callsync: an R package for alignment and analysis of multi-microphone animal recordings

• DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.07.527470
• Publication Date: 2023-02-07T20:30:11Z
• Authors: Simeon Q. Smeele; Stephen A. Tyndel; Barbara C. Klump; Gustavo Alarcón-N...; Lucy M. Aplin
• Keywords: R package

Summary To better understand how vocalisations are used during interactions of multiple individuals, studies increasingly deploying on-board devices with a microphone on each animal. The resulting recordings extremely challenging to analyse, since clocks drift non-linearly and record the non-focal individuals as well noise. Here we address this issue callsync , an R package designed align recordings, detect assign caller, trace fundamental frequency, filter out noise perform basic analysis clips. We present case study where pipeline is dataset six captive cockatiels ( Nymphicus hollandicus ) wearing backpack microphones. Recordings initially had ∼2 minutes, but were aligned within seconds our package. Using detected assigned 2101 calls across three multi-hour recording sessions. Two loud beep markers in background help manual alignment process. One contained no obvious markers, order demonstrate that not necessary obtain optimal alignment. then function traces frequency applied spectrographic cross correlation show possible analytical vocal similarity visually assessed. can be go from raw clean features. modular allows users replace functions they wish. also discuss challenges might faced step available literature provide alternatives for step.