Review: The UltraMic Evo 384K USB Microphone from Dodotronic

The UltraMic Evo 384K USB Microphone from Dodotronic

Not to be confused with The UltraMic 250K, or 384K USB microphone, The Evo 384K is a totally different device: 

The Ultramic 384K Evo is a professional USB microphone, which digitally records both audible and ultrasonic sound. It is constructed of high-quality black plastic, although it is not weatherproof. 

The unit is unique since it employs two separate microphones; which reside behind the opening (opposite of the [male] USB connector).

The Ultramic 384K Evo utilizes USB 2.0 connections at full speed via an audio class UAC 1.1 interface. This translates to a driverless coupling with host devices.

Hardware gain (amplification) is adjusted via a small, recessed, 4-position switch. Note: My microphone arrived with the switch set at 3 - Which equates to 0dB of gain.

More details may be seen on Page 10 of the User Guide; however, the switch gain settings, are as follows:

1.  -33dB
2.  -10dB
3.   0dB
4.  10dB

Just to clarify:

1 being the switch setting closest to the center of the Mic, and correlating to the least amount of gain (-33dB).

2 being the center position (-10dB).

3 Moving toward the Mic's opening (0dB)

4 The position closest to the Mic's opening (10dB)

The microphone itself, is basically omnidirectional. However, there is also an optional acoustic horn available (which typically costs approx. €8).

The acoustic horn is attached to the Mic using built-in neodymium magnets. Attachment of this horn makes the reception noticeably more directional / less sensitive to off-axis sound. Planar plots demonstrating this may be seen on Page 4 of the User Guide.

Physical characteristics of this unit are as follows:

80mm Long X 30mm Wide X 16mm High (thickness).

It weighs only 24 grams.

With Magnetic Cone attached, hook & loop/Velcro also provided.

A few more technical details:

• It uses a 32 bit ARM Cortex M4 microcontroller for it's CPU.
• It uses 15mA of power from whichever host it's connected to.
• It utilizes 2 SPU0410LR5H microphone elements from Knowles.
• Recording format is linear PCM format.

Current price, directly from the Dodotronic Site, at the time of this writing is €220.

Amoung the applications listed for this microphone (as per Manufacturer's site) are:

• Bioacoustics:

Detection/recording of ultrasounds of insects, cetaceans, rodents, and bats.

Bat activity at wind farms.

Mice vocalizations for medical and pharmacological studies, etc.

Various soundtracks which require the slowing down of ultrasounds.

• Industrial: 

Leak detection (gas line leaks, etc.).

Monitoring machine motors for prediction of faults.

Listening for high frequency noises from switching power supplies, LCD screens, various turbines, and energy saving lamps.

The Ultramic 384K Evo is designed to be used with your PC and/or Android phone.

Whether connected to a smartphone or a laptop, The Ultramic Evo is generally easy to use. Having said that, I would advise you to consider the importance of choosing a compatible App, which you find comfortable and convenient to use.

In both domains of smartphones and laptops (PC & Apple) - not all Apps are created equal. 

Luckily, you have a substantial assortment to choose from:

• SEA Sound Emission Analyzer
• Multi-Instrument
• GoldWave
• Audacity
• SpectraPLUS-SC
• Tadaria
• Reaper

For Android devices:

• Bat Recorder
• USB Audio Recorder Pro
• Audio Evolution Mobile Studio

For iOS:

• Ultrasonic Analyzer

As far as mounting goes, I've had satisfactory results when hand holding the Mic - However, the unit is sensitive enough to pick up sounds of even small movements of the hand that's holding it. 

The unit doesn't have a built-in tripod socket; but since it's so incredibly light (and small) there are nearly endless options for temporary mounting locations: All that is required is some good quality masking tape & your imagination.

Again, the Ultramic 384K Evo is not waterproof, so here we're discussing mounting in areas where you can keep an eye on it. For relatively "long-term" recordings, your only real limitations are:

• Your supply of expendable memory/hard drive space.
• The length of time of good weather.
• And how willing you are to search/sort through the considerable amount of recordings later.

I believe there would be a fair number of Ecologists, and those involved in Bioacoustics who would be interested in using this USB microphone.

