I have a CCTV at my front door watching my van and I would like to make use of the audio recording facility on the DVR.

what type of microphone should I use?

The camera is an armoured dome...

thanks for any help.

This is normally a costly option unless audio is built into the camera

ie. some of the cheaper cameras (domestic type) that are IP56 rated or similar have audio options built in but I gather you have a sealed IP65 rated dome.

In this case you have to consider the following:

If I use a standard condenser type mic similar to those used in internal applications, where is the mic going to be located.? Will it take rain direct or is it under eaves or similar? You still have to consider that the mic may be damaged by moisture since it will not be sealed.

The other option is to use an external horn speaker, run it via a pre-amp before its taken into a normal amplifier then to recording/speakers. The horn is being used as a microphone instead of speaker.

You also have to consider "do I want a bloody great horn speaker on my house?" .... I would say no.

Another point to note is ..... in general microphones are omni-directional and will pick up audio from a variety of sources generally unwanted ones such as the drone from planes, cars, lorries etc that may pass your house. Its normally sods law that for the time you need to hear the audio, a vehicle will drown out the required sounds by their own low frequency sounds.

My best advice would be ..... is audio recording really necessary? If it is, it could be costly, if not really, forget it.

external audio is difficult but not impossible but you do need to be close to the source.

Wind will be your biggest problem, but as above rain etc will affect the mic.

Thanks for the speedy reply fellas...

point taken.... stoopid idea.....

stoopid idea

Not stupid, unrealistic in this situation.

What you could do is if really necessary to use an audio entry system and link the call button to a doorbell. That way people will have to speak to you before they get in the house. The audio can be stripped from the external panel and integrated into a recording system along with the video from the camera.

Thanks for the reply sjonley.

No great loss not using it.. I just saw there was a facility on the DVR for it and thought if it was doable I would use it..

thanks again

Not stupid, unrealistic in this situation.

What you could do is if really necessary to use an audio entry system and link the call button to a doorbell. That way people will have to speak to you before they get in the house. The audio can be stripped from the external panel and integrated into a recording system along with the video from the camera.

Thanks for the reply sjonley.

No great loss not using it.. I just saw there was a facility on the DVR for it and thought if it was doable I would use it..

thanks again

Its very do-able, its not expensive (depends what you call expensive) its not dificult if you know what your doing, LJD sell the microphones suitable for external use.