The SM2 can be easily programmed to record on simple time-of-day schedules or to implement the most complex monitoring protocols, even scheduling recordings relative to local sunrise, sunset and twilight.

Several sample rates are available from mono or stereo 4kHz through 48kHz, and with one of the ultrasonic expansion cards, SM2 can also sample at either stereo 192kHz or mono 384kHz.

Filenames are timestamped and include a programmable prefix to uniquely identify recordings made from each Song Meter. Files can be recorded in standard uncompressed .WAV format, or using lossy or lossless compression in Song Meter's .WAC format. The WAC format also supports triggers that can be set up independently on each channel to only record when acoustic events occur. Our WAC format can be converted back to standard WAV format with the free WAC2WAV utility available to download from SM2 makers Wildlife Acoustics. When using triggers, WAC2WAV can also split up each triggered event on each channel into its own unique timestamped WAV file.

While making recordings, Song Meter also logs the internal temperature sensor and external sensor port every five minutes to a text file. The external sensor readings can be converted automatically to fit a linear scale or a Steinhart-Hart equation used by precision thermistors.