Category Archives: Allgemein

The command ‘Edit’/’Format’/’Sampling Frequency Conversion…’ has been expanded for processing multichannel files. The newly implemented command ‘Edit’/’Insert silent margins… ‘ , which is also available as a batch command option, can insert silent sections at the begin and end of a .wav file. The new options ‘keep DIO state’ on the FIR Filter and Sampling […]

Avisoft Bioacoustics supported the art exhibition “Dissonate” by Evgenija Wassilew

The newly added dXML metadata functionality (command Options/dXML metadata input settings…) can embed user-defined database records directly into the recorded .wav files. These XML-formatted metadata records are saved into application-specific “dXML” RIFF chunks of the .wav files, which can subsequently be processed in Avisoft-SASLab Pro (version 5.1 or higher).

The new metadata menu on the main window provides advanced metadata handling capabilities. It supports user-defined (XML-based) metadata fields with pick-list and validation options (dXML chunk). Measurement data can now also be stored directly into the .wav files (mXML chunk). A versatile metabase command can collect metadata records from a set of sound files on-the-fly […]

An additional classification option ‘Frequency Contour Templates’ (with options for normalized durations and time warping) allows to classify whistle-like vocalizations in a more general way. A section label option on the Pulse Train Analysis tool (‘Group Analysis’ > ‘use section labels as groups’) allows to count pulses that occur within labeled sections. New Automatic Parameter […]

LANC and SMPTE timecode signals fed into the UltraSoundGate digital inputs can be decoded, displayed and can be used as a trigger source. RECORDER USGH now also supports old UltraSoundGate 116 units that were manufactured before 2004 (firmware versions 1.x) User-defined text modules for entering comments or filename prefixes can simplify the documentation of surveys. […]

An additional smoothing option in the Graphic Synthesizer tool allows to create more natural synthetic vocalizations. The new batch processing options ‘Sort files using APM classes’, ‘Sort files using template spectrograms (triggered CCF)’ and ‘Sort files using template spectrograms (continuous CCF)’ provide support for reviewing large amounts of automatically triggered sound files. The new command […]

Digitally signed UltraSoundGate device drivers now also support the Windows x64 editions. Automatic offset compensation for the UltraSoundGate recording hardware implemented. The recording level meters now have a logarithmic scale. The new command Options/Configuration management/Presets provides a few application-specific configuration presets. A high-pass filter option has been added for removing low-frequency noise. An additional ‘Gate […]

The playback functionality has been revised in order to enable playing back individual tracks of multichannel sound files (new command File/Playback settings…). The calibration command has been improved in order to simplify absolute sound pressure level measurements with calibrated microphones/hydrophones (command Tools/Calibration…). Voice note .wav files created by the new RECORDER software option “voice notes” […]

The newly implemented GPS option (Options/GPS settings) allows to attach any NMEA compatible GPS receiver (either a Bluetooth GPS receiver, a USB GPS mouse or a handheld GPS unit) to the notebook PC in order to simultaneously acquire the geographic locations of the recorded .wav files. The resulting log files are common .gpx or .kml […]

The dynamic range of the spectrogram display has been increased in order to better visualize low-level sounds. The Graphic Synthesizer has got the new command ‘Tools’/’Copy contour…’ that allows to copy the contour of one parameter to another. The software can now directly open the unusual .wav file format of the Pettersson BatSound software. The […]

The new options ‘Power spectrum (averaged)’ and ‘Power spectrum (level units, averaged)’ on the ‘One-dimensional Transformation’ have been implemented in order to support the calculation of average spectra over very large periods of time. The log file tool (‘Tools’/’DDE Parameters / Log File…’) has been improved by adding the new file formats .xml and .sql, […]

The new auto scroll command supports reviewing long spectrograms without repeatedly clicking at the scroll bar (spectrogram window command Tools/Scroll/auto scroll). The classification batch processing commands (including the Automatic Parameter Measurements with activated classification option) now provide a summarizing table that displays the number of indentified elements of each class for each processed sound file. […]

The new USV real-time monitoring option for counting and measuring rat or mice ultrasonic vocalizations provides instant results on the acquired USVs. Various descriptive statistics items such as the total number, total duration, mean duration or standard deviation of the detected USVs can be reported (screen shot). New ‘whistle tracking’ trigger option for detecting soft […]

Introducing the new single-channel UltraSoundGate devices USG 116Hb, 116H and 116Hm, which can be operated at sample rates of up to 1 MHz at 16 bit resolution. The top-of-the-line model 116Hm has been further shrunk for convenient hand-held use without sacrificing its ruggedness.

