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Software bug?

Hello, I purchased two AudioMoth 1.2.0 units and both are experiencing software issues. When I retrieve the SD card, the red and green lights are almost always flashing simultaneously. Occasionally, the card contains unrecognized files and that it needs to be formatted. I haven’t been able to open these files on Windows or Mac, resulting in data loss.

 

At other times, the device manages to record files, but the red and green lights continue to flash regardless. Upon reviewing the content, I find duplicate recordings and files with filenames that do not correspond to the correct date and time.

 

I am based in Bolivia, and it is very difficult for me to ship the equipment back to the United States. Is there a way to remotely update the devices to a better software version?

162 Views
mauiocampo
5 days ago

Hello,


I would like to inform you that the AudioMoth which began flashing both lights after a few hours, after five days only created a single file with a strange name, as I have attached in the message. It did not create the CONFIG.TXT file. However, that single file occupied 5.15 GB. It did not stop flashing both lights while idle, although the red light flashed when it was recording, as it should.


The second AudioMoth did not show any faults.


I have just formatted the cards again, removed the batteries from the devices, and programmed them again from scratch in order to evaluate them once more.


Javier Seoane
Javier Seoane

Energy consumption of SD cards

I would like to share some results as a continuation of an earlier post on energy consumption of SD cards at https://www.openacousticdevices.info/support/sd-card-support/u1-vs-u3-microsd-cards-field-data-contradicts-recommendations?origin=notification


We conduct an indoor experiment using Audiomoths with firmware version 1.11.0 in a recording window of 180 minutes. The sample rate is set at 48kHz, and the gain is set at medium. We enable sleep/record cyclic recording. We use daily folders for the generated WAV files. We combined two sets of different recordings and sleep durations with different SD cards and battery models to assess the effect of sleep durations, and the type of card and battery. These are:



Alcaline vs lithium

Lithium batteries do not extend the operating time beyond what alkaline batteries did when the recording schedule was intensive (recording each minute during the 180-minute window). Compare BAU2 vs BAU1.


Recording scheme


239 Views

Hi again everyone - FYI I've run a little test with a few different cards with a multimeter in series as Alex suggested. I used a Dev 1.0.1 with Powerex 2700mAh batteries, recording frequency 48kHz. I've just noted the range of current values during a 1min test for each:



I estimate my average values for the two older SanDiskExtreme cards are totally in alignment with the previously posted SD Card guide, and my value ranges for the SanDiskExtreme and Samsung cards align with how these cards have performed in the field. I haven't tested the three newer, low-speed "trial" cards in the field but will do that in the next couple of weeks. Below are images of the cards, front and back. My SanDisk cards were all made in China; Samsung cards was made in the Philippines. The three newer cards were all made in Taiwan.


The difference beween my old and new SanDiskExtreme cards is really striking, and all 15 of the new ones are very power-hungry.


As a side note: I will definitely not be buying Samsung Pro cards again regardless of the energy consumption issue. About 10% of the cards I purchased failed completely (i.e. became totally unreadable) after less than a year of use.


Cheers,

Laura



Edited

Accessing SD-Card Data per USB?

Is it possible to modify the firmware so that the data stored on the SD card can be accessed via USB connection, instead of removing the card from AudioMoth and connecting it to a PC with a card reader?

413 Views
Patrick Spooner
Patrick Spooner
Oct 07, 2025

If the units can be permanently connected to a computer, we have a python script to record from many (>12) on one Linux PC, saving data directly to flac files. We use the audiomoth mic firmware so no sd card and usb powered.

Aditya Krishna
Aditya Krishna

Recording stopped prematurely due to SD card write error

Hello Open Acoustic Devices,


We ran into an issue during one of our 2-week-long deployments where the Audiomoth stopped recording after 2 days despite having enough battery and SD card storage to last 2 weeks. The Audiomoth configuration was at a sampling rate of 192kHz, a 5min ON 5min OFF sleep/cycle scheme for a 24hr recording period.


It was placed within an Audiomoth dev case and the battery connections have been checked. We are using 3 Paleblue D cell rechargeable batteries. And the microSD card is a 256GB Sandisk Extreme UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) microSDHC card. The SD card was reformatted to exFAT before being used.


