Apodemus Pippyg2 Review: An Affordable Full-Spectrum Bat Recorder
The new Pippyg 2 Full-spectrum ultrasound detector, is an updated and improved version of the original Pippyg detectors (by Phil Atkin). You can read all the details and specifications of the Pippyg 2 on this Apodemus Link.
This latest version of the Pippyg2 from Apodemus is a more advanced and more polished version of those which came before it. As someone who is quite familiar with it's earlier incarnations, what struck me right away was how polished it is now - in both it's hardware and software aspects. It's much easier to use and deploy.
It may look the same as previous versions, but it offers significantly improved audio quality, with a lower noise floor and no more peaks.
It is also provided with a built-in USB-C port which is used for providing external power, and installing firmware updates.
The Apodemus Pippyg2 is an interesting addition to the growing number of affordable autonomous bat recorders. Designed primarily for static recording rather than handheld use, it combines full-spectrum ultrasonic recording, automated triggering, mobile-device setup and exceptionally small size into a package aimed at both bat enthusiasts and more serious acoustic-monitoring applications. Let's not forget, it may be used for recording birds as well! I've used it to record singing insects and amphibians as well.
At a listed price of €75, the Pippyg2 occupies a very different part of the market from professional autonomous detectors that can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Its appeal is therefore straightforward: provide useful full-spectrum recordings and automated detection capabilities without the cost and complexity normally associated with dedicated scientific equipment.
Small and Lightweight
One of the Pippyg2's most impressive characteristics is its size. The recorder measures only 60 × 50 × 22 mm and weighs approximately 30 grams without batteries.
That makes it particularly well suited to static monitoring where the recorder needs to be placed discreetly in a tree, on a post, near a roost, or at another monitoring location. Its small size should also make it practical to deploy several units simultaneously.
The recorder operates from three AA batteries, with Apodemus specifying a typical runtime of approximately four to seven days. Actual battery life will depend on factors such as the SD card, recording activity and environmental conditions.
For longer-term monitoring, the Pippyg2 also has a USB-C connection that can provide external power.
Full-Spectrum Recording
The heart of the Pippyg2 is its full-spectrum ultrasonic recording capability.
In bat mode, the recorder samples at an impressive 384 kHz, giving it a specified frequency range extending from 600 Hz to 110 kHz. This is considerably more useful for scientific and identification purposes than a basic heterodyne detector or a frequency-dividing detector, because the original ultrasonic signal can be retained for subsequent analysis.
The Pippyg2 also has a bird mode operating at 48 kHz, making the unit useful for more than just bats.
For bat recording, the device uses a trigger algorithm operating above 12 kHz. Rather than continuously writing every moment to the memory card, the recorder can therefore concentrate on periods when relevant sounds are detected.
This makes the Pippyg2 particularly interesting for unattended monitoring.
Designed With Automated Identification in Mind
One of the more significant aspects of the Pippyg2 is its compatibility with automated acoustic-analysis workflows.
Apodemus specifically describes the recorder as being optimized for automated identification systems such as the BTO Acoustic Pipeline. The recorder also incorporates metadata into its recordings, including GPS coordinates, an identification number and timestamps.
That is an important feature for anyone deploying multiple recorders.
With a conventional recorder, organizing hundreds or thousands of recordings from different locations can become a significant task. Having location and time information associated with the recordings can greatly simplify subsequent analysis.
For researchers, conservation groups and serious amateur bat surveyors, this may ultimately be more valuable than some of the recorder's headline specifications.
Improved Audio Quality
According to Apodemus, the Pippyg2 represents an evolution of the original Pippyg rather than an entirely new design.
The manufacturer specifically highlights improvements to audio quality, including a lower and more consistent noise floor and the elimination of the previous noise peaks.
This is an important improvement for an ultrasonic recorder. A low and stable noise floor is desirable because unwanted electronic noise can make weak bat calls more difficult to identify and can potentially complicate automated classification.
