A CCTV camera with audio has a built-in microphone that picks up ambient sound and sends it with the video over the same coaxial cable to the recorder (DVR). The six Hikvision models AZEIDK offers in Saudi Arabia all have a built-in microphone. Neither their product pages nor the official datasheets mention a siren or a warning strobe. In Saudi Arabia, audio recording in facilities covered by the security surveillance cameras law may only be enabled with the approval of the Public Security Directorate.
That is why we supply these cameras with the microphone disabled by default until approval is granted. This guide explains how a microphone differs from two-way talk, a siren and a strobe. It lists each model’s specifications from its datasheet, covers the recorder you need and summarises what the law says about audio. Start with the most requested model: the Hikvision DS-2CE76K0T-LPFS 3K camera with built-in mic.
Key points
- The six models (DS-2CE76K0T-LPFS, DS-2CE76K0T-LMFS, DS-2CE70DF0T-LMFS, DS-2CE10DF0T-LPFS, DS-2CE18D0T-LFS and DS-2CE78D0T-LFS) are Turbo HD analogue cameras with a built-in mic and audio over coax.
- Each official datasheet lists one microphone with a pickup radius of up to 5 m. None lists a speaker, siren or strobe.
- The white light on these cameras illuminates the scene for colour night images. It is not a light alarm.
- You need a recorder that accepts audio over coax, such as the DS-E04HQHI-B or DS-E04HGHI-E.
- Article 8 of the Implementing Regulations of the security surveillance cameras law says audio recording may only be enabled with Public Security Directorate approval.
In this article
- Microphone, two-way talk, siren or strobe: what is the difference?
- Hikvision CCTV cameras with audio at AZEIDK
- Does an audio camera need a special recorder?
- When is audio recording on CCTV allowed in Saudi Arabia?
- How do we hand over an audio camera with the microphone disabled?
- Why choose a camera with a microphone if audio stays off?
- CCTV camera with a siren or strobe: what to ask for if deterrence is the goal
- Common mistakes when buying a CCTV camera with audio
- CCTV from AZEIDK in Saudi Arabia
- Frequently asked questions
- Summary
Microphone, two-way talk, siren or strobe: what is the difference?
People searching for a “camera with sound” often mix up four separate features. Each one needs a different component inside the camera, so having one does not mean you have the others:
| Feature | What it does | Component needed | On the six AZEIDK models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in microphone (audio recording) | Picks up sound and sends it with the video to the recorder | Microphone | Present on all six (up to 5 m per datasheet) |
| Two-way talk | Lets you listen and speak to the person in front of the camera | Microphone and speaker | Not stated: the datasheets list no speaker |
| Siren | Sounds an alarm on a defined event | Built-in speaker or siren | Not stated on the pages or datasheets |
| Strobe / warning light | Flashes to alert and deter an intruder | Dedicated flashing lamp | Not stated on the pages or datasheets |
The datasheets describe the white light on these models as a supplement light in Smart Hybrid Light mode. The camera uses IR or white light to produce a night image. Its job is image quality, and Hikvision does not class it as a light alarm. For ColorVu and other night-vision technologies, see our night vision CCTV guide.
Hikvision CCTV cameras with audio at AZEIDK
The table below comes from the product pages on the AZEIDK site and Hikvision’s official datasheet for each model. All have a fixed lens, one video output switchable between TVI, AHD, CVI and CVBS, and a 12 VDC ± 25% supply:
| Model | Form | Resolution | Lens | Night lighting | Protection | Max. power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DS-2CE76K0T-LPFS | Indoor turret, plastic housing | 3K (2960 × 1665) | 2.8 or 3.6 mm | IR up to 20 m, white light up to 20 m | No IP rating stated (indoor) | 2.9 W |
| DS-2CE76K0T-LMFS | Turret, metal housing | 3K (2960 × 1665) | 2.8 or 3.6 mm | IR up to 30 m, white light up to 20 m | IP67 | 2.9 W |
| DS-2CE70DF0T-LMFS | ColorVu turret, F1.0, metal housing | 2 MP (1920 × 1080) | 2.8 or 3.6 mm | IR and white light up to 20 m | IP67 | 2.9 W |
| DS-2CE10DF0T-LPFS | ColorVu mini bullet, F1.0, plastic housing | 2 MP (1920 × 1080) | 2.8 or 3.6 mm | IR and white light up to 20 m | IP67 | 2.9 W |
| DS-2CE18D0T-LFS | Bullet | 2 MP (1920 × 1080) | 2.8, 3.6 or 6 mm | IR and white light up to 60 m | IP67 | 9.8 W |
| DS-2CE78D0T-LFS | Turret, metal housing | 2 MP (1920 × 1080) | 2.8 or 3.6 mm | IR up to 40 m, white light up to 20 m | IP67 | 3.5 W |
Which one fits your site?
