital recorders for wildlife recording: I got into a habit, of always setting the Kbps to whatever the highest setting available was...

(wildlife sound recordists will relate)

Last weekend, right after moving into my new (rental) home, I found myself without a recording bat detector handy. I tend to always keep a Batseeker 4 around; but having a non-recording (FD) detector available just wasn't cutting it. I had a simple digital recorder, but couldn't locate an audio cable (everything was still in boxes).

It was a case of the glass being half empty (to me). In fact, it was quite a bit worse than just the glass just being half empty. Taking some time to observe and detect bats, at my new place, without the ability to ID and/or record bat calls was frustrating! Not fun for any experienced bat detecting enthusiast!

 

There I was, in a proverbial "pinch" - Wanting to record and * ID the species of bats, which were flying so neatly, high above me... And all I had to hand, was an entry-level, frequency division detector. There wasn't even a heterodyne unit around; where I could've at least ID'd a few "by ear". 

At least then, I could've gone to bed with a sense of accomplishment - Perhaps after having written some acceptable notes in my nature journal...But it was not to be; not that night.

This is not to say that there is anything "wrong" or lacking with the inexpensive Batseeker 4. On the contrary, it's still the least expensive way for someone to try bat detecting first hand. But, it is an entry level bat detector designed for beginners. 

The following evening, I decided to utilize The Song Meter Micro for a full evening's worth of unattended bat recording...I was keen on figuring out exactly what the predominate species of bats were here.

I set-up the Micro's settings as follows:

 

Sample Rate: 96000

Maximum Recording Length:  10 Minutes

Gain: 6

Delay Start:  off

 

Start Time: Set (Sunset) 00:00

Time Duty Cycle: Always

End time: Rise (Sunrise) - 01:00

These settings worked well for my purposes. Let's not forget that The Song Meter Micro was designed to record non-bat species...

And I've also used the built-in 'Record birds/frogs 24 hours a day' setting, with good results as well.

And while utilizing the latest version of Kaleidoscope Pro software, I was able to get some decent results (when compared to having a dedicated [designed for] bat detector). 

 

The Silver-Haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)

appears to be the most abundant species here.
 

 

Silver-Haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)

 

Silver-Haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)

One of the things I really enjoy about The Micro, is the ability to use Bluetooth to check it's status. Now first I will point out the typical maximum distance of Bluetooth, when considering smart phones & tablets - The general consensus is 10 meters (30 feet). If I remember correctly, back when Bluetooth was first announced, it was 15 feet?

If you're interested in the official (specification) for Bluetooth communication between (various) devices; and under various circumstances - You're free to become engrossed with this page, from Bluetooth itself. Note: The short video provides an amusing summary!
But, I digress...

 

The gist of it is, that I find it fun to connect to the deployed Song Meter Micro via Bluetooth, to check it's status. Especially, if the unit it set-up in the back garden, and I can check it while comfortably in bed:

 

General status of Song Meter Micro via Bluetooth

(using Lenovo tablet)

As seen from the screenshot above, the data provided are the most essential factors. The 2 which I typically look at, are: (number of) Recordings, and Battery Level. I'm also happy to report that I've typically been able to communicate with The Micro from distances well on the plus side of 10 meters.

It's interesting to see it connect, while the distances between are not line of sight, through house walls, at odd angles, etc.

The Song Meter Micro Configuration screen

Personally, the species I've been hoping to record are Shrews; (Blarina Spp.) Short-Tailed Shrew, specifically. None confirmed yet, but I've recorded plenty of interesting species in the process. The Micro is well suited for recording many different species, and will be popular with Ecologists in the field.

 

To summarize, and point out additional features:

 

The Configurator App (on your smart phone or tablet) conveniently shows the recording space available on your installed SD card; and your battery status.

The User Manual states that mounting methods include bungie cords, zip ties, or cable locks - I agree; I've found zip ties of various sizes to be useful.

Inside The Song Meter Micro - Note: Always use good quality / good name brand batteries (not like the ones installed above)

 

As mentioned in my video review, on The BatAbility Club's Site:

I originally had issues when syncing the time/time zone, using my Lenovo tablet. I did not encounter the issue when testing/using The Micro with other smart phones & tablets.

The Preset 'Record birds/frogs from sunrise to sunset' is perfect for recording birds.

Remember to tap the 'Load' icon, to display a list of saved configuration files, while in the Configurator App. 

Tap the 'Save' icon to name and save the current configuration/settings to the Configuration Library.

To save new changes to the Configuration Library, tap the Save icon again.

The microphone has a Test Microphone feature. It allows you to check the status of the Mic's sensitivity; as well as calibrate it (with a third-party calibrator).

Choose a sample rate that is at least double the highest frequency to be recorded.

