Sound sensor for real-time continuous noise monitoring?

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

I'm working on an infant incubator monitoring sensor system project using an ESP32-DevKit1 board. One of the parameters I want to track is noise. Just a hobby project that will never see a real incubator

I'm looking for an analog sound sensor that:

  • works for real-time continuous sound monitoring
    • will be doing averaging calculations of readings, if this matters
  • has ≥66 dB for detection range maximum
  • cheap; say, $5 maximum
  • small; no bigger than a matchbox

I have looked at Grove ‐ Loudness Sensor—ticks the last three criterion criteria, but I'd love to hear suggestions still. If anyone has experience working with such an application, please leave me some suggestions. Thank you

2

criteria (smiley face winking) LOL?

3

Mems microphones are popular ( but never used )

4

Thanks for the catch, I'll correct it haha

They're almost perfect, except the modules that won't cost me a fortune with shipping have digital output. I'll look out for analog output ones though, thanks for the lead