Adafruit
I2S MEMS Microphone Breakout - ICS-43434
· MPN: ADA6049
Add digital audio input to a capable microcontroller or single-board computer with this tiny breakout for the TDK ICS43434 I2S MEMS microphone. MEMS micropho...
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Add digital audio input to a capable microcontroller or single-board computer with this tiny breakout for the TDK ICS43434 I2S MEMS microphone. MEMS microphones detect sound like classic electret mics, but are much smaller and thinner, and this one outputs digital I2S audio rather than an analogue signal.
The breakout provides the digital I2S signals you need: Clock, Data, and Left-Right/Word Select Clock. Your microcontroller or computer drives the clock and word-select lines, then reads the microphone data directly, so no analogue conversion stage is required.
This is a single mono, bottom-ported microphone. The Select pin lets you choose whether it appears on the left or right channel, and two microphones can be paired for stereo by sharing Clock, WS, and Data while setting one Select pin low and the other high. It provides 24-bit output without firmware or driver configuration.
It is intended for 1.6–3.6 V logic only and is not suitable for 5 V logic. It is best matched with boards that support I2S, such as Cortex M-series chips including SAMD21 and SAMD51, ESP32, RP2040 or RP2350, and single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi. The Adafruit guide includes code, libraries, wiring examples, CAD files, Fritzing files, and more.
Specifications:
- Sensitivity: −26 dB FS ±1dB
- SNR High Performance Mode: 65 dBA
- SNR Low Power Mode: 64 dBA
- Current Draw High Performance Mode: 490 µA
- Current Draw Low Power Mode: 230 µA
- Microphone Acoustic Overload Point (AOP): 120 dB SPL
- Sample Rate High Performance Mode: 23 ~ 51.6 kHz
- Sample Rate Low Power Mode: 6.25 ~ 18.75 kHz
Useful for general audio recording and sound detection projects where a clean digital microphone interface is preferred over an analogue mic.
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
- ESP32
- ESP32 is a family of low-cost microcontroller chips and modules from Espressif with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. They support programmable firmware and over-the-air updates, and are commonly programmed with toolchains such as the Arduino core and ESP-IDF.
- I2S
- I2S is a digital audio interface used to send sound data between chips, such as from a microcontroller to an audio amplifier or DAC. It matters if your project needs cleaner digital audio output than a basic buzzer or PWM signal can provide.
- MEMS microphone
- A tiny microphone made using micro-electromechanical systems, the same style of miniature manufacturing used in many phone sensors. It lets the board detect sound without needing an external microphone, which is useful for noise-reactive projects and simple audio input.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.
- RP2040
- The RP2040 is a dual-core Arm Cortex-M0+ microcontroller chip from Raspberry Pi, used on many maker boards and offering programmable I/O, multiple GPIO pins and reasonable processing speed. Code and accessories built for that chip should work where RP2040 compatibility is listed, though demanding tasks such as reading a camera can require careful pin allocation and timing.
- RP2350
- A microcontroller chip from Raspberry Pi used as the main processor on some development boards. Knowing the board is built around an RP2350 helps you check software support, pin capabilities and whether it suits MicroPython projects.
- SAMD21
- The SAMD21 is a Microchip (formerly Atmel) 32-bit Arm Cortex-M0+ microcontroller used in many Arduino-compatible boards. The exact chip affects which libraries, clock speeds and peripheral features are available, so software needs to support the SAMD21 specifically.
- SAMD51
- A family of 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller chips from Microchip, often used to run the main program on a development board. When a board is built around a SAMD51 it generally offers more speed and memory than basic 8-bit microcontrollers, which helps with demanding tasks such as graphics, audio or fast data handling.
- single-board computer
- A complete computer built onto one circuit board, usually including the processor, memory, ports, and connectors. This matters because accessories like heatsinks must match the board’s layout and mounting holes to fit properly.
Find this product in
Audio & Video
Sensors & Input
ICS-43434 Datasheet
Datasheet · 1.1 MB · Click any page to view full size
Supplier page — adafruit.com
Supplier Description · 1.7 MB · Click any page to view full size
