OP-AMP for SoundAmp in my proyect.

Hi guys,

this is my project
http://arduino.cc/playground/Main/AY38910

I wanted to add some op-amp to amplify the output sound of the chip Im using.

I found a very interesting diagram for a similar project (midibox) but for 12V at here midibox_ay_3_8912_mixer [MIDIbox]

basically the use a IC with 3 op-amps and some pots to both ampligy the sound and control the volume which is exaclty what I want and need

my problem is since im noobish to electronics, do I need to change any of those resistors or condensator vaalues since the Arduino works on 5v and not 12v!??

If so some can guide me how can I determine (the process) of all those value? Ill be glad to work a bit and learn it for my self but im lost now :stuck_out_tongue:

cheers and thank you!!

LM386 is used for driving small speakers a lot.

do I need to change any of those resistors or condensator vaalues since the Arduino works on 5v and not 12v

Basically no.
The op amp is the important thing but it will work down to 3V so you should be fine.

If you supply your opamps with the +/- 12V, then everything should be fine.

The pot's select the gain you want (See [negative feedback application](Operational amplifier - Wikipedia feedback applications) )

When you set the pot to 0 Ohm, then it acts as a buffer (Gain = 1) and when the pot is at maximum, your gain would be 3.2 times your input. Depending on what your input is, you may need to use higher pots, but I think it should be fine.

Hi!!

well Im not connecting this (the final project) to small speakr but normal speakers, even pre-amp concert speakers :slight_smile: so dont know then if I should go with your recomendation??

another thing... I just noticed the +12V -12V, that probably means the other project uses a AC supply and not DC no?? I guess ill have to work a bit with the diagram on the bread board to make it work?

My only fear is to short my sound chips :).

what will be the critearia to choose the propem op-amp :slight_smile: ??

No, +/- 12V DC.

You have to make a split supply from the single ended 5V supply.
Arduino Ground becomes -2.5V
Arduino +5V becomes +2.5v
then your amplifier ground is connected to the mid point of two 1K resistors as a potential divider going between the +5 and ground.
You should AC couple the audio inputs, that is connect then through capacitors.

I see!

I think I got it Mike that was helpful.

Thanks to everybody for the quick reply :slight_smile:

Just make sure the speakers you use are high input impedance, your LM324 can only drive a couple mA.

well Im not connecting this (the final project) to small speakr but normal speakers, even pre-amp concert speakers so dont know then if I should go with your recomendation??

if I understand what you are doing, a mixer really isn't what you want. And the regular op-amps don't have enough power (Watts & current) to drive a 4 or 8 ohm speaker.

A mixer is for mixing sounds... i.e. With a 3-input mixer, you could blend two guitars and a microphone (assuming they've been pre-amplified).

You can drive a preamp directly from the Arduino. You just need a series capacitor (maybe 1uF) to knock-out the DC component. A volume control (pot) would be a good idea too. A series resistor (maybe 1K) wouldn't hurt either. It will limit the current so that you don't wipe-out the Arduino if you accidently short-out the output (or if you accidently connect a speaker).

__If you want to directly drive a speader, [u]National Semiconductor[/u][/color][/url] makes lots of "Power Amplifier" chips. Some of these can operate from 5V, and the circuit will usually be simpler than the mixer.__
There are limits to how much power you can get from a given power supply:
With a 5V supply, you can theoretically get a little more than 1/3rd of a Watt into 8 Ohms.
With 12V, you can theoretically get a little more than 2W.
With +/- 12V, you get 4 times the power (8-9W).
With 4 Ohms, you double the power.
With a bridge* amplifier, you get 4 times the power. (i.e. You should be able to get more than 2W with a 5V bridge amplifier into 4 ohms.)
In the real world, the amplifier can't put the full power supply voltage across the load and you get a little less power than you calculate.
__* A bridge amplifier is a push-pull design with two "hot" wires going to the speaker, instead of one side being connected to ground. __
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That sound more what I need... well I DO need a mixer, and a pre-amp :stuck_out_tongue: so ill play around on both ideas and aalso check semiconductors IC :slight_smile: cheers :slight_smile:

That sound more what I need... well I DO need a mixer, and a pre-amp so ill play around on both ideas and aalso check semiconductors IC cheers

I don't want to discourage you fromlearning, having fun, and building it yourself. But, you can buy a little mixer or amplifier fairly cheaply.

[u]mixer[/u] $23 USD.

[u]Amplifier[/u] $21 USD.

It can be fun to build stuff, but unless you want something unique that you can't buy, it's often cheaper to buy something already built. The op-amps & electronic parts are cheap, but when you start adding a power supply, knobs & switches, and put it in a nice box, you usually end-up spending more. Manufacturers can buy parts cheaper, they use low-cost labor (China, etc.), and there is very little per-unit labor on an assembly line...