Song Meter SM5 Acoustic Recorder
NEW: Song Meter® SM5
The Ultimate Long-Haul Acoustic Recorder
COMING: Early 2026 - expected early March.
The top-of-the-line recorder for professional ecologists studying wildlife that vocalise within the audible range. The all-new SM5 can record birds in the canopy, amphibians in the understory, and much more—and it does so while delivering the best battery performance on the market.
Featuring a redesigned enclosure that accommodates both lithium-ion and alkaline batteries, and a port for external power (such as solar), the SM5 delivers two-channel acoustic recording in a kit that’s made for long-term deployments.
Eighteen years of proven field experience and listening intently to customer feedback have all been leading to this: now hear more, haul less, and streamline your workflow with the Song Meter SM5.
Key Features
Deploy for longer, power your way
Class-leading battery performance for when deployments run long. Choose from lithium-ion or alkaline, or opt for solar (or another external source) to power your kit. 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.
Microphone options for flexible listening
Record with stub mics, cabled mics, or a combination thereof for multi-taxa surveys spanning varying heights and distances. Comes with two built-in acoustic stub mics and the ability to add up to two cabled SMM-A2 mics for mono or stereo recording.*
Onboard GPS, real-time metadata
Built-in GPS for precise recording times and locations, and time synchronisation across multiple recorders. Map detections across mics for clean analysis.
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 in 2026), enabling data download, recorder status checks, and settings adjustments. This feature will also support customer-created electronics for edge analysis.
*SM5 comes with two built-in acoustic microphone stubs. Cabled mics, Power Kit, and other accessories are sold separately.
Technical Specifications
Acoustic channels - 2 (mono or stereo)
Built-in microphones - 2 (stub mics)
Additional microphone ports - 2 (for SMM-A2 cabled mics; sold separately)
Recording format - 16-bit WAV or compressed W4V
Sample rates - 8, 12, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96kHz
Battery life (stereo)
Up to 900 hours with four Alkaline D cell batteries
Up to 1,710 hours with eleven Li-ion 18650 batteries
*When recording at 24kHz sample rate with two built in acoustic microphones
Built-in GPS - Yes
GPS time synch - Yes, within 30 microseconds
Memory/storage capacity - 2 SDHC/SDXC up to 2 TB each (4 TB total)
Battery tray capacity - 1-6 or 11 x 18650 lithium-ion; or 4 x D alkaline
Solar power compatible - Yes, Wildlife Acoustics’ Power Kit and others
External power compatible - Yes
Cellular remote access capability - Yes, accessory coming in 2026
Microphone compatibility - Acoustic cabled mics (SMM-A2, SMM-A1); Acoustic stub mics
Configuration options - iOS or Android phone or tablet (Song Meter Configurator app) or on-unit buttons/screen
“Quick start” & custom scheduling - Yes
Enclosure material - Polycarbonate
IP67 weatherproof - Yes, including built-in mics
Operating temperature - -4°F to +185°F or -20°C to 85°C (batteries may have a narrower operating temperature range)
Dimensions (h x w x d) - 191 x 175 x 64 mm
Weight (with batteries) - 1113 g (11 x 18650); 1138 g (4 x D alkaline)
Warranty - 3 years (including built-in stub mics) - 4 years if bought from me