im after a microphone POE IP based, can anyone recommend, I want to put it near the pavement. Would this come up on BI as a 'camera' or would the mic have to be added on to one of the cameras?
POE IP Microphone
- Thread starter dave7108
- Start date
looney2ns
IPCT Contributor
J Sigmo
Known around here
- Feb 5, 2018
- 996
- 1,336
A while back, I looked a bit for an IP audio interface to which I could feed an existing audio stream so BI could record that audio.
The units I found were quite expensive.
In the end, I modified an inexpensive IP security camera to bypass its internal microphone and gave it a transformer to provide a balanced input to avoid ground loop noise pick up.
It works well, but because the camera has audio compression, that is less than ideal for my purposes. But it does OK.
If you find a reasonably priced IP audio input device, I'd like to know about it. Failing that, you can use an IP camera that has an audio input, or modify a cheap camera the way I did and just ignore its video the way I'm doing.
Actually, since you need the microphone, too, you could just use an inexpensive IP camera that has a microphone, and ignore its video. It's sort of a waste, but from my searching, a camera with microphone is far less expensive than an audio-only IP interface.
I'm using this to record some 2 way radio traffic, and with it being recorded by BI with alerts triggered by audio, it is easy to review without needing to scrub through hours of "dead air".
I just wish the camera I used didn't have such heavy-handed audio compression. My audio stream is already compressed, so it's a bit much.
The units I found were quite expensive.
In the end, I modified an inexpensive IP security camera to bypass its internal microphone and gave it a transformer to provide a balanced input to avoid ground loop noise pick up.
It works well, but because the camera has audio compression, that is less than ideal for my purposes. But it does OK.
If you find a reasonably priced IP audio input device, I'd like to know about it. Failing that, you can use an IP camera that has an audio input, or modify a cheap camera the way I did and just ignore its video the way I'm doing.
Actually, since you need the microphone, too, you could just use an inexpensive IP camera that has a microphone, and ignore its video. It's sort of a waste, but from my searching, a camera with microphone is far less expensive than an audio-only IP interface.
I'm using this to record some 2 way radio traffic, and with it being recorded by BI with alerts triggered by audio, it is easy to review without needing to scrub through hours of "dead air".
I just wish the camera I used didn't have such heavy-handed audio compression. My audio stream is already compressed, so it's a bit much.
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ive changed my hikvision 4mp cameras to some 5mp swann camera's and the microphone is pretty good. I need to find a discreet cam, not a bullet, something i can mount on the fence that's flat. I think hikvision do a mini dome which is quite flat.
forzabiondo816
n3wb
- Apr 20, 2018
- 27
- 12
Ive got several microphones running straight to my pc not to the cameras, using the 3.5mm jacks on the back. Under blue iris audio settings under the camera of your choice you can add them using "Other Direct Show Device" and selecting the input. Amazon has a bunch of super cheap 12v "IP Cam Mics" with 12v DC jacks for power and you could use a poe splitter inline to tap off for power. Ive gotten multiple running that way without issue, went a step further and downloaded a free audio interface software which i can route the audio through to adjust eq settings down to what ever freq you wish to take out 60 hz hum or boost mid range for vocals.
edited to add prices
One of the most popular ways to accomplish IP audio is to get a relatively cheap PoE IP camera with a line or mic level input and then add an external microphone. This is because most camera's integrated microphones are garbage. If your camera has in internal cooling fan, that's the only thing your internal mic will hear once it kicks on. Also, most often, the area where your camera is mounted may be far away from the audio source that you're interested in monitoring/capturing. External microphones add the benefit of higher audio quality and you can place the microphone in an area that makes the most sense for your install.
If your camera takes a line-level audio input, ETS manufactures a PoE interface Box (SMEA-1, costs like $40-$50) that goes in-line with the Cat5 running to your camera. It borrows a bit of power and uses it to power a line-level/preamplified microphone. They also make a ton of line-level surveillance microphones for both interior and exterior use.
If your camera takes a mic-level audio input, they also manufacture a large variety of mic-level microphones with a 3.5mm jack. These will simply just plug in directly to the camera's mic-level input (either 3.5mm, terminal block, or flying lead). I believe you can special order their mic level mics with cable lengths up to 25 feet. The good thing about ETS products is you can often customize your products to your set-up. I had a customer who needed an audio interface that didn't exist, and they actually created a product for their unique installation.
I've been in the audio surveillance industry for years, and I can count on 1 hand how many times I've been inquired about IP microphones (IP speakers are a different story), so there doesn't seem to be much demand. Louroe makes an IP microphone, but they're going out of business from what I've heard. Also, according to a customer of mine, he described their IP microphone as "hot garbage" with a "buggy interface."
One of the most popular ways to accomplish IP audio is to get a relatively cheap PoE IP camera with a line or mic level input and then add an external microphone. This is because most camera's integrated microphones are garbage. If your camera has in internal cooling fan, that's the only thing your internal mic will hear once it kicks on. Also, most often, the area where your camera is mounted may be far away from the audio source that you're interested in monitoring/capturing. External microphones add the benefit of higher audio quality and you can place the microphone in an area that makes the most sense for your install.
If your camera takes a line-level audio input, ETS manufactures a PoE interface Box (SMEA-1, costs like $40-$50) that goes in-line with the Cat5 running to your camera. It borrows a bit of power and uses it to power a line-level/preamplified microphone. They also make a ton of line-level surveillance microphones for both interior and exterior use.
If your camera takes a mic-level audio input, they also manufacture a large variety of mic-level microphones with a 3.5mm jack. These will simply just plug in directly to the camera's mic-level input (either 3.5mm, terminal block, or flying lead). I believe you can special order their mic level mics with cable lengths up to 25 feet. The good thing about ETS products is you can often customize your products to your set-up. I had a customer who needed an audio interface that didn't exist, and they actually created a product for their unique installation.
I've been in the audio surveillance industry for years, and I can count on 1 hand how many times I've been inquired about IP microphones (IP speakers are a different story), so there doesn't seem to be much demand. Louroe makes an IP microphone, but they're going out of business from what I've heard. Also, according to a customer of mine, he described their IP microphone as "hot garbage" with a "buggy interface."
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