Orpheus User Manual

User Manual — Version 1.8 — 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to the Orpheus Audio Player System — a fully assembled, ruggedized solution for scheduled wildlife audio playback. Orpheus was originally developed for ornithological research in demanding field environments, with all hardware and software components engineered to function together seamlessly. This manual provides guidance on operating and maintaining the device, along with important information on lawful and ethical usage.

Orpheus is available in Basic and Pro versions. Sections marked (Pro only) apply to Pro units.

2. Legal and Ethical Use

Orpheus is intended for research, educational, and lawful observation of wildlife. Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of recorded calls to attract, capture, or hunt animals. Users are solely responsible for ensuring they comply with all applicable local, regional, and national laws regarding wildlife protection, conservation, and hunting. This may include:

• Obtaining any necessary permits or licenses
• Adhering to restrictions on using audio lures for disturbing or capturing protected species
• Following ethical guidelines to avoid undue stress on wildlife

3. System Overview

Orpheus is delivered as a fully integrated unit featuring all core hardware and software:

• Onboard processor with dedicated power management controller
• Battery-backed real-time clock (RTC) for accurate timekeeping during sleep
• Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for companion app connectivity
• Class D audio amplifier and speaker system
• High-capacity LiFePO4 battery with solar charging
• Touchscreen display for on-device control
• Weatherproof enclosure and connectors

The system supports the following capabilities:

Capability	Description
Manual Playback	Direct user control over audio (Pro includes PA mode and Bluetooth speaker connection)
Interval Playback	Time-based scheduling
Astral Playback	Scheduling based on local sunrise/sunset
Seasonal Playback	Timing aligned to natural or custom seasons
Recording Mode	Capturing environmental audio for analysis (Pro only)
Analytics	Tracking and exporting playback data (Pro only)
Companion App	Remote control and monitoring via Bluetooth from your phone
Power Management	Optimizing battery usage via smart sleep/wake cycles

4. Getting Started

Unboxing and Setup

1. Inspect the Device. Remove Orpheus from the packaging and ensure all components (enclosure, speaker connections, connectors) are intact.
2. Power Connection. Connect the provided LiFePO4 battery using the XT60 connector. Connect the MC4 solar connectors observing polarity.
3. First Boot. Press the power switch. The touchscreen will display the Orpheus interface after approximately 60 seconds.
4. Location Setup. Go to Settings → Astral Setup and enter your GPS coordinates (latitude, longitude) and timezone for correct sunrise/sunset calculations. Alternatively, let the companion app do this for you — see Auto-Configure Hub in section 7.
5. Speaker Check. Connect speakers to the waterproof connectors. Confirm audio output by playing the test tone in Manual mode.
6. Set Time (if needed). The device includes a battery-backed real-time clock (RTC) that maintains accurate time. If the time appears incorrect, set it manually under Settings → Time & Date, or set it from your phone with the app’s Auto-Configure Hub.
7. Install the companion app. Once the unit is running, install the app on your phone (section 7). It is how you will manage the unit in the field, and it lets you leave the touchscreen switched off — see section 9.
8. Create your portal account. Register at gaiaforge.tech/portal to get your documentation and software updates — see below.

Creating your portal account

The customer portal at gaiaforge.tech/portal is where you download software updates and the latest documentation, and where your device is registered to you. Create the account once, when you first set the unit up.

You will need your device serial number to register.

Finding your serial number

On the unit’s touchscreen, open the About tab — the (i) icon along the top of the screen. Your serial number is listed there. It is also printed on the device label.

Registering

1. Go to gaiaforge.tech/portal and choose Register.
2. Select your product — Orpheus.
3. Enter your device serial number, your name, email address and a password.
4. Sign in.

Your Orpheus dashboard then gives you the current software update with its release notes, the companion app, and your documentation — this manual, the Quick Start Guide, the Solar Panel Alignment Guide, and for Pro owners the Recording & Field Guide.

5. Main Interface

• Mode Selector — touchscreen menu offering Manual, Interval, Astral, Seasonal, or Recording modes.
• Toolbar — quick access to System Settings, File Management, Analytics, and Power options.
• Status Area — displays current date/time, active playback status, and battery level.
• Main Panel — changes based on the mode selected.

6. Playback Modes

Manual Playback

• Select Load Audio to choose a file.
• Use Play, Pause, or Stop buttons.
• Track information appears in the Status Area.

Interval Playback

• Select Set Interval to create a time-based schedule (daily, weekdays, weekends, or custom).
• Set start/end times and assign audio files or playlists.
• Orpheus automatically plays audio during those intervals.

