I'm looking for a simple and cheap way to indicate the basic direction of origin for a sound. The application would be something I can use in a forest or outdoor environment to determine the general direction of a loud sound (above background noise). I know advanced system compare the time the sound was picked up by each microphone to give a direction, but this is beyond my electronics capability and I'm going for cheap.
Instead I want to use 4 (or potentially 8) sound activated switch circuits placed in a cross. When the first switch to detect the sound is activated it will also trigger a transistor to shut off the indicator for the other circuits. So in essence the first MIC that hears the sound will light the indicator light and lock out the other circuits. The circuit I plan on using is this one: http://risecircuits.blogspot.com/2012/08/simple-sound-activated-switch.html
My question is do you think it will work? Am I overlooking anything? Is there an easier way to do it?
In my head (with my very minimal electronics knowledge) the speed electricity travels is much faster than the speed of sound, so the first mic to detect the sound should be able to create an open circuit on the indicator lights of the other circuits (preventing them from activating) before they detect the sound. And if I want more accuracy I can use more circuits.
Instead I want to use 4 (or potentially 8) sound activated switch circuits placed in a cross. When the first switch to detect the sound is activated it will also trigger a transistor to shut off the indicator for the other circuits. So in essence the first MIC that hears the sound will light the indicator light and lock out the other circuits. The circuit I plan on using is this one: http://risecircuits.blogspot.com/2012/08/simple-sound-activated-switch.html
My question is do you think it will work? Am I overlooking anything? Is there an easier way to do it?
In my head (with my very minimal electronics knowledge) the speed electricity travels is much faster than the speed of sound, so the first mic to detect the sound should be able to create an open circuit on the indicator lights of the other circuits (preventing them from activating) before they detect the sound. And if I want more accuracy I can use more circuits.