Bullet Mic Review

triumph202

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I've only got "line in" (or similar wording), no second option for just "Mic". That's why I went straight to buying a powered microphone.

Yes, there are noise filter options and I've tried both- there's no improvement with it "on".

I've tried the gain at various levels and I need it at 100 to get the faint sounds I mentioned.

It's almost like the camera requires a microphone with a higher level output than what the Microseven can supply? The camera is a DS-2CD2H35FWD-IZS too.
 

looney2ns

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Thanks!
Maybe a stupid question, but if powering the PTZ, SD49225T-HN, with POE+ and using a wall wart to power the mic, do I still need to split power to the mic and camera?
No. You would run an enthernet cable to the camera that is carrying the POE+ power for the cam.
You would run a separate wire from the wall wart for power to the mic.
The only connection between the mic and the camera is the audio from the mic to the cam.
 

RicRat2009

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I'm I right in assuming when utilizing this RCA balun, that you connect the white wire to (+) and the black wire to (-)?
ACAADB8D-7472-43F6-BE38-0298AE73874E-22663-00001E7C6B3784EA.jpeg IMG_0768.jpg
 

Al*_*

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Does it make sense to replace one mic with another one. I guess there won't be that much difference like with lenses on camera's or is there?
How does the audio/mic from, for example the popular IPC-HDW5231R-Z, compare to the mic nayr sugested in this thread and is it possible at all to replace/overrule the build-in mic in such cameras
 

triumph202

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The IPC-HDW5231R-Z has a very good on-board microphone. I updated the firmware on mine and changed the compression, it's crystal clear now and very sensitive. (Even if you wanted to change the microphone there's no external input.)
 

looney2ns

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Does it make sense to replace one mic with another one. I guess there won't be that much difference like with lenses on camera's or is there?
How does the audio/mic from, for example the popular IPC-HDW5231R-Z, compare to the mic nayr sugested in this thread and is it possible at all to replace/overrule the build-in mic in such cameras
The built in mic is very good, just be sure to turn off the noise filter in the audio setup portion of the cam.
 

Sim31

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The easiest way is to add another cheap IP camera with a built-in mic in close proximity with the existing one and clone the audio from one into the other (Blue Iris does this easily in Camera Properties->Audio->Another camera) and record it along with the video stream. Either that or replace the one you have, say, a cheap turret with built-in mic. It's a bit of a PITA to get an analog audio source into IP and into BI compared to adding, say, a $45 camera that has easy BI support AND either adds a second camera to the area or allows you to repurpose the existing cam somewhere else.
Wonder if the Dahua NVR's or even the cameras have this functionality built in somewhere? I've searched for it and can't find nothing anywhere.
 

triumph202

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I've only got "line in" (or similar wording), no second option for just "Mic". That's why I went straight to buying a powered microphone.

Yes, there are noise filter options and I've tried both- there's no improvement with it "on".

I've tried the gain at various levels and I need it at 100 to get the faint sounds I mentioned.

It's almost like the camera requires a microphone with a higher level output than what the Microseven can supply? The camera is a DS-2CD2H35FWD-IZS too.
This turned out to be the Hik camera requiring a mono 3.5mm plug - the stereo 3.5mm (with both channels connected together) won't work. Even though Hik instructions on connecting a powered mic show both as an option.

I haven't permanently connected this bullet mic up, but quick testing shows the genuine Hik DS-2FP2020 mic is a lot better for clarity (ie. frequency response) and sensitivity. The down side is the Hik mic isn't waterproof... but a sheltered position under the house eaves has been fine (so far.)
 

Kil

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Anyone else getting interference with this mic? I tried it with a 12v 2a adapter, and with a PoE injector. Both work fine but i get an annoying hum. I've tried the line in mic volume on 10, then 5, then 1. When i use my NVR which gives me audio over a receiver, i can turn down the volume, still get outside audio and don't really notice the hum. When i use GDMSS or TinyCam for audio the hum is véry noticable.

I'm using a grounded outlet. Any ideas?
 

looney2ns

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Anyone else getting interference with this mic? I tried it with a 12v 2a adapter, and with a PoE injector. Both work fine but i get an annoying hum. I've tried the line in mic volume on 10, then 5, then 1. When i use my NVR which gives me audio over a receiver, i can turn down the volume, still get outside audio and don't really notice the hum. When i use GDMSS or TinyCam for audio the hum is véry noticable.

I'm using a grounded outlet. Any ideas?
No problem here. A 2amp adaptor is way overkill for it, it only requires a few miliamp, not that likely has anything to do with the hum.
Are you using good cable if you are extending the leads?
 
