The Batlogger M2 From Elekon!

I'm very happy to report, that the Batlogger M2 from Elekon, has recently arrived for review! 

It was accompanied by their new Batlogger S2, static/unattended bat recorder as well. The S2 will also be given a test and review...

However, my local weather here in New York has started to cooperate —And has become more conducive to bat activity in the past 2 days. I immediately took this opportunity to test The Batlogger M2.

I set it up on a windowsill (indoors, of course) and selected the 'Passive Mode' recording option - I had already become familiar with the User Manual, so it was very easy to navigate around it's menus.

The good news, is: When I came back to check on it a short time later, I went through the small list of recordings, and saw that it recorded a bat! 

The additional good news is: This new Batlogger M2 is not only an excellent performing, Pro-level bat detector...But it is a joy to use, and absolutely lovely as well! 

Wow! It is packed with wonderful features and abilities - I look forward to providing detailed reviews of it. Both on The BatAbility Club, and here on the blog.

For now, you can have a look at it (and some of it's features) on The Elekon website.

 

As always - Happy bat detecting!

Review: The New Chorus from Titley Scientific Part 2 of 2

The Chorus from Titley Scientific: Review - Part 2 of 2

 

The Chorus

The AnaBat Chorus - First time use:

Connect the microphone(s) you intend to use, in their appropriate sockets (these are also labeled A & B in raised lettering directly on the unit - look closely).

Install new (or formatted) SD card, 4 new AA size batteries; power-on by pressing the 'OK' button...Give the unit half a moment to boot up (in reality, it only takes a few seconds).

Check that the time zone is correct (Clock Settings) - Press OK to confirm. Remember daylight savings time. Allow unit to acquire GPS satellite lock - And accurate time will auto-update. 

Note: You should be aware of whether or not your unit is up-to-date as far as firmware is concerned. My example unit was up-to-date on arrival.  

Select one of the pre-set modes on the right of the screen.

Clam-shell the unit closed (make sure you hear the audible click) and deploy unit.

For most intents and purposes, you'll be well on your way to acquiring excellent quality recordings, simply by following the instructions above. Which are also well-laid-out in The Quick Start Guide. This presumes you are in a hurry to deploy the unit (or possibly more than one). Please be aware: If you don't perform any further configuration, your Chorus will be using all the default settings. 

AnaBat Chorus with Lithium batteries installed

I always outline the quickest deployment scenario, for those who are interested. And that is what I've just outlined. However, for many other users, you'll want to become familiar with the other settings which may be customised. In the very beginning, you may want to have a printed version of the User Manual handy.

I read the Quick Start Guide, and deployed the Chorus - I was quite surprised to have recorded a bat! It was on December 26th, and it was 40℉ (4.4℃) - It was later identified as a Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus).

The fully detailed, step-by-step Set-Up Guide may be found on page 13 of the User Manual.

Amoung the features which are adjustable are:

• Gain (for side A or B, independently).
• Start / Stop times for active monitoring/recording.
• Minimum & maximum frequency.
• Minimum & maximum recording time.

The AnaBat Chorus runs on four AA sized batteries, which can be of any type (Alkaline, NiMh, or Lithium).

The Chorus also features a Micro USB connection, primarily for updating the unit's firmware. As well as a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, for live monitoring of sounds being picked up by the microphones.

During my tests, I tried various brands/types of batteries; as well as different SD/MicroSD cards - No issues were encountered.

During my extensive testing, I put The Titley Chorus through it's paces; including some deployments in sub-freezing temperatures. In all cases, I found the microphones to perform accurately, without any issues capturing and reproducing sound.

Even in this condition:

As per Page 10 of The User Manual:

Amoung the Acoustic Microphone Specifications we have:

• Electret mics with excellent sensitivity and low noise floor: -24dB sensitivity, with 80dB signal-to-noise ratio.
• Built-in low noise preamplifiers.
• Frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz.

For the Ultrasonic Microphones we have:

• Weatherproofing, for use in rainy conditions.
• Built-in low noise preamplifier.
• Improved frequency response, when compared to previous generation electret-based ultrasonic Mics.
• Useable frequency response of 10kHz to 140kHz (response rolls-off beyond this point) - Which would be interesting to experiment with...

These are great specifications.

The Barred Owl (Strix varia) calls, recorded with The Chorus (in stereo/2 Audible Mics) may be heard on my YouTube Channel (Batdetectors1). Distance to unit: Approximately 75 Meters.

Eastern Coyotes were approximately three times as far; which is probably why I have yet to locate a solid recording worthy of sharing…

The Chorus produced excellent sounding recordings, both in acoustic mode and ultrasonic mode: The file names of acoustic recordings may be set to have an "ac" prefix. While the ultrasonic recordings may be set to have a "us" prefix.

Pros:

• Robust construction.
• Very flexible - Due to dual Mic options.
• Ability to record in FS or ZC.
• Independently adjustable gain (for each Mic).
• Myriad of versatility: The ability to schedule Ultrasonic and/or Acoustic recording for different times of the day (24 hour period).
• The quality of the recordings are excellent.

