MarkT:
Implementing an envelope detector might help with capturing claps - the envelop is pretty distinctive. Basically rapid attack and no noticeable duration before decay. The only frequency-dependent part is choosing a time-constant for the decay - wants to be short but long enough to not count a single clap as several events.
that is genius! never thought about adding envelope detector. any suggestions on where I should go to learn about this? assuming this would be done software side. I might even be able to do redundant tests, envelope, freq, pitch etc.