Get volume.

I want my Arduino to do some action when there is a specific volume for some period of time. I need to get the volume from a microphone (would be nice if you could point me to a nice mic that would work).

Can you give me some code or point me to a reference, please?

Maxwell

http://coolarduino.wordpress.com/2013/01/09/audio-vu-meter/
May be too complex, graphic LCD and math, if you are novice. I've seen a shield for arduino, that does same things in hardware - rectifier, can't find a link.

I would prefer to just connect a simple mic to the arduino instead of getting a shield, because I want this to be as compact as possible and also for a couple other reasons. I just need a working mic and instructions, please.

Maxwell.

You can interface mic (I mean common electret mic) directly to arduino, only if on-board AVR chip has an amplifier. I have a project with Leonardo. In case if your arduino with AtMega328 you need an amplifier, at least one low power / high gain transistor with couple resistors and caps. Better OPA.

Sorry to say, but I am a newbie at Arduino. So, can you please give me more specific instructions. I'm really from the software programming world but, I am fine with soldering.

What kind of arduino do you have?
http://coolarduino.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/audio-input-to-arduino/

https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=electret+mic+amplifier+transistor&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&channel=suggest

http://jimlaurwilliams.org/wordpress/?p=2501

I have an Arduino Uno.

I am really sorry I am being a nut-head, but can you give me step-by-step instructions? :. :grin: :disappointed_relieved: :blush: :~

Nothing can I do, I'm really bad as an instructor. Try to search on this: http://www.instructables.com/