Spy Tec LR32BOX User manual

LR32BOX audio recorder
User manual
Version 1.02

This recorder let‘s you to record any audio or human conversation in high quality and store all
on micro SDHC card. The state of art technology with very low power consumption allows
you to record very long records when the battery is powering the module. This recorder is
equipped with very high sensitive microphone and wide dynamic range and is able to record
conversation from distance over 30 feet (10 meters). All stored recordings are accessible on
micro SDHC card by using Record Manager developed for Windows operating system. This
software includes fast overview of each record and simple editing functions, including serach
for active sound in long records. For protection of stored data it is possible to set password
access for all stored recordings. Integrated real time clock should start recording in any
specific period of each day or at any specific date. All recorded data are stored with time
marks, which gives you very good overview in case of long time recording.
Technical data:
Dimension: 28x33x15mm
Battery types: 4x button cell 1.5V, alkaline AG-13 or Zinc Air
ZA675, PR44
Power supply voltage: 3,0-6,0V
Maximum recording time: 528 hours (22 days) at 16kHz (with 16GB card)
Card type: Micro SDHC card
Signal-to-noise ratio: 65dB
Sample rate: 22kHz, 16kHz, 11kHz, 8kHz, 5.5kHz
Bit width: 16bit
Built-in microphone sensitivity: 10-15m
Battery life in stand-by mode: 90 days (with alkaline batteries)
Voice activated recording yes
AGC function: user selectable automatic gain control or fixed
microphone gain
Exporting format: by using included software, WAV format
Scheduled recording: selectable daily period, week period or calendar
Operating mode select: slide switch
Microphone type: high quality Knowles EK23 series

Battery life in recording mode for Zinc-Air battery type measured in hours:
Battery life in recording mode for alkaline battery type measured in hours:
For extending battery life should be used voice acitivated recording mode. This option may
extend this time significantly.

Operating instructions
For controlling all functions is used one slide switch and multifunctional LED.
Before using the recorder you must have ready formatted SDHC card with FAT32 file
system. Card must be formatted with FAT32 file system only and can’t contain any
other files or folders, than image files, created by the recorder and can’t be used by
other equipment, like PDA, digital camera, etc... When the card is used for the first time
and doesn't contain any files, the recorder will first create all image files required for the
recording. This process will start after you insert the card and turn the slide switch to ON. The
LED will start flashing quickly for approximately 2 minutes (depending on a card size, for
32GB card could be a longer time). When it's done, the normal recording will start. Each card
contains one or several files named “rcimage.raw”, “rcimage.ra1”, etc. All those files are used
by the Record Manager to open your records. Each audio record is stored into those files and
no other separate file will appear on the card. Do not remove or insert the card, when the
recording or the initial card formatting is in progress.
Start and stop the recording
This action is operated by using a slide switch. The slide switch works in parallel with the
internal timers for scheduled recording. For example, when the slide switch is in ON position,
the recording is not interrupted regardless the settings of scheduled recording. When the timer
activates the recording, it still continues until the scheduler reaches the scheduled stop time
regardless the position of slide switch.
Before the recording starts, the LED flashing sequence will follow. When the LED flashes 5
times, it means some failure of the micro SD card and the recording didn’t start. When it
flashes only ones, the card is full and recording can’t be started. Flashing 2 to 4 times
indicates available memory space. (4 flashes – more than 75% space available, 3 flashes –
more than 50% space available, 2 flashes – less than 25% space available). The recorder
should store up to 255 records. If this count has exceeded, the card is considered as full. When
the recording is in progress, the LED makes short flashes each 2 seconds. This function
should be disabled for discrete recording. When the voice activated recording is enabled, the
LED flashes only, when the sound level is above selected threshold and recording is in
progress. The recording is stopped when the card is full or by moving the slide switch to OFF
position. Stop sequence is indicated by 3 LED flashes.
Power supply for recorder
The recorder should be powered by small coin cell batteries with any chemistry (Zinc-Air
batteries gives the longest recording time in comparing the smallest size). When Zinc-Air
batteries are used, the sticker must be removed first. Keep in mind that this type of battery has
a self-discharge effect. When the sticker is removed, the batteries are discharging regardless if
the battery is inserted in the recorder or not. The usual usage limit is about 2-3 weeks after
removing the sticker.

