Despite the leaps and bounds that the surveillance and CCTV industry has taken, cameras will often not have any form of audio capability.
For a lot of businesses, this may not present a problem instantly, but can create issues in their future security efforts.
Having a microphone paired with your CCTV installation will give you additional security, flexibility, and potential for not only stopping criminals in the act but deterring future crimes.
In this short article, we will be looking at some of the best microphones to pair with your CCTV systems. We will look at their features, pros, cons, and how to select the right microphone for you.
So, in this guide, you’ll learn:
- Best Microphone for CCTV
- CCTV Microphone Basics
- How CCTV Microphones Work
- Finding the Best Microphones
- Reviews – Best Microphones for CCTV
- Summary – CCTV Microphones
| Image | Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  | Our Top Pick | Dericam High Sensitive CCTV Microphone
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| View on Amazon |
Best for Small Business  | Best for Small Business | Zerone Surveillance Microphone
|
| View on Amazon |
Best for Outdoor  | Best for Outdoor | Tonton Weatherproof CCTV Microphone
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| View on Amazon |
Best Budget  | Best Budget | Tonton Mini CCTV Microphone
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| View on Amazon |
Our Overall Rated #1 Pick for CCTV Microphone
Dericam High Sensitive CCTV Microphone
Our top pick for CCTV Microphone from our list is the Dericam High Sensitive Microphone. The audio pick-up range is up to 10 metres which works for both indoor and outdoor cameras.
The High-Fidelity Sound technology within this microphone helps effectively eliminate background noise, removes echo, and is anti-interference. This makes the resulting sound quality much higher and much crisper.
The microphone is compatible with the majority of cameras, CCTV systems, NVRs, and DVRs, making it a viable solution for most businesses. The long and flexible cable gives you a lot of freedom to install this mic wherever you need it.
All of these features plus more come together to make a great package that can work for a lot of businesses regardless of your industry or current CCTV set-up.
Our Top Microphones for CCTV
Dericam High Sensitive CCTV Microphone (Our Top Pick)
Zerone Surveillance Microphone (Best for Small Business)
Tonton Weatherproof CCTV Microphone (Best for Outdoor)
Zerone Mini CCTV Microphone (Best Budget)
What is a CCTV Microphone?
We come across them in our everyday lives a lot, but often do not think about what they are. A microphone is a device that captures sound waves and converts them into an electrical signal, which is then saved, played back, or amplified.
In terms of a CCTV Microphone, they are capturing sounds that will be used in tandem with video signals to prevent and deter crimes from happening on a business or private premises.
Utilising both audio and video creates a much stronger security system and can lead to more information for identifying criminals, stopping crimes, and general surveillance.
Different Types of Microphones for CCTV
Technically speaking all CCTV microphones serve the same function, recording audio to be used as part of a 2-part surveillance strategy (audio and video).
With this being said there are two core types of microphones for CCTV, internal and external.
Internal CCTV Microphones
Typically speaking you might not even know this is in your camera as it will not be physically visible. These will be manufactured within certain types of cameras, for instance, most IP Cameras will have a mic included.
Internal Microphones are often included on more expensive CCTV cameras but do offer a more compact solution to your surveillance.
External CCTV Microphones
The opposite is the external microphone which comes separately from your CCTV camera and can be linked to it to provide both audio and video. Depending on the models they may connect directly to each other or via your installed DVR (or NVR).
Microphones are often easy to install, especially if there is a dedicated audio port on your CCTV cameras. Most will probably use an RCA Cable, but there are a lot of different connectors.
Note – All of the microphones on this list are external as we are looking at pairing them with cameras that do not include one.
How Does a Microphone for CCTV Work?
As we have alluded to above, microphones work by converting raw sound waves into audio files that can be used for surveillance and security.
Without trying to get too technical, the microphone works using a diaphragm that vibrates when sound waves hit it, which in turn moves a magnet next to a coil.
So in short, a microphone for CCTV works when sound creates vibrations that are converted into digital signals which are then saved as audio files.
A less common microphone type is a wireless microphone. Instead of transferring data via cables, they utilise a radio transmitter that can wirelessly transfer data via a network connection or proximity.
What Do You Look for in the Best Microphones for CCTV?
Knowing how to decide on a microphone for your CCTV system will help you make the best choice for your business. Below we are going to look at some different things to look out for when making your decision.
Sound Quality
This may seem like an obvious thing to look for in your CCTV Microphone, but it is often overlooked. All mics will pick up sound, that is a given, but it is how they pick it up that is important.
Capturing usable sound is what you should be aiming for. To put this into context, let’s say you set your CCTV up outside your building, factors like wind and rain may limit the end sound quality in a lesser mic.
Capture Radius
Often CCTV cameras are used to capture footage (or in this case audio) across a large area, so finding a microphone that can cover the same radius is important.
