SwiftOne: Terrestrial Autonomous Recording Unit

Research and development is in our DNA. We are committed to improving both our hardware and software technologies to enhance wildlife research and conservation efforts across the globe. As a part of this commitment, our team has implemented new features on the previous generation of Swift units, a proven technology for terrestrial passive acoustic monitoring. User feedback, continuous investments, and advancements in available technology have contributed to the development of SwiftOne. Amongst many improvements, the updated recording units offer better energy efficiency, a more precise clock, greater customization for frequency settings, voice memos, and greater microphone sensitivity. If you have any questions about SwiftOne units, please contact us.

First generation of Swifts have already been deployed on every continent around the globe. We are proud of the fact that all of the components of the SwiftOne recorder (electronics, microphones, etc.) have been developed in-house at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

In its regular configuration, the unit is powered by three D-cell batteries, which provide power to the unit and enable continuous data collection for 3 or more weeks at a sampling rate of 48 kHz. Currently, the maximum supported sampling rate is 96 kHz (16 bit resolution). Data are stored on a single full-size memory card (SD cards up to 512 GB). Daily recording schedules can be programmed through a configuration tool. We can easily make modifications (e.g., different housing designs) to the SwiftOne units according to the needs of the researchers.

SwiftOne Recorder
SwiftOne Recorder

SwiftOne (second generation recording units)

Documentation and Downloads

SwiftOne Recorder With FW 1.0.3.x (Manufactured in 2024)

SwiftOne Recorder with FW 1.0.2.x

Swift (first generation recording units)

Documentation and Downloads

More information about the first generation Swift units

Swift and SwiftOne: Features and Improvements

Additional SwiftOne Improvements

  • Updated internal clock keeps more accurate time of day
  • SwiftOne uses up to 40% less power than original Swift, resulting in longer record times
  • A new feature in the Configuration Utility supports saved configuration files. This allows for rapid configuration of multiple, similarly programmed recorders
  • Improved start/stop pushbutton is both waterproof and offers more tactile response

Sample One: Twenty seconds recorded by a Swift in Sapsucker Woods, Ithaca, New York, USA at 04:35 local time on 24 May 2017. Background noise from wind and distant automotive traffic

Sample Two: Twenty seconds recorded by a Swift on the eastern slope of the Andes in southern Peru at 11:02 local time on 25 August 2017. No anthropogenic noise