Cons:

• May be considered expensive, when factoring in the cost of an additional Mic.
• Not as quick to deploy as the AnaBat Express or AnaBat Swift: Having more features and abilities, equates to more time to configure before deployment.
• AnaBat Insight software not as fast or robust as others.

The Chorus may be purchased directly from Titley Scientific (main Website).

You will also find it in stock at many Dealer's Sites, including Wildlife & Countryside Services and at NHBS.

The Titley Chorus - Things I happened to like and dislike:

I liked the robust build, the simple Dashboard/4 icons, the choice of Mics, and relative flexibility of settings like: Filter, independent gain for microphones (A/B).

I didn't like the time and effort required to go from power-up ~to~ deployment. Again, since The Chorus has more features and variables available, this equates to a bit more time to configure.

If you haven't read it already, see Part 1 of this 2-Part review Here.

As is the custom for Titley Scientific devices - there is a hidden game on this unit as well... It's called 'FlappyBat' and I must say, it's rather cute. Here's how you can access the game:

When you hold down the Power button to turn off the detector, You'll see the menu pop-up that lets you choose between sleep and power down. At this menu, press the mode button and a new icon will appear. Arrow across to this one and press OK...

The latest (auto) update/version of AnaBat Insight software has really made a difference in overall performance! A lot of major and minor issues have been addressed with this latest update. It's much more robust now (noticeably better overall). I experienced no freezing of the application, even on my slowest laptop.

Until next time - Happy bat detecting! And animal recording!

🐾🐺🐦🐸

Review: The New Chorus from Titley Scientific Part 1 Of 2

Review: The Chorus from Titley Part 1 Of 2 

The Chorus - Shown with 2 Mics installed for audible sounds

The Chorus is shown above with 2 audible microphones installed (for recording of non-bat/non-ultrasonic sound). My sample/loaner unit was provided with the ultrasonic microphone as well; so there will be plenty of testing and results shared here... I already got a serendipitous recording of a Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) using this new unit!

External Dimensions: 194 x 123 x 50mm (7.3 x 4.8 x 2 inches)

Weight: 400 grams (14 Oz.) Without batteries

The Chorus is a very solid unit. It's molded in a Shrub Green weatherproof and shockproof housing. It's a well laid-out design, similar to several other weatherproof, static recorders on the market.

However, a user should be advised/reminded: When closing The Chorus, for deployment, you must insure you hear a loud snap when you close the latch. Which, again, is similar to other static recorders currently on the market.

In other words, it is possible for someone who is unfamiliar with such devices - to close the unit, "close" the latch, and deploy the unit: Not completely sealed against the elements - without it being properly closed & sealed.

I've made a very short video, demonstrating exactly what I'm referring to. On my Bat Detector Reviews YouTube Channel - It may be seen Here.

The Titley Chorus (please ignore the cheap batteries!)

I'd like to discuss another issue straight away: something else, which was a concern of mine since it's arrival: Our local super-cold temperatures / and how in the world was The Chorus going to fare?

It's not as though I didn't have my local wildlife vocalizing (due to cold weather). On the contrary: Barred Owls (Strix varia) and Eastern Coyotes (Canis latrans) treated us to performances just about every night.

No, it was my concern (my "worry") about whether or not The Chorus would be able to perform in such cold conditions...

After a quick scan through the User Manual, what I'd vaguely suspected was confirmed: It is the batteries' ability to provide voltage (in below freezing Temps) and not The Chorus which is the deciding factor. 

That is to say, when deploying the unit in sub-freezing environments (< 32 Degrees Fahrenheit / 0 Degrees Celsius).

Temperatures here were commonly <23 Deg F/ -5 Deg C at the time that I began testing (and much, much colder since then). ...It's the batteries which are "the weakest link', and not the machine.

How can you ensure best performance in cold weather? 

The short answer: Use Lithium batteries (as many of you are already aware).

To ensure the very best performance and longevity - It would be wise to go for the best (most highly rated brand(s) you can get). Energizer brand Lithium batteries are very good:

The Energizer brand Lithium batteries are reported to "Perform well in extreme temperatures from -40°F to 140°F." I have found them to perform admirably in my local (Upstate New York) conditions.

Eneloop brand rechargeable NimH batteries are still a very good bet, as a second choice. Especially for use in non-freezing weather conditions. I have a good selection of batteries available here: From the very cheapest (untrustworthy) -to- the top of the range. I also have a tendency to try the different brands in the detector(s) I'm evaluating. So far, I haven't experienced anything out of the ordinary to report.

The Titley Chorus may be ordered from a number of Dealers. Such as NHBS:

As well as directly from Titley Scientific - Here. (for $499 [US Dollars] with one free acoustic microphone).

Via either one of the links above, you may select the preferred configuration when ordering. Generally speaking, these are:

• Chorus with one (free) acoustic microphone
• Chorus with an additional acoustic microphone (giving you the set-up shown in my photos above).
• Chorus with an (additional) ultrasonic microphone.