For instance, it would be ideal for someone who:

• Needs to record both audible and ultrasounds simultaneously. 
• Is ready to move on from all-in-one detectors.
• Requires comparisons of recordings between smartphone and laptop.
• Prefers to have recordings saved directly to a laptop for analysis and processing, etc.

Not long ago, I wrote a post about how I wanted to record mammals heard in my area; at a distance...I was hearing both Foxes and Coyotes vocalizing at night.

I wondered what the best option would be in my situation. The sounds seemed to be originating from between 50 to 150 meters away.

I considered a good digital recorder, along with a fairly good-performing shotgun microphone.

Luckily, it wasn't very long before I received the Dodotronic Ultramic - And realized that it had the potential to capture the sounds I wanted.

I have made several good recordings of our local owls: Barred owls (

, as well as a couple of (as yet unidentified) woodland animals. Sadly, I haven't had the opportunity to record the original mammals I was after.

But, I should still have time...

One of the advantages to keep in mind, when comparing this Ultramic 384K Evo to a shotgun microphone - is the ability to drastically adjust the Ultramic's gain settings. When experimenting with the higher 2 (of the 4) settings, it's easy to overload the device (and cause clipping). 

With more experimentation (combinations) of both hardware and software gain settings, a good balance can be reached.

One where: There's enough gain to properly pull-in/record the distant animal sounds; without any overloading, or clipping of the signals.

Another situation where Dodotronic microphones would excel would be in controlled laboratory environments. 

It is extremely accurate when it reproduces sound. At this time, I've only uploaded 2 recordings to The SoundCloud site - I hope to add more soon:

Here is a non-amplified recording, made with the 384K Evo, of Barred Owls at about 100+ feet distant.

Here is another non-amplified recording, made with the Evo, of what I believe is (possibly) a Whippoorwill (a common night bird in NE United States) at about 100 feet distant.

Pros:

• Records audible and ultrasonic sounds simultaneously. 
• Relatively low-cost (List price on Dodotronic's site: 220 Euros).
• Super portable - Box containing Mic and Directional Horn can fit in almost any pocket.
• Substantial assortment of software available to choose from.

Cons:

• Must be tethered to a computing device.
• Not waterproof/weather resistant. 
• Only one software option available for iOS phone users. 

You may order an Ultramic 384K Evo directly from the Dodotronic website; and I was able to find just a few Dealers who stock it (all in Europe).

I plan to add more to this review - It is a work in progress...

Until next time, Happy bat detecting!

Some Opinions & Info Recently Shared With Some Readers (Via e-mail)

I received a few questions recently, from some beginning Hobbyists; and others who are new to bat detecting equipment. So, I'm passing along some of the information I shared, and the suggestions I offered.

Detector Recommendations, Responses To E-Mails , And Other Tips:

The new SSF BAT2, is a fantastic detector, that has excellent sensitivity and range It's reasonably priced - And is a lot of fun to use! The review of this one, is still "in the works"...But will be posted up here soon. Have a look at this great unit (I love the display):

In regards to Dodotronic's Ultramics:

I believe that the Ultramic may be useful, for your application - For more info, in regards to the Ultramic, from Dodotronic:

You may also want to have a look at the Forum discussion that took place here: http://www.forumbretagne-vivante.org/t2751-micro-ultrasons-usb

A lot of the posts are in French - Just scroll down, until you see the post in English, written by Ivano of Dodotronic.
You'll have to disregard the mention of it's ability to do unattended recording - As this feature has not been implemented into the SeaWave software yet. In fact, that functionality may be added to the SeaPro software.
The Ultramics do need to be connected to a computing device of some sort. When hooked up to a laptop, netbook, or Tablet PC, the Ultramic works very well.
The way I see it, when it comes to the Ultramic - Is this: If you will be recording in a place where substantial numbers of bats are pretty much "guaranteed" (Pond, Lake or Stream/River) then; the Ultramic would be good. - But, it does pick up and record other ultrasounds as well. Any sound (or noise) that resonates in (or close to) the ultrasonic spectrum will be picked up.

It would not be my first choice for un-attended recording.

