The SPECT’R software performs spectral analysis, digital tuning, and
hard-disk recording. It is designed for field collection and it is
capable of operating up to four ultrasonic receivers from a single
laptop. SPECT’R can also be used as standalone playback processor to
playback and reprocess or analyze recorded data.
As of version 3.0, SPECT’R incorporates two more significant features
and capabilities. First, SPECT’R now includes the WAVPACK loss-less
file compressor which reduces the recording size by a factor of three.
This increases the time span that SPECT’R can be left out during
unattended recording. Second, SPECT’R now includes several of the
advanced call detection and insect noise rejection techniques that were
first developed for the SCAN’R automated processing software. This
effectively simultaneously increases the detection range of an AR125
system and reduces the number of false detection recordings.
SPECT’R includes a complete collection of spectral analysis tools. The
main window features a unique short duration, sonogram called SonoSCOPE
that is useful for real-time species identification. In addition,
SPECT’R includes a ultrasonic spectral display that is useful for
performing surveys of the acoustic environmental. Both spectral
analysis tools are mouse operated and can be used to make frequency,
time duration, and sound pressure measurements.
SPECT’R includes a high performance digital tuner that translates high
frequency ultrasonic signals down to the human audio range. The tuner
uses true heterodyning and advanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) to
produce a high quality audio signal which can be played through a
windows compatible sound port for live monitoring and/or recorded for
future playback.
At the heart of SPECT’R is a versatile hard-disk recorder that supports
two different recording modes: full-bandwidth, and snapshot. In full-bandwidth
mode, the entire bandwidth of the ultrasonic receiver ( >200Ksps) is
recorded continuously to disk. This preserves all the nuances of the
original ultrasonic environment. Full-bandwidth recordings can be
reprocessed after-the-fact to search for bat vocalizations, and/or
perform acoustic species identification. Full-bandwidth mode is most
useful for recording emergences or other events where large groups of
bats will be recorded. Alternatively, i
