Hello All
 
The Apidictor has already been mentioned on this List.
 
I have received a specification and a wiring diagram of the Apidictor which
was first built in the 1960s and enjoyed limited success. The broad
requirement is shown below, which I have translated into how a PC might
handle the job.
 
It is required to be able to record the sounds from a beehive and transfer
them to a PC. The software in the PC needs to be able to detect a 'warble'
sound in the range 225 to 285Hz which needs to be amplified and separated
from other hive noises, and also to detect a hiss which has a frequency of
over 3000Hz so that it is required to block off sounds below that. According
to Rex Boys, who has written a booklet entitled 'Listen to the Bees', and
from whom I obtained the specification, if the above sounds can be
identified in a hive one can predict swarming.
 
I can already hear 'Why not just take the roof off the hive, and check for
swarm cells or split the hive to preempt swarming etc. etc etc.'. Yes, I
quite agree, but for those keen on a bit of experimentation like myself, a
version of the Apidictor using latter day technology may be interesting.
 
Has anybody any personal experience of sound processing on a PC, or any
contacts with an engineer involved in sound who may be able to suggest
software to handle the above. (All of my computer experience is in the area
of commercial software development, so sound processing is something I know
nothing about at least not yet.)
 
Sincerely
Tom Barrett
49 South park
Foxrock
Dublin 18
Ireland