If your budget allows, I would recommend the D240X. As it allows you to listen to the both the Heterodyne, and the TE activity that is going on at the same time (using any stereo earphones). You can hear the Heterodyne sounds in one ear and the TE activity in the other, simultaneously. With a digital stereo recorder, you'd be all set.
I was very fond of that unit during my testing and review period. One of the things that I noticed, was the noise-free recordings I got (using the D240X & a Zoom H1 Stereo recorder). The TE recordings were very clean (no background noise). Even the heterodyne recordings were clean.

The D240X on bat walks - The neat thing is, you can plug the recorder into the Tape jack, to capture (record) any triggered events; -and- listen to the heterodyne portion over the speaker at the same time.
Folks in attendance, will be able to hear the live bat activity (while you are recording it). The speaker Volume setting has no effect on the recordings. Excellent.
The only issue here, would be the higher cost...

As I mentioned on a previous post: The very lowest cost I've seen them for, (New) was $1499 US.

The Ciel CDB 305 Dual Bat Detector looks OK - It's not a terrible choice. However, relying on the printed knob tuning won't be extremely accurate.

Something with a digital readout would be ideal (and accurate).
A unit like the BatBox Duet would be excellent, but it is not cheap -http://batbox.com/duet.asp

Having said that; if cost is a major consideration - I would recommend the following unit:

The BatBox Baton (an outstanding performer - and cheap!).
In any case, with a simple digital recorder - It's very portable. Try to get the shortest stereo cable you can find (with 3.5mm plugs on each end). You'll be able to travel all over (and all night) making FD recordings.
A blog post, regarding cables and other small accessories will be coming up in the not-too-distant future.
The resulting frequency division recordings produced, will be a good starting point - In regards to analyzing the calls and creating sonograms. And, let's keep in mind that the Baton comes with a CD containing the Batscan software! Which I like very much, for creating sonograms, etc. As a side note: BatBox Ltd.'s Batscan software is very similar to the (no-longer-available) Spectrogram 16 software.

The resulting FD recordings will be useful. And you'll be able to analyze them, etc.

Well, I hope that helps. I'm probably forgetting something!

Happy bat detecting!

-Al

Review: Dodotronic's Ultramic200K

– ULTRAMIC200K – From Dodotronic



I'm excited about a new product, that has just become available from the folks at http://www.dodotronic.com/ In this case, It's a new ultrasound microphone, called the Ultramic200K. The main purpose I'll be using it for, is to record bats! But, any type of ultrasound can be recorded. You can see photos and info of the new unit, by visiting the link above.

One of the reasons that I am really thrilled about this device, is that until now, there's never been a true, low-cost version of professional ultrasonic microphones - Such as the high-end (and very high cost!) models offered by a few specialist suppliers in Europe. 
These are geared more towards the Professional's budget, way out of reach for the average bat enthusiast.
Another great feature of the Ultramic, is that it plugs right into a laptop. Unlike the expensive professional units, which require the user to purchase one or more additional hardware components. Since most folks have laptops these days, just about anyone can have a professional style bat recording system that's simple (andinexpensive!).

The newly released, free SeaWave software has been modified to run the Ultramic smoothly, even on a Windows tablet with low-power Atom CPU. You can find SeaWave here: Download SeaWave
 
As you will learn from the Dodotronic Web site, the Ultramic200K is an ideal choice for someone who enjoys "experimenting" and discovering new ways to use the various (free) software packages available. It is a very versatile device, with lots of features; so there are quite a few ways in which to record sounds. One can use it straight away, simply by plugging it into your portable computer. It may be used with a Windows or Linux operating system. Or, you may try it with any free, downloadable sound application of your choice.
I've completed some tests and comparisons on one of the first prototypes of this unique microphone. Recording tests of the UltraMic200K reveal a very capable piece of equipment.

Ultramic200K First Impressions:

I received the Ultramic200K prototype today (here in New York, USA), less than a week after ordering it. The mic was well packaged, with bubble wrap and a padded envelope.
The microphone has 'ULTRAMIC200K Distribuito Da DODOTRONIC' printed on it, in neat, black lettering.


