<p>Good question, there is definitely a possibility to do that by soldering a jack plug (ref:  SJ2-35464A-SMT-TR) on the audiomoth board. I've used it to plug in a hydrophone so I don't have any specific suggestions for microphones but the connector on the mic will need to be a 3.5mm jack or you'll need to use an adaptor.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-13T19:30:10.413Z
Thanks for the plug reference; much appreciated. I'm used to working with hydrophones as well, so these terrestrial mics have me all confused
Jack Butler
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-13T15:52:51.400Z
2022-07-13T15:52:51.400Z
Cam Desjonqu
<p>Good info from Fuzzyface. I've used the Rugged Mount Mono Primo EM272 Microphone from micbooster.com with relatively good results. See here: <a href="https://micbooster.com/clippy-and-pluggy-microphones/113-rugged-mount-primo-em172-mono.html" rel="noreferrer">https://micbooster.com/clippy-and-pluggy-microphones/113-rugged-mount-primo-em172-mono.html</a> . I stuck an acoustic vent from micbooster directly on top of the capsule to give a little more waterproofness. See here: <a href="https://micbooster.com/microphone-holders/124-acoustic-microphone-vent.html#/69-protection-ipx4/124-pack-single" rel="noreferrer">https://micbooster.com/microphone-holders/124-acoustic-microphone-vent.html#/69-protection-ipx4/124-pack-single</a>
You can buy a windscreen from those folks too.<br><br> I've just stuck my modified Audiomoth in a junction box from Amazon, drilled a hole and put the rugged mic on the bottom to shield from rain and water getting inside. My units survived rain and snow so I think it would probably work in most cases, but haven't tried it out in super wet regions.<br><br>
Also if you don't want to solder and want to use different battery configurations (rechargable packs, D batteries, etc), or use the GPS feature (again without soldering) you could buy a Audiomoth Dev when they're back in stock at either Labmaker or Groupgets <a href="https://www.labmaker.org/collections/earth-and-ecology/products/audiomoth-dev" rel="noreferrer">https://www.labmaker.org/collections/earth-and-ecology/products/audiomoth-dev</a> . That way you can just plug in whatever you need including the audio jack.
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/zhWBd.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/zhWBd.jpg" alt="ARU in junction box with external mic" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-15T13:39:40.503Z
Excellent info and follow-up from what FuzzyFace said. Much appreciated!
Jack Butler
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-14T20:08:12.273Z
2022-07-14T20:22:45.377Z
2022-07-14T20:22:45.377Z
user14353
<p>Useful info here for building and attaching a microphone.
<a href="https://github.com/OpenAcousticDevices/Application-Notes/blob/master/Using_AudioMoth_with_External_Electret_Condenser_Microphones/Using_AudioMoth_with_External_Electret_Condenser_Microphones.pdf" rel="noreferrer">https://github.com/OpenAcousticDevices/Application-Notes/blob/master/Using_AudioMoth_with_External_Electret_Condenser_Microphones/Using_AudioMoth_with_External_Electret_Condenser_Microphones.pdf</a></p>
<p>You'll need some good wind protection if exposed.</p>
<p>Primo EM258 capsule has good Ultrasonic response for bat work as well.
PUI 5024 capsules are cheaper than Primo and work well for audible frequencies, I've had one running outside for a year with no problems.
Knowles SPU0410LR5H-QB Ultrasonic microphone can be made to work.
I think the limiting factor may be the quality that the Audiomoth can record at?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-15T13:39:12.020Z
Thanks for the info!
Jack Butler
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-14T18:39:54.617Z
2022-07-14T18:39:54.617Z
Fuzzyface
<p>I've been using AudioMoths to record soundscapes at various sites, and then running those recordings through BirdNet to get an estimate of what bird species are present. I've been having some issues with the audio quality and tinkering around with the recording settings (e.g., gains, sampling frequency, etc.) didn't help.</p>
<p>I'd like to add an external mic to the AudioMoths; just wondering if anyone has experience with this, any suggestions about which mics work well or which to avoid, and any other tips?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>

<audiomoth>
External mics for AudioMoths
# External mics for AudioMoths

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-07-13)

I've been using AudioMoths to record soundscapes at various sites, and then running those recordings through BirdNet to get an estimate of what bird species are present. I've been having some issues with the audio quality and tinkering around with the recording settings (e.g., gains, sampling frequency, etc.) didn't help.

I'd like to add an external mic to the AudioMoths; just wondering if anyone has experience with this, any suggestions about which mics work well or which to avoid, and any other tips?

Thanks!

**Tags:** audiomoth


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2022-07-14. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

Useful info here for building and attaching a microphone.
<https://github.com/OpenAcousticDevices/Application-Notes/blob/master/Using_AudioMoth_with_External_Electret_Condenser_Microphones/Using_AudioMoth_with_External_Electret_Condenser_Microphones.pdf>

You'll need some good wind protection if exposed.

Primo EM258 capsule has good Ultrasonic response for bat work as well.
PUI 5024 capsules are cheaper than Primo and work well for audible frequencies, I've had one running outside for a year with no problems.
Knowles SPU0410LR5H-QB Ultrasonic microphone can be made to work.
I think the limiting factor may be the quality that the Audiomoth can record at?

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the info!  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-07-13. Score: 6

Good question, there is definitely a possibility to do that by soldering a username_0 plug (ref: SJ2-35464A-SMT-TR) on the audiomoth board. I've used it to plug in a hydrophone so I don't have any specific suggestions for microphones but the connector on the mic will need to be a 3.5mm username_0 or you'll need to use an adaptor.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the plug reference; much appreciated. I'm used to working with hydrophones as well, so these terrestrial mics have me all confused  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-07-14. Score: 5

Good info from username_3. I've used the Rugged Mount Mono Primo EM272 Microphone from micbooster.com with relatively good results. See here: <https://micbooster.com/clippy-and-pluggy-microphones/113-rugged-mount-primo-em172-mono.html> . I stuck an acoustic vent from micbooster directly on top of the capsule to give a little more waterproofness. See here: <https://micbooster.com/microphone-holders/124-acoustic-microphone-vent.html#/69-protection-ipx4/124-pack-single>
You can buy a windscreen from those folks too.  
  
 I've just stuck my modified Audiomoth in a junction box from Amazon, drilled a hole and put the rugged mic on the bottom to shield from rain and water getting inside. My units survived rain and snow so I think it would probably work in most cases, but haven't tried it out in super wet regions.  
  
Also if you don't want to solder and want to use different battery configurations (rechargable packs, D batteries, etc), or use the GPS feature (again without soldering) you could buy a Audiomoth Dev when they're back in stock at either Labmaker or Groupgets <https://www.labmaker.org/collections/earth-and-ecology/products/audiomoth-dev> . That way you can just plug in whatever you need including the audio username_0.
[![ARU in junction box with external mic](https://i.sstatic.net/zhWBd.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/zhWBd.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Excellent info and follow-up from what FuzzyFace said. Much appreciated!  

---

