Welcome!
My name is Lang Elliott (Project Leader) and I am excited to announce the publication of Hear Birds Again, an iOS mobile application for bird enthusiasts who suffer from high frequency hearing loss and desire to once again enjoy the uplifting songs of wild birds.
This is a non-profit effort. Hear Birds Again is a free, open-source iOS app that employs advanced algorithms to lower the pitch of bird songs in real time, thereby making them audible during walks in nature. Now that we've published our initial version, the source code is now available for developers who may help us improve our existing app or else use the code in their own productions. Our intent is to share freely to encourage continued development of more evolved solutions.
DONATE NOW to help us continue development of Hear Birds Again, which will include adding more features such as new algorithms for pitch shifting, refining the binaural headset design, and otherwise keeping the app up-to-date and fully functioning.
A Note to Android Users: While our initial goal was to publish an iOS app for use with Apple mobile devices (especially the iPhone), we are hopeful that an Android version will follow. Go here for more information.
Welcome!
My name is Lang Elliott (Project Leader) and I am excited to announce the publication of Hear Birds Again, an iOS mobile application for bird enthusiasts who suffer from high frequency hearing loss and desire to once again enjoy the uplifting songs of wild birds.
This is a non-profit effort. Hear Birds Again is an open-source iOS app that employs advanced algorithms to lower the pitch of bird songs in real time, thereby making them audible during walks in nature. Now that we've published our initial version, the source code is now available for developers who may help us improve our existing app or else use the code in their own productions. Our intent is to share freely to encourage continued development of more evolved solutions.
DONATE NOW to help us continue development of Hear Birds Again, which will include adding more features such as new algorithms for pitch shifting, refining the binaural headset design,and otherwise keeping the app up-to-date and fully functioning. Hear Birds Again is special project of Miracle of Nature, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
A Note to Android Users: While our initial goal is to publish an iOS app for use with Apple mobile devices (especially the iPhone), we are hopeful that an Android version will follow. Go here for more information.
IINTRODUCTION by Lang Elliott (spoken word):
VIDEO EXAMPLES OF PITCH-LOWERING:
NOTE: Hear Birds Again works best when used in conjunction with a special binaural headset that allows high-pitched singers to not only be heard, but also located in 3D space. Go Here for more information.
Our recommended binaural headset. Components include low-noise mics mounted on earphones and a special adapter for attachment to an iPhone.
PROGRESS REPORT – 1 September 2022
For the last few months, we have been actively testing our prototype in the field and making a number of adjustments. At this point our biggest challenge is making our app work well with a wide variety of possible input devices. These include the iPhone’s built-in stereo mic system, with which first-time users will be able to test our app with whatever earbuds (wired or bluetooth) they already have. They also include the higher-performance build-it-yourself headset described below. We are also finalizing the app's user interface.
With regard to the "headset conundrum", we still plan to strongly recommend that users equip themselves with our super low-noise option that will require a bit of do-it-yourself work (though not complicated at all). Nick Roast, the owner of micbooster.com (located in Great Britain), has agreed to provide high quality mic modules (pre-wired with plugs), along with our recommended Koss headset and the Rode adapter required for interfacing with the iPhone (or other Apple mobile devices). While we certainly wish there was a high-quality, low-noise pre-built headset-and-mic unit available in the marketplace, the sad truth is that there are no off-the-shelf solutions currently available that will provide sound quality good enough for serious birders.
For those of you who are unaware of the issues involved with regard to the headset, Go here for a detailed discussion. A brief description of our recommended solution is provided below:
In order for users to detect the high-pitched singers and locate them in a 3D listening environment, a special "binaural" headset must be used in conjunction with the AI-Micro adapter made by Rode (available in the US for $79 from retailers such as B&H or Adorama). The headset will require a bit of do-it-yourself effort. The microphones (with cables and plugs) will be available from micbooster.com (I'll provide more details about this later). The mics will need to be hand-mounted (using Gorilla Mounting Putty) on Koss KSC75 earclip headphones ($20), which are readily available from various retailers the world over. Finally, the cables of the mics and the headphones will need to be hand-braided to produce the final headset. We regret that there is no optimal off-the-shelf headset solution currently available, although the now-discontinued though still on-sale Sennheiser Ambeo Smart Headset will work ... just be aware the mics are really noisy, and we have no idea how much longer this item will be available).