The unit is lightweight and very compact. Upon plugging it in to my laptop (running Windows XP) via USB cable, It is recognized right away.
I immediately launched the SeaWave software, since I knew it already has a convenient template for this microphone. After launching the SeaWave application, you can simply click on the 'Quick Settings' pull-down menu on the right, and select 'UltraMic 200K 16 bits'
I've found two ways to get it ready to record - Although, there may be others (I'll confess: I have not read about all the capabilities of this software yet). You may either click on the 'Rec Mode' button (lower left side of screen); or click 'Task' on the upper left area of the screen (sometimes referred to as the file or menu bar) and choose 'Real-Time Analysis + Recording'. Either of these actions will cause the large 'Start' button to turn red, and read 'REC Start'. A single-click on that button begins recording.
 
The first thing that struck me, was it's ability as a microphone in general: Outstanding! It has simply amazing performance! It easily out-performs each of the shotgun microphones I had to hand (including the well-known Sennheiser MKE-300). The sensitivity of this (MEMs-based) microphone is astonishing. This is especially noteworthy, as the Ultramic was not designed to perform as a shotgun mic.
The main feature that I always look for in a new bat detector, is it's ability to detect bats from a good distance away. And, I'm happy to report that the Ultramic200K can pick up bats at the same distances as my other top bat detectors.
Tonight was the first real test for evening bats. And it performed very well indeed! The sensitivity of this mic is phenomenal!
I still have a lot of learning to do, as far as the SeaWave software goes, but I give it a thumbs up, overall. And it can be used with just about any software that detects a USB microphone. Audacity, etc.
When it comes to the ability to pick up distant bats on the wing: The mic easily matches my beloved BatBox Baton (one of the best performing bat detectors in my collection).
I will say, that this is the perfect ultrasonic microphone for those Nature Recordists & bat enthusiasts who enjoy experimenting with recording equipment. The combinations of software settings seem endless. I've only just scratched the surface of what can be accomplished with this hardware & software (SeaWave). The full version of SeaPro, has even more (and very desirable) capabilities.
As you will learn from the Dodotronic Web site, the Ultramic200K is a very versatile device, with great specifications and lots of features; so there are quite a few ways in which to record sounds. Many different combinations of settings are possible.
I've only tried a few so far. 
One of the most outstanding features of this device, is that it is capable of time-expansion bat detecting! To me, this alone was worth the price of admission. I've wanted a time-expansion bat detector for years now...
Another reason that I'm very impressed by this device, is because until now, there hasn't been a low-cost ultrasonic microphone available to Hobbyists. So, I am pleased to report that the Ultramic200K costs as much as many conventional bat detectors. 200 Euro + VAT + Shipping. 

Many of the specialty ultrasonic microphones on the market have been very high cost units, which also required additional add-on hardware in order to function. Sometimes, one also has to factor-in the expense of additional cables.

With the Ultramic, no additional hardware components are necessary.

Among the options in the SeaWave dialog box, is an option to adjust the Digital Gain. Well, just increasing the value in small increments provides amazing results - The mic becomes super-sensitive, but at the same time doesn't over-saturate or suffer from too much clipping or distortion. I'm not sure how or why that is, but I'm happy about it (I've just never seen it before).

I've been informed, by the software Designer, that the Digital Gain feature of SeaWave, should be used sparingly, and on weak signals (as needed). I did start to think that I would be
losing some signal to noise performance - But, it was so much fun increasing the gain! It's like turning the Ultramic into a Super-Mic! Wow! : ) 
In any case, this new Mic; along with the awesome SeaWave software are the best things to happen to ultrasound recording in a long time!

Happy bat detecting!

A link to the above review, in PDF format, on Dodotronic's Web site: PDF version on Dodotronic Site

New Bat Detectors: Available Now! -And- Coming Soon!

"We interrupt our regularly scheduled bat detector reviews, to bring you news of the following new developments"

There are some new bat detecting devices available now – several manufacturers have produced and released new detectors for sale. 

I will be testing and reviewing the following two brand-new systems soon:

In order of their release:

• The pairing of Dodtronic's Ultramic (200K) -And- Ultrasonic Analyzer (for iPad and iPhone); produces a full-featured bat recording solution. I'll be performing my testing and review, on a borrowed iPhone.

• The micro trio, from Ciel EaM - This bat detector is currently very new, and only available to the public via Advance Orders (for now).

Each of the preceding bat recording solutions look very promising!

The solution from Dodotronic & Ultrasonic Analyzer is available now. 