- Inside a shop, office or reception: the 3K DS-2CE76K0T-LPFS, the only model on the list described as indoor.
- Outdoor entrances and corridors that need more detail: the 3K DS-2CE76K0T-LMFS with IP67.
- Colour images at night in small car parks or yards: the DS-2CE70DF0T-LMFS (turret) or DS-2CE10DF0T-LPFS (mini bullet), both ColorVu with F1.0.
- Perimeter walls, warehouses and longer distances: the DS-2CE18D0T-LFS, with lighting up to 60 m and an optional 6 mm lens.
- Outdoor turret with longer IR range: the 2 MP DS-2CE78D0T-LFS with IR up to 40 m.
A note on resolution: some earlier site titles described the DS-2CE76K0T-LPFS and DS-2CE76K0T-LMFS as 2 MP. The official datasheets and the current pages give 3K at 2960 × 1665, with 3K@20 fps in TVI mode. Always go by the datasheet. For camera types in general, see our CCTV camera types guide.
Does an audio camera need a special recorder?
Yes. These cameras carry audio over the coaxial cable, so it is not enough for the recorder to accept the video. Its specifications must state audio input over coax. Hikvision recorders available from AZEIDK include:
- DS-E04HQHI-B: four analogue channels plus one IP channel, four-channel audio input over coax, HDTVI input up to 5 MP@20 fps and 3K@20 fps, and a built-in 512 GB eSSD. The highest encoding (recording) resolution on its page is 4 MP Lite, so check the actual recording resolution for 3K cameras with us.
- DS-E04HGHI-E: four analogue channels plus one IP channel, four-channel audio input over coax, and a highest listed recording resolution of 1080p Lite. It suits the 2 MP models on small sites.
On both recorders, audio comes out through HDMI, so you need a monitor with speakers or an amplifier to listen locally. The camera datasheets recommend one power adapter per camera. To size channels and storage in detail, see our CCTV recorder selection guide.
When is audio recording on CCTV allowed in Saudi Arabia?
The legal framework is the Law on the Use of Security Surveillance Cameras (Royal Decree No. M/34 dated 7/3/1444H) and its Implementing Regulations (Minister of Interior Decision No. 22688 dated 3/11/1444H). Both are published in the Umm Al-Qura official gazette. As our article on the Saudi security surveillance cameras law explains, Article 8 of the Regulations states that audio recording may only be enabled with the approval of the Public Security Directorate. The same rule applies to thermal cameras.
In practice, covered facilities should:
- Programme the cameras and recorder with audio disabled by default.
- Record that audio is disabled in the handover file, with a list of the cameras that have a microphone.
- Enable audio only after the Directorate approves it, and only on the cameras the approval covers.
Our law article flags a common mistake: many cameras ship with the microphone active, and enabling it without approval breaches Article 8. This article does not cover homes or uses outside the law’s scope. Even there, recording other people’s conversations is a privacy question before it is a technical setting.
How do we hand over an audio camera with the microphone disabled?
Audio is disabled in the recorder’s recording settings, not by cutting a cable. At handover we check that:
- Every channel with a microphone is set to record video only.
- A recorded clip from each channel plays back with no audio track.
- Only the administrator account can change recording settings.
