One brand of wireless home security system is Blink. Blink cameras having a longer battery life than other cameras, are also affordable and easy to install. One concern, however, that many consumers would want the answer for is whether Blink cameras provide audio. Alright, let us review some of them.
The quick response is true: most Blink camera models include audio features. Specifically, Blink Mini, Blink Indoor, Blink Outdoor, Blink Video Doorbell, Blink Floodlight Cam all support two-way audio. This lets you hear and chat via your Blink cameras in addition to seeing live video from them.
In-home security, having the ability to listen as well as be heard is very crucial. Should you have Blink cameras and they be set off by motion or if you get an alert, you may then launch the Blink camera program using the two-way speak function to see what is happening and most likely frighten off the intruder. Two-way audio may also be used simply to say hello to the people of your house who are home while you are not or to watch pets.
One thing to note is that Blink XT and Blink XT2 cameras do not come with two-way audio which is supported in most Blink models. These were Blink’s first camera models that the company launched in 2016. However, just like many other devices of the time, two-way audio was not part of the setup. Therefore, if you have an original XT or XT2 Blink camera system, there will be no audio support.
How to turn on Audio on Blink Cameras?
If you do have Blink cameras with audio capabilities, enabling this feature is as easy as the following. Just follow these steps:
- First, turn on the Blink Home Monitor application on your smartphone or tablet device.
- Press the Settings icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Choose the camera that you want to record audio using.
- Tap Audio Settings.
- Turn the icon in the middle of the two circles to the right to enable two-way audio.
Once activated, there will be icons of microphones appearing on the Blink camera feeds to show that two-way audio has been turned on. These icons, when tapped in live view, can be used to open up an audio session.
The Blink app also enables the playing of audio from various cameras at the same time. Thus, you can communicate with several rooms at the same time using your smartphone. However, you should remember that the audio quality may be affected depending on the number of audio streams you have active at a given time.
Audio Quality
It is worth mentioning that the audio quality in both ways for Blink cameras is rather satisfactory. Users report that voices are distinct in most cases but background noise may affect it to some extent. The speaker and microphone output is good enough for simple voice communication.
What you hear in Blink camera is not going to be as clear and effective as the real voice we use when speaking on the phone. But it serves the purpose of simple listening and communication. The audio quality should be at least as good if not better than most battery-powered security cameras out there in the market.
Remember that the distance from the camera may affect the ability to capture sound. If you stand away from the camera while speaking, the camera might have difficulty in capturing your voice well. However, in general testing, users have found Blink’s microphone and speaker to suffice for their needs.
Customizing Blink Audio Settings
In addition to simply turning audio on or off, Blink also gives you a few customization options for two-way audio:
- Microphone sensitivity – This allows you to choose low, medium, and high settings to capture soft sounds that are far from you.
- No audio alerts – Ensure that there are no sounds produced when motion is detected.
- Two-way audio timeout – This will automatically turn off the audio after this time has transpired. Select 1 minute, 2 minutes, or 5 minutes of video.
It is possible to view these settings in the Audio Settings tab for your cameras. Adjust them accordingly to achieve the performance level that you want and that is comfortable for you. For instance, deactivating audio cues, for example, can minimize intrusive nocturnal notifications.
Some key pointers when using audio on your Blink cameras:
- Make sure the camera's internal microphone and speaker holes are not closed by dust or any debris. This can result in poor sound quality or audio output from the speakers depending on the given environment.
- Place cameras where you want to hear and talk to areas at a close range for the best experience.
- If there is an interference or no connectivity then check the range between the camera and the Blink Sync Module to improve the Wi-Fi signal.
Therefore, to sum up, the Blink home security camera range does provide two-way audio support except for the Blink XT and Blink XT2 cameras. The feature is easy to configure and audio quality is good. Simply bear in mind the audio settings and customizations discussed in this article. Placing cameras can also enhance the ability to capture sound and the quality of the sound picked up by the microphones.
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