The brand-new bat detectors from Ciel Eam (there are several) are available as pre-order items right now. Others are set to be released soon...

I will also be writing a short review of the latest version of SoundChaser software (works with Dodotronic's Ultramic series of microphones). From Acounect in France. They are also currently offering a free 15-day trial of their software Here. So, if you own an Ultramic, you should have a look and try it out.

Now, on to a few more new bat detectors!

Please Note: At this time, there is no indication that I will have the opportunity to review any of the following new devices. I list them here, for the sake of being complete, and thorough. As always, one of the main purposes of this blog, is to inform the public of new bat detectors as they become available.

Be that as it may, I do plan to purchase and use a Momimic from Dodotronic. So a review of this super-small microphone will eventually be posted here. I am planning to build a homemade, ultrasonic, parabolic dish to record singing insects with. And I plan to use The Momimic as the microphone for it.

Elekon AG - The latest model of their wonderful Batlogger M, has had a few minor changes. The small, external GPS antenna now resides inside the case (no longer visible). In addition, the GPS system itself, now utilizes data from The GLONASS satellites. This is especially helpful, to those in Europe and Russia, etc. Read more at the Newsletter Archive Page.

Avisoft Bioacoustics has recently announced updates to their USG116Hm/116Hmn

Titely Scientific, is poised to release their brand-new AnaBat Express very soon...And, from what I've seen so far - It looks very interesting.

BatBox is supposed to be coming out with a new bat detecting device! No one knows much about it (yet!)

Once again, I will not be reviewing any of these devices, so please contact the manufacturers with your questions.

The "busy season" for new bat detecting devices is here; and once again, I have two (software) reviews in progress...

"We now return to our regularly scheduled bat detector reviews...Part 2 of The Echo Meter Touch review coming up next"

Happy bat detecting!

Review: SoundChaser Software From Acounect

Review: SoundChaser Software From Acounect (France)

SoundChaser is a (Windows-based) software application; which has been developed by Acounect, to enable users to record wildlife sounds, with a great deal of accuracy. The application is very versatile, featuring modules which may be easily loaded/unloaded:

SoundChaser Software

The SoundChaser software from Acounect has gone through many changes over the past couple of years. This latest version (1.1), is by far the most competent and capable. One of the most important additions, has been the ability to trigger recordings. I was very happy to see this feature implemented. Having an auto-trigger feature available allows you to set-up SoundChaser for unattended (overnight) recording. This ability makes it easy to utilize an UltraMic for passive monitoring/recording of bats. Something that wasn't possible until now.

SoundChaser is currently available in two, distinctive versions:

• SoundChaser Discovery

• SoundChaser Expert

Since my Readers and I are most interested in recording bats, this review will focus on The SoundChaser Expert software. Which is the version best suited to bat recording.

An important factor, which I'd like to point out straight away - Is that SoundChaser software is free to download and use; for 15 days. I encourage you to visit the Site, and have a look!

Whenever I review software, which happens to be freely available for downloading -
Whether it's completely free or free-to-try (like SoundChaser): I feel, that there simply isn't a need to write such a lengthy/detailed review; since anyone who is interested, can simply download and try the software themselves - For free. 
This is still currently the case with several excellent software applications. 

Below, is an excellent demonstration video (made by Acounect):

SoundChaser Demo video on a Tablet PC

The hardware (and software) requirements are quite simple; you will need:

• An UltraMic, from Dodotronic any version will work (including the very first ones released). The two versions currently available, are: The 200kHz sample rate unit, and the 250kHz sample rate unit.
• A laptop, sub-notebook, or tablet PC - Running a late version of Windows software as it's operating system.
• SoundChaser Expert software.

As per Acounect's Web Site:
"Recommended requirements: Windows Vista, 7 or 8, Intel iCore (or equivalent),  ATI or nVidia GPU graphics card, screen resolution of 720p or 1080p HD, touch screen."

The Folks at Acounect have also provided a neat, and useful list of compatible/recommended Tablet PC's in PDF format Here. Each for under 400 Euros.

Installation is easy, and is outlined in their Installation Guide. 
If you are using a small notebook computer (small screen), you should select 'Full Screen' from the opening dialog box (when you first launch the application). I find it to look a lot better than the other option ('Windowed'). Again, this is something you may try-out yourself; it may be considered a matter of personal preference.