Below I will attach the SUMMARY.CSV and a picture of the Audiomoth inside the dev case. The Audiomoth was recording (flashing red) at time of deployment and we recovered it a week later under an error mode (green and red flashing). When using…




172 Views
Alex Rogers
Alex Rogers
Aug 30, 2025

The Dev case is intended for the AudioMoth Dev board which has JST connectors on the back and no battery holder. The board then clips into the case.


If the AudioMoth was doing short red and green flashes when recovered then it sounds like an SD card issue. The AudioMoth experienced five SD card write errors in a row and cancelled the schedule. After the first error, the SD card didn’t actually save any further data for some reason.


Check if the SD card is still writable.


Aditya Krishna
Aditya Krishna

488-byte files

Hello Open Acoustic Devices,


I wanted to get some clarification on a problem we have observed when using the Audiomoth to collect recordings in an outdoor natural area. We sample at 192kHz, 300s/300s record/sleep cycle, and equip our Audiomoths with 6 or 9 AA rechargeable batteries.


We have noticed that our Audiomoth sometimes changes mode during deployments and produces "empty" 488-byte files that do not contain data and are short. It goes into this mode and might generate 100s of such files and then comes back to generating normal files.


I am attaching a couple screenshots from previous deployments of the file explorer view alongside an exiftool-based readout of the file metadata. You can see the normal files will be generated before and after the error "488-byte" files. These problems persist in the same manner even to this day with new firmware and new Audiomoths.


I can generate a SUMMARY.CSV…


154 Views
Aditya Krishna
Aditya Krishna
Aug 25, 2025

I see, thank you for the clarity! We have purchased silica gell packets and will use them.


And thanks for the quick responses as well!

SD-card doesn't work anymore after formatting

Hi, after formatting my SD-card on my Mac, my HydroMoth doesn't read it anymore (flashing both green and red at the same time). It does still read other SD-cards, so no device problem. How can I make my SD-card work again for the HydroMoth?

93 Views
jennavergeynst
Jul 18, 2025

That works, thanks!

Alexandre MODI
Alexandre MODI

Mecanical or electrical noise ?

Hi everyone,


I got all my recordings with this kind of noise (in picture) on a Hydromoth Firware Basic 1.11.0. We used SD card SanDisk Extreme 64 Go.


Could it be the SD card when is writing? Do you have any recommandations?


Thanks,



133 Views
Alexandre MODI
Alexandre MODI
Jun 24, 2025

Hi Alex,


Thanks for the clarifications! Yes, please find in attachment one WAV file. We used 3 piles AA Energizer lithium.



Recording Failure Due To SD Card Write Error (but SD Cards working fine!)

Hi,


I recently bought 2 AudioMoths and 2 SanDisk Extreme 64GB Micro SD cards. One AudioMoth has configured with no problem at all and is working as expected. The other AudioMoth, upon configuration, blinks green, but when the scheduled recording starts while in CUSTOM mode, or when I attempt to record in DEFAULT, there are 4 long green and red flashes, before intermittently flashing green and red. No recordings are made.


The diagnostics page here (https://www.openacousticdevices.info/led-guide#:~:text=Both%20lights%20flashing%20(100ms)%20on,a%20recording%20being%20cut%20short.) suggested that, when this happens in either CUSTOM or DEFAULT, it is an ´SD card write error or low battery´.


I have changed all batteries to new and functioning batteries and this has not resolved the issue. I have also:

  • Tried the SD card in the other AudioMoth, where the other AudioMoth worked without any problems, suggesting to me the SD card is not defective

  • Tried a functioning SD card in the AudioMoth which…


103 Views
kaynesheppard
Jun 05, 2025

Hi Alex,


The device would also not record on DEFAULT with a working SD card. I bought the devices from a supplier of wildlife recording devices in Peru. I´ll pick this up with them but is there anything else in particular you recommend I do? How will resolving the issue differ if the devices are from LabMaker or GroupGets?


Thanks,


Kayne

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