Quick Start: Record Birds at Dawn and Dusk - SM5

Song Meter SM5 User Guide
Core Product
SM5
Accessory

To get familiar with the SM5 for the first time, configure it to run a preset recording schedule.

About this task

Below are a set of condensed instructions you can follow to configure the SM5 for a one-day deployment and retrieve your data, learning some of the recorder's basic functions along the way. These steps make use of the free Song Meter Configurator app for iOS and Android to quickly set the SM5's date, time, location, and settings, but you can alternatively configure the recorder entirely using the built-in screen and buttons.

We will select one of the available preset schedules, which tells the SM5 to record every day at dawn and dusk: from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunrise, and from one hour before sunset to one hour after sunset.

You will need the following:

  • 1x SM5 recorder with the included acoustic stub microphones
  • One of the following:
    • 1x 18650 lithium-ion battery, fully charged
    • 4x D alkaline batteries, brand new
    • 4x D NiMH batteries, fully charged
  • 1x SD card, any size
  • 1x smartphone or tablet running iOS or Android
  • 1x laptop or desktop computer with a built-in or USB-connected SD card reader

Procedure

  1. Install batteries:
    • Install four D batteries.
      The two batteries in the left column should face positive-up. The two batteries in the right column should face positive-down.
    • Install one 18650 lithium-ion battery, then use the included battery bracket to hold it in place. One fully charged 18650 battery is enough to power a deployment for at least several days.
      Install one battery in the lowest battery slot facing positive-right. The battery bracket is stored in a narrow compartment to the right of the battery compartment when not in use. When used to hold 1–6 18650 batteries in place, it should span from the top to the bottom of the battery compartment.
  2. Turn on the SM5.

    If the SM5 had not been configured previously, it will prompt you to choose a Battery type.

  3. Select Set, then select the type of battery you installed.
    This sets the SM5's shut-down behavior to match the output voltage of the chosen battery type.
  4. With any menu item highlighted, press and hold Enter to view a short description.
  5. Update the SM5's firmware.
    If you received your SM5 during or before May 2026, it is very likely that it does not have the latest firmware version installed.
    1. Create or log into an account on the Wildlife Acoustics website.
    2. Download the latest SM5 firmware update, and save the file to an SD card.
      The firmware file is named sm5_system_VersionNumber.sm5.
    3. Eject the SD card from your computer and insert it into the SD 1 slot on the SM5.
    4. Using the SM5's buttons, go to Utilities > Update FW from SD > SD card 1 and select the firmware file.
      The SM5 will update its firmware, then restart.
    5. To update more SM5 or SM5BAT recorders, insert the same card into each recorder's SD 1 slot and repeat step 5.d.

Use a mobile device to check the SM5's status:

  1. Install the free Song Meter Configurator app from the App Store® or Google Play™, then open the app.
    The App's Recorders screen should list your SM5 with an option to view the recorder's Status. When SM5 is powered on and nearby, the app will receive status updates from the recorder several times per minute.

  2. Tap Status to view the information that the SM5 broadcasts to the app.

    The Status screen displays information about the SM5's SD cards, temperature and battery status, and other information.

Pair the mobile app with the SM5 to configure the recorder's settings:

  1. Press the Pair button on the SM5. Then, in the app, tap Pair > Yes > Yes to update the SM5's clock, time zone, and location settings.
    The SM5 uses your time zone and location info to determine when sunset and sunrise occur each day. These settings are required for the schedule to run correctly.

    The physical Pair button is on the left-inner panel of the SM5, near the upper-right corner.

    The Pair icon appears in the app next to the Status icon for the recorder.




  2. In the app, select Configure to open a screen where you can edit the SM5's settings and schedule.
  3. In the dropdown under Schedule, select Record birds/frogs 2 hours around sunrise and 2 hours around sunset.


  4. In the app, select Utilities > Format SD card 1 to erase the card's contents and reset it to a clean state.

    The Utilities menu is located in the upper-right corner of the main configuration screen.
    We recommend formatting your SD cards prior to each deployment.
  5. Press the Pair button on the SM5 again to unpair.
  6. Close and mount the recorder in a location where you expect to hear animal vocalizations at dawn and dusk.
    While powered on and closed, the SM5 will automatically run its programmed recording schedule.

When you are done recording, retrieve your audio files from the SM5's SD card:

  1. Turn off the SM5, then remove the SD card, insert it into your computer's SD card reader, and view its contents.

    The SD card will contain the following:

    • A summary file, named RecorderName_Summary_1.txt

      The summary file contains a log of the SM5's status over time during recording. We recommend keeping this file as a record of when the recorder was active.

    • A folder named Data_AC, containing all of your recorded audio files.

      By default, all audio is recorded in one-hour segments in the widely-supported .wav format.

  2. Copy the contents of the SD card to a long-term storage location, such as your computer's internal drive, a USB hard drive, or a network drive.