PROGRESS REPORT – 12 May 2022
While our programming has taken longer than anticipated, we are pleased to announce that we now have a fully working prototype of our app and are currently testing it in the field. This “barebones” version has three divide-by settings (1/2, 1/3 and 1/4) and includes four input filter settings to control the frequency at which the pitch-lowering begins (which is user-selectable and dependent on the details of each user’s hearing loss). We’ve also added a supplementary volume control for those who desire extra amplification of the pitch-lowered signals. After our field tests, we’ll move on to tweaking the UI (User Interface) and adding instructions and other relevant information. Then we will move ahead with publishing our app in Apple’s App Store.
In order for users to detect the high-pitched singers and locate them in a 3D listening environment, a special "binaural" headset will need to be used in conjunction with the AI-Micro adapter made by Rode (available in the US for $79 from retailers such as B&H or Adorama). The headset will require a bit of do-it-yourself effort. The microphones (with cables and plugs) will be available from Micbooster.com (I'll provide more details about this later). The mics will need to be hand-mounted (using Gorilla Mounting Putty) on Koss KSC75 earclip headphones ($20), which are readily available from various retailers the world over. Finally, the cables of the mics and the headphones will need to be hand-braided to produce the final headset. We regret that there is no optimal off-the-shelf headset solution currently available, although the now-discontinued though still on-sale Sennheiser Ambeo Smart Headset will work (just be aware the mics are quite noisy, and we have no idea how much longer this item will be available).
As for fund-raising, we've now brought in nearly $8000.00, which is helping propel us toward completing the first stage of the Hear Birds Again project. We very much look forward to getting the first version of our app published so that we can obtain feedback and begin adding features that will make it even more useful to bird enthusiasts who suffer from high frequency hearing loss.
That’s about it for now. I’ll post a new progress report when we’re ready to publish the first version of our app.
PROGRESS REPORT – 20 October 2022
Hello Everyone! As we move into late October, we are pleased to announce that we’ve been making excellent progress with our Hear Birds Again application. In fact, if all goes as planned, we’ll publish our first version in about three weeks time (no absolute guarantee, but chances are very good).
We’ve also been updating our website to include more specific information about our recommended binaural headset, which utilizes super low-noise microphones that will provide bird lovers with the very best listening experience. Go Here for more information.
Headset components are now available via micbooster.com! Go here for ordering information. The price (including shipping) will be about $175 USD, not bad for a high fidelity listening experience. Note that headsets will need to assembled, but rest assured that the process will be easy. I will soon create a video showing step-by-step how this is done.
Note that there is an inexpensive ($50 USD) binaural headset that is functional but that utilizes very noisy mics. It is the Ambeo Smart Headset (no longer manufactured but still readily-available). While this headset certainly works, we do not recommend it because the mics are at least 15 decibels noisier than the mics used in our recommended headset. Unfortunately, a 15 decibel boost in noise is quite substantial and easily heard, resulting in an annoying hiss that may block out soft and distant sounds. Nonetheless, the Ambeo headset certainly does work and provides an inexpensive solution for those unwilling to invest in our recommended headset.
Another piece of good news is that I will soon be featured in an article in Audubon magazine, to be published in mid-December. The article will be about my sustained efforts to find a solution to high frequency hearing loss for nature enthusiasts who can no longer hear the sweet, high-pitched songs of birds … a personal saga spanning nearly 50 years that will culminate with the publication of our free open source iOS application.