The Pippyg2 therefore appears to address one of the most important limitations that can affect inexpensive recording hardware: the quality of the recordings themselves rather than simply the nominal sampling rate.
Mobile Deployment
Another interesting aspect of the Pippyg2 is its mobile-app-based operation.
Apodemus describes the recorder as being designed for easy deployment and operation through a mobile app. This should make configuration considerably less intimidating for users who are accustomed to modern smartphone-controlled equipment.
The combination of a small recorder, mobile setup and automatic triggering makes the Pippyg2 much more of a "deploy it and leave it" device than a traditional handheld bat detector.
That distinction is important.
The Pippyg2 isn't really intended to replace a handheld detector when you're walking through the woods trying to locate individual bats. Instead, it is designed to sit in one location and collect acoustic data while you are elsewhere.
The Biggest Caveat: It Isn't Waterproof Out of the Box
There is one important consideration potential buyers should understand.
The Pippyg2 is supplied as a bare PCB design and is not itself a weatherproof enclosure. Apodemus explicitly states that a waterproof enclosure is required when the recorder is used in damp or wet conditions.
The company offers a dedicated Pippyg2 Bat Bag for this purpose.
This isn't necessarily a disadvantage—the open-board design undoubtedly contributes to the unit's remarkably low cost and small size—but it does mean that the €75 purchase price shouldn't necessarily be viewed as the complete cost of a field-ready autonomous recorder (that is to say unattended operation).
Anyone intending to leave the Pippyg2 outdoors (for several nights) should budget for appropriate weather protection.
What's Included?
The basic package is refreshingly simple:
- Pippyg2 recorder
- Quick-start guide
Batteries and a microSD card are not included. Apodemus recommends a SanDisk brand Micro SD card; although I've used other brands without issue.
Who Is the Pippyg2 For?
The Pippyg2 appears particularly well suited to several types of users.
Bat enthusiasts will appreciate the ability to leave a very small recorder in an area of interest and collect full-spectrum recordings without having to remain at the location.
Wildlife surveyors and conservation groups may find the combination of automated triggering, metadata and long battery life particularly useful when multiple monitoring stations are required.
Researchers and experienced hobbyists will likely be the users who get the most from the 384-kHz recording capability and compatibility with automated acoustic-analysis systems. The ability to add an external microphone and external power source should appeal to hobbyists who like to tinker.
It is not suitable for someone looking primarily for a handheld detector for listening to bats in real time. The Pippyg2 is fundamentally a static recorder, not a conventional handheld bat detector.
Overall Impression
The Apodemus Pippyg2 is an intriguing example of how inexpensive digital hardware is making acoustic wildlife monitoring increasingly accessible.
Its combination of 384-kHz full-spectrum recording, a frequency range extending to 110 kHz, automated triggering, metadata, smartphone-based deployment, USB-C power and firmware updates, and a four-to-seven-day typical battery life gives it capabilities that would have seemed remarkable at this price point only a few years ago.
Its biggest limitation is also one of its defining characteristics: the Pippyg2 is essentially an exposed circuit board rather than a finished weatherproof field instrument. Users planning outdoor deployments will need to provide suitable protection, such as Apodemus' optional Bat Bag.
Nevertheless, that approach helps keep the cost remarkably low.
At €75, the Pippyg2 looks particularly attractive for anyone interested in deploying multiple recorders rather than investing in one expensive professional detector. Its emphasis on full-spectrum recording (and potential automated analysis) also makes it considerably more interesting than a simple low-cost ultrasonic detector.
The bottom line: the Apodemus Pippyg2 appears to offer an unusually capable entry point into autonomous full-spectrum bat recording. It isn't a replacement for a sophisticated professional detector in every application, but its combination of price, size, recording specifications and automated-monitoring features makes it a compelling option for bat enthusiasts, citizen scientists and wildlife researchers who want to collect a lot of acoustic data without spending a fortune.
At the time of this review, the Apodemus Pippyg2 may be ordered directly from the Apodemus site via this Link.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of 2...where I unpack all the technical details, recordings, etc.
