Dodotronic ULTRAMIC384K BLE User manual

ULTRAMIC384K BLE USER GUIDE
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ULTRAMIC384KBLE
Ultrasonic USB microphone and recorder
with Bluetooth for an easy configuration via Android smartphone
USER GUIDE
0.4.6

ULTRAMIC384K BLE USER GUIDE
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Summary
Contents
Summary............................................................................................................................................................2
Overview............................................................................................................................................................3
Features..........................................................................................................................................................3
Applications...................................................................................................................................................4
The Circuit .....................................................................................................................................................4
Disassembly...................................................................................................................................................4
Versions..........................................................................................................................................................5
Waterproof .....................................................................................................................................................6
USB Microphone ...............................................................................................................................................7
Unattended Recorder .........................................................................................................................................9
One Hour Recording Mode ...........................................................................................................................9
Minutes Recording Mode ............................................................................................................................10
Scheduled Recording Mode.........................................................................................................................10
UM384BLE configuration app ....................................................................................................................11
USB Power ..................................................................................................................................................12
SD card ........................................................................................................................................................13
XML File Editing.........................................................................................................................................14
Scheduling Deletion.....................................................................................................................................16
Amplification Settings .....................................................................................................................................17
Firmware Upgrade ...........................................................................................................................................18
Simplified Flow Code......................................................................................................................................19
Led messages ...................................................................................................................................................20
Technical Specifications ..................................................................................................................................22
Recording Times ..............................................................................................................................................23
Customization ..................................................................................................................................................23
UM384K Bottom Recorder .............................................................................................................................24
Examples..........................................................................................................................................................25
1 BAT CALLS .............................................................................................................................................25
2 BIRD, INSECT AND BAT CALLS .........................................................................................................30
3 SOUNDSCAPE ........................................................................................................................................31
4 CALLS RECORDING .............................................................................................................................32
5 MONITOR PREDICTIVE .......................................................................................................................32
FAQ..................................................................................................................................................................33
TIPS and TRICKS ...........................................................................................................................................34
Glossary ...........................................................................................................................................................35
Safety Precautions ...........................................................................................................................................36

ULTRAMIC384K BLE USER GUIDE
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Overview
The Ultramic384K is a high quality - professional digital audio and ultrasonic microphone that can
work as both:
-Ultrasonic USB microphone
-Unattended audio and ultrasonic recorder
The Ultramic384K has an integrated analog-to-digital converter able to achieve a 384 Khz data
sampling rate; this mean that you can record sounds up to about 190 Khz.
The USB 2.0 full speed port allows an easy connection to your PC, iOS, Android smartphone or tablet
and to embedded Linux systems.
When used with an external USB battery, the Ultramic384K’s low power, integrated 32 bit
microcontroller makes it the perfect device for long term autonomous recording.
Only 30 mA @5 Volts of power are required when operating at full speed.
Features
A high performance - omnidirectional audio and ultrasonic microphone
USB 2.0 full speed connection using a driverless - standard audio class UAC 1.1 interface for an
easier communication with host devices
Hardware amplification gain is settled via two switches
Easy disassembly to access the SD card slot, the backup battery, the preamplification switches and
button.
CAP
BODYFRONT
REAR CAP
CIRCUIT
SWITCHES
PUSH BUTTON
BLUETOOTH
MICRO SD CARD
CR1220 CLOCK BATTERY

ULTRAMIC384K BLE USER GUIDE
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Applications
BIOACOUSTICS:
oDetecting and recording of biological ultrasounds for bioacoustics studies on insects,
cetaceans, rodents, and bats.
oEnvironmental studies to assess the impact of wind farms on bats.
oRecording and analyzing mice ultrasonic vocalizations for pharmacological studies.
oSoundtracks and special effects (such as slowing down the recorded ultrasounds).
INDUSTRIAL:
oLEAK detection
oPredictive motor fault monitoring
oDetection of high-frequency noises emitted by switching power supplies, LCD screens, or
the turbines of car and truck engines, energy saving lamps.
The Circuit
SD card
Backup and clock battery
Bluetooth
Push
button
Ampification
switches
INPUT CONNECTOR
+5V
INPUT –
INPUT +
RS232 RX
RS232 TX
GROUND
+1.5V
USB CONNECTOR
+5V
D-
D+
GROUND
PROGRAMMER
CONNECTOR

ULTRAMIC384K BLE USER GUIDE
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Disassembly
To disassemble the UM384K you can simply
unscrew the back ring and keep the metal tube
with one hand and push the plastic
component.
To reassemble the UM384K you can push back
the plastic into the metal tube.
Versions
Three UM384K versions are available:
-UM384K USB MICROPHONE
-UM384K BOTTOM RECORDER
-UM384K CIRCUIT ONLY
The different versions have the same circuitry and as a consequence the same functionality.
UM384K USB MICROPHONE
The easiest way to detect and record ultrasound, all integrated in a delrin container and aluminum
tube.
UM384 BOTTOM RECORDER
The hydrophone version. The bottom recorder is essentially an Ultramic installed into a plastic case
specifically designed to support high pressure for deep sea recordings.
Take care with the O-Ring!!! A bad insertion can cut the sealing, vanishing the waterproof
protection.
1
2
3

