Spectroware: A Cross-Platform Software for Visualization, Measurement, and Expert Validation of Bioacoustic Recordings

Abstract

Spectroware (v1.0.0) is a cross-platform desktop application designed for visualizing and taking measurements from bioacoustic recordings in WAV format. It is intended for all users (amateurs and professionals alike) who need to efficiently analyze large directories of recordings or correct preclassification tables through manual validation. Spectroware can display synchronized oscillogram and spectrogram views and a power spectrum computed over a selected portion of a recording. It supports mono and stereo files, provides temporal and frequency measurement tools, offers a heterodyne playback simulation for mono ultrasonic files, and includes a spreadsheet module for synchronizing listed files with recordings in the current directory. The goal of Spectroware is to make a powerful and precise tool accessible to everyone, helping streamline the workflow between navigation, visualization, listening, measurement, annotation validation, and export. To date, it is neither an automatic taxonomic classifier nor a centralized acoustic database. The signal processing methods used are standard and extensively documented, including short-time Fourier analysis, classical windows, decibel spectra, display interpolation, and full-scale numerical normalization. This record contains the English and French versions of the technical note for Spectroware v1.0.0. Software availability: Spectroware is freely available from the Biocena website.