Dahua: Two-Way Talk (Intercom Audio) Setup

Two-way talk allows an operator at a PC or mobile device to speak to and hear from a Dahua NVR or camera with a built-in microphone and speaker (or connected audio peripherals). This is commonly used for door stations, reception cameras, or patrol deterrence on site. Setup varies slightly depending on whether the operator is using the local interface, the web UI, SmartPSS, or the DMSS mobile app.

Hardware requirements

• A Dahua NVR or IP camera that supports two-way audio (check the product spec sheet — not all models include this)
• For the NVR local interface or web interface: a microphone connected to the red audio-in port of the PC, and a speaker connected to the green audio-out port
• For mobile (DMSS app): the phone's built-in microphone and speaker are used directly

Using two-way talk via the NVR local interface (on-screen UI)

Current firmware (System UI — new)

1. Open Live View on the NVR monitor
2. Move the mouse cursor to the top of the screen to reveal the control bar
3. Click the Microphone icon to start two-way talk — the icon highlights when active
4. Click the icon again to end the session

Older firmware (System UI — legacy)

The process is identical — the microphone icon location and appearance may differ slightly but the function is the same.

Using two-way talk via the web interface

Current web UI (new)

1. Open the NVR or camera's IP address in a browser and log in
2. Load the camera channel from the channel list on the left
3. On the bar above the channel view, click the Audio Talk icon (microphone symbol)
4. The icon remains highlighted while the session is active
5. Click the icon again to end the session

Older web UI

1. Log in via browser (Internet Explorer is required for older firmware)
2. Load the channel
3. Click Start Talk — the button highlights when active
4. Click End Talk to stop

Using two-way talk via SmartPSS

1. From the SmartPSS Main Menu, open Live View
2. Use the device tree on the left to load the camera channel (drag-and-drop or double-click)
3. On the bar above the channel view, click the Audio Talk icon (microphone symbol) to start
4. Click the icon again to end the session

PC audio must be connected: microphone to the red input (or headset mic), speaker or headset to the green output.

Using two-way talk via DMSS mobile app

1. From the DMSS main screen, tap Live
2. Tap + and select the device and channel
3. The camera's live view opens
4. Long-press the Microphone icon (approximately 3 seconds) — the Voice Call window appears
5. Tap the device to connect
6. Two-way talk is active — the microphone icon stays highlighted
7. Tap the icon again to end the session

Known limitations

• On some NVR models, the audio input and output ports are dedicated to two-way talk only — they do not support audio recording to the HDD simultaneously. Check the product spec.
• