Testing for sound input?

[UniTechi]

I'm working on a project where I need to test for a certain volume level being inputed on the microphone connection. My knowledge is somewhat limited in C++, so the simpler the better.

The project that I'm working on is for an upgrade to a school's bell system. A microphone that is only sensitive to direct vibration (not ambient sound) is being placed on the bell to test if the bell is ringing or not. I need to write a program that basically checks if there is sound or not (being able to check for different volume levels would be highly useful as well).

Thank you very much for your help!!

 

[2ffat]

How are you interfacing the electronics (microphone input) with the computer? It may come down to just detecting a signal on a serial or USB port.


James P. Cottingham
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[sup]To determine how long it will take to write and debug a program, take your best estimate, multiply that by two, add one, and convert to the next higher units.[/sup]

 

[UniTechi]

That is an option. I AM already using the parallel port for some other functions, and I have some extra input pins.
The mic just connects to the standard microphone input.

If there's no good way of doing this with the audio input, I do have the ability and knowledge to interface it digitally. It's just that I wanted the extra hardware to be as simple as possible.

Is it going to be pretty hard to do it on the microphone input? If so I'll go the route of external electronics...

 

[2ffat]

I've never made a program that listens to a sound port. I suspose that you could use or write a component that threads out and listens for a loud sound and then executes something.


James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
[sup]To determine how long it will take to write and debug a program, take your best estimate, multiply that by two, add one, and convert to the next higher units.[/sup]