1. Open Kaleidoscope and click Browse to select the input directory of the folder containing your .wav/.zc files. Select the box beside the type of input files (WAV files or ZC files).​ Select a folder containing all data for a single detector deployment (all nights at a single site). This is the broadest selection for which all files will share the same metadata (site name, latitude, longitude, etc.).

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NOTE: Download the required NABat metadata forms here. Use [2025-01-10] KPRO NABat Stationary (EMBED METADATA to AUDIO FILES).xml for use with steps 1-9 and [2025-01-10] KPRO NABat Stationary (SAVE AUDIO FILES METADATA to CSV).xml for use with steps 12-18.

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2. Click the drop-down menu above the Default Project Form and select Add or Replace a Project Form. Navigate to [2025-01-10] KPRO NABat Stationary (EMBED METADATA to AUDIO FILES).xml and select the file. The NABat metadata form will now load in the bottom of the INPUTS section (the left half of the Kaleidoscope window).

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3. Complete all metadata fields for which you have data. Required fields include:

 

• GRTS Cell ID or Latitude and Longitude

• Site Name

• Survey Start Time

• Survey End Time

• Surveyor(s)

• Auto ID Software

• Name of Species List for Auto Id

• Name of Species List for Manual ID (if manual ID is provided)

• Audio Recording Name

• Audio Recording Time

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Some fields require specific formatting. Hover the pointer over a field for formatting tips and/or a list of accepted entries.

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4. Once all required metadata fields and any additional fields for which you have data have been completed, select the desired output directory to save processed files by clicking Browse in the top right of the window.

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5. Once the output directory has been selected, choose Nightly from the Create subdirectories drop-down menu to keep new files organized by detector night. Next, select the type of output files you intend to create, WAV or ZC (ZC files cannot be converted to WAV). In order to successfully export metadata, you must select WAV or ZC files in the OUTPUTS window and create copies of the original files during this step. These copies will contain embedded metadata that will be the source of the meta output spreadsheet you will upload to NABat. 

 

​Users with zero crossing files that end in the .# extension rather than .zc should select the 8.3 file names and Use .zc instead of .??# options below ZC files. Otherwise, Kaleidoscope will remove the seconds from the filename, increasing the likelihood of duplicate filenames (resulting from distinct files recorded within the same minute) which will create errors when uploading metadata to the NABat database.

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6. Next, click the Auto ID for Bats tab at the top of the window. Select Bats of North America from the Classifiers drop-down menu. Select + 1 More Accurate (Conservative) from the drop-down menu at the top right and select your state/region from the drop-down menu below the list of species. Species can be manually added or removed based on specific knowledge of species assemblages in your area, but this must be reflected in your NABat species lists used for Auto Id and for Manual Id. 

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7. Click Process Files in the bottom right corner of the window.

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8. Manual verification of auto-identified species is not required for upload to the NABat Partner Portal. Users who intend to manually verify auto-identified species may review audio files when Kaleidoscope Pro has finished processing. NABat guidance recommends manual verification of a minimum of one audio file per species per night to establish presence-absence.

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9. If your detector model automatically embeds a date/time stamp into call files, these data should auto-populate and appear in the Audio Recording Time column of the Kaleidoscope Pro meta output. If so, you may skip the renaming process. However, before uploading metadata to NABat, ensure that the Audio Recording Time column contains data. Otherwise, file names must adhere to NABat's naming format and users should follow the guidance in step 10. If the Audio Recording Time column successfully auto-populates, you may skip to step 11.​

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10. To rename files, follow the instructions in NABat's R script for renaming acoustic files.

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11. Repeat steps 1-10 for all deployments you wish to process. Once completed, steps 12-18 will allow users to simultaneously export metadata for all processed deployments into a single bulk upload CSV.

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12. Return to the batch processing window, click Browse in the Input Directory window, and select the parent folder containing all of your processed deployments. Select a new output directory. This can be a separate folder created in the main project folder labeled Metadata. If the box beside WAV files or ZC files is still checked, uncheck the box. 

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13. Click the Auto ID for Bats tab and select DISABLED in the CLASSIFIERS drop-down menu.

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14. Replace the [2025-01-10] KPRO NABat Stationary (EMBED METADATA to AUDIO FILES).xml file from step 2 with [2025-01-10] KPRO NABat Stationary (SAVE AUDIO FILES METADATA to CSV).xml. The data entry window will no longer include NABat metadata fields, however, the form will still export the embedded metadata from steps 1-9.

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15. Click Process Files in the bottom right corner of the window.

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16. Navigate to the current output directory folder and open the meta file. Check to ensure all fields for which you entered data are filled and ensure one or both of the Auto Id/Manual Id columns are filled.

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17. Rename the meta file with a descriptive and unique name and save. The NABat system will automatically overwrite duplicate file names in a given project with the most recent version, so it is critical that your file name is unique.