MAX4466 for VU meter
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Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- karnaugh
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2015 7:06 pm
MAX4466 for VU meter
I'm trying to use the MAX4466 microphone to make LEDs react to music. I'm getting started with the ampli-tie sample code (the one with adjustable sensitivity). I'm having trouble getting it to react to music. Right now it reacts to loud sounds like clapping or dropping a screwdriver on the desk. I tried tweaking INPUT_FLOOR and CEILING, but that only seems to affect how high the bar goes when it is triggered by a sound; it does not affect what volume of sounds will trigger it. I tried messing with the gain but it seems to bounce around at any setting except the most clockwise setting. What is the best way to get the microphone configured for music in a party setting?
- adafruit_support_mike
- Posts: 67485
- Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:51 pm
Re: MAX4466 for VU meter
The amplifier should be pretty responsive.
Post a photo of your hardware and connections and we'll see if those give us any ideas.
Post a photo of your hardware and connections and we'll see if those give us any ideas.
- karnaugh
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2015 7:06 pm
Re: MAX4466 for VU meter
Here's the photo:
To summarize:
- 5V power supply connected to breadboard rails
- Microphone out connected to A0 on trinket
- Microphone gnd and vcc connected to rails
- Trinket bat and gnd connected to rails
- Neopixel vcc and gnd connected to rails
- Neopixel input connected to trinket pin 6
- 1uF cap across rails
- Neopixels work
- Microphone works, but only on lowest gain setting (and only triggers on very loud noises)
- On any other gain setting, a loud noise causes the ampli-tie VU meter to oscillate (even in complete silence) until the gain is turned back down
Is it possible that the neopixel communication is creating interference that the mic is picking up when the gain is turned up?
To summarize:
- 5V power supply connected to breadboard rails
- Microphone out connected to A0 on trinket
- Microphone gnd and vcc connected to rails
- Trinket bat and gnd connected to rails
- Neopixel vcc and gnd connected to rails
- Neopixel input connected to trinket pin 6
- 1uF cap across rails
- Neopixels work
- Microphone works, but only on lowest gain setting (and only triggers on very loud noises)
- On any other gain setting, a loud noise causes the ampli-tie VU meter to oscillate (even in complete silence) until the gain is turned back down
Is it possible that the neopixel communication is creating interference that the mic is picking up when the gain is turned up?
- adafruit_support_mike
- Posts: 67485
- Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:51 pm
Re: MAX4466 for VU meter
Are you using the Ampli-Tie code or the code for the Color Organ?
- karnaugh
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2015 7:06 pm
Re: MAX4466 for VU meter
I'm using the code for the ampli-tie (the version with adjustable floor and ceiling). I also tried the auto-adjusting version of the ampli-tie code with similar results. I haven't tried the color organ code yet, but I can give it a try when I get home today.
- karnaugh
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2015 7:06 pm
Re: MAX4466 for VU meter
Found some time to mess around with the color organ code a bit tonight. I still have the same problem where I can only ever seem to trigger the microphone with very loud sounds. I've never been able to trigger it with a normal speaking voice and some gain setting still cause the organ to fluctuate wildly even in total silence. Next time I have some more time to burn I'll just take a look at what sort of raw values this mic is putting out because I'm starting to suspect something is wrong there.
For reference, what gain setting are you supposed to use in the ampli-tie example to make this mic pick up an ordinary speaking voice?
For reference, what gain setting are you supposed to use in the ampli-tie example to make this mic pick up an ordinary speaking voice?
- adafruit_support_mike
- Posts: 67485
- Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:51 pm
Re: MAX4466 for VU meter
It sounds like either the mic or the amp is functional, but running way below spec.
Send a note to [email protected] with a link to this thread and the folks there will get you a replacement. (#1063)
Send a note to [email protected] with a link to this thread and the folks there will get you a replacement. (#1063)
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.