Systems, methods, articles of manufacture and apparatus are disclosed to calculate distance from audio sources. An example method disclosed herein includes transmitting a first radio frequency (RF) signal to prompt a reference audio collecting device to begin collecting audio samples at a first time, initiating a dwell period in response to the first RF signal to reduce battery consumption of a portable audio collecting device by preventing the portable audio collecting device from collecting the audio samples at the first time, and when the dwell period expires, prompting the portable audio collecting device to collect the audio samples at a second time.