It is no use having a camera that covers a wide range if your mic only picks up things within a few metres. Obviously there are a lot more variables that affect if your microphone can detect the audio, but finding one that has a good capture radius can help you determine your choice.
Price Point
Most business decisions will end up being made on a certain allocated budget. This typically means that you have to find the best options within your price range.
For CCTV microphones there is not a huge variance in pricing, which makes this an easier decision to justify even the higher end models. However, higher prices do not always mean better quality.
Technology
Finding a mic that has all the bells and whistles might not be your top priority, but there are some features that can make them a much savvier purchase. For example, some mics can reduce background noise and only capture louder noises.
You would be surprised how elaborate some of the technology within the CCTV microphones can be, everything from echo reduction to weatherproofing, to increased coverage.
Sensitivity
The sensitivity of your microphone is a factor that might help you pick the right model. For some businesses you may want a very sensitive mic that can pick up very quiet noises, and for some it may not be as important.
The outdoor vs indoor debate often helps you decide the model you need to look at, as they are very different environments, which require different mics.
Weatherproof
Finding a CCTV microphone that is weatherproof could be very much make or break depending on your situation. If you are using your microphone for an indoor camera then you will be less inclined to buy a durable model.
On the flip side, if you have an outdoor installation, then you will want to find a microphone that can handle the environment, be that rain, wind, or durability against the elements.
What is important to you will ultimately affect which microphone you choose to buy for your CCTV camera, but hopefully, these factors help you make the right decision.
Best Microphone for CCTV Reviewed
In the effort of keeping these reviews to the point we are going to cover a handful of different models, give a quick write-up and pros and cons for each.
This will act as a great base for you to do some additional research if you wish to find the right solution for you and your premises.
Dericam High Sensitive CCTV Microphone (Our Top Pick)
This mic provides a cost-friendly solution that has a ton of upsides, and a lot of innovative technology that ranks above others on the market.
The cable length gives a lot of freedom and flexibility on where you can install this mic, so wherever you plan to set-up (or already have) your cameras it will be able to reach.
Does exactly what it says on the tin and has a highly sensitive pickup range, so you should be able to increase your security with ease using this CCTV mic.
| Pros (+) | Cons (-) |
| + Noise Reduction + Easy Installation + Connects with a lot of cameras + Flexible long cable + High-Sensitivity Audio Pickup | – Cable could be too long – Not Weatherproof |
Zerone Surveillance Microphone (Best for Small Business)
This CCTV microphone is a great solution if you are looking at securing a small business, either outdoor or indoor. The small design of the mic means it can be put in a lot of different locations around your company.
The mic has been created to pick up voices clearly, and has high fidelity, so the overall quality for the recordings is high. This acts as a great deterrent as the microphone has a red LED which will alert criminals to its recording.
| Pros (+) | Cons (-) |
| + Wide Range (100 Square Metres) + Compact Design + Plug & Play Technology (Easy to Install) | – Less Durable than Higher End Models – Better for Smaller Environments |
Tonton Weatherproof CCTV Microphone (Best for Outdoor)
Due to the length of the cable and the waterproof design this is a great option for an outdoor set-up. Having a durable and weatherproof model is vital if you are planning on installing your CCTV cameras and microphone outside.
This is a reliable option that is compatible with a lot of CCTV cameras and would work for any size of business. Although this leans to being an outdoor microphone it would be great in an indoor environment
| Pros (+) | Cons (-) |
| + Weatherproof and Durable + Compatible with NVR, DVR, etc with AV input + ‘Pre Amplifier’ increases low sound recordings | – Cable is very long – Cheaper options are fairly similar |
Zerone Mini CCTV Microphone (Best Budget)
If you are on the hunt for a cheap and viable solution to your CCTV microphone woes, look no further. This simple but effective CCTV mic gives you exactly what you need.
Despite its low price it has a high sensitivity audio pick up and can be adjusted for high fidelity (better sound quality).
| Pros (+) | Cons (-) |
| + High Sensitivity + Connects with NVR, DVR, TV, Cameras etc. + Wide Monitoring (10-50 Square Metres) | – AV Input can limit usage – Short cable |
Final Thoughts on Microphones for CCTV
This guide should have given you a good indication of how to select a microphone for CCTV, some of the best models for small businesses, and their pros and cons.
Hopefully, now you will know what microphone will work for your CCTV setup.
Each business will have different priorities and budgets so what works for you, may not work for someone else. Always do your research and determine which microphone will work best for you.
We take a no-nonsense approach to security and try to create jargon-free, simple-to-follow guides to various areas of security.
In an industry that is often over complicated, we aim to make everything easier to understand and fill in any knowledge gaps for our readers with our security guides.
