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Showing 1-1 of 1 resultsBackground Many Drosophila species use acoustic communication during courtship and studies of these communication systems have provided insight into neurobiology, behavioral ecology, ethology, and evolution. Recording Drosophila courtship sounds and associated behavior is challenging, especially at high throughput, and previously designed devices are relatively expensive and complex to assemble. Results We present construction plans for a modular system utilizing mostly off-the-shelf, relatively inexpensive components that provides simultaneous high-resolution audio and video recording of 96 isolated or paired Drosophila individuals. We provide open-source control software to record audio and video. We designed high intensity LED arrays that can be used to perform optogenetic activation and inactivation of labelled neurons. The basic design can be modified to facilitate novel study designs or to record insects larger than Drosophila. Fewer than 96 microphones can be used in the system if the full array is not required or to reduce costs. Implications Our hardware design and software provide an improved platform for reliable and comparatively inexpensive high-throughput recording of Drosophila courtship acoustic and visual behavior and perhaps for recording acoustic signals of other small animals.