Now, when I had to choose a battery operated cameras for my home, I wanted one that had an audio capability in it. However, there was no way for me to know whether the one I liked had it, and it was why I probably spent a lot more time looking for the right one that I should have.
It’s also why I have tried writing this article, to ensure you don’t have to face a similar experience.
In our daily lives, we see security cameras, or what we popularly know as CCTV cameras almost at every corner. They have taken the surveillance methods a notch higher and have merely made our lives easier. Gone are the days when we had to stay back to keep an eye on our house, store, backyard, or any of your other properties.
The purchase rates of high-tech surveillance cameras have gone higher ever since their inception as more and more people are monitoring specific spaces.
The crime rates of the present date demand high surveillance. However, depending on their features, that may end up invading our privacy. There are realistic ways for blinding a camera, but if you thought that by merely blinding the lens of the camera you could avoid surveillance, then you are mistaken. If you weren’t aware, you ought to know that security cameras nowadays can also record audio.
Although not all security cameras come equipped with audio recording facilities, some are.
If you are looking for a security camera that has an audio recording feature, you might ask yourself how to find the right one.
How do you know if a security camera is recording audio?
Are you looking for Security Cameras with Good Audio/Mic? Here are our top 3 Choices
The Top 5 Ways to Tell if a Security Camera has Audio
Here are five ways in which you can tell whether the camera has audio surveillance:
1. The Most Obvious – Search Online
It can get tough to know whether a security camera has an embedded microphone. If you aren’t sure, take a photo. Then Google to find its model number and you would see its features. Easy peasy, right?
You can easily search for similar security cameras by doing a reverse search on Google Images. It’s easy, and it takes seconds. Plus, you wouldn’t want to ask others about the security camera as it would come off suspicious. So, you can do it on your own in just a few seconds.
2. How to Spot It on The Camera?
If you wouldn’t want to go about searching for it, there are some cameras where you can spot the microphone itself. Generally, you can look out for a small hole in the camera housing for picking up sounds.
However, this may not apply to every camera which is facilitated with Audio Iris or AI. If you do spot a black hole in the middle of the camera, then you can be assured that you’re audio recorded as well.
3. Get Hold of the Footage
It may be the case that you find out that the security cameras in your building lobby or the office’s Xerox room have an audio recording facility. This manner of surveillance can be a direct invasion of your privacy, and it is your right to know whether you are under sound supervision.
If you can get hold of the video footage, then the best way to know if the audio was recorded along with the video footage is to get the recorded video, download it, and play it to see if any sound was recorded as well.
If you don’t have the footage, you can have a look at some of the other options about it. Or, you can get a security camera for yourself so that you have access to the footage as you need.
As Always a Popular Security Camera With mic and audio
- MOTION DETECTOR: Built-in motion sensor alarm, when motion detector is triggered, WIFI cameras send an alert to your smartphone and record a short clip of the event to the cloud
- BATTERY POWERED SECURITY SYSTEM: Wireless home camera with 2-year battery life, powered by 2 Lithium AA 1.5v non-rechargeable Lithium batteries (included), data is sent from IP cameras over Wi-Fi
- SMART HOME SECURITY: Simple self-install home monitoring in minutes; easy control wireless cameras with the included iOS & Android apps or via voice through our Amazon Alexa Skill!
- ADVANCED HOME SURVEILLANCE: Home and pet monitoring in real time with video camera “Live View” streaming mode
- FREE CLOUD STORAGE: Totally wire-free, with no monthly fees or service contract required. (Requires iOS 10.3 or Android 5 Lollipop or higher)
- WORKS WITH ALEXA – View live streams, motion clips, arm and disarm your system, and set up smart reorders for batteries through select Alexa-enabled devices.
Related Topic: 8 Hacks to Catch Someone Breaking into Your Car
4. Inquire about it
Searched online and still can’t find out if it has an audio recording feature? The easiest way to do so would be to inquire the support team of the company. Many cameras come with the option of disabling audio recording feature. However that may be very rare. So, make sure you contact the support team and ask. This applies to both private as well as public spaces.
5. Can the Camera Hear You?
You may be in the optical bandwidth of the security camera but, if it’s beyond a certain distance, then the chances are that the camera can not record your voice. They vary with different brands but are usually limited to a certain range. So, if you must talk about something or hear something you don’t wish to share under surveillance, then walk away from a little distance. Simple!
You can also use any video player to record and see if it catches any audio. The best security cameras for business comes with a bunch of advantages. They let you leave your house or store unattended while still being able to keep an eye on the space. Crime rates can also be curbed using security camera surveillance.
It is no wonder that more and more places are now relying on CCTV cameras to keep a space free of intrusions, theft, and robbery. However, it needs to be taken into account whether your surveillance system is invading someone else’s privacy.
If you are someone who is practicing surveillance, it is your duty, especially in residential and official spaces, to inform the people there that they are under audio surveillance. Otherwise, it may be considered an invasion of people’s privacy.
On the other hand, if you are someone who is under surveillance, it becomes essential to inquire about the extent of the surveillance. This can be by oral inquiry or stepping up and taking matters in your hands. After all, it is a question of your privacy.