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Kil

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It was the only perfect fit i had laying around (connector-wise). I could pick up another one, just to be sure that's not the culprit.
I am extending the leads. I tried 3 different ones. Started with an el-cheapo one. Then tried 2 mid/expensive ones from my home theater. The don't seem to make much of a difference.
I could try to attach it without an extension and see how that goes now that you speak of it. Haven't thought of that.
 

Solar Deity

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Anyone else getting interference with this mic? I tried it with a 12v 2a adapter, and with a PoE injector. Both work fine but i get an annoying hum. I've tried the line in mic volume on 10, then 5, then 1. When i use my NVR which gives me audio over a receiver, i can turn down the volume, still get outside audio and don't really notice the hum. When i use GDMSS or TinyCam for audio the hum is véry noticable.

I'm using a grounded outlet. Any ideas?

I have had a hum before. I've used 5 of these mics in the last year on SD59's, SD49's and an SD6AE. I still think they are the best outdoor value mic out there, but will try a new just released Dahua HAP 120-V mic when I can get a hold of one.

This was my issue.

Quality 12V 5A 5 amp 60W DC POWER Supply ADAPTER Transformer LED Strip, CCTV, PC 701722835542 | eBay

The above 3 prong 12V-5A power supply made the mics hum. I switched to a 2 prong 12V-1A and it went away. Also check your polarity. I've also used a 12V - 500 mAh and it works as well. As @looney2ns mentioned, they don't need much power at all. They will work unpowered actually, but not as sensitive.

I use these barrel connectors for easy connecting. I would just run another Cat5 cable, along with the data cable and power the mic with 2 twisted pair for +, and the other 2 for -.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IBFNKKM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

It's funny too. One of my mics pics up a local radio station. I've tried to troubleshoot the issue, but I haven't had any luck. It's faint and doesn't drown out the main audio I would try to capture, but it's there.

SD
 
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tangent

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It's funny too. One of my mics pics up a local radio station. I've tried to troubleshoot the issue, but I haven't had any luck. It's faint and doesn't drown out the main audio I would try to capture, but it's there.
Your cabling is acting as an antenna. You'd need to shorten or otherwise alter your cabling, a low pass filter could also help.
 

Solar Deity

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Your cabling is acting as an antenna. You'd need to shorten or otherwise alter your cabling, a low pass filter could also help.
My cable is long. The longest of the 3. Unfortunately, I can't shorten the run. It's about 75 feet long. I will research a low pass filter.

Thanks for the tip.

SD
 

tangent

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My cable is long. The longest of the 3. Unfortunately, I can't shorten the run. It's about 75 feet long. I will research a low pass filter.

Thanks for the tip.

SD
For a long cable to a microphone, it's good idea to use shielded cable. It's also a good idea to minimize ground loops between the camera's power supply and the microphone's power supply. I go into a bit more detail earlier in this thread. If you can go into more detail about your cabling, camera, and power for the mic and cam I may have some other ideas. In it's simplest form you could achieve some low pass filtering by placing a ceramic capacitor between the signal wire and the ground wire.

There are electrons that flow between the two power supplies. You can think of the ground loop like a hula hoop in which the area of the loop is large, if you collapse the hoop (stretch it or fold it in half), the loop area is small and if you twist it it gets even smaller. 75' of cable is certainly enough to act as an antenna that accidentally picks up some radio/tv/ham broadcasts (this is different from the ground loop issue).
 
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Solar Deity

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For a long cable to a microphone, it's good idea to use shielded cable. It's also a good idea to minimize ground loops between the camera's power supply and the microphone's power supply. I go into a bit more detail earlier in this thread. If you can go into more detail about your cabling, camera, and power for the mic and cam I may have some other ideas. In it's simplest form you could achieve some low pass filtering by placing a ceramic capacitor between the signal wire and the ground wire.

There are electrons that flow between the two power supplies. You can think of the ground loop like a hula hoop in which the area of the loop is large, if you collapse the hoop (stretch it or fold it in half), the loop area is small and if you twist it gets even smaller. 75' of cable is certainly enough to act as an antenna that accidentally picks up some radio/tv/ham broadcasts.
@tangent, I now have read the entire thread and your recommendations. Unfortunately I didn't before installing my mics and I wish I did. I would have taken precautions to minimize the ground loop.

So, the cam is an SD59225. It is powered by a mid-span plugged in 20 feet from the mics power supply. I ran two ethernet cables from the basement, up though a future tube to the attic, across the entire length of the house and out the soffit to the cam in the far corner. As the cables exit the tube in the ceiling of the basement, the mic power goes to the nearest double gang about 5 feet away. I used the twisted pair of orange and brown for the 12v + and -. The data/power ethernet cable to the camera continues along the floor joists above to the mid-span across the room. I'm going to say it's plugged in to a different 15 amp circuit that is run in my basement.

Another strange thing is it comes and goes as well. Sometimes there isn't any Sunny 107.9 playing. Weird.

SD
 
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