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.
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 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!