Thank you again for supporting Hear Birds Again!
Naturally Yours,
Welcome!
My name is Lang Elliott and I am spearheading the creation of Hear Birds Again, an iOS mobile application for bird enthusiasts who suffer from high frequency hearing loss and desire to once again enjoy the uplifting songs of wild birds. We will also continue to explore new options for headset design in hopes that a convenient "over-the-counter" solution will become available.
This is a non-profit effort. Hear Birds Again will be a free, open-source iOS app that employs advanced algorithms to lower the pitch of bird songs in real time, thereby making them audible during walks in nature. Now that we've published our initial version, the source code is now available for developers who may help us improve our existing app or else use the code in their own productions. Our intent is to share freely to encourage continued development of more evolved solutions.
Donate Now to help us give birth to Hear Birds Again, which will help bring joy into the lives of nature lovers who no longer hear the high-pitched songs of birds.
A Note to Android Users: While our initial goal is to publish an iOS app for use with Apple mobile devices (especially the iPhone), we are hopeful that an Android version will follow. Go here for more information.
Do You Have Trouble Hearing Bird Songs?
Hear Birds Again is special project of Miracle of Nature, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Join Our Mailing List To Keep Informed About Our Progress
Welcome!
My name is Lang Elliott and I am spearheading the creation of Hear Birds Again, a mobile application for bird enthusiasts who suffer from high frequency hearing loss and desire to once again enjoy the uplifting songs of wild birds.
This is a non-profit effort. Hear Birds Again will be a free, open-source iOS app that employs advanced algorithms to lower the pitch of bird songs in real time, thereby making them audible during walks in nature. Once we publish the initial version, our source code will be made available to other developers who may then help us improve our existing app or else use the code in their own productions. Our intent is to share freely to encourage continued development of more evolved solutions.
Hear Birds Again is special project of Miracle of Nature, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
A Note to Android Users: While our initial goal is to publish an iOS app for use with Apple mobile devices (especially the iPhone), we are hopeful that an Android version will follow. Go here for more information.
IINTRODUCTION by Lang Elliott (spoken word):
VIDEO EXAMPLES OF PITCH-LOWERING:
PROGRESS REPORT – 1 September 2022
For the last few months, we have been actively testing our prototype in the field and making a number of adjustments. At this point our biggest challenge is making our app work well with a wide variety of possible input devices. These include the iPhone’s built-in stereo mic system, with which first-time users will be able to test our app with whatever earbuds (wired or bluetooth) they already have. They also include the higher-performance build-it-yourself headset described below. We are also finalizing the app's user interface.
With regard to the "headset conundrum", we still plan to strongly recommend that users equip themselves with our super low-noise option that will require a bit of do-it-yourself work (though not complicated at all). Nick Roast, the owner of micbooster.com (located in Great Britain), has agreed to provide high quality mic modules (pre-wired with plugs), along with our recommended Koss headset and the Rode adapter required for interfacing with the iPhone (or other Apple mobile devices). While we certainly wish there was a high-quality, low-noise pre-built headset-and-mic unit available in the marketplace, the sad truth is that there are no off-the-shelf solutions currently available that will provide sound quality good enough for serious birders.
For those of you who are unaware of the issues involved with regard to the headset, Go here for a detailed discussion. A brief description of our recommended solution is provided below:
In order for users to detect the high-pitched singers and locate them in a 3D listening environment, a special "binaural" headset must be used in conjunction with the AI-Micro adapter made by Rode (available in the US for $79 from retailers such as B&H or Adorama). The headset will require a bit of do-it-yourself effort. The microphones (with cables and plugs) will be available from micbooster.com (I'll provide more details about this later). The mics will need to be hand-mounted (using Gorilla Mounting Putty) on Koss KSC75 earclip headphones ($20), which are readily available from various retailers the world over. Finally, the cables of the mics and the headphones will need to be hand-braided to produce the final headset. We regret that there is no optimal off-the-shelf headset solution currently available, although the now-discontinued though still on-sale Sennheiser Ambeo Smart Headset will work ... just be aware the mics are really noisy, and we have no idea how much longer this item will be available).
