How do internet radio, bluetooth streaming and recordings work?

All special functions such as sleep timer, Bluetooth, WiFi, and the microphone function are deactivated by default.

To be able to make recordings with hörbert, the following four steps are required first:

1. You need to activate the desired functions Bluetooth, WiFi, and microphone.

2. To use the internet radio feature, you must also save your WiFi credentials (network name and password) to hörbert and add at least one valid streaming URL of a radio station.

3. Finally, assign the colorful playlist buttons on which recordings are allowed. Note: there must be at least one audio file already saved in the playlist you want to add a recording to.

4. If you want to use hörbert as a speaker for Bluetooth streams from your mobile phone, tablet or computer and record these streams at the same time, you must switch hörbert to Bluetooth speaker mode after having done all preparation settings first. To do this, hörbert must be switched off. Switch it on by pressing the rotary control at the top twice. Do not wait too long with the second press (approx. 0.5 seconds). hörbert emits an ascending tone sequence as confirmation that it is going into speaker mode. You now have 60 seconds to find it in the list of available Bluetooth devices on your Bluetooth transmitter and pair it.

General: Starting and stopping a recording

Once everything is set up, you can generally start a recording by pressing and holding the black button on hörbert and then briefly pressing the grey button. The red light behind the microphone hole will light up, and you can release the buttons.
To stop and save the recording, press the black button again.

If you’d like to change the standard recording mode — for example, if you’re using an accessible hörbert with only three large playlist buttons — you can do this in Browser Set Mode. There you can configure the device so that, for example, pressing and holding a playlist button starts the recording. To stop, simply press a playlist button again.
You’ll find detailed instructions for changing the recording settings in the expert menu in our guide for the 3-button hörbert with Butterfly firmware.

To activate the functions and enable playlists for recordings, you have two options:

Option 1: using Browser Set Mode – you don’t need a computer or a hörbert software

Browser Set Mode is only available for hörberts with the Butterfly firmware or newer.
Haven’t installed the latest firmware on your hörbert yet? Click here for the UPGRADE TO BUTTERFLY.

You’ll also find instructions on how to start Browser Set Mode at the link above, along with a short explainer video.

In the Browser Set Mode menu, you will see the colorful buttons of your hörbert displayed on your screen.
Click on the desired playlist button and enable Bluetooth, internet radio, and/or microphone recordings in that button’s settings.

• Bluetooth recordings can only be enabled on one playlist.

• Web radio and microphone recordings can be enabled on multiple playlists.

In the Browser Set Mode menu:

• Go to Bluetooth to activate Bluetooth and enable pairing if you want to record Bluetooth streams.

• Go to WiFi to enable the function and enter your WiFi credentials if you want to make web radio recordings.

• To add a radio station: go to Playlists and click the “+RADIO” button to add a streaming URL to the desired playlist. You can also use the convenient keyword search to find suitable radio stations.

• Go to Microphone to enable the built-in microphone for voice recordings.

Option 2: With a computer, SD card reader, and hörbert software

1.) Activating special functions directly on hörbert in SET mode:

• Unscrew the back of hörbert.

• Turn on hörbert – it will start playing from the memory card.

• Press the SET button inside – hörbert will go silent. The LED on the SET button will glow solid green. The front buttons are now in SET mode.

• Use the template included in your hörbert package (see attachment) to identify which button activates which function (e.g., Sleep Timer, Bluetooth, WiFi, Mic).

• A single beep = function enabled.

• A double beep = function disabled.

• After selecting your desired functions, press the SET button again to save.

• hörbert resumes playback, and the settings are now active.

2.) Special instructions for Internet Radio:

2.1) Editing the memory card with hörbert software on your computer

• Install and launch hörbert Software version 3.x.x.

• Select the “hörbert 2021” model and read the memory card.

• In the Extras menu, select Configure WiFi connections.

• Enter the exact name of your WiFi network and the password.

⚠️ It must be a 2.4 GHz WiFi. If connection fails, check your router settings.
⚠️ WiFi network name must not contain spaces.

• Choose a colorful button that you want to assign to internet radio.

• Click the “+” symbol next to “URL” in the content window and add a streaming URL (e.g., http://laut.fm/kinderradio) — preferably at the top of the list.

• Most MP3 podcast links also work.

• Save by clicking the green checkmark at the top right, then eject the card using the Eject button before removing it from your computer.

2.2) Insert the card back into hörbert and import the WiFi data:

1. Turn on hörbert. It will start playing normally.

2. Press the SET button inside. hörbert will go silent, and the buttons enter programming mode.

3. Press and hold the orange button (WiFi) for approx. 10 seconds until you hear a short confirmation beep. The WiFi data will be imported and then deleted from the card for privacy.

4. Press the SET button again to save.

hörbert resumes normal playback.

Did you place the URL at the top of a playlist? When you press the corresponding button, hörbert will emit a series of ascending search tones while it connects to the internet radio station and then begins playback.
If it doesn’t work, check that WiFi is enabled (step 1) and that you used a valid streaming URL.

3.) Defining playlists for recording

With hörbert software, you can assign one or more colorful buttons where recordings are allowed — even without Butterfly firmware.
This can also be done while performing step 2 above, since the memory card is already connected to the computer.

• Open the content window of the button where you want to allow microphone, Bluetooth, or internet radio recordings.

• Check the appropriate box at the bottom of the window, e.g., “Allow microphone recordings here.”

• Click the green checkmark at the top right to save and close the window.

You can repeat this for other buttons as well.

Note: Bluetooth recordings are only allowed on one button. That’s why you’ll see a round radio button instead of a checkbox.
There should be at least one file already on the playlist to allow proper navigation and recording.

Always eject the memory card using the Eject button before removing it from your computer. Then insert the card back into hörbert.

4.) Starting and stopping a recording

For voice recordings and internet radio recordings, you first need to select the playlist on hörbert that you previously enabled for such recordings in Browser Set Mode or via the software.
For Bluetooth recordings, this is not necessary — they are always saved at the end of the one playlist previously defined for Bluetooth.

To start a recording:

• Press and hold the black button.

• Briefly press the grey button.

• The recording starts, and you can release both buttons.

• To stop and save the recording, press the black button again.

Voice recordings made via the microphone are placed directly after the last played file in the selected playlist. hörbert will automatically play back the recording a few seconds after it is saved.
Bluetooth and internet radio recordings are always placed at the end of the assigned playlist.

For any questions, our service team is happy to assist you.

SET MODE TEMPLATE (included in your hörbert package)

Let me know if you’d like this in a downloadable format or need further adjustments (e.g., US/UK spelling or more technical vs. user-friendly tone).

The detailed instructions for the new hörbert with 9 or 3 playlist buttons can be found here: https://www.hoerbert.com/anleitungen/hoerbert/
Here you will find a suitable and detailed FAQ on the subject of Internet radio.
Here you can find a suitable and detailed FAQ on the subject of Bluetooth recordings
Here you will find a suitable and detailed FAQ on the subject of voice recordings