Owl Sense™ v1.1

Our original high performance, portable bioacoustic audio recorder(Autonomous Recording Unit) for passive research. Owl Sense is designed for mass scale and low cost deployment projects but that doesn't mean we skimped on the design. Record birds, mammals, amphibians, soundscapes or anything else!

High-quality audio using a 73 dB(A) SNR microphone element
Capable of recording audio up to 48kHz
Runs on a single 18650 battery for over 700 hours with 24kHz audio
Rugged and fully weather resistant enclosure and microphone
Supports custom scheduling options to record only when necessary
Extremely simple to use and configure

Owl Sense is ready to deploy: You will need an Owl Sense, battery/charger and memory card to get started(sold separately). See the Support page for details or check out our store for compatible accessories.

Our test lab is the real world: Owl Sense is incredibly rugged, it's been deployed in -30° F Montana winters as well as over 100° F in Death Valley. The case can support the weight of a pickup truck, although we wouldn't recommend driving over your recorders. It can handle almost anything nature throws at it.

Black or Gray? Black is our standard color and is more likely to be in stock. We think black blends in better in most environments making theft or tampering less likely. The gray variant stays significantly cooler in direct sunlight. While heat doesn't affect audio quality, it does affect long term longevity of the battery.

Repairable and upgradable design: Electronics should be repairable. If the microphone, main circuit board, case or anything else fails let us know and we will get you the parts you need to repair your hardware.

Lithium Battery : Why did we design Owl Sense around a single protected 18650 battery?

Longer runtimes especially in extreme hot and cold environments compared to Alkaline.
Rechargeable batteries allow you to always deploy with fully charged batteries. What do you do with all your half used AAs at the end of a deployment?

Recording is just the beginning:

Owl Sense Studio provides a complete workflow for importing recordings, running AI analysis, reviewing detections, and exploring wildlife activity.

Volume Discount Available

10+ $119 each

If you are outside of the United States, contact us.

$ 129.00

Color - Black

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Detailed Features

High Quality Microphones

Top-Tier Performance: Equipped with Infineon's IM73D122 omnidirectional microphone for exceptional audio.
Ultra-Low Self-Noise: Ultra-high 73dB(A) SNR for excellent sound. Real world SNR will be lower.
User-Serviceable Design: The microphone is replaceable, ensuring long-term usability. It is also upgradable when higher performance mics are available.
Weather Protection: A hydrophobic membrane shields the microphone element, minimizing downtime from rain exposure.

Audio Settings

Sample Rates: Supports from 8 kHz to 48 kHz.
Gain Control: Built-in gain settings adjustable from 0 dB to 40 dB.
High-Pass Filter: Includes an adjustable high-pass filter to minimize low-frequency noise.
Audio Format: Captures audio in 16 bit WAV or compressed WavPack files(Lossless or Lossy).

Ultra-Long Runtimes

Audio Recording Time(WAV):
- up to 580 hours at 24 kHz
- up to 390 hours at 48 kHz
Audio Recording Time(WavPack Lossless Compression):
- 700-800 hours at 24 kHz
- 500-600 hours at 48 kHz

Note: Actual performance will vary depending on schedule Idle time, battery age, environmental conditions and card variability. Runtimes are not guaranteed.

Runtime Estimator

Simple Scheduling Options

Continuous
Sunrise to Sunset
Sunset to Sunrise
Sunrise and Sunset
Sunset Only
Sunrise Only
Duty Cycle

Note: Sunrise/Sunset-based schedules include a configurable extension period, allowing you to record before and after each event. For example, you can set recording to start 60 minutes before sunrise and end 60 minutes after sunset.

Durable and Compact Design

Heavy-Duty Waterproof Case: Built to withstand tough conditions.
Convenient Access: Easy to open with retained thumbscrews.
Dimensions & Weight: Measures 6" x 2.7" x 1.9" and weighs approximately 7 oz with the battery included.

Mobile App

iOS/Android Configuration: All device settings are managed through an intuitive app.
Automatic Sync: Date, time, and location are automatically synced to the unit during configuration.
Effortless Multi-Unit Setup: Easily configure multiple units with identical settings using default presets.

Audio Quality

How does the audio from Owl Sense compare to other recorders?

Hear it for yourself! Below, you'll find a comparison between Owl Sense and a top-tier ECM microphone rated at 80 dB SNR with a handheld audio recorder. While Owl Sense has a 73 dB SNR microphone, it performs impressively well. In fact, compared to other low cost ARUs like the AudioMoth, Owl Sense offers much cleaner audio. Keep in mind that the equipment used for this comparison costs significantly more than Owl Sense.

These 2-minute samples were recorded side by side in June in a quiet but very vocal Montana forest. The audio is unedited, except for normalizing the amplitude to more accurately compare the two signals.

80 dB SNR Electret Condenser Microphone

Owl Sense v1.1 MEMS Microphone