The software now uses the standard Windows folders for program files, application data (configuration files and temporary data) and documents (sound files, measurement results, etc.). It is therefore no longer required to run the software with administrator rights. The new batch command “Classify .wav or .son files (show results in a single table)” allows to […]

Introducing new bus-powered multichannel UltraSoundGate devices USG 416H, 816H and 1216H, which provide up to 12 channels that can be sampled at up to 750 kHz at 16 bit resolution. Introducing the bus-powered UltraSoundGate Player 116 that provides a 16 bit D/A converter and an adjustable power amplifier in a single box. This product enables […]

RECORDER USGH now supports the new high-speed UltraSoundGate models 416H, 816H, 1216H and Player116. In the single-channel mode, the real-time sprectrogram display now exploits the entire area of the application window (multiple rows). The real-time spectrogram display procedures have been optimized for Windows Vista.

The new Avisoft-RECORDER USGH software now fully supports UltraSoundGate devices in Windows Vista (the previous RECORDER USG software is not compatible to Windows Vista). See the .pdf document USGx16 on Windows Vista.pdf The software now uses the standard Windows folders for program files, application data (configuration files and temporary data) and documents (sound files, measurement […]

Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) analysis options have been added to the spectrogram window (“LPC” option on the Spectrogram Parameters panel) and to the one-dimensional amplitude and power spectrum displays. The command File/Specials/’Next file’ has been improved (if there are no incrementing numbers in the file names, the next file will be indentified from the file […]

A new trigger option “any channel (OR)” improves the capabilities for simultaneously recording from microphone or hydrophone arrays. The newly implemented command ‘Monitoring’/’Shut down time…’ allows to shut down the computer at a pre-defined time each day. In conjunction with the RTC Alarm option that is avalaible in the BIOS setup of many computers, it […]

An additional option on the Automatic Parameter Measurement setup dialog allows to enable the spectrum-based parameters individually for each location. This location-specific parameter selection can improve the clearness of the measurements because it is possible to disable unwanted and irrelevant combinations of parameters and locations. The “Derived Parameter” capabilities of the Automatic Parameter Measurement tool […]

The new “Scan for template spectrogram patterns” command provides a continuous spectrogram cross correlation tool for identifying spectrogram patterns in noisy recordings, where the “Detect and classify waveform” command does not work satisfying. The calibration command has been expanded for selectable reference sound levels (1 or 20 µPa).

The ‘time program’ trigger has been expanded to 8 independent time programs (user-defined time tables). Each time program now provides up to 6 intervals (increased from 4 to 6). Improved LOG file comment facilities (time-stamp mode).

Automatic Parameter Measurements : The new element separation option “automatic (whistle tracking)” further improves the capabilities for detecting soft rat ultrasonic vocalisations (USV) in noisy environments. See the tutorial for details. A second threshold option allows to measue bandwidths at two separate thresholds. The option “show threshold” activates a graphic display of the element separation […]

The new ‘File Open Settings…’ dialog (on the File menu) provides a few options for optimizing the handling of large sound files. Certainly the ‘temp directory’ edit box allows to select a RAM disk for saving the temporary files. This can significantly accelerate the processing of large sound files. Free RAM disk software is for […]

A peak (or dominant) frequency option in the Pulse Train Analysis tool expands the analysis capabilties certainly for frog calls. An additional post filter option in the Automatic Parameter Measurements allows to exclude unwanted short and/or broad-band cracks from the analysis. The new group analysis option in the Automatic Parameter Measurements tool provides additional measurements […]

The National Instruments NI-DAQmx driver model has been implemented (executable rec_nimx.exe). This driver supports both M-series and E-series DAQ devices. A new ‘permanent’ trigger mode simplifies the operation of the software for applications that do not require any triggering. Multichannel playback capabilities (for soundcards) have been added. A “Control Output” option for controlling external devices […]

New .wav file name options (date and time) User-defined keyboard shortcuts External triggering of playback Interactive playback of playlist entries via keyboard shortcuts

Improved command for extracting frequency contours from spectrograms (spectrogram window command Tools/’Scan frequency contour and amplitude envelope’). The new export capabilities enable subsequent statistical analysis of frequency contours (e.g. for comparing signature whistles). See a sample screenshot . The new command Tools/Labels/’Label statistics’ provides various statistics on labels (including duty cycle versus time) A ‘Max […]