SparkFun Electret Microphone Breakout

The SparkFun Electret Microphone Breakout combines an omnidirectional microphone with a built-in 60x preamplifier, making it easy to detect and amplify sounds such as voices, claps, and knocks for audio-reactive electronics projects.

This SparkFun fully assembled breakout board couples the standalone electret microphone with a powerful 60x microphone preamplifier.

This board can easily detect ambient sounds like voices, hand claps, or door knocks, then amplify them to a level that your microcontrollers analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) can read.

Instead of dealing with raw sound volume, this breakout translates audio amplitude by capturing sound waves between the microphone’s conducting plates and converting them directly into readable electrical signals.

No Frills Hardware Integration
Because the preamplifier circuit is already built-in, integrating audio detection into your project is incredibly straightforward:

• Broad Voltage Compatibility: Compatible with systems operating anywhere from 2.7V up to 5.5V, making it a perfect match for both 3.3V and 5V microcontrollers.
• Omnidirectional Capture: The foil electret design can capture audio from all directions across a wide 100Hz to 10,000Hz frequency range.
• Direct ADC Connection: The amplified electrical signals are output directly to your board, ready for processing without requiring complex external audio codecs.

Whether you are building a sound-reactive lighting display, a noise-level monitor, or an interactive prop, this breakout provides a simple and effective way to give your hardware ears.

Features and Specifications

• Audio Performance:
  • Directionality: Omni-Directional Foil Electret
  • Frequency Range: 100Hz to 10,000Hz
  • Sensitivity: -46 2.0dB (0dB = 1V / Pa) at 1kHz
  • Minimum Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): 58dB
  • Maximum Input S.P.L.: 110dB at 1.0KHz (THD < 1%)
  • Sensitivity Reduction: -3dB (from 3.0V to 2.0V)
• Electrical Specifications:
• Breakout Operating Voltage: 2.7V to 5.5V
• Amplifier: Texas Instruments OPA344
• Loading Resistance: Integrated onboard resistors (no external components required)
• Output Pins:
  • VCC
  • GND
  • AUD
• Maximum Current: 0.5 mA
• Environmental Ratings:
  • Operating Temperature: -20C to +60C
  • Storage Temperature: -40C to +75C

Resources

• Schematic
• Eagle Files
• Hookup Guide
• Datasheets:
  • OPA344
  • Microphone
• GitHub Hardware Repo

Package Contents

• 1x SparkFun Electret Microphone Breakout