Astral Playback

• Under Set Astral Interval, choose Sunrise or Sunset as your baseline.
• Define how many hours before/after these times playback should occur.
• Orpheus recalculates sunrise/sunset daily using your GPS coordinates.

Seasonal Playback

• Choose Natural Seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) or enable Custom Seasons to define your own date ranges.
• Assign audio files, playlists, or interval schedules to each season.
• Particularly useful for matching migration patterns or breeding seasons.

Recording Mode (Pro only)

Orpheus Pro records audio to a USB drive alongside its playback role. There are four ways to record:

• Manual — Record Now starts and stops by hand. Best for tests and setup.
• Scheduled — set a start and end time and a repeat pattern; the unit wakes, records the window, and returns to sleep.
• Astral — schedule relative to sunrise or sunset, recalculated daily from your GPS location, so the recording tracks the dawn or dusk chorus through the season without reprogramming.
• Threshold (triggered) — record only when sound exceeds a level you set, saving storage and power on quiet sites.

Bit depth (16-bit or 24-bit), sample rate (44.1, 48 or 96 kHz) and mono or stereo are chosen on the Audio tab before recording. Files are written as WAV to the USB drive, each with an embedded GUANO metadata block recording when, where and how it was made.

7. Companion App

The companion mobile app is the main way to work with Orpheus in the field. It connects over Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and can wake a sleeping unit — you do not need to open the enclosure or touch the screen to check on a deployment.

Getting the App

• Android — download the APK from gaiaforge.tech/orpheus or from your customer portal, and install it on your phone. You may need to allow installation from unknown sources when prompted.
• iOS — the iPhone app is currently pending App Store approval.

Connecting to Your Device

1. Open the Orpheus app on your phone.
2. The app scans for nearby Orpheus devices via Bluetooth automatically.
3. Tap your device in the list (e.g. “Orpheus-91BD”).
4. The app connects over BLE and, if the unit is asleep, wakes it. The status text keeps you informed while it boots.
5. The app then activates the unit’s WiFi hotspot — Orpheus-XXXX, an open network with no password — and joins it for you.
6. The full dashboard loads over WiFi.

How long connecting takes

The whole sequence is automatic — you only tap your device in the list — but how long it takes depends on whether the unit is already awake:

Unit state	Time to the dashboard
Already booted and awake	about 20–40 seconds
Asleep or powered off	up to a minute, sometimes slightly more

A sleeping unit has to boot before it can answer, which takes roughly a minute on its own. The app shows a progress message while it waits, then brings up the hotspot and joins it.

App Features

• View real-time battery voltage, charge state, and solar input
• Configure playback modes and schedules remotely
• Set device time, timezone, and location — see Auto-Configure below
• Send commands: sleep, wake, restart
• Configure recording quality, thresholds and schedules (Pro)
• View environmental sensor data (Pro)
• Access diagnostics and system status

Auto-Configure Hub (GPS & Time)

The fastest way to set up a unit at a new site. In the app’s Settings screen, choose your timezone and tap Auto-Configure Hub (GPS & Time). The app then:

1. Reads your phone’s GPS position;
2. Sends the latitude, longitude and timezone to the unit;
3. Sets the unit’s clock from your phone;
4. Reads the time back from the unit’s real-time clock to confirm it took.

This sets everything Astral and Seasonal scheduling depend on in one step, with no typing of coordinates.

8. System Settings

Audio File Management

• Access via the “Audio” icon or from the main menu.
• Review, delete, and manage files stored on Orpheus.
• USB Import — connect a USB flash drive to add audio tracks.
• USB Export — copy audio tracks from the device to a USB flash drive.
• Supported formats: WAV and MP3.

Astral Setup

• Enter or confirm GPS coordinates and local timezone.
• Define a device nickname (e.g. “Zone 1”) for easy identification.
• The device uses these coordinates to calculate accurate sunrise and sunset times for your location.

Time and Date

• Orpheus includes a battery-backed real-time clock that maintains accurate time even when the device is powered off or in deep sleep.
• The RTC battery lasts 3–6 years under normal use.
• The system clock automatically syncs from the RTC on every boot and periodically during operation.

There are two ways to set the clock:

• From the app (recommended). Tap Auto-Configure Hub (GPS & Time) in the app’s Settings screen. The unit’s clock is set from your phone, along with your GPS position and timezone, and the app reads the time back from the RTC to confirm. This is the quickest and least error-prone method, and it sets location at the same time.
• On the touchscreen. Set the time and date manually under Settings → Time & Date.

