A Brief Review Of Three Software Applications For USB Microphones

A Brief Look at 3 Software Applications For USB Microphones

• Bat Recorder for Android phones
• AudioMoth Live for Laptops
• Ultrasonic Analyzer for iPhones

Each of these applications are available from their respective locations on the Web. Each may be reached by clicking on it's name/link above. 

The Mics used for these tests

What are they?

• The Ultramic Evo 384K from Dodotronic
• The PiPPYG (DIY) from Omenie.com (Phil Atkin)
• The Brand-new (not-yet-released) AudioMoth USB Mic

Back to the software...

Bat Recorder, for Android smartphones, is found on the Google Play Store, and is listed at a price of $6.99.

AudioMoth Live is found on The Open Acoustic Devices Site, is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux; and is free.

Ultrasonic Analyzer, for Apple iPhones is found on The Apple Store, and is $19.99. Bat Recorder works on Android phones (only), is very bat-friendly, and  packed with features. It seems to be designed with the bat recordist in mind.

AudioMoth Live - Works on laptops - This can be a PC running Windows, Linux, or Mac operating system.

AudioMoth Live is well designed and simple. Perhaps the fact that it's so simple to use, translates into a good design?

Ultrasonic Analyzer - Works on Apple iPhones only, is quite advanced, with several features commonly seen on bioacoustic recording software: Cursor position (area tapped) displays: Frequency, Sound Pressure Level, etc.

This iPhone based App is designed for users who like to have options; there are plenty of customizations available.

Features & Facts - Some Pros & Cons:

Bat Recorder - Will not work with The PiPPYG USB Mic (at the time of this writing). It does work with either of the other two Mics.

AudioMoth Live App - In addition to 'Off' - You have 'Monitor' and 'Heterodyne' while monitoring/recording.

Works well with AudioMoth (obviously) 

Monitor gives you a relatively complete "audio picture" so to speak.

Heterodyne gives you a thin, moveable, white line as a tuning needle. It's free to download from Open Acoustic Devices.

Ultrasonic Analyzer - This App worked well with the AudioMoth USB mic and Dodotronic’s Evo 384K USB mic, and sometimes the PiPPYG mic. You can see high resolution screenshots of this App on the Apple store.

Easiest to use? I'd rank them from best (easiest) to worst as follows:

1. AudioMoth Live - It's so easy to use, you could probably teach a 10 year old how to use it efficiently. And it wouldn't take long! Don't like reading User Manuals? This is for you. It currently tunes down to 12kHz (via built-in heterodyne). 

2. Bat Recorder - Takes some getting used to, and you'll really need to read the (online/Built-into-app Manual) to use it properly. Ideal for anyone chasing bats.

3. Ultrasonic Analyzer - If you like Avisoft's software, then you'll like this App. Reading of the User Manual will also be required. It may be well-suited for those who are interested in recording a larger range of animals.

I can tell you that each of these Apps provide excellent accuracy in the reproduction of sound.

Until next time,

Happy bat detecting!

Review Of The Titley Anabat Swift Part 3 Of 3 - Three Optional Microphones Tested

This Post serves as Part 3 Of 3 of The Titley Anabat Swift Review (If you haven't already, see Part 1, Part 2)
As well as the testing and comparison of the 3 microphones which are currently available, from Titley Scientific. These optional Mics allow additional, significant customization of your AnaBat Recording set-ups. 

 

In it's current state, this post is just a rough outline, I'm posting it here as a placeholder. It will be added to, as soon as time allows.

Owners of either The Anabat Swift, or The Anabat Express bat recorders, should be aware of the 3 Microphones currently available, from Titley Scientific.

The post immediately preceding this one, lists some detailed specifications and information on each of the 3 Mics (as per Titley). 
What follows below, are just some of my findings:

1. The Anabat Omnidirectional Ultrasonic Microphone - US-0 V3

While doing some experimental tests, using The Bat Chirp II (artificial bat, made by Tony Messina); I was able to get (mechanical-looking) sonograms. I'm sharing these here, mainly as a "curiosity".

This was at a distance of 50 feet.

Here is just a small section of the sonogram, as recorded by "Mic #1": The US-0 V3

The Bat Chirp II as heard by the US-0 V3 Mic on The AnaBat Swift

2. Anabat Directional Ultrasonic Microphone US–D V1
 
This was at a distance of 50 feet.
Here is just a small section of the sonogram, as recorded by "Mic #2": US-D V1

 

For my own purposes of organization, I refer to this microphone: Anabat Omnidirectional Acoustic Microphone AS–0 V1

as "Mic #3" - I apologize for not having a spectrogram from this Mic to share. I am currently still sorting through the recordings made using this Mic (again with the aid of The Bat Chirp II [artificial bat]). I will be adding (at least) one sonogram to this post soon...

 

Here is a sonogram of a real bat, made using "Mic #1" Anabat Omnidirectional Ultrasonic Microphone US-0 V3

 

  

A real bat, recorded using The US-0 V3 Mic on AnaBat Swift

(bat was approx. 100 feet distant)

For further, current Info, on these Mics as well as other compatible accessories, have a look at this page, from Titley's Scientific's Site.

Until then, Happy bat detecting!