Sound recorder DST sonic

DST sonic

Acoustic listening archival tag

Overview

Dimensions (diameter x length): 15mm x 46mm
Sensors: Acoustic receiver, temperature and pressure (depth)
Acoustic listening ranges: 50 Hz to 600 Hz, 50 Hz to 2600 Hz, 20 KHz to 60KHz
Standard temperature range: -2°C to +40°C
Temperature accuracy: +/-0.1°C
Depth ranges: 0.1m to 30m, 0.1m to 50m, 0.1m to 100m, 1m to 270m, 5m to 800m, 5m to 1500m, 10m to 2000m, 10m to 3000m
Depth accuracy: +/- 0.4% of selected range for 30m to 270m range, +/- 0.6% of selected range for 800m to 3000m range
Memory size: 261,309 bytes (2 million sound recordings)
Battery life: 3 years
Housing material: Alumina (implantable, biocompatible ceramic material)

Description

Star-Oddi has developed a prototype of an acoustic listening archival tag, called DST sonic. The sound recorder is user programmable, and can be programmed to listen to specific frequencies or frequency band, analysing the sound signals and storing results in its memory. 

A first version has already been used for detecting sound levels generated by fish. It's possible to store >2 million measurements of sound detections, telling if the requested sound frequency range was out there or not, giving the number 1 for sound detection and 0 for no sound detection. Total memory size is 261,309 bytes and each sound recording takes 1/8 of a byte (1 bit). Temperature and depth can optionally be recorded as well.

A second version is on the development plan. The intention is take to the DST sonic to the next level and store data from on-board sound analyzing, storing for example sound frequency and other sound parameters.

The DST sonic is delivered in 'sleep mode'. The user connects to the recorder using the Star-Oddi communication box and SeaStar supporting software and chooses the start date and time of recordings and the sampling interval. The recorder is then activated and is ready to listen to and record sounds at defined intervals. Three different frequency ranges could be detected:

• 50 Hz to 600 Hz
• 50 Hz to 2600 Hz
• 20 KHz to 60 KHz

In addition to recording sound, depth (pressure) and temperature can also be recorded. All measurements are time related, utilising a real time clock inside the tag.

Due to the fact that DST sonic is at a prototype stage the delivery time is much longer than other DST products from Star-Oddi. We urge those who see an opportunity in using the product in their research to contact us with a request.

Examples of Application

The DST sonic tag can be used for monitoring sounds of various types:

• Sounds that fish produce: mating sound, humming and rumbling
• Noise from vessels: propellor or sonar sounds
• Noise in underwater environments created by hydro power stations
• Recording any type of sound at specific times, in air or in water

A scientific report The role of sound production in Atlantic cod spawning has been published where DST sonic was implanted into cod. The study was conducted by Dr. Timothy Grabowski and Egill Gudmundsson in Iceland July 2009.

The PatternFinder software was then used to analyse the large amount of data. Read the PatternFinder casey study.