Review: Bat Call Identification Software (BCID) Part 2 Of 2

Bat Call Identification Software Review (BCID) Part 2 Of 2

During my most recent, extensive testing, I've found BCID software to be very accurate when identifying (predicting) bats down to species. It provides a neat / uncluttered result file (.xls format) along with the relevant accuracy (estimate) data. Which is to say, how "sure" BCID is, as to the ID of the bat species.

The software installs easily, directly after downloading. BCID software has no problems handling files/recordings from all major bat detector manufacturers.
BCID was designed to handle large sets of data; and is capable of analyzing approximately 2,600 call files per minute. 

By default, BCID automatically analyzes all of the zero-cross recordings contained in the user specified file folder.

It is compatible with both zero-crossing and full-spectrum recordings of bat sounds. Selecting your detecting location, under the Species tab, is straightforward. Two states are shown, in my example screenshots below:

 

New York

South Carolina

The User Manual for this software program, is accessible from withing the software itself. By clicking the 'Help' tab; the 7th (and last) tab on the right hand side of the main screen.
Clicking the 'View Manual' button brings up the latest User Manual (Ver 2.8a, 4-29-19). It is produced in a very well laid out, and easy to read format.

Points of interest in the BCID User's Manual are:

• Pages 4 -to- 18 clearly describe the functions of each of the program's main tabs.

• Page 19 and 20 provide tables of accuracy rates (examples). Demonstrating the program's ability to accurately discriminate between bat species.
• Pages 21 and 22 cover troubleshooting, suggestions, and the process for reporting any bugs a user might encounter.

I should add, that during my extensive test period, I did not encounter any bugs.

Pros 

• Has a very easy to use, simple interface.
• Uncluttered, clearly readable results report.
• Printing results/reports is 2 clicks away.

Cons

• More expensive than it's closest competitor (Kaleidoscope).
• Customization of ID sensitivity, settings, etc. not as easy as K-Scope.

BCID Software may be ordered directly from The Bat Call Identification Website.

It's very refreshing to use a bat call ID software as uncluttered and easy to use, as BCID. I enjoy printing out the results/report files listing the bat species recorded.

There are still many Professionals, Ecology Firms, and Organizations who prefer to use zero-crossing recordings for their bat surveys, and sometimes even research. In situations where ZC format is the predominant method of recording, BCID software should be given very serious consideration.

Since I am also in the process of reviewing new bat detecting instruments; chief among them being The AnaBat Scout from Titley, as well as optional microphones (designed for The AnaBat Swift) I expect to be adding some more info to this part of The BCID software review.

Until then,

Happy bat detecting! 

BCID Software Version 2.8B Review (2019) Part 1 Of 2

BCID Version 2.8B Review (2019) Part 1 of 2

BCID stands for Bat Call Identification; it is Professional-level software for the automatic analysis and identification of bat species, via recorded audio.

BCID is currently used by several agencies, Ecologists, Professional Bat Workers, and Researchers; to facilitate identification of recorded bat sounds.

I'd written a review of this formidable bat call identification software once before, back in February 2013. And thought it would be a good time to re-visit this application, and write an updated overview for 2019.

BCID has the distinct accolade of being one (of only two) software applications endorsed by  The U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service. More specifically, it is approved by The USFWS for conducting surveys, for the following bat species: 

The Indiana Bat (Myotis Sodalis) - USFWS Link
The Northern Long-Eared Bat (Myotis Septentrionalis) - USFWS Link

The other software, is Kaleidoscope from Wildlife Acoustics.

At the time of this writing, BCID is available in two versions:

• BCID Eastern USA (which is the specific version being reviewed here)
• BCID Canada 
• And a soon-to-be-released BCID United Kingdom

A cursory look at BCID software, for someone who hasn't seen it before, reveals a rather simple-looking (GUI) interface:

Clicking on the BCID Eastern USA link (just above this screenshot), will take you to The BCID Web page, which features (scroll-able) example screens of the application.

To see a list of species which BCID currently covers, and to confirm price ($1479 US Dollars at this time) for 2 Seats / 2 computers, you may click Here.

BCID Software has been continually improved in the years following it's initial release, in 2007. Some of the very latest updates, may be seen Here.
It is a Windows-based software (32 and 64 Bit), which allows a user to quickly and accurately analyze large numbers of bat calls.
The user interface is simple but effective, and very easy to use. The current version of BCID is Version 2.8b.

BCID software should be given serious consideration, by anyone in need of a robust, easy-to-use, and accurate bat call identification software.
It is particularly well-suited to Ecologists, Bat Workers, Researchers, and anyone wishing to have bat calls identified.

The easiest way to use this software, is by starting with ZC recorded bat calls. However, as you'll see, .wav files are almost just as easy to process:

• From the default screen, click the 'Add Folders to Project' button, on the lower left-hand-side.
• Drill down to the location of the (ZC) file folder containing your recordings.

In this screenshot/example, the location happens to be 'BCIDConversions' folder.*

• Click the Species tab, and select your Country, and State. Your local bat species will be displayed. The (already checked) names of the bat species, are also un-checkable; if you have the need to omit a species from being identified.
• Click the Project tab, in order to make the original bottom tabs visible again.
• Click on the Identify Calls tab (lower center of screen).
• After (typically) a few seconds, the interface will look like this:

...Identification process complete.

