How to make a LED shine with the output current of a magnetic microphone?

Using Arduino General Electronics
#1

Hello Everybody!

I gonna introduce myself! I'm studiying how to build guitars. For the end of the year project, I want to make an electric guitar. But an unusual one. That's the problem. I mean, there is the situation. I want that, when one of the magnetic microphones get a signal, the LED stripe is turned ON. And I need your help: I know when a magnetic microphone gets a signal, it produce a (really weak) electric current. But I don't know how to make this LED stripe shine at this only condition.

I looked at peak meters and stuff like this, but I'm a big noob in electricity/ In some forums, I saw mentionned audio sensors. But I thought I could do something easier, like amplifying the current out from the mic then put that current into the LED so it will light up, but I have no idea how to do this. HELP, PLEASE I'm sorry for the possible mistakes, I'm french.

If anyone could offer any help/advice, that would be really appreciated!

#2

I think depending how you wanna do this, a msgeq7 ic would work well, it would take the total output of the mic/mics and it outputs a multiplexed value for 7 audio bands, you can then tke those vlues and light up leds according the strengths with pwm I've used it for 3 channel light shows to general music but I think it would work well in your case if you need code I got plenty

#3

like amplifying the current out from the mic then put that current into the LED so it will light up,

Yes you need an operational amplifier sometimes called an op-amp. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operational_amplifier

#4