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UM384K CIRCUIT ONLY
The availability of the circuit UM384K only allows a customized integration of the UM384K for many
different applications, such as the combination with a specific sensor to detect - vibrations, piezo
ultrasound detector, infrasound, etc.
Please, be aware that using this circuit outside of its specification may damage the circuit.
Waterproof
Ultramic384Kis a waterproof IP67 microphone when the front cap is tightly screwed. The USB
connector is – not a waterproof device, therefore it must be protected from humidity and dust. The
microphone sensor is protected by a PTFE membrane glued to the black front cap.
Even if the membrane is very small it will block a part of ultrasonic sounds. If you don’t need the
waterproof protection or if you have provided a custom shelter for UM384K from rain than unscrew the
front cup so you’ll got all the sensitivity of UM384K.
While the Ultramic384K is water resistant and designed to operate in an outdoor environment, it is
strongly recommended that the Ultramic384K must be protected from the direct rain or snow. In
addition, please note that it will be difficult for the sound to be captured by the sensor if the
windscreen or the sensor becomes wet.
Finally, please ensure that the USB cable leads down from the device so that any water is channeled
away from the microphone, minimizing the chance of water infiltration through the grommet.
The front membrane greatly decrease the sensitivity in ultrasonic range so provide a
shelter from rain and unscrew and remove the front membrane to have a better sensitivity.

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USB Microphone
Ultramic384k is commonly used as a USB ultrasonic microphone.
You simply have to:
-Remove the internal SD card
-Connect the USB connector to your PC, smartphone or tablet.
The use of standard USB audio class allows the microphone to be used as a standard Plug & Play
device with no driver installation required.
… WITH YOUR PC
Insert the USB connector of the microphone to the USB connector of your PC.
Less than a minute is required for the operating system of your PC to install the required software.
Install your preferred audio software. The list of compatible software can be found on:
www.dodotronic.com
… WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET
Use a USB OTG adapter and connect the Ultramic to your Android smartphone.
Download the BAT RECORDER app and open it.
Connect your headphones to listen the ultrasound translated in audio range. The online user guide will
lead you to understand the many available features.
Smartphone and UM384K with the microphone metal holder.

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… WITH YOUR iOS DEVICE
With the lightening USB adapter connect your microphone to your iPad, iPod or iPhone.
Download the ULTRASONIC ANALYZER app to capture the ultrasound.
The list of compatible devices and other
compatible apps can be found on:
www.dodotronic.com
Visit: www.dodotronic.com to find the
updated list of devices, apps and more
regarding the use of Ultramic384k.

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Unattended Recorder
The Ultramic384K is also an embedded recorder and nothing else is required but an external USB
power supply and a formatted SD card.
There are three ways of recording:
ONE HOUR RECORDING MODE
MINUTES RECORDING MODE
SCHEDULED RECORDING MODE
One Hour Recording Mode
This is the simplest way to use it as an autonomous recorder. No scheduling is needed.
This mode allows you to make a single, one hour length recording each time the microphone is
powered on. After one hour the file is closed and the Ultramic384K will go into a low power mode.
How to setup the autonomous one - hour recording mode:
-Open the Ultramic384k by unscrewing the back.
-Insert a formatted SD card into the slot on the circuit board.
-Reassemble the device.
-Power the device via an USB power supply such as wall adapter or a USB power bank.
Then the device starts recording at 384Khz sampling rate.
Every 8 seconds the RED led emits a blink indicating the beginning of recording.
If you want to stop the recording press the button for a few seconds. Consequently the green led
blinks rapidly to state the stop of the current recording.
Every time Ultramic384K is powered on, it creates a new folder - sequentially named using the
format PWRxxxxx - where xxxxx is a sequential number. A maximum of 6 files is saved in the folder,
each file up to 480 Mbytes in size (approximately 10 minutes recording).
If you need another hour recording, then repower the device again.
Note:
-As an alternative, you could use an external timer connected to a USB wall mount adapter so that the
timer powers the microphone for a periodic one - hour recording.
In both One Hour Recording Mode and in Minutes Recording Mode no scheduling must be
present in the memory of the UM384K. Please check the memory and erase it as explained in the
SCHEDULING DELETION chapter.

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Minutes Recording Mode
In this recording mode you can do recordings with a specified length and sampling rate, with no need
to do a complex scheduling.
For example if you need to record for 70 minutes at 48 Khz in a simple way please consider the
following steps:
-By using a simple text editor with your PC create two files with the following extension:
70.rec and 48.spr
- copy the files in a micro SD card
- power the Ultramic, it will start recording at 48 Khz for 70 minutes.
If you need different times, please change the “70” file name with the correct one. If you need other
sampling frequencies, please change the “48” file name with the preferred frequency.
Allowed frequencies in Khz are:
384
192
96
48
200
250
Allowed file name for minutes are between 11.rec and 90.rec (the range is between 11 and 90
minutes).
NOTE:
-If no sampling rate is specified it will record at 384 Khz.
-No scheduling must be present in the memory of UM384K else, the scheduling mode is
followed instead of Minutes Recoding mode.
Scheduled Recording Mode
The scheduled recording mode allows a wide flexibility in record planning.
For example, you can record a bird’s song every day from 5:00 a.m. for 2 hours at 48Khz and then
bat’s calls from 10:00 p.m. for 50 minutes at 384Khz and so on.
Another recording scheme mainly used in soundscape recording can be as follow: you can record a
sound for 10 minutes then keep the device off for 50 minutes and then repeat the cycle.
There are two ways to program the device for scheluding:
By the UM384BLE CONFIG Android app (preferred)
Manually editing the XML file
When the Ultramic is recording it is important not to power off the device, this will compromise
the FAT damaging all files stored in the SD card.
SOLUTION: while recording (beware of the blinking RED led) you can stop the device by pressing
the button for few seconds. Then the green led will blink and the recorded file closed correctly.