Have you ever wanted to build devices that react to audio, but have been unsure about or even intimidated by analyzing signals? Don’t worry! This guide is an overview of applying the Fourier transform, a fundamental tool for signal processing, to analyze signals like audio. I’ll show you how I built an audio spectrum analyzer, detected a sequence of tones, and even attempted to detect a cat purr–all with a simple microcontroller, microphone, and some knowledge of the Fourier transform.
Continue on to learn some background information about the Fourier transform.
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
