Wildlife Acoustics SONG METER SM5BAT Full Spectrum Ultrasonic Bat Recorder

Product detailed description

NEW! Available from spring 2026. A must-have for professional ecologists, the all-new SM5BAT captures it all: bats, birds, and everything in between—all at once. And it does it while delivering the best battery performance on the market. Completely reimagined and reengineered, the SM5BAT integrates Wildlife Acoustics' advanced technologies to deliver four independent recording channels (two ultrasonic + two acoustic) while offering a range of power configuration options, including solar, lithium-ion, and alkaline batteries. Eighteen years of proven field experience and listening intently to customer feedback have all been leading to this: hear more, haul less, and streamline your workflow with the SM5BAT.

Four channels, zero compromises

Two bat recorders and a stereo bird recorder allow you to perform multi-taxa surveys with one, do-it-all device. Includes two built-in microphones—one ultrasonic and one acoustic—that allow you to record bats and birds at the same time. Add a second ultrasonic mic for two independently triggered bat channels.

Deploy for longer, power your way

Class-leading battery performance for when deployments run long. Choose lithium-ion or alkaline batteries, thanks to a re-engineered, flexible enclosure that accommodates either, or opt for solar (or another external source) to power your setup. Compatible with our solar Power Kit.*

Rugged setup, field-ready performance

All-new, reimagined IP67 weatherproof enclosure and microphones for a reliable setup in any terrestrial environment.

Onboard GPS, real-time metadata

Built-in GPS/GLONASS antenna precisely records your time and location, enabling time synchronization within 30 microseconds across multiple recorders. Use this data to perform localization calculations and accurately pinpoint where an animal was calling.

Bluetooth®-enabled, hassle-free configuration

Now compatible with the Song Meter Configurator app for easy programming via your iOS/Android device. Select settings, create schedules, and get estimated deployment timelines.

Future-proof design, remote access

Brand-new expansion port for cellular remote access accessory (coming late 2026), enabling data download, recorder status checks, and settings adjustments. This feature will also support customer-created electronics for edge analysis.

Advanced recording technology

Low-noise mics detect even quiet and distant calls; advanced triggering records more bats; and "noise-scrubbing" technology removes false triggers (sound files without bats) if they occur. The result? You record more bats and less noise, and save time in analysis.  

*SM5BAT comes with one built-in ultrasonic mic and one built-in acoustic mic. Cabled mics, stub mics, Power Kit, and other accessories are sold separately.

Technical Specification:

Product code: SM5-U

SM5BAT vs Song Meter Mini Bat 2

SONG METER SM5BAT	SONG METER MINI BAT 2 (AA OR LI-ION)
PRICE (USD) $1,049 including cabled including 2 built-in mics	PRICE (USD): AA: $749, Li-ion: $849 Both include a built-in microphone (same element as SMM-U2)
ULTRASONIC CHANNELS 2 (independently triggered)	ULTRASONIC CHANNELS 1
ACOUSTIC CHANNELS 2 (mono or stereo)	ACOUSTIC CHANNELS 1 (with optional acoustic microphone)
BUILT-IN MICROPHONES 2 (1 ultrasonic and 1 acoustic)	BUILT-IN MICROPHONES 1 ultrasonic
SIMULTANIOUS ULTRASONIC + ACOUSTICS Yes	SIMULTANIOUS ULTRASONIC + ACOUSTICS No
RECORDING FORMATS Full-spectrum 16-bit WAV, Compressed W4V, Zero Crossing	RECORDING FORMATS Full-spectrum and/or Zero Crossing
STORAGE 4TB total: 2 SDHC/SDXC cards	STORAGE 2TB total: 1 SDHC/SDXC card
BATTERY POWER OPTIONS 18650 Li-ion (1-6,11) or 4 D Alkaline or NiMH	BATTERY POWER OPTIONS AA Model: 4 or 8 AA Alkaline/NiMH batteries Li-ion Model: 1-6 18650 Li-ion batteries
BATTERY LIFE Up to 70 ten-hour nights with four alkaline D cell batteries Up to 150 ten-hour nights with 11 Li-ion batteries	BATTERY LIFE AA Model: Up to 50 ten-hour nights Li-ion Model: Up to 125 ten-hour nights
EXTERNAL POWER CONNECTIVITY: Yes	EXTERNAL POWER CONNECTIVITY: No
WARRANTY: 3 years including built-in mics	WARRANTY: 2 years