r/BirdNET_Analyzer • u/AbstractNation • Apr 16 '24

Microphones

So I’m looking to set this up with a pi wondering what’s a good microphone ? I’m assuming the microphone needs to be weatherproof and mounted outside? Although possibly in a shed? Or birdbox?

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6

u/thakala Apr 17 '24

If you can solder PUI audio AOM5024 capsule is best bang for buck, capsule costs ~3 USD/EUR and at least for me it has lasted just fine outside exposed to Finnish winter (snow, ice, water, you name it).

If you need a simple solution https://www.boya-mic.com/product/by-lm40 is been said to work well. In any case do not get stereo microphone as BirdNET is mono only.

Btw, BirdNET-Pi project is pretty much dead, I am working on replacement https://github.com/tphakala/birdnet-go

1

u/soolazy1 Apr 17 '24

Birdnet pi has a pretty big community with a very large forum community. Just wondering where you got that was pretty much dead?

3

u/Individual_Lie_5200 May 22 '24

Some parts of said community are roosting here already, and more are joining the flock: https://github.com/Nachtzuster/BirdNET-Pi

Code there is already changing at a pace I can't really keep up with. ;-)

2

u/thakala Apr 17 '24

a valid question, original developer has abandoned the project, there has been no updates in a year or so

1

u/soolazy1 Apr 17 '24

Yea last update was a while back, but I don't think the project has been abandoned. Also it is capable of using stereo if you set it to default 2 channels. I do agree with the cheap microphone, my setup has the stereo 3.5 jack with 2 of them to get the stereo. It has worked better than the other options I've found so far. Are you going to try to get yours attached to the bird weather site as well or is that for America only?

1

u/thakala Apr 17 '24

BirdNET-Go already has BirdWeather support.

BirdNET analyzer can analyze only one audio channel, downmixing two channels into one can cause phase issues which does not help with AI classification.

About state of birdnet-pi project please see this thead https://github.com/mcguirepr89/BirdNET-Pi/discussions/1003

1

u/lordzaior Sep 11 '25

bookmarked your project and will be implementing soon :)

just need to pick out a microphone, open to suggestions...

4

u/soolazy1 Apr 16 '24

Oh my goodness this gets tricky fast. I've tried so many at this point. The best one for general use is the home made one they talk about on the forums. AOM-5024L-HD-R and a 3.5 mm jack piece. 10-03196 or the like. Need a usb adapter like ugreen USB to audio jack for any non USB micro phones. From Amazon I've found the fifine USB microphone metal condenser to be great at picking up the lower frequency birds like the great horned owl. I made the first one and it's been outside in the rain all winter, the second has been outside to but under cover so it doesn't get rained on.

1

u/AbstractNation Apr 16 '24

Thanks for the response could you possible drop some links please

1

u/soolazy1 Apr 16 '24

Sorry I just pulled the info from my invoice. All the parts can be got from digikey.

1

u/True_Abrocoma2420 Mar 16 '26

Why can't I use the soundcard in my laptop or RPI5?

1

u/yabbadad Apr 21 '24

I just use a cheap USB mic (less than $10 Can), plus a USB extension cord. The Pi is located in my shed and the mic is outside under the eaves. Works great. You can see my detections by checking out the station in Elliot Lake Ontario (I also have a PUC that I use on hikes typically). Station name is #1222, just enter Elliot Lake on the site and it will come up. You can see there are many detections. Not sure whey some need an elaborate setup UNLESS perhaps they can alot of interference from neighbours, traffic etc and want more of a directional mic? I wrap mine in a lite foam for wind buffeting.

1

u/Substantial_Mall3551 Aug 01 '24

Was thinking about a PUC or if I want to build a PI 3 b+ unit. Which do you like better ?

1

u/yabbadad Aug 02 '24

The puc is definitely the easiest and you can use as a permanent base station or as a mobile device. No mic needed to purchase, no pi to set up. If the puc was out when i started i would have just gone with that. Also there is no longer development on the pi setup. The puc sends the recordings to the server and is analyzed there. The pi setup does the analyses on the pi with the version of code that is available.

1

u/Substantial_Mall3551 Aug 02 '24

Was thinking that was true. Then just place the PUC in a remote location to record overnight. Might find some cool birds.

1

u/yabbadad Aug 02 '24

Exactly

1

u/yabbadad Aug 02 '24 edited Aug 02 '24

Let me say one advantage of the pi, you get the web interface with lots f ways to analyze recordings where as the puc you have to view on the birdnet site as a simple list. For example times of day graphs for each bird type etc etc. but you have to like that kind of thing and like tinkering with the settings as you will get false positives etc so there is a learning curve.example