By default, the software will choose the following (syntax) Windows directory to store your recordings in: C:\Users\*Your Username*\SoundChaser Sessions - Of course, this may be easily changed to whichever location (path) you would like.

Pros:

• Free to download and use for 15 days.
• Only hardware purchase needed (for owners of Windows-based machines) is an Ultramic from Dodotronic. 
• Fairly easy to start using.

Cons: 

• Technical Support slow to respond.
• Fairly high Start-up cost (for SoundChaser Expert).

Good luck! Have fun, and...

Happy bat detecting! 

*Next Post - will be the full review of the brand-new 'micro trio' from Ciel.

Review: The Batango From Dodotronic

Review Of Dodotronic's Batango

One of the newest bat detectors on the horizon, also happens to be the smallest. It is the latest offering from Dodotronic, makers of the now well-known Ultramic series of microphones. It is called The Batango. And, believe it or not - It is a fully operational, frequency division bat detector that is made to fit on your key ring!

The Batango's design is simplicity itself: A very small black plastic enclosure; with one momentary push button, and one red LED indicator. This simple ultrasonic detector, is controlled exclusively by this one button. Each of the different settings - Such as: Power On/Off, Volume Up/Down, and Frequency Division Factor settings - Are all adjusted entirely by a simple sequence of button pushes.
See Dodotronic's Batango Web page; for a complete, graphical explanation.
As you can see: The unit is small! Now, you'll never have to miss listening to/or recording some unexpected bat activity!

One side of the unit features the MEMs microphone element (not shown in photo above), along with a 3.5mm Earphone Jack - Which provides audio output.
The unit is powered by a small, "button-type" battery (CR1220 3V Lithium cell) which lasts a good long while. The battery supplied, is still going strong (after a lot of testing).

In the beginning, I've found that it's a good idea to have a print-out of the instructions handy (just until you become familiar with it's operation).

Since Winter is upon us, and my area is currently experiencing very cold temperatures - Ivano Pelicella of Dodotronic, also supplied me with a small, electronic bat sound emulator (this very small circuit was shown on Dodotronic's Web page demo). Pressing a momentary micro switch on the circuit, produces ultrasonic chirps for testing, etc. In addition, I'm also trying to sort through my CDs, .wav files, and some online resources; to locate some (raw) bat recordings, which I would like to try The Batango on as well.

Preliminary tests, using only a pair of (average/inexpensive) earphones were very good. The unit is excellent at rejecting man-made ultrasonic noises. Such as: The ever-popular, rubbing of index & middle fingers against your thumb, or clicking of fingernails, etc. I've recently been informed that this is by design - The unit was designed to reject sounds below 20kHz in frequency.
At the same time, however - It has no problem picking up the ultrasonic pulses produced by the bat chirp emulator. So, this is great news!

I did notice that The Batango does not feature the same kind of pick-up range, as a normal/full-sized detector. At the same time, I realize that this key-chain-sized detector would not be used in settings where long pick-up range is needed. In my opinion, it's great to have handy for serendipitous monitoring of bats. In other words, in those situations where/when you unexpectedly see bats flying about (while you're away from home).

Some other examples, of settings/locales: You may happen to be visiting, with your Aunt Adele (or your Uncle Dominick). And, when evening begins to roll around...you notice that your Aunt (or Uncle's) backyard has more natural bat habitat that you originally remembered.
Or, there is a small wooded lot or other "batty looking" area that you hadn't noticed before... Or, you are dining at a restaurant, and step outside for some fresh air (while waiting for the main course to arrive) and you notice what you are almost sure was the erratic flight of a bat... I'm sure you can understand my point; and you can just imagine the different possibilities!
The other nice thing about it, is that it can be used very discretely. Most onlookers, or a passerby will think you're simply listening to your MP3 player...

Again, since these types of spots are places where your first indication of bat activity is likely to be visual; the pick-up range of the Batango will be adequate.

In regards to The Batango's recording performance, and sonogram production: The unit wasn't exactly designed with those uses in mind. I will share some excerpts, of a recent e-mail, from Ivano Pelicella of Dodotronic:
"...As I've written in my website it's not suited for audio recordings since the outcoming waveform is synthesized and the spectrogram can have a lot of harmonics due to the square waveform of the internal sound generator. For ultrasound recording the Ultramic is the best solution.

