If you have previously used the SM4, learn the key differences in the SM5 to quickly start using the recorder.
Basic Use Changes
- The menu system now features "tooltips," or brief explanations of various
features. Press and hold Enter
on most menu items to view
these tooltips. - The SM5 does not have a dedicated
Status
button. From the main menu, press Back
to access the status
screens. - Settings changes are saved automatically, even if you press Back to exit a setting.
- By default, the SM5's internal GPS sets the recorder's date, time, and location when the power is switched on. If you configure the recorder indoors before deploying, either power it off and on again at the deployment site to reacquire GPS, or pair the mobile app with the recorder at the deployment site.
- External microphones do not automatically override built-in or stub microphones. Go to to select which microphone each channel uses.
- The Activity LED does not blink while the SM5 is asleep, unlike the SM4 family.
- It is safe to turn the power off in the middle of recording. When you set the power switch to Off, the SM5 ends its recording, then goes into a deep sleep state. When the power switch is On, the SM5 detects whether internal or external power is connected.
More Options for Power
The battery compartment of the SM5 is designed to accept two completely different battery types. Like the SM4, it can accept four D batteries, either single-use alkaline or rechargeable NiMH. Unlike the SM4, the SM5 can also accept up to eleven 18650 rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
18650 Li-ion batteries are rechargeable, and, for a given weight, provide more energy than alkaline D batteries. With the SM4, the most common rechargeable battery option, D NiMH batteries, came with a tradeoff of shorter run times. Li-ion batteries allow for longer deployments and battery reuse.
The SM5 accepts the same external power cable as the SM4.
External power and internal batteries cannot be used simultaneously.
Schedule System
The SM5's schedule system is similar to the Daily schedule mode on the SM4, but with greater flexibility. Individual schedule blocks can be set to run only within a given date range, and they can be set to alternate between "on days" and "off days."
Configure In-App or On-Device
The SM5 features both a built-in hardware interface like the SM4 and mobile app connectivity like the Song Meter Mini 1 and 2.
The free Song Meter Configurator app for iOS and Android provides a simple interface for managing a single SM5 or a large fleet of recorders. The app communicates with nearby recorders over Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) and allows you to check the status of nearby recorders, configure your settings, estimate battery and card usage, and manage saved configurations for different types of deployments.
The built-in screen and buttons of the SM5 also allow you to configure every setting and check the recorder's status directly, and the interface is similar to that of previous models like the SM4 and SM3.
Built-In GPS/GLONASS Antenna
The SM5 has an internal satellite antenna that allows you to automatically update the recorder's clock and location settings to match data from the GPS and GLONASS satellite networks. You can configure the SM5 to synchronize with satellites once when it powers on, once every day, or continuously.
Continuous satellite sync draws additional power, so it is only recommended when you need to keep the recorder's clock precisely aligned. For example, using recordings from multiple SM5 units to perform time-of-arrival calculations requires this level of timing accuracy.