Going back to the mic/lm386 wiring in
https://www.instructables.com/files/orig/FX5/67GS/FLROK12R/FX567GSFLROK12R.gif, the signal coming out of the mic should be a steady DC voltage, with an AC wave on top of it. C1 filters out the DC component, so just the AC signal goes to the amp, right? My multimeter only handles AC at high voltages (around 200V), but I should still be able to get a reading using the DC setting on either side of C1 shouldn't I? It wouldn't be a reliable value, but I should at least see the value jumping around, indicating that something is happening?