Using sound with your surveillance camera can mean improved detection, creating better situational awareness, however sound restoration will likely be needed for outdoor camera recordings.
Security camera with audio
Having audio capabilities in your video surveillance system can be an important feature. Whether it is a one-way “listen in” feature or a two-way communication application, the use of audio can enhance the security coverage. It offers a greater ability to detect and interpret events.
There are so many wireless security cameras with audio and PoE (wired) ones in the market. So many choices can make it hard to choose the right one. See the top choices.
Using surveillance audio can be restricted or regulated depending on your location. Always verify with local authorities on how to properly use your audio cameras without breaking any privacy laws. Audio recording without consent is illegal in certain jurisdictions. Make sure to check your local laws.
Adding a microphone
Some cameras allow you to connect an external microphone to better pick up audio from further away. I wouldn’t typically recommend this setup as it can be quite awkward to setup. The built-in microphone found in most cameras will be sufficient in the majority of cases. Even though a home security camera may support sound recording, it may not have a built-in mic to do the recording. If a particular camera supports it, chances are it will have a built-in mic, but that’s not to say it is guaranteed.
Should you already have a security camera that does support audio recording but doesn’t have an onboard microphone, you can get external microphone kits, but these can be a pain to set up and install. Not to mention the additional wires you will need to find a home for. This is difficult enough inside let alone if your camera is installed outside keeping a watchful eye on your back yard. If you really care that much about sound recording, my advice would be to sell your existing camera and invest in a replacement with a built-in microphone. It will save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run.
getting rid of NOISE
Getting clean audio recordings can be really hard, especially in noisy environments. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do to avoid it. So, what can you do? The good news is that there are free software available to enhance voice recording. Audacity is a free audio editing program and also very easy to use. If your noise problem is fairly simple, Audacity can help. However for more complex issues, you may need an audio engineer with a very specific skill set and highly specialized audio software.
