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UltraMic200K from Dodotronic - Long post (but short review)

Subject: UltraMic200K from Dodotronic - Long post (but short review)
From: "ndbdxr" ndbdxr
Date: Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:46 pm ((PDT))
Well, as many of you know, the UltraMic200K arrived the other day. The weat=
her had been awful here in New York, but, Tonight was the first real test f=
or evening bats. And it performed very well indeed!
The sensitivity of this mic is phenomenal!

I still have a lot of learning to do, as far as the SeaWave software goes, =
but I give it a thumbs up, overall. And it can be used with just about any =
software that detects a USB microphone. Audacity, etc.

When it comes to the ability to pick up distant bats on the wing: The mic e=
asily matches my beloved BatBox Baton (the best performing bat detector of =
my collection).
I will say, that this is the perfect ultrasonic microphone for those Nature=
 Recordists & bat enthusiasts who prefer to muck about with equipment. The =
combinations of software settings seem endless.

I've only just scratched the surface of what can be accomplished with this =
hardware & software (SeaWave). If I had the full version of SeaPro, I'd hav=
e even more (and very desirable) capabilities.
I just realized that I didn't install Avisoft Apps on this laptop - will ma=
ke a note: To try that software with the UltraMic next.

OK, below is a short review.

The UltraMic200K, the new ultrasonic microphone that has recently become av=
ailable from the folks at http://www.dodotronic.com/.
You can see more photos and info of the new unit, by visiting the link abov=
e.

As you will learn from the Dodotronic Web site, the Ultramic200K is a very =
versatile device, with great specifications and lots of features; so there =
are quite a few ways in which to record sounds. One can use it straight awa=
y, simply by plugging it into your portable computer. It may be used with a=
 Windows or Linux operating system. And, you may also try it with any free,=
 downloadable sound application of your choice.
I would also point out, that it is an ideal choice for someone who enjoys "=
experimenting" and discovering new ways to use the various (free) software =
packages available. Many different combinations of settings are possible. I=
've only tried a few so far.

One of the most outstanding features of this device, is that it is capable =
of time-expansion bat detecting! To me, this alone was worth the price of a=
dmission. I've wanted a time-expansion bat detector for years now...
Another reason that I'm very impressed by this device, is because until now=
, there hasn't been a low-cost ultrasonic microphone available to Hobbyists=
. So, I am pleased to report that the Ultramic200K costs as much as many co=
nventional bat detectors. 200 Euro + VAT + Shipping. Many of the specialty =
ultrasonic microphones on the market have been very high cost units, which =
also required additional add-on hardware in order to function.

Since most folks have laptops these days, just about anyone can have a prof=
essional style bat recording system that's actually affordable. Another gre=
at feature of the Ultramic, is that it plugs right into any laptop, no addi=
tional hardware components are necessary.

You can find SeaWave here: www.unipv.it/cibra/seawave.html
I've completed some tests and comparisons on one of the first prototypes of=
 this unique microphone.
Recording tests of the UltraMic200K reveal a very capable piece of equipmen=
t.

The first thing that struck me, was it's ability as a microphone in general=
: It has simply amazing performance! It easily out-performs each of the sho=
tgun microphones I had to hand (including the well-known Sennheiser MKE-300=
). The sensitivity of this (MEMs-based) microphone is astonishing. This is =
especially noteworthy, as the Ultramic was not designed to perform as a sho=
tgun mic.
The main feature that I always look for in a new bat detector, is it's abil=
ity to detect bats from a good distance away. And, I'm happy to report that=
 the Ultramic200K can pick up bats at the same distances as my other top ba=
t detectors.

Among the options in the SeaWave dialog box, is an option to adjust the Dig=
ital Gain. Well, just increasing the value in small increments provides ama=
zing results - The mic becomes super-sensitive, but at the same time doesn'=
t over-saturate or suffer from too much clipping ot distortion. I'm not sur=
e how or why that is, but I'm happy about it. I've just never seen it befor=
e.

Kind regards,
Al










"While a picture is worth a thousand words, a
sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie Krause.



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