The frequency range is 20 khz ~ 140 khz...Batango has an internal filter that cuts all the signal below 20khz, this is the reason why it's so immune to normal audio..."

So, I've given it some thought - And, after careful consideration: I've decided that instead of writing a Part 2 to this review, I will leave it as-is. And, if any additional info needs to be added - I will add it to this post.

The completed, full production units will be available for purchase from Dodotronic in a few months. In the meantime, any questions may be directed, via e-mail to Ivano Pelicella at Dodotronic.

Winter is a good time to organize your notes, sound recordings and sonograms; to be ready for Spring...

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!

Wildlife Sound Recording Society - Autumn 2011 Journal

From England - The Autumn issue of The WSRS's Journal is out now. It is another feature-packed, fascinating issue.

This volume (Vol. 12 No. 2) includes great articles - Including my reviews of:
SeaWave Software (Page 7)
Dodotronic's Ultramic 200K (Page 12)
And a great article by Chris Scott, titled 'Sound Surveys Yield Secrets Of Bat Swarms'
(Page 38)

There really are lots of other great reviews & articles in this volume!

Wildlife Sound Recording Society

I'll admit, that the yearly Subscriptions/Membership fee is not cheap (for USA residents); but I can tell you - It is totally worth every penny!

Sonogram produced by SeaWave software & Ultramic200K

Here is one of the first Sonograms produced using SeaWave 2.0 & Ultramic200K from Dodotronic. I know for a fact, that SeaWave & SeaPro are able to produce much nicer sonograms (I've seen them myself, on the Dodotronic/Ultramic page). But, I will confess - That I haven't got around to reading the whole manual yet...

Here's one, using the default (Gray) settings:
(I don't remember which bat this was)

And, here's one using the '#12 Violet' color scheme:

I haven't studied it very closely yet, but at first glance (and upon hearing the recording) I'd say this was from a Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus).
Both of these bats were picked up at over 40 meters away, using the Ultramic200K.

Review: The M500 USB Ultrasound Microphone

Review of The M500 USB Microphone

The M500 Ultrasound Microphone, is an advanced USB device for detecting and recording the ultrasounds of bats.
It arrives from Pettersson Elektronik, doubled-boxed. The unit (and included accessories) come in a neat, white box. Along with a ZipLok-type bag, as seen in Pic below:

Also see my 'First Impressions' Post

The unit is intended to be used with a tablet PC (or equivalent) or a laptop computer.
I did a lot of testing of this unit on several types of devices; I preferred to use it with a laptop.
The newest version of this USB microphone, The M500-384 is very small and light - Yet, the M500 series is very strong at the same time (being constructed of sturdy Aluminum). 

As per Pettersson's Site, the dimensions are: "43 x 114 x 13 mm (incl microphone horn)"
To be clear, both The M500 and The M500-384 are now the same physical size.
You'll also find this unit's additional features listed on the link above.

The M500 Unboxed

 
The instrument's very small size, allows it to be quite flexible, in terms of which devices it may be attached to. 
It may even be used on devices as small as a cell phone. And anyone with prior experience with similar equipment, will find the unit easy to use.

I was excited about this new USB-based detector when it was first announced. I'll state, right from the start - that I really like the way it looked. I like the idea/design of the hardware itself - More specifically, the layout/design of the indicator lights (more on that later). 
And as always, I'm interested in an ultrasound recorder which can be used for both unattended, and field recording of bats.

Of course, it may also be used to record other animals / ultrasounds as well. The other pleasant surprise, is it's price: Now you'll find substantial differences in price, depending on where in the World you're located, etc. But, I've seen prices from under $400 US Dollars -to- around £465 in the UK. So, it's not as expensive as some other solutions. As always, I advise you to shop around for the best price. Check-out:
Wildlife & Countryside Services

An overview, of the very latest version of their Batsound Touch software, may be seen here.
The newly released, free version of the software has been designed to run The M500 smoothly, on almost all Windows tablets. And the M500-384, is even more flexible: It may be used on Windows an well as Linux platforms. And with different ultrasound recording software. The M500 is an ideal choice for someone who enjoys trying-out the various software packages available.