- The audio status (disabled) is written into the acceptance record and handover file.
- If approval is granted later, audio is enabled only on the covered channels and the file is updated.
These steps are part of the security and surveillance solutions AZEIDK delivers, from design and supply through programming and handover.
Why choose a camera with a microphone if audio stays off?
There are three practical reasons:
- Readiness: if the facility obtains approval later, audio is switched on in the settings. There is no need to replace the camera or run an external microphone and cable.
- Simpler cabling: audio and video share one coaxial cable, so no separate audio cable is needed at each point.
- No compromise on image: the six models combine the mic with dual light or ColorVu.
If you are sure you will never need audio, we have other Hikvision Turbo HD cameras on our Hikvision brand page, and we can recommend a model whose datasheet lists no microphone.
CCTV camera with a siren or strobe: what to ask for if deterrence is the goal
Active deterrence means the camera sounds an alarm or flashes a light when it detects an event, warning an intruder before they get closer. As the table above shows, this is a different feature from a microphone. The pages and datasheets of the six models in this guide do not mention a siren or a warning strobe, so we do not sell them as deterrence cameras. If deterrence is your priority, ask the supplier for the following before you buy:
- An official datasheet that explicitly states the siren or strobe, not an advert headline or a trade name.
- How it is triggered, and whether it can be switched on and off remotely.
- Whether the recorder supports controlling it, if triggering runs through the recorder.
Tell us about your site and we will recommend what we stock with features documented in the datasheet.
Common mistakes when buying a CCTV camera with audio
- Assuming “with audio” means two-way talk or a siren, when the model has a microphone only.
- Pairing the camera with a recorder that does not state audio input over coax, so video records without sound.
- Connecting a 3K camera to a recorder whose top recording resolution is 1080p Lite, which wastes the extra resolution.
- Leaving the microphone enabled after installation in a covered facility without Public Security Directorate approval.
- Installing the DS-2CE76K0T-LPFS outdoors, although it is described as indoor and its datasheet gives no IP rating.
- Trusting the product title instead of the datasheet for resolution or features.
CCTV from AZEIDK in Saudi Arabia
AZEIDK supplies Hikvision cameras and recorders with design, installation, programming and technical support. The scope of AZEIDK’s ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certificates covers the design, supply, installation and maintenance of CCTV systems. We hand over audio cameras with the microphone disabled by default and record this in the handover file.
Frequently asked questions
Do CCTV cameras record sound?
Only some do. The six Hikvision models in this guide have a built-in microphone with a pickup radius of up to 5 m and send audio over coax to a recorder that supports it.
Is audio recording on CCTV allowed in Saudi Arabia?
In facilities covered by the security surveillance cameras law, audio recording may only be enabled with Public Security Directorate approval, under Article 8 of the Implementing Regulations. So we hand over with audio disabled until approval is granted.
Can I talk to the person in front of the camera?
Not with these models. Two-way talk needs a speaker in the camera, and the datasheets for these models list a microphone only.
Does the Hikvision DS-2CE76K0T-LPFS have a siren?
Neither the product page nor the official datasheet mentions a siren. They list a built-in microphone, 3K resolution (2960 × 1665) and dual IR and white light up to 20 m.
Which recorder works with audio cameras?
Any recorder whose specifications state audio input over coax and that supports the camera’s resolution. AZEIDK offers the DS-E04HQHI-B (accepts 3K) and the DS-E04HGHI-E (up to 1080p Lite), both with four audio channels.
Summary
A CCTV camera with audio means a microphone that records. It is not a siren that deters or a speaker that talks. Choose the model from its datasheet by location, resolution and lighting, and pair it with a recorder that accepts audio over coax. Then hand over the system with audio disabled until the Public Security Directorate approves it. The camera stays ready, and the facility stays compliant.
Need audio cameras for your shop or warehouse? Send us the number of points and the nature of each location (indoor or outdoor, and distance). We will recommend the models and a matching recorder with datasheets, and hand them over with audio disabled until approval is granted. Contact the AZEIDK team