Either method also updates the RTC, so the new time survives power loss and deep sleep.

GPIO Settings

• The GPIO controls the amplifier power relay. This can be toggled on/off in settings.
• Only disable if you are using an external amplifier.

Analytics (Pro only)

• Enable Logging — store detailed data on playback events with timestamps and location.
• Filter Logs — browse logs by date.
• Export — save logs to USB, or double-tap for a preview on the touchscreen.

9. Power Management

Orpheus uses a sophisticated power management system with a dedicated low-power controller and battery-backed real-time clock.

How It Works

1. When playback is complete or during scheduled downtime, the system calculates the next required wake time and stores it in the power controller.
2. The main processor shuts down completely, and the power controller cuts power to it.
3. The power controller enters a low-power state, monitoring the clock for the next scheduled wake time.
4. When the wake time arrives, the power controller restores power and the system boots and resumes operation.

Deep Sleep Mode

• Enable or disable deep sleep under Settings → Power Management.
• When enabled, the device automatically sleeps between scheduled events, drastically reducing power consumption.
• The manual wake button on the enclosure can bring the system online at any time.
• The companion app can also wake the device remotely via BLE.

Turn the monitor off for normal use

The touchscreen has its own switch on the front panel. Leave the monitor switched off for day-to-day operation and switch it on only when you need to work on the unit directly.

Orpheus runs perfectly well with the screen off — playback, scheduling, sleep and wake are all unaffected, and you can still do everything from the companion app. The display is one of the larger continuous power draws on the unit, so leaving it on needlessly shortens how long a deployment lasts between charges.

Solar Charging

• Connect solar panels via the MC4 connectors, observing correct polarity.
• The Pro version includes real-time solar monitoring showing voltage, current, and power flow.
• For optimal results, position the solar panel facing south (Northern Hemisphere) or north (Southern Hemisphere) at an angle matching your latitude.

10. Field Deployment Tips

• Monitor Off — switch the touchscreen off at the front panel before you leave the site. The unit operates normally without it and the saved power goes into your deployment time. Manage the unit from the companion app instead.
• Initial Monitoring — for the first few days after deployment, check battery levels and playback logs to confirm the system is operating as expected.
• Weather Protection — Orpheus ships in a weather-sealed enclosure. Ensure all connectors remain properly seated and sealed.
• Speaker Placement — position speakers to project sound toward the target area. Avoid placing speakers directly on the ground where moisture can collect.
• WiFi Hotspot — each Orpheus unit broadcasts its own WiFi hotspot (SSID format Orpheus-XXXX). Connect to this network from your phone to access the companion app dashboard. The hotspot has a range of approximately 30 metres and automatically deactivates after 5 minutes to conserve power.
• Data Collection — regularly export logs and recordings via USB for analysis.
• Time Accuracy — the onboard RTC maintains time to within a few seconds per month. If the device has been in storage for an extended period, verify the time after the first boot.

11. Troubleshooting

System Won’t Power On

• Check the battery connection and verify the power switch is on.
• Press the manual wake button on the enclosure.
• If the system still won’t start, press the master power switch to perform a full reset.
• Contact support if none of these methods work.

No Audio Output

• Confirm GPIO amplifier control is enabled under Settings → GPIO Settings.
• Verify volume levels are not set to zero.
• Ensure Mute is not activated in the current playback mode.
• Check speaker connections at the waterproof connectors.

Scheduled Playback Not Triggering

• Verify the system time is correct under Settings → Time & Date.
• Check that GPS coordinates and timezone are set correctly.
• Review the interval or astral/seasonal configuration for errors.
• Ensure the assigned audio file is not corrupted (WAV or MP3 format only).

Time Appears Incorrect After Reboot

• The system automatically syncs from the RTC on boot. If time is wrong, the RTC battery may need replacement.
• Set the time manually via the touchscreen or companion app, which will also update the RTC.
• Check the RTC status indicator under Settings → Time & Date.

Companion App Won’t Connect

• Give it time first. A unit that is awake takes about 20–40 seconds to reach the dashboard; one that is asleep or off takes up to a minute or a little more, because it has to boot before it can respond. Let the connecting screen run to completion before assuming a fault.
• Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone and the phone is within range (approximately 10 metres).
• On Android, grant “Nearby devices” and “Location” permissions to the Orpheus app. Location permission is used only to send your position to the device — it is not used to track you.
• If the hotspot join fails, join the Orpheus-XXXX network manually in your phone’s WiFi settings and return to the app.
• If the unit has been idle a long time, the hotspot may have timed out; reconnecting from the app switches it back on.

