A wearable sound-to-light display, without a microprocessor - the Musicator Junior.

Step 3 Assembly

Construction is very straightforward -the only caution is the electret mic is polarized - the side which is connected to the outer casing is Ground (or Negative). See the last image for the pin-out of the one I used - note the connections to the shell from the - pin.

The first image is the completed board from both sides, followed by an 'X-Ray' image from the solder side.

Comments

[mayur.phadte]

I have dat cap
is it ok?
I think that's a polarized one
do I need to get a non polarized cap?

[qs]

Generally-speaking, caps with higher voltage ratings have higher internal resistance which cuts the signal available.

The cap in the pic is an electrolytic and it can be used. The side with the (-) stripe should face R3 in the circuit (below).

For the 'stuck on' condition, test from the LED end - start by removing the wire at R3 (19 in the circuit) - if the LEDs are still on, then your transistor is no good.

If it goes off then check wire 24 - this will force the LEDs on if it is not connected properly.

Let me know what happens and we can go from there.

[morganism91]

do you think you could explain the connections to the op amp?
it would be greatly appreciated.
p.s. this is my first ever venture into electronics building and i am having difficulty figuring things out

[huntleyi]

could you identify things? Some are pretty self explanatory, like the microphone, but things like the 1uf capacitator? because the one i have, does not look like any part in your pictures. Thanks and congrats on the success of this project. It's pretty BA

[qs]

Capacitors come in different forms and materials. Although in this range, they are either a rectangular 'blob', like the one next to the microphone or a small disk. If you include a picture or can show what markings are on your version, it may help identifying it better!

[armored bore]

Electronics newcomer here. I'm having a little trouble figuring out where to put the ground.

[qs]

The ground is basically the return path to the negative terminal of the battery.