I thought this would be simple, but I've spent hours searching for the correct way to do it. I just want to simply be able to plug in an old computer mic to arduino to measure volume levels for a sound trigger.
My research indicates that I will need an amplified signal to have it work, but when I searched google for simple amplifier schematics, hundreds of different ones popped up, and I'm too much of a beginner to differentiate between them all. I've seen others using tape recorders and stuff, but it seems like there has got to be a simpler way to do it. Then I've heard a rectifier may be necessary, and a bunch of other stuff, its all become very confusing with lots of conflicting info.
Isn't there some sort of simple way to do this? Its not like I'm recording audio in high fidelity. I just want to hook up a cheap mic and roughly detect volume levels. I have a wide selection of capacitors and resistors, and even a couple tiny transistors available to use.
Can anyone tell me the simplest circuit I can make, with the fewest parts, that will make this work?
Thanks for the help, right now it seems the simpliest preamp diagram I found was this one, and I happen to already have all the parts for it, but will it suit the purpose?
As far as an envelope follower, that is the first time I've heard of it. Is it really necessary? I've been reading this page that just has the amp going into the arduino, however it also uses a diode and doesn't explain why (so I don't know if I would need it or not), also his schematic only shows the amp having a gnd and audio in. Unlike the schematic I found that has +5v, GND, and an output.
Theres just so much different and conflicting stuff its hard to tell the simplest way to just make it work. I don't need any super accurate sound detection, just maybe 4 levels, none, small sound, medium sound, loud sound.
I've also seen a $5 sound sensor for arduino on ebay that says its capable of monitoring sound levels, I might buy it, but knowing it will take about 2-3 weeks to ship, I'd like to be able to throw something together for the mean time.
If you want to discuss something specific, then you must explicitly identify it.
Its just a sound trigger, meaning it hears a sound above a certain level, and activates an output. It doesn't need to be anything super accurate, just be able to be slightly adjustable so that small ambient noises don't constantly set it off. Just hoping to hook the mic to the arduino, without having to use a tape player, or other elaborate amplifier, and simply be able to get some sort of value from it so I can set a threshold for when the output is activated.
Sort of like the knock sensor, I've made that and it just used a piezo element and single resistor, and you could adjust the threshold, and it would display how hard the knock was registered with the serial monitor. I'm looking to do the same type of thing only with a microphone.