ESPERDYNE: A Dual-Band Heterodyne Monitor and Ultrasound Recorder for Bioacoustic Field Surveys
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Background
Ultrasonic monitoring is essential for ecological studies of bats and other animals, yet high-performance field devices remain prohibitively expensive and inaccessible-particularly in biodiversity-rich regions with limited research infrastructure. Existing low-cost options often lack real-time listening and require a complex setup. There remains a critical need for versatile, affordable, and field-ready tools that support acoustic behavioural research, educational and conservation outreach.
New Tool
I introduce Esperdyne , an open-source, dual-channel ultrasound monitoring and recording system based on the ESP32-S3 microcontroller. With a component cost under €75, Esperdyne combines real-time heterodyne monitoring, stereo recording from a retroactive ring buffer, and an intuitive rotary-based user interface with OLED display. It supports full-duplex 192 kHz audio, dual-band tuning for simultaneous FM/CF monitoring, and real-time playback via headphones or a speaker. All audio processing–including adjustable carrier frequency mixing, gain control, and file-saving logic–is implemented without reliance on fixed-rate audio libraries.
Applications
Esperdyne has been tested in field conditions and shown to reliably detect high-SNR calls and harmonics from free-flying bats. A companion MATLAB tool Bat Reviewer supports rapid inspection, playback, and export of selected recordings. Together, these tools enable portable, solo-operated acoustic surveys with minimal training. Beyond ecological research, Esperdyne is suitable for education, outreach, and preliminary field assessments in remote or resource-constrained settings. Its modular design encourages hardware customisation and firmware extension by interdisciplinary teams.
Availability and Implementation
Full hardware schematics, firmware, and software tools are publicly available. The system can be built using hobbyist-accessible components and standard Arduino tooling. By sharing this system openly, I aim to lower technical barriers and foster broader participation in ultrasound-based biodiversity monitoring and conservation. Esperdyne demonstrates how microcontroller-based platforms can bridge gaps between affordability, usability, and scientific capability–supporting global efforts in soundscape ecology.
