Audio quality of home security cameras As you can see in the table, most CCTV audio cameras have decent microphones that pick up sound from a distance of around 15 feet. If you need to record audio from a farther away location, you may consider purchasing a camera with an external microphone. When considering audio surveillance laws by state, most states have specific laws that govern the use of electronic recording of conversations of any kind. Each state's 9-minute audio surveillance laws may be different from those in other states.
Users must ensure that they comply with the laws of their state before using such devices. As you can see in the table below, most of the security cameras that you would normally use at home have audio recording. Only the high-end cameras that are part of a complete home security system are the ones that don't. For example, taking Reolink security cameras that can record sound, the audio range can reach up to 6 meters with a clear voice.
Knowing that your home security cameras record both sound and video gives you peace of mind more than anything. To help you know if it's illegal to have security cameras with sound in your location, here are some factors to check. For example, small business owners often place a sign indicating the use of retail security cameras. Home security cameras are a popular option to include as part of a smart home, especially when you have a lot of other smart devices that you want to be able to keep a close eye on.
There aren't a lot of home security cameras with the ability to record sound, and they have some good reasons why they would choose not to include this as a feature. Although a home security camera can support sound recording, it may not have a built-in microphone for recording. In places like California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Utah and Washington, the consent of all parties is required before security cameras can legally record sound. If you already have a security camera that supports audio recording but doesn't have a built-in microphone, you can get external microphone kits, but it can be difficult to set up and install them.
If you have access to look at the camera up close, be aware of a very small hole located in the camera's lens housing. My advice would be to review local, state and federal laws before installing a security camera that can record sound in public. It's incredibly difficult to tell just by looking at a security camera if you can record sound, but there are several ways to find out. As long as they are placed in your own home for security purposes, you can legally install security cameras and record audio.