Recording Issues (Pro only)

• Confirm sufficient storage space on the USB device.
• Check microphone or external audio input connections.
• Ensure the USB device is properly formatted (FAT32 or exFAT recommended).
• If recordings are empty, a threshold may be set too high for the site — see the Recording & Field Guide.

12. Maintenance

Software Updates (OTA)

Orpheus updates itself from a USB stick. A single update file contains both the device application and the ESP32 firmware, and you apply it from the unit’s own touchscreen — no service visit and no tools required.

1. Download the update. Sign in to your customer portal at gaiaforge.tech/portal. The Orpheus dashboard lists the current release with its version, date and release notes. Download orpheus_update.zip.

2. Put it on a USB stick. Create a folder on the stick named exactly orpheus_update and place the zip file inside it.

3. Install it. Insert the stick into the unit’s USB port, then on the touchscreen go to Settings → Updates:

1. Tap Scan for USB. The unit finds the update and shows its version.
2. Tap Update App to install the device application.
3. Tap Update Firmware to install the ESP32 firmware.

A full-screen progress display takes over, labelled Step 1 of 2 and Step 2 of 2, with a percentage and estimated time remaining. The whole process takes about 3 to 5 minutes, most of it transferring firmware.

When it finishes you will see a confirmation with the installed version, and the application restarts by itself. The unit does not reboot — if the screen goes black for a long period, something has gone wrong.

If an update fails, the unit reports the reason on screen and restarts the application anyway, so it is never left stranded. A diagnostic log is kept on the device and survives restarts; quote the version you were installing when contacting support.

File Management

• Regularly remove unused audio or log files to free storage space.
• Back up important configurations and recordings to USB.

Hardware Maintenance

• Periodically inspect connectors and seals for wear or moisture ingress.
• Clean solar panels to maintain charging efficiency.
• The internal clock battery should be replaced every 3–6 years if timekeeping becomes unreliable. Contact GaiaForge for service.

13. Your Data and Privacy

Orpheus is designed to work completely offline. Sending anything to the cloud is your choice, and nothing leaves the device unless you make it happen.

What the device records

Orpheus keeps its own logs on the unit, on its internal storage:

Data	Detail
Playback events	Which file played, when, and for how long
Battery and solar	Voltage, charge state and solar input over time
System events	Sleep, wake, restarts and errors
Environmental readings (Pro)	Temperature, humidity and barometric pressure
Deployment settings	GPS coordinates, timezone and the nickname you give the unit
Recordings (Pro)	WAV files on your USB drive, with embedded GUANO metadata

This is operational and scientific data about a device and a location. It is not information about people.

What leaves the device

Nothing, unless you ask for it. There are three ways data can move:

• USB export — you copy logs or recordings to a USB drive yourself.
• The companion app — when you connect, the app can read recent logs onto your phone so you can see charts and status.
• The cloud portal — only if you create an account and sign in inside the app. Until you do, no data is uploaded anywhere.

If you are signed in, the app caches the last 30 days of environmental, battery, playback and system logs when it connects, and uploads them to your portal account once your phone has an internet connection. (The unit’s own hotspot has no internet, so the upload happens later, when you are back on a normal network.)

Working entirely offline

If you never create a portal account, Orpheus still does everything described in this manual. You lose only the online extras — software updates and documentation downloads, which you can also request by email — and your data stays entirely on the device, your USB drives and your phone.

Your rights over your data

You own your data. Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and as a matter of how we operate for every customer regardless of location, you can at any time:

• Retrieve your data — export it from the portal in a machine-readable format (CSV), or take it straight off the unit by USB.
• Correct it — request correction of anything inaccurate.
• Delete it — delete your account and all data associated with it. You can do this yourself from the companion app, or ask us to.
• Restrict or object to processing, and lodge a complaint with your national data protection authority.

We do not sell your data, and we do not share it with third parties for their own purposes.

14. Support

• Email — contact@gaiaforge.tech
• Portal — sign in at gaiaforge.tech/portal for your documentation, device registration and downloads.
• Downloads — visit gaiaforge.tech/orpheus for the latest app and documentation.
• For questions on legal usage, contact local authorities or your institution’s compliance office.

Related documentation

Document	For
Quick Start Guide	First-time setup, from unboxing to a running schedule
Orpheus Pro Recording & Field Guide	Recording quality, levels, mic placement and triggering (Pro)
Solar Panel Alignment Guide	Positioning panels for your site and latitude