MEMS Microphone Module with I2S Interface and Low Pass Filter for DIY Electronics Projects

ICS-43434 I2S 3.3V MEMS Microphone Module Breakout with Low Pass Filter Mini-module Description Listen to the good news – we now have a super small breakout board for the ICS43434 I2S MEMS microphone. Like traditional microphones, MEMS microphones can detect sound and convert it into electrical signals, but they are smaller and thinner. This microphone is not analog; it is purely digital. The I2S output provides high-quality digital audio with a frequency range of approximately 50Hz to 15kHz, making it suitable for general-purpose audio recording and detection applications. The chip includes a built-in low-pass filter that attenuates frequencies above 24kHz. For many microcontrollers, adding audio input is straightforward using analog microphones. However, as you move to more advanced microcontrollers and microcomputers, analog inputs may not be available, or you may want to avoid noise associated with analog signal paths. Beyond 8-bit microcontrollers, I2S digital audio interfaces are commonly available. This is where the I2S MEMS microphone breakout with the TDK ICS43434 excels. Instead of an analog output, this microphone provides three digital pins: clock, data, and word select (left/right clock). When connected to a microcontroller or computer, the I2S controller drives the clock and word select lines at high speed and reads digital audio data directly from the microphone. No analog-to-digital conversion is required. The microphone is a mono device. You can select the channel (left or right) by connecting the select pin to power or ground. For stereo applications, use two microphones. They can be configured for stereo operation by sharing the clock, word select, and data lines, with one microphone set to left and the other to right by adjusting the select pin. No firmware or driver configuration is needed, and you can achieve 24-bit audio output with minimal setup. This I2S MEMS microphone has a bottom port, so ensure there is an opening on the bottom of the enclosure facing the sound source. It operates at 1.6V to 3.6V, making it incompatible with 5V logic levels. Most basic microcontroller boards may not support I2S, so verify interface compatibility before integration. This microphone works best with microcontrollers featuring Cortex-M series processors such as SAMD21, SAMD51, ESP32, RP2040, RP2350, or Raspberry Pi platforms. Specifications - Sensitivity: -26 dB FS ±1 dB - High performance mode SNR: 65 dBA - Low power mode SNR: 64 dBA - High performance mode current consumption: 490 µA - Low power mode current consumption: 230 µA - Maximum Acoustic Overload Point (AOP): 120 dB SPL - High performance mode sampling rate: 23 kHz to 51.6 kHz - Low power mode sampling rate: 6.25 kHz to 18.75 kHz