PROGRESS REPORT – 12 May 2022
While our programming has taken longer than anticipated, we are pleased to announce that we now have a fully working prototype of our app and are currently testing it in the field. This “barebones” version has three divide-by settings (1/2, 1/3 and 1/4) and includes four input filter settings to control the frequency at which the pitch-lowering begins (which is user-selectable and dependent on the details of each user’s hearing loss). We’ve also added a supplementary volume control for those who desire extra amplification of the pitch-lowered signals. After our field tests, we’ll move on to tweaking the UI (User Interface) and adding instructions and other relevant information. Then we will move ahead with publishing our app in Apple’s App Store.
In order for users to detect the high-pitched singers and locate them in a 3D listening environment, a special "binaural" headset will need to be used in conjunction with the AI-Micro adapter made by Rode (available in the US for $79 from retailers such as B&H or Adorama). The headset will require a bit of do-it-yourself effort. The microphones (with cables and plugs) will be available from Micbooster.com (I'll provide more details about this later). The mics will need to be hand-mounted (using Gorilla Mounting Putty) on Koss KSC75 earclip headphones ($20), which are readily available from various retailers the world over. Finally, the cables of the mics and the headphones will need to be hand-braided to produce the final headset. We regret that there is no optimal off-the-shelf headset solution currently available, although the now-discontinued though still on-sale Sennheiser Ambeo Smart Headset will work (just be aware the mics are quite noisy, and we have no idea how much longer this item will be available).
As for fund-raising, we've now brought in nearly $8000.00, which is helping propel us toward completing the first stage of the Hear Birds Again project. We very much look forward to getting the first version of our app published so that we can obtain feedback and begin adding features that will make it even more useful to bird enthusiasts who suffer from high frequency hearing loss.
That’s about it for now. I’ll post a new progress report when we’re ready to publish the first version of our app.
PROGRESS REPORT – 1 September 2022
What We’ve Been Up To: For the last few months, we have been actively testing our prototype in the field and making a number of adjustments. At this point our biggest challenge is making our app work well with a wide variety of possible input devices, not only the high-performance build-it-yourself headset described below, but also the iPhone’s built-in stereo mic system, which will allow first-time users to test our app with whatever earbuds (wired or bluetooth) they already have. We are also finalizing the app’s user interface.
The Headset Conundrum: With regard to the “headset conundrum,” we still plan to strongly recommend that users equip themselves with our super low-noise option that will require a bit of do-it-yourself work (though not complicated at all). Nick Roast, the owner of micbooster.com (located in the UK), has agreed to provide high quality mic modules (pre-wired with plugs), along with our recommended Koss headset, the Rode adapter required for interfacing with the iPhone (or other Apple mobile devices), plus other necessary items. While we certainly wish there was a high-quality, low-noise pre-built headset-and-mic unit available in the marketplace, the sad truth is that there are no off-the-shelf solutions currently available that will provide sound quality good enough for serious birders.
For those of you who are unaware of the issues involved with regard to the headset, Go Here for a detailed discussion and Go Here for a complete parts list with US sources, plus a forthcoming link to micbooster.com for purchasing headset kits.
Fundraising: Although lagging far behind our initial goal of raising $20,0000 (USD) for bringing our app into existence, we have managed to secure about $9,000.00. Unfortunately, this means that Harold Mills and myself have been working for “considerably less-than-minimum-wage” for many months now to complete the first version of the app. We hope to remedy this, at least in part, by enabling in-app donations, trusting that actual users will donate to support continued development. There are also two articles about Hear Birds Again that are in the making, one slated for publication before year’s end and the other by late winter. Hopefully these will generate a a great deal of attention and result in significant donations.