Types of supported SDH cards
The recorder supports a wide range of micro SDHC cards, however we recommend you to use
our included card for best performance. The cards from the other brands should consume
more power and this should affect the power consumption significantly in recording mode.
Maximum supported card size is 32GB.
Record Manager
The software Record Manager is used for handling all records and configuration of the
recorder. All funcions are described in a separate manual for this application. This software is
a common application used for all of our recorders and only a configuration (or only a part of
the configuration) is a specific part for each recorder type. This part is described below.
Before you start changing the configuration, keep in mind all the configuration is stored on
microSD card. The recorder will use the new configuration only when the card is inserted
back to the recorder and the recorder starts the recording. This is important for the scheduled
recording or a real time clock settings to first activate the recording by using a slide switch.
This action will not only activate the recording, but it will load the new configuration into the
recorder, including the real time synchronization, when it has been saved in a configuration.
All configuration is stored in image file on microSD card. The configuration should be
changed in main menu by selecting „Options -> Recorder settings“. This windows is divided
into 4 following sections:
The first general part is used to select recording sample rate. To achieve the best quality you
should use 16kHz or 22kHz, but this mode takes more power from the battery and will use
most of the space for storing the data. For best performance check table showing battery life
and memory capacity for each specific mode.

Audio page is used for voice activated recording. When this option is enabled, recorder is
recording only when it detects sound above selected threshold level. Minimum level means
the highest sensitivity. Delay is specifying the time, for how long recording continues after
this sound level is not detected anymore. Recommended value is 5 seconds or more. When
LED is enabled to flash during recording, it is flashing only when recording is in progress and
not when the recorder is in idle mode waiting for exceeding the selected threshold level. This
mode saves significantly the battery energy resulting much longer time of operation. For
microphone volume control is implemented AGC function. The recorder should be used in
noisy environment or to monitor large rooms, where all silent sounds are required to be
recorded. When AGC checkbox is checked, this function is enabled and recorder
automatically adjust microphone volume according detected sound level. Maximum
microphone volume indicates the maximum volume used by AGC function. When AGC
function is disabled, this selected volume is fixed for all the time.
Recorder is equipped with internal real time clock and recording scheduler. If you want to use
time activated recording, you can choose from 3 options. Daily timer enables recording

scheduler to start and stop recording at the specified time period, which repeats every day.
Single timer is used to start and stop only once at given time and date. The last is weekly
timer, where you can specify a different time periods for each day of a week. Every time set
to 00:00 is ignored, which enables to schedule recording for example over the midnight.
Please note, every time you remove the batteries or the batteries are too weak to operate the
recorder, the real time clock is lost and must be synchonized again.
The last part of a configuration contains various options. LED should be disabled in this
window to allow discrete mode of operation. Only flashes during recording are disabled.
Indication of power up, start and stop sequence is not affected by this option. The real time
clock is synchronized according the preset time stored on micro SD card. When you select in
this window power-up date and time, this date and time is synchronized inside the recorder
when the card is inserted into a recorder and the recorder is powered up by inserting the
batteries. All recordings should be password protected by using password protection.
Password protection
When the password protection is enabled and the password is entered, all recorded audio will
be protected by using this password. When you open the image file, you’ll have to type
correct password to open all audio records.
Export of records
Each record should be exported and stored to your local hard drive in WAV format. To do
this, select from one exporting options in main menu „Records“. All records are stored to
selected directory, which you can change by menu item „Select directory for export“. Long
records should be split into more files. Use option in menu “Records->Maximum size of
exported file” to specify maximum size of each exported WAV file.

FAQ:
Q: Can’t start recording – LED flashes only once and the card is not full.
A: The card contains 255 records. For next recording you must delete at least last record from
the list or format the card.
Q: Card can’t be initialized, LED always flashes 5 times.
A: Card is not micro SDHC type or is not properly inserted or the power supply can’t give
sufficient current to initialize the card.
Q: The beginning time of recording is incorrect.
A: This time is always equivalent to the real time clock, which are synchronized from the
card. This problem should happen, when the batteries were removed or the card was removed
and clocks are resynchronized again with wrong time.
Q: Recorder was operating and the power source has been suddenly interrupted.
A: For this case the last record will be stored properly without any problems.
Q: The image file is missing on the card, or the card is unreadable in PC computer or the
image file was deleted.
A: In this case never try to recover the date by using any data recovery software and consult
this problem with your distributor of recorder. All the data should be recovered, but recorder
is using specific way to store the data and special procedure must be used for this case.