More details needed on AudioMoth products
I think I've nearly worked out what I want to buy, but the website has made that very difficult for me through lack of relevant information.
I want to set up BattyBirdNET-Pi. I think the AudioMoth USB microphone and a case is probably all I need to go with my spare RPi4 8Gb. But...
It is conventional for product listings to show product dimensions and photos from all relevant aspects, e.g. showing circuit boards front and back (to show locations of components and ports), and side views when they would be clarifying. Similarly views of cases could show interior as well as exterior, as well as locations of any ports. This website shows only one view of each device, and two views of some (not all) cases.
It appears that the AudioMoth device may have built in battery holders but the AudioMoth USB microphone does not appear to have any batteries or battery holders? Can I power the AudioMoth USB microphone through USB? Or do I need to solder a connection to a battery holder and supply batteries?
There is a single external view of the AudioMoth USB microphone case. Is there space in that case for batteries (if required)? Are there any external ports - e.g. how would I connect a USB cable to this USB microphone in its case...?
Google found me some additional images on a blog. Ah, there is a USB port on the AudioMoth USB microphone case! If I knew whether I could power the device by USB then I might be able to go ahead and buy a device and case!
I did wonder whether to pay the extra to get the full AudioMoth package, to give me the option of recording to it. So far as I can see that will not be viable for me as I don't see any sign of a USB port on that case.
Confirmation that the AudioMoth USB Microphone can be powered by USB would be appreciated.
Hi,
Yes, the AudioMoth USB Microphone is powered by USB. There are datasheets describing the dimensions of the boards here: https://www.openacousticdevices.info/datasheets - and various application notes here: https://www.openacousticdevices.info/application-notes This application note describes the AudioMoth USB firmware and hardware: https://github.com/OpenAcousticDevices/Application-Notes/blob/master/Using_the_AudioMoth_USB_Microphone_Firmware_and_Hardware/Using_the_AudioMoth_USB_Microphone_Firmware_and_Hardware.pdf
The AudioMoth USB Microphone case that we sell is only splash proof and is not intended for permanent deployments.
If you are deploying this permanently, you will need to mount the AudioMoth USB Microphone inside some sort of housing with a hole and an acoustic vent to allow the sound to enter. We don't yet sell a fully waterproof housing for the AudioMoth USB Microphone. We may develop one if there is sufficient demand.
Alternatively, people sometimes just waterproof our existing AudioMoth USB Microphone case with an additional plastic bag.
Our external electret microphone is fully waterproof and easy to mount (https://www.openacousticdevices.info/product-page/audiomoth-external-microphone) in a custom housing. It works well for birds does not have the sensitivity of the internal MEMS microphone for bats. An alternative is to use the AudioMoth Dev board inside the AudioMoth Dev Case, and to use the AudioMoth-USB-Microphone firmware on this device. Alex