Amplifier for electret microphone

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on designing an amplifier for an electret microphone using the LM386 integrated circuit. The user aims to achieve a low-noise output of 4-5 V while currently utilizing a 9V battery. Suggestions include using capacitors and resistors to complete the internal amplifier circuit of the electret mic, as well as experimenting with different configurations, such as cascading amplifiers and using Schottky diodes for peak detection. The discussion highlights the importance of biasing and coupling techniques to optimize the amplifier's performance.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of LM386 operational amplifier specifications
  • Knowledge of electret microphone circuitry and impedance matching
  • Familiarity with basic electronic components such as capacitors and resistors
  • Experience with circuit design and breadboarding techniques
NEXT STEPS
  • Research LM386 datasheet for detailed specifications and application circuits
  • Learn about biasing techniques for operational amplifiers
  • Explore the use of Schottky diodes in signal processing applications
  • Investigate capacitor sizing and its impact on frequency response in amplifiers
USEFUL FOR

Electronics hobbyists, audio engineers, and developers working on microphone amplification projects will benefit from this discussion, particularly those seeking to optimize low-noise audio signal processing.

  • #31
jim hardy said:
Okay so the 13V was probably more like 6.
It's the type meter that half-wave rectifies AC, then reports average multiplied by a scale factor. That's okay so long as we are aware of it.
DC multipled by that scale factor is more than the DC was. If you reverse the leads it'll probably read zero not peg downscale.
One must know his test equipment - just like people what it says isn't always what it meant..
That sounds like either an open spot in potentiometer near the end, or there's a small signal making us charge the capacitor.
Check pot with ohm-meter over full range of adjustment.

You are getting close i believe.

What are values of C1 and C2 now?

I may have not made this clear - opamps generally dislike large capacitive load because they can't deilver enough current to change the voltage across capacitor quickly (i = dv/dt)
so they can't make their feedback and burst into oscillation.
So we picked a speaker driver opamp with fairly hgh current drive.
That's why i am nudging for a smaller C1 & C2, with maybe a very few ohms in series with amp outout pin. 1uf C2, 1 meg pot, and 0.1uf C1 is what my intiution says would keep LM386happy in audio range. Give pin 5 wire a few turns around a ferrite donut (from junk PC power supply) perhaps.

old jim

ferrite donut

you mean, this?

http://pokit.org/get/9bb10dafa57c717930fa3f66b378c293.jpg

This is from an old motherboard.

This in an inductor right? If it is, this is my first use of inductors :D:DI will try the capacitors and get back to you, I got some trimmers laying around, so I think they will do.
 
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  • #32
That's a ferrite donut okay !
You could use a smaller one,
but objective is just to provide some impedance for high frequency between amplifier and those caps... that one would do and it's handy (if that's a junk supply - don't wreck a good one).
 
  • #33
Getting on to bedtime here - see you tomorrow

Have fun - I'm learning with you on this one.
I hope Yungman is watching, and will point out any errors of thinking.

old jim
 
  • #34
Dont give up !
 
  • #35
jim hardy said:
Dont give up !

Im not giving up :D I just had tons of math on my back. This a project for my soul, but my faculty still wants my soul too :D

I've been deriving some equations for entropy and all, I will get back on the project tomorrow probably.

Don't worry, I will keep you posted! I am probably 2h from finishing it, thanks to you of course.

[for some strange reason, didn't get the notice for your last post sorry :( ]
 

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