 

Utilizing a silica gel packet (inside the unit) when deploying, is an excellent tip from Wildlife Acoustics.
 

Again, The Song Meter Micro was made was designed to record vocalizations of non-bat species. So far, I've made very good recordings of: Fowler's Toads, Wood Ducks, various songbirds, various singing insects, Great Horned Owl, Coyote, and in a pinch: Bats.

I think my Nephew Gabe approves!

Next-up: USB based bat detectors from Pettersson! The M500 and U384 Microphones - Video presentation review on The BatAbility Club! 

If you haven't already, you should consider becoming a Member - Neil Middleton has interviewed almost everyone who is anyone in the world of Bats!

Including extensive interviews with Lars Pettersson, David King, and none other than Merlin Tuttle!! And many, many more...

Until then, Happy bat animal detecting!

Review: The Song Meter Micro Recorder from Wildlife Acoustics Part 1 Of 2

Part 1 Of 2 The Song Meter Micro Recorder from Wildlife Acoustics

The Song Meter Micro, is the latest offering in the line of Wildlife Audio Recorders from Wildlife Acoustics, in Massachusetts USA.

This (very small!) wildlife sound recorder, was developed for those needing to record various (non-bat) animal species.

This compact, cute, and robust sound recorder was designed from "the ground up" to work as an unattended recording solution. The main points one realizes straight away are:

It's small!

It's not very expensive.

It's robust & capable.

Packaging - Upon arrival, you'll notice that the box is small. When you open the (outer) box, you'll notice that the inner box is small...

Unboxing video on YouTube 

The unit is 4"/101mm High x 2.9"/74mm Wide x 1.1"/28mm Deep. It is 0.43lbs/195g with batteries installed.

The Song Meter Micro currently sells for $249 (US dollars) directly from the Wildlife Acoustics Site. It is also available from many Dealers in the UK and Europe. 

 

For those in The UK, NHBS has them in stock. The Song Meter Micro is designed for unattended recording of wildlife sounds in the field. It is constructed of a dark green poly-carbonate, which blends into the natural environment very well. It comes with a built-in, omnidirectional microphone. The Song Meter Micro records 16-bit PCM .wav files - to a single, Micro SD card (up to 2 terabytes in size). 

 

 

The sample rates available, range from 8kHz to 96kHz. 8, 12, 16, 22.5, 24, 32, 44.1, 48, and 96kHz are the selections available. Run time on 3 AA-sized alkaline batteries, is 150 hours. Wildlife Acoustics provides a thorough, 15-step Quick Set-Up Guide. 

For a whittled-down version, just to give you an idea of what's involved:

•  Download/install the free App onto your mobile device.
  

•  Get The Song Meter Micro up & running, by installing batteries, Micro SD card, and powering on.
  

•  Choose from one of the pre-set schedules provided; save.
  

•  Load schedule to The Micro via Bluetooth, replace cover, and deploy unit.
  

 

The Song Meter Micro deployed near my local lake. One small screw was all that was needed, to attach it to a tree at the water's edge. My target species here, were small terrestrial mammals (especially Shrews). More specifically, I was hoping to record Northern Short-Tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda); which I know to are in the area. No luck yet...at the time of this writing.

Once you read through The Quick Start's 15-Step process, and deploy the unit a few times, it becomes very easy. Read the User Manual, and you'll understand a lot more about how it may be customized: Gain settings, etc.

This unit fills a need for many Researchers working with (non-bat) animals that vocalize.

 

The unit records sounds very well; about as good as a handheld digital recorder in the same price range. So far, I've recorded various songbirds, ducks, singing insects, and Fowler's Toads.

Part 2 of this review will feature sound recordings (via YouTube video links), as well as spectrograms (using Kaleidoscope, of course!).

When deploying Song Meter Micro's, I would follow this excellent tip, directly from The Wildlife Acoustics's web page: "requires adding desiccant for each deployment to prevent condensation."

Pros:

•  Relatively inexpensive for what you get (good value).
  
•  Made by a trusted name in wildlife recording equipment.
  
•  Professional Tech support available.
  

Cons:

• Mobile device is necessary to control/set-up, and check status.
  

Once again, The Song Meter Micro may be ordered directly from Wildlife Acoustics, if you're in The U.S. 

Links to excellent Song Meter Micro Vimeo videos (created by Wildlife Acoustics):

Song Meter Micro Configuration Editor

Song Meter Micro Configuration Library 

Learn more about The Song Meter Micro in Part 2 of 2, of this review. 

...Unless, you're the "impatient type" and want to know more about The Song Meter Micro right now - In which case, I'd recommend signing up to The BatAbility Club: Where there's a full webinar (video review) & discussion about it - By yours truly! Along with comments and questions from Director, Neil Middleton.

Happy bat animal detecting!