Create a Configuration File Using the Desktop Configurator

A configuration file can be saved to an SD card or sent to a mobile device with the configurator mobile app to program one or more Song Meter Mini Bat 2 recorders.

Procedure

  1. In the Deployment Scenario panel, select the Song Meter Model you want to program and select whether the optional 2nd Mic is installed.
    Song Meter Model and 2nd Mic determine which settings are available to you. The other Deployment Scenario settings only affect the configurator's battery and SD card estimations; they are not included in the configuration file you will create.
  2. Configure the Settings and Schedule panels.
    These settings offer the same options as the Song Meter Configurator mobile app. For descriptions of these settings, see Settings Reference and Design a Custom Schedule.
  3. Adjust the Deployment Scenario settings and check the estimated runtime.
    On the calendar, dark blue and black blocks indicate acoustic and ultrasonic recording periods. When the blocks turn purple or red, it indicates that the recorder is predicted to run out of SD card space or battery life, respectively.
    1. Set the Simulation Start date to when you plan to deploy the recorder.
      Runtime will be calculated starting from that point, taking into account the Delay Start command if you configured it.
    2. Select the number and type of Batteries you will use.
      Important:
      The configurator makes several major assumptions when estimating battery life. If the batteries you use or the conditions of your deployment do not match these assumptions, your real battery runtime may be significantly shorter than estimated. For more information, see Factors Affecting Battery Life.
    3. Enter a Trigger Ratio to see how the rate of bat activity will affect your battery and SD card runtime.
      Trigger ratio describes how much time during ultrasonic triggered recording is spent with bats vocalizing near the microphone. Higher levels of bat activity drain battery and fill up the SD card more quickly.
    4. Select an SD Card size to see how it will affect your deployment.
      Selecting the largest possible SD card will reveal when the recorder is expected to deplete its batteries without the limiting factor of storage space.
  4. Select File > Save... to save the configuration file.

What to do next

You can save the resulting .miniconfig file to an SD card, then load it onto the Song Meter Mini Bat 2 (see Load a Configuration File from an SD Card).

Alternatively, you can send the file to a mobile device (using email or a cloud storage service, for example) and import it into the mobile configurator app's Configuration Library (see Import a Configuration File from Another App).