When considering the hardware which will be used with The M500: At the risk of stating the obvious, I would recommend using one with a high-power CPU, for best results.
The Batsound Touch software is very versatile, with lots of features; so there are quite a few ways in which to record sounds. More details to be added here, in the near future...

I've completed some tests and comparisons on one of the first prototypes of this unique microphone. Recording tests of The M500 revealed a very capable piece of equipment.

The M500 is lightweight and very compact. Upon plugging it in to my laptops (one running Windows 7, the other Windows 8) via USB cable, It was always recognized straight away.

I'm happy to report that The M500 can pick up bats at almost the same distances as my other top bat detectors. Some of which, have higher price tags than The M500.
And overall, it performed very well indeed! The sensitivity of this mic is wonderful!

The M500 is easy to hold and position, due to the durable & flexible USB cords that come provided.
Installation is easy, and it's easy to set-up and use: One end of the USB cable gets plugged into the M500 and the other end is plugged into your computing device.

The majority of (most commonly used) features, present themselves on your computer's screen, via The Batsound Touch interface.
The M500 (and M500-384) would be ideal units for those interested in:
Transects (esp. mobile/from a vehicle, or other forms of transport)
Unattended recording, as well as live recording (using a Netbook/small laptop PC).

When you are ready to record some bats - 

• Plug one end of the (provided) USB cable into the back of the unit 
• Plug the other end into an available USB port on your computing device 
• Launch The Batsound Touch software 
• Check the software's settings (which will be set the same as you left them) 
• Click 'Record'

After setting up the M500 on my Asus Netbook (mini-laptop) for an evening of bat recording - I got into the habit of turning off the WLAN (and Bluetooth). The initial idea, was simply to have one less device using the resources of my wireless router (overnight).
Even though, I realize that the the impact is minimal (to say the least). It seems to not only free up more PC resources (making the Batsound software scroll even faster), but also quiets background hiss even further. This may be a helpful "trick" to try, if you're using a low-end Netbook/laptop like mine.
For example, low-end notebooks will typically have suboptimal RF shielding. 

So it appears that this is another case where the more I use this bat detector, the more I like it.

Pros:

•  Front-facing, high-quality sensor (microphone element)
•  Simple device, robust: virtually nothing to break-off or get physically damaged.
•  No batteries to worry about.

Cons:

• Not weather-proof.

After a very straightforward software installation; using the device is simple:

• Customize the various recording Settings, as per your preference.
• Click the "Record" button, and you will observe the live spectrogram display and may adjust volume, etc.

The current price of an M500 directly from Pettersson Elektronik is just under $400 (US Dollars). Price is subject to change. 
It may be ordered directly from Pettersson Elektronik; here -or- by e-mailing:  (info@batsound.com)
You may also browse their full Product List by visiting their homepage.

The simple fact is, this device can detect, and make useful (accurate) recordings of bats in flight - at impressive distances.
During my various tests, I also discovered that the recordings created by The M500 were of such high quality, that they enabled Auto ID software packages (such as Kaleidoscope) to produce more accurate identifications!
More accurate identifications, as compared to recordings from the other, high-end detectors.

The spectrograms produced are lovely. They will be added to this review, in the near future...

The M500 USB Microphone would be ideal for anyone performing passive (stationary) recordings of bats. It may also perform very well for driven transects; where the use of a laptop isn't a hindrance. 
If the computing device used is very small, and light (cell phone) - I can see The M500 being a wonderful candidate for walking transects. It would be perfect for someone recording bats from inside a home. I've tested it in this way many times, using various laptops. It's very convenient to set-up. The Aluminum enclosure is secured outside, pointing in the general direction of expected bat activity. 
You may even perform work on your laptop, while detection is in progress.

With The M500, we now have another, USB-based microphone for ultrasound recording; and it may be used across several devices. This review, is actually still a work-in-progress; and more Info and Pics will be added soon.

I'm happy to see, that there are quite a few USB-based bat recording solutions available to us now. Dodotronic has also released a new version of their Ultramic; which I am to be testing and reviewing soon.

Still to come, are reviews of The SM4BAT FS from Wildlife Acoustics, and The Batseeker 3.

Happy bat detecting!