Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the VIDMIC cost?
$700, which is 14% of the cost of medium priced dash cams. You can outfit 7-10 officers with VIDMICs for the cost of one dash cam. (Dash cams range from $5000 to $8000 per unit)
I work a ten hour shift. The VIDMIC records for 3 hours. How can that work?
The VIDMIC’s battery has a minimum of three hours of battery life (some officers get more, but we guarantee 3). The VIDMIC was not intended to run continuously over an 8 or 10 hour shift. A battery which could do that would make the VIDMIC way too big and heavy. But more importantly, NO department wants to deal with cataloging and storing hours and hours of video of “nothing much happening” from every officer. It’s enough work to catalog and store actual incidents.
We recommend officers turn their VIDMICs on as they approach any situation which might involve any interaction with the public or any situation which might become dangerous.
When the VIDMIC is turned on during incidents and turned off between incidents, the three hours of battery life have proven to be plenty. No department has reported it has not been enough.
Of course, if you are concerned about the VIDMIC running out of battery…maybe you’re having a really busy day, remember your VIDMIC comes with a car charger and you can also charge it from your in-car computer with the miniUSB cable.
Does the VIDMIC drain my radio battery?
If your VIDMIC battery should die, the VIDMIC’s communication capabilities are still completely functional.
The VIDMIC’s communications functions (sending/receiving) draw power from your radio like any normal shoulder mic. The video, audio, and camera have their own battery housed in the VIDMIC and do not draw power from your radio.
How much memory does the VIDMIC have?
The VIDMIC has 1 gig of memory.
1 gig of memory will store 1000 still photos.
How many video files can be stored varies because a number of factors influence how big a video file is. A five minute clip of an interview in which people are mostly stationary would take up far less memory than a five minute clip shot in bright sun, with lots of running around and bright colors. Movement, color, light etc. require more memory.
When the memory is full, your VIDMIC won’t record. It does not overwrite itself. You won’t lose files…it just stops recording.
Does the VIDMIC have a flash?
There is no flash, but the camera and video will record in light down to one lux. (The light of one candle). Officers from across the country have sent us great pictures and videos taken at night with just a street light over head.
How do I wear the VIDMIC?
The best place to clip the VIDMIC for optimal performance is at the V of your shirt, at the sternum just under the chin. Many officers clip it at the top of their armor. Use the clothing clip on the cord to stabilize the VIDMIC. Try to achieve a moderate tension between the clip on the back of the VIDMIC and the clothing clip on the cord. The VIDMIC can also be worn in the pencil pocket of the officer's uniform.
Is the VIDMIC wireless?
No.
Remember wireless transmissions can be interrupted by trees, concrete etc. In addition there are legal issues concerning the chain of custody of evidence. Once data is air born, it can be intercepted (retrieved) by others, and information can be lost.
Is the VIDMIC the same size as my regular shoulder mic?
It is only slightly larger and weighs only 2.9oz more the average shoulder mic.
What video and image formats are used?
The VIDMIC captures 30 frames per second/full color
Video format = MPEG 4/AVI
Image format = jpeg
View Angle =63°
Video Resolution= 320 x 240(640x480 cmos equivalent)