The HydroMoth Is (A)Live

Scrypt · 2022-07-20T11:37:06.019Z

If you’re interested in making lo-tech underwater recordings, the makers of the bat-friendly AudioMoth have released the HydroMoth. It comes with a waterproof case, can be set to record from above-water using an optional “magnetic keychain fob,” and like so many of us was designed to be submerged. So if you’re aching to include hidden pond life in your mixes, or to perform “Cetacean underwater acoustic studies,” or to discover what flounders might be saying about your coif, consider buying this device. The deadline for the group buy appears to be July 23.

HydroMoth1520×855 204 KB

DonovanDwyer · 2022-07-20T13:39:21.880Z

Whoa, that looks awesome.

Scrypt · 2022-08-07T00:35:23.169Z

Round 2 of the HydroMoth group buy is on. Those who want to record terrestrial sound can request the green waterproof case in the notes for their purchase (if you can’t do it yourself, hit up one of the mods in the discussion forum and they’ll do it for you). The thing to be aware of re the Hydro and Audio Moths is that supply is affected by chip shortages. Having tried out this device and employed some of its useful features (recording in three-minute bursts separated by 20 seconds for a four-hour period at night and another during the day; using amplitude settings to record only above a certain level, but knowing that the softer parts of a recording can be expanded if you decide you want them later), I can attest that even though the price has gone up due to the chip shortage, it is still an inexpensive, tiny recorder and microphone in an indestructible case – waterproof in terrestrial settings with the green case and submersible for tested periods of two months in the underwater case.

If you set it up next to an area where creatures feed, you won’t have to worry if one of them gets curious about your recorder. There’s not much they can do to a Moth inside either case if you’ve secured it to a branch, weighted rod, etc. You will hear critters bat at the case if they think there’s food inside.