• When using the default settings, several report files are created. As seen in the screenshot below:

Assorted files created by BCID (by default) include .anl (AnaLook), .xls (MS Excel), and .txt (text) files (A different folder was used in this example).

• As evidenced in the screen capture above, when accepting the default software selections, various files are created. As well as the individual bat recordings being converted to .ZC. In my particular case, the .zc files have automatically associated themselves with Kaleidoscope software; which happens to reside on my laptop as well.
• In general, I've always found BCID software to be fast, accurate, and very convenient to use. There is certainly no steep learning curve here!

*Note: The BCIDConversions folder is automatically created when using BCID's WavToZero feature. And the files chosen for conversion are converted to ZC, and deposited there.  

If you recorded your bat calls in Full Spectrum mode, BCID software has a convenient 'WavToZero' feature. It's a permanently available Tab; 5th one from the left-hand-side of the interface. As the name implies, it allows you to select multiple files (not folders, but multiple individual files) for quick conversion - From .wav files to Zero Cross files.

As seen in the screenshot below, the report files which BCID creates, are in .xls format. I have always found this to be a very welcomed feature; especially because printing the file is so seamless.

For this particular example, I intentionally selected a group of recordings with very little bat activity. For the sake of clarity. Future screenshots, in Part 2 of this review, will illustrate much heavier call volume. Which for many of my readers, is a more common occurrence. 

The output (.xls) files which BCID creates, that is to say, it's report/listing of bat species detected, has always been one of my favorite features.

Very convenient! Looking forward to completing Part 2 of this review.
Stay tuned...

Happy bat detecting!

Just Ordered A New Bat Detector! - The AudioMoth by Open Acoustic Devices

Just finished placing my order for an AudioMoth - Rather excited to see how it performs!

I suppose it was just a matter of time, before I would actually go ahead and order one. See Links below for more information -

GroupGets Page for AudioMoth.

Open Acoustics Devices' page.

A selection of Great Links regarding Open Acoustic Devices' AudioMoth (Press).
Hopefully, my (upcoming) full review of it, will be among them soon!

Here's something very exciting, which I just came across:

Pettersson Elektronik has announced a brand new detector! It's a USB Ultrasound Microphone; and it comes in two versions (256kHz or 384kHz sample rate). You can have a look at them here. They are accepting pre-orders now.

There's a YouTube video as well:

 

Hopefully, I'll get an opportunity to review one here soon?

BCID Software review is in progress... Updates, and etc., will be posted here on or before October 7th. 

I'm happy to report, that I will (finally!) be able to attend some seminars, conferences, and training courses! I look forward to any upcoming opportunities to attend, and report about the experience(s) here on the blog!

Happy bat detecting!

First Look At The Latest BCID Software! Part 1 Of 2

Review: BCID software (from Bat Call Identification, Inc.) Part 1 Of 2

I finally had an opportunity, to install and try BCID software - And, I'm happy to report that it was a success. Everything went very smoothly. The software installation and program execution proceeded flawlessly; and fairly quickly.

A temporary license for the software, was graciously provided to me by Bat Call Identification, Inc. As you may notice, from some of the screen captures; the license will expire on April 1st 2013. Plenty of time for me to test and review it. I have no affiliation with  Bat Call Identification, Inc. I obtained the (temporary) copy of this software, for the sole purpose of sharing my findings with fellow bat detecting enthusiasts.

So, I installed the latest version, 2.4n, from the BCID Website

You may download a Trial Version of BCID software, on this Page (Link is found in the small brown box, at the center of the page).

The software application itself is neither large, nor complicated. It installs via a single executable file, right after download. After installation completes, you have the option of automatically launching BCID.

Here is a screen shot showing the 'Species' Tab - (New York is selected, in my case):

Some key points, that became evident right away, were:

* Affordability - At just under $1000 US, the price of this software is lower than it's main competitor (SonoBat). A factor that will be attractive to both hobbyists and Professionals.
* How small the software file itself is - Very fast download and install process.
* The application is robust: It's able to handle many files, very quickly.
* The software is easy to use - I was able to use it, before even reading the Manual - Although I don't recommend this! It's always best to read the manual first!
* A bat call identifying software, to use with files from zero-crossing bat detectors (AnaBat, SM2Bat, etc.) is very useful.
* The ability to identify bats down to Species, using recorded calls would be a valuable asset to all those doing bat surveys, research, etc.

Alas, nothing is perfect...

- BCID currently doesn't have the ability to ID bats using (raw) .wav files. The .wav files must be converted first. It does have this ability, through a built-in feature.

By default - BCID analyzes all of the (zero cross) files in the specified Folder, and automatically produces a MS Excel file. Here is a small sample of the data produced by BCID - It is just a partial image that I took from the resulting Excel file (Excel lines/cells are not shown in this example):

It was very exciting, to be able to finally ID the bats frequenting the airspace above my back garden :)

Check back, for Part 2 Of 2 of this Review; when I will cover how the software works.
Of course, the next thing that comes to mind is: I wonder just how accurate this IDing software is? The fact is, that at the time of this writing: There isn't any software available that can be depended on, for completely accurate bat call identification. None of them are 100% accurate.
This topic will also be covered in the second part of this review.

Part 2 Of 2