The Chorus powered-on in subdued light

Some key features:

• The ability to add additional microphones - Both acoustic, and ultrasonic (more on this later).

• Lasts for up to 40 nights (full spectrum ultrasonic) or 300 hours (acoustic) on 4 AA sized batteries.

• It is a static recorder, which operates unattended -and- No phone apps are required for setup.

• Temperature sensor.

• Transect mode available!

• Bar graphs on main display show a live representation of sound levels picked-up by unit.

The bottom of The Titley Chorus - Showing the tripod socket

I like the ease with which you can navigate the menus; the main screen is called the Dashboard.

The unit is powered on by pressing the OK button.

There is a useful sticker inside the cover, which conveys the basic instructions. 

The Chorus would be a very good option for: An Ecologist, Bat Worker, Wildlife Researcher, et al, looking for a capable, unattended sound recording solution. Again, it is capable of recording both ultrasounds and normally-audible sounds.

As an experienced wildlife sound recordist, I'm immediately interested in any static recorder able to competently record audible sounds of wildlife. 

In fact, I couldn't help but to make comparisons of audible sound recordings from The Chorus versus a Zoom H1n digital recorder, which I use for impromptu wildlife sound recording! Now, we all know that this can't be considered a "fair" comparison - but, I couldn't help to experiment anyway!

To elaborate - The Zoom H1n recorder is designed from the ground up, to do one thing: record stereo sound as well as possible (within it's [low] cost constraints!).

The Chorus (and similar devices) must record wildlife - Reliably, accurately, over long periods of time, and in the most extreme weather conditions imaginable.

From the jungles of South America, to The Great White North (😉 Canada) and beyond... These are no small feats, by any stretch. 

Obviously, this product would be very well-suited for anyone needing to record ultrasonic and non-ultrasonic sounds. In other words - It would be a great match for Biologists working with animals which vocalize in both audible, and sub-audible (ultrasonic) spectrum.

This review is continued, in Part 2 of 2... Where I covered a bit more about this very capable recorder. 

Happy bat detecting! 

The New Chorus from Titley Scientific - First Impressions

The New Chorus, static/stand alone recorder from Titley Scientific, is more than just a bat/ultrasound recorder. It is also a very capable audible sound recorder for capturing a myriad of wildlife vocalizations.

The type of unit it is, would commonly be referred to as a passive detector (when discussing bat recordings). 

It performs the same way, when it comes to wildlife sound recording. At the risk of oversimplifying - It is the type of recorder one would set-up in the field (be it woodland, swamp, mountains) and return to retrieve the SD card (recordings) after a period of many weeks. 

At this time, I'd like to share my "first impressions" synopsis...

The new Chorus (occasionally referred to as The Anabat Chorus) is an impressive machine. It arrived (to me here in The US) from Titley's HQ in Australia, professionally well-packaged (as usual). When purchasing Pro-level equipment, from leading manufacturers - You'll find well-designed boxes/packaging, which keeps equipment well protected.

My loaner unit for test, is a full-production unit. The same as any customer around the world would receive. My particular unit was provided with one ultrasonic microphone (for bat recording, etc.) and two normal microphones (for most other wildlife vocalizations). 

Some of the very first aspects which struck me upon unboxing were:

• It's very robust design. Reminiscent of a Hummer, or some other tough vehicle. Hefty and sturdy.
• The interior of the unit, especially battery compartment and SD card slot - seem almost ergonomic (for lack of a better description). That is to say, I could install and remove the batteries & SD card very, very easily.
• Each of the microphones may be installed & removed easily, with good tactile feedback. There's no mistaking whether or not the Mics are fully seated. 

I like the yellow display; and more importantly, the range of features which are easily accessible to the end user.

Until next post...

Happy bat detecting!

An Early Look At Something Coming Up Next - The Chorus from Titley Scientific

Well, this is a bit premature... But, in any case:

The brand new Chorus made by Titley Scientific has arrived, for testing and review. As with their other static recorders: It's very easy to set-up/deploy.

I couldn't help but to read the Quick Start Guide, and The User Manual; and subsequently, to do a short test deployment. To my surprise, it recorded a bat.

I was very surprised, since it was December (the 26th, to be exact). And the evening temperatures were right around 40 degrees F (for the most part).

As per the latest version of Kaleidoscope software, and manual IDing by yours truly - It was, in fact a Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus). The only question I have, is: Is it suffering from WNS? Or did it just wake-up for a drink of water? (at the nearby trout stream). For now, I can only speculate...

This new static unit from Titley works really well - and I've found zero negatives about it (except the slightly higher price).

I find no faults in it's design at all: Batteries and SD card are installed & removed effortlessly. 

I like the way it's ultrasonic microphone simply records bats (and not any other non-bat/non-animal sounds). Very neat so far!

So, as for The Chorus - I like it a lot so far! I look forward to posting Part 1 of the review soon...

Happy New Year & Happy bat detecting!

 

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!