Audio Profiles for ONVIF Cameras
Just like media profile, audio profiles in ONVIF cameras can be customized to meet your specific surveillance needs. Depending on your scenario — whether it's for high-quality audio recording, low-bandwidth environments, or enhanced sound clarity — you can configure the audio settings to ensure optimal performance. In this article, we'll explore several Audio Profile combinations tailored for different use cases, helping you choose the right setup for your system. From clear, detailed audio capture to minimizing bandwidth usage, we've got the ideal profile for your needs.
Audio Encoding
ONVIF cameras offer several audio encoding formats, each offering different levels of compression and compatibility:
- G.711A
- G.711U
- ADPCM_D
- AAC_LC
G.711A and G.711U are commonly used for telephony applications, with G.711U being used for North American and Japanese markets, while G.711A is typically used in Europe and other regions. ADPCM_D is a lower-compression audio format, and AAC_LC is a more efficient codec suitable for higher audio quality.
Audio Sample Rate
The audio sample rate determines how often the audio signal is sampled per second. A higher sample rate allows for better audio quality but requires more bandwidth. Typical sample rates range from 8 kHz to 48 kHz, with 44.1 kHz being the standard for most consumer audio formats like CDs.
Profile for High-quality Audio Recording
- Audio encoding: AAC_LC (efficient encoding with good audio quality).
- Audio sample rate: 48 kHz (standard for high-quality audio, suitable for clear sound reproduction).
When the goal is to achieve high-quality audio recordings, especially for detailed sound capture, this profile should prioritize higher sample rates and more efficient encoding methods.
The following setup will provide clear and crisp audio, perfect for environments where audio clarity is crucial (e.g., meetings, surveillance with voice).
Profile for Surveillance with Minimal Bandwidth Usage
- Audio Encoding: G.711U (low-compression audio suitable for surveillance).
- Audio Sample Rate: 8 kHz (lower sample rate to reduce bandwidth usage).
For surveillance systems where bandwidth is limited, the focus should be on low compression and reduced sample rates to save bandwidth while still capturing usable audio.
This profile works well when you're more focused on monitoring basic sounds or when available bandwidth is restricted.
Profile for Real-time Monitoring with Audio
- Audio Encoding: G.711A (good compatibility and standard quality).
- Audio Sample Rate: 16 kHz (higher sample rate for clearer audio than 8 kHz, but still efficient).
For real-time monitoring, where you want a balance between clear audio and efficient bandwidth usage, this profile aims to deliver a good listening experience without overwhelming your network.
This profile is ideal for monitoring environments where you need to hear conversations or movements with reasonable clarity in real time.
Profile for Low-quality Audio Surveillance
- Audio Encoding: ADPCM_D (low compression and acceptable quality for background audio).
- Audio Sample Rate: 8 kHz (low sample rate, further optimizing for bandwidth savings).
For environments where audio quality is not as critical but you still need basic sound capture, this profile reduces bandwidth usage and is suitable for environments where audio only serves as a secondary surveillance tool.
This profile ensures that audio can be captured without taking up much network bandwidth, suitable for background noise or low-priority surveillance.
Profile for Enhanced Audio Quality in Controlled Environments
- Audio Encoding: AAC_LC (clear audio encoding with high efficiency).
- Audio Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz (standard audio quality, typically used for music and clear voice recording).
For environments where audio quality is crucial (e.g., recording clear speech in a controlled environment like an office), this profile prioritizes both clarity and bandwidth efficiency.
This setup is ideal for environments where understanding conversations or recording clear audio is important.
Profile for Intercom or Two-way Audio Systems
- Audio Encoding: G.711A (standard for voice communication).
- Audio Sample Rate: 16 kHz (provides clarity for two-way communication).
For two-way audio systems, such as intercoms, where both sending and receiving audio clearly is essential, this profile focuses on ensuring good communication quality for both directions.
This profile ensures clear voice quality during live interactions, ideal for environments where two-way communication is essential.
These audio profile combinations help tailor your ONVIF camera settings for specific use cases, ensuring that your camera performs optimally based on your surveillance needs.
Summary
| Profile | Audio Encoding | Audio Sample Rate |
|---|---|---|
| High-quality audio recording | AAC_LC | 48 kHz |
| Surveillance with minimal bandwidth usage | G.711U | 8 kHz |
| Real-time monitoring with audio | G.711A | 16 kHz |
| Low-quality audio surveillance | ADPCM_D | 8 kHz |
| Enhanced audio in controlled environments | AAC_LC | 44.1 kHz |
| Intercom or two-way audio systems | G.711A | 16 kHz |