When it comes to cameras, they can be used either only for surveillance or communication or both. It depends if your camera has audio connectivity or not. If you want to just keep an eye on your property then cameras without audio will be enough for you but how do you find out if the cameras you installed can record audio or not? Here are some ways to tell if security cameras have audio.
How To Tell If Security Cameras Have Audio?
Quick Navigation
Firstly, let us see the different types of microphones built in a security camera:
1. External Microphone
When there is a large area to be covered like a traffic zone, it is best to use an external microphone. The cameras are built with a port in which a microphone can be tethered but the downside is that these can be heavy and very evident. It can either be placed to pick sounds from the direction of the lens or all directions.
2. In-Built Microphone
Cameras are usually built with a microphone inside with a small hole to let it record sounds satisfactorily. They are best suitable for indoor installation as they might not be able to differentiate the multiple sounds outdoors thus defying the sole purpose of the feature.
3. Zoom-Microphone
Though it has not been used much, this feature allows you to zoom in to a subject and listen to its sounds. It needs manual monitoring or audio analysis for this feature to be of use as someone or something needs to zoom in to the subject. It will also cancel the surrounding noises as you zoom in so you can hear the audio with better quality.
4. Google It
The simplest way to find the features in your camera is to google the model. You can always find the model name on the packaging and if you put that input in google, it will give you all the details regarding the camera. You can go through the details thoroughly to find out if it can record video or not.
5. Peak Around Camera
If your camera has an external microphone then it might be really easy to spot it if you peek around the body. There is usually a small hole to create housing for the microphone. Although if there is an internal microphone(built-in), there will not be any evidence of it externally. Whether you can find the microphone depends on the type of camera you have, that is, the body of it. Cameras are sometimes built with audio iris which tells that it has audio.
6. Take A Recording
You can always try and check through a recording. Most of the brands have an application through which a customer can access the working and footage of their cameras. Record a video with some vocal activity going around the camera and see if you can hear anything in the recorded footage. Cameras have a fixed range till which they can record the audio, you can test that as well following the same procedure as above.
7. Scroll The App
The application you use to control your cameras can prove to be very helpful in this scenario. If you open the app and scroll down. You will either find a mute or speaker button if your camera has a microphone. Some cameras may come with a speaker so you can talk back as well as hear from the other end. You can even disable the audio recording function if you wish to use the application
8. Chat With Representative
If nothing works out for you or you don’t want to struggle at all, you can always reach out to the manufacturer and they will guide you with everything and anything. They can tell you how to enable and disable the audio features for your camera. You can approach customer support either through the said application or through their website. Make sure that you know the exact model of your camera as it will make the task easier for you and them to assist you.
Why Audio Security Cameras Are Better?
a. Extra Protection
Having audio features in your security camera can elevate the protection standards of your property. If there is an unusual activity around your house, you might wanna hear what the people are talking about. It can help you decide what action to take as sometimes a stranger might be there looking for some kind of help and could accidentally trigger some kind of security alarm.
b. While Travelling
Sometimes when you are away from your home and there are some instructions you wanna provide to a delivery man or a neighbour, you can speak to them through the speaker. This feature will be there in cameras with two-way audio and you can also keep an eye on your property while you are away. If you see anything before suspicious, you can alert your neighbours or family members.
c. Pets
When you install a camera to keep an eye on your pet while you are away or at your office, you might wanna add audio features to it. Being alone can trigger anxiety in your pet so the speaker can work as a means to calm your pet till you come yourself or get some other help. Sometimes just the audio can work pretty fine to calm them as they will realize they are not alone.
d. Burglars
Intruders always keep a check on what houses might be empty as it makes the job of robbing much easier. They can come during the day to survey the property and talk about it on call to someone. If you have the two-way audio feature in your security camera, you can call out to them and scare them off before they can do any damage. Also, if you hear anything related to their plan, you can inform the police so they can be caught and prevent any more burglaries.
Features
Type Of Audio
Two types of audio features can be provided in a security camera-
- One-way audio- With this feature you can only hear the sound from the end of your camera. There is a certain range up to which a camera can perceive the sound.
- Two-way audio- In this feature, you can not only hear but also speak and your sound will be transmitted at the camera end. It is more commonly used for communication purposes rather than security.
The speakers can be either built-in or mounted externally. The latter is used for larger spaces as built-in speakers have limited audio amplification. They are better suited for indoor areas rather than large stockrooms.
A. Remote-Viewing
It’s very convenient if you can access your cameras from anywhere in the world. With an advanced feature like audio, the access range is increased as well. This will help you keep a check on your family and property no matter where you might be in the world.
B. Night-Vision
Not every camera has the feature to illuminate things in the dark which can compromise security. Security cameras usually come with infrared light that allows you to see even in total darkness.
C. Better Resolution
These cameras usually have better resolution than normal security cameras. And this applies to both day and night vision. It’s good enough that you can use the recording to identify a person.
D. Motion-Sensors
The cameras which are motion activated will help you save space and energy as they start recording only when they sense any activity. This is an add-on feature that might cost you more initially but it is beneficial in the long run. If the camera is rotating then it will turn in the direction of the disturbance on sensing it.
Best Audio Security Cameras
Now that we have told you about the benefits and features of audio security cameras, let us tell you about the ones we think are best to choose:
1. Reolink Argus 2
This camera is battery-powered making it a wireless delight but it can also be powered through solar energy making it environment-friendly. It provides a resolution of 1080p and two-way audio. Star-light vision just enhances the overall worth of this camera. It is also lighter on the pocket than most of the good-quality ones.
2. Arlo Pro 3 Spotlight Camera
Undoubtedly one of the best and costliest available in the market. The features provided certainly justify the cost of it. The resolution given by this camera is 2000p with ‘colour’ night vision, the latter feature is surely a selling point. It has a 160- degree field of view with automatic zooming and tracking. There is also a built-in siren and integrated spotlight. Though the audio is one-way.
3. Nest Cam(2021)
These are suitable for indoors and outdoors. With a resolution of 1080p, they have a 130-degree field of view. The housing provided with these cameras is weather resistant. The floodlights attached are very bright and the motion alerts are adjustable so you can switch it off for vehicles, etc. It provides two-way audio and can pick up sounds from all directions.
Final Talk
After reading the article, you are now familiar with the methods you can use to tell if the camera has audio or not. Having audio security cameras will upgrade your security and you can use the speaker function for a lot of purposes as mentioned earlier in the article. We hope that the article proved to be resourceful and you can now choose which camera is best equipped for your home.
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