Usage Guide

Master iNatSpectro’s bioacoustic analysis capabilities to enhance your iNaturalist experience and scientific understanding of animal sounds.

What are Spectrograms?

Spectrograms are visual representations of sound that show:

Time (horizontal axis): How sounds change over time
Frequency (vertical axis): The pitch or tone of sounds
Intensity (color): How loud different frequencies are

Think of them as “musical scores” for animal communication, revealing patterns invisible to the ear alone.

Getting Started Quickly

Your First Spectrogram

Install iNatSpectro for your browser
Visit any iNaturalist observation with audio content
Watch the spectrogram load automatically (for files ≤1 minute)
Explore the visualization with zoom and pan controls

Key Features at a Glance

🎯 Species-Specific Analysis: Automatic optimization for different animal groups
🔍 Interactive Exploration: Zoom up to 20x with smooth pan controls
📊 High-Resolution Display: Up to 800 pixels per second resolution
🎨 Scientific Visualization: Research-grade Viridis color mapping
⚡ Real-Time Adjustment: Live parameter changes without reloading

Learning Path

1. Start with the Basics

Getting Started →

Understanding the interface
Basic zoom and pan controls
Reading spectrogram displays
Audio playback synchronization

2. Explore Advanced Features

Advanced Features →

High-resolution analysis modes
Interactive measurement tools
Performance optimization
Export and sharing options

3. Master Species Profiles

Species Profiles →

Automatic species detection
Taxon-specific optimizations
Profile customization
Scientific methodology

Common Use Cases

For Citizen Scientists

Species Identification: Visual patterns help confirm audio-based IDs
Learning Tool: See what bird songs and animal calls actually look like
Quality Assessment: Identify noise, overlapping sounds, and recording issues
Community Contribution: Better observations help researchers and educators

For Researchers and Educators

Field Work: Analyze recordings immediately in the browser
Teaching: Visual representation helps explain bioacoustic concepts
Data Analysis: Tools without specialized software
Reproducible Methods: Standardized parameters across studies

For Wildlife Enthusiasts

Sound Exploration: Discover hidden details in familiar animal sounds
Pattern Recognition: Learn to identify species by visual signatures
Technical Understanding: Gain insight into animal communication strategies
Comparative Analysis: Compare sounds across different species and habitats

Key Concepts

Frequency vs. Pitch

Low frequencies (bottom of spectrogram): Deep, bass sounds
High frequencies (top of spectrogram): Bright, treble sounds
Harmonics: Multiple frequency bands from the same sound source

Time Resolution vs. Frequency Resolution

High time resolution: See rapid changes, less frequency detail
High frequency resolution: Precise pitch information, less temporal detail
Species profiles: Optimized balance for different animal sound types

Signal vs. Noise

Bright colors: Strong animal vocalizations
Dim colors: Background noise or quiet sounds
Patterns: Repetitive structures often indicate biological sounds

Tips for Success

Getting Better Results

Use appropriate species profiles for your observations
Adjust frequency ranges to focus on your animal’s vocal range
Experiment with zoom levels to see different temporal details
Try different visualizations (logarithmic vs. linear scaling)

Troubleshooting

No spectrogram appears: Check that the observation has audio content
Poor quality display: Try a different species profile or adjust parameters
Slow performance: Reduce resolution for very long recordings
Browser issues: Ensure you’re using a supported, up-to-date browser

Scientific Context

iNatSpectro brings research-grade bioacoustic analysis to the citizen science community:

Research Foundation: Parameters based on published scientific literature
Standardized Methods: Consistent analysis enables comparative studies
Educational Impact: Bridges gap between research and public engagement
Data Quality: Enhanced observations contribute to biodiversity research

Ready to Explore?

Choose your learning path:

Get Started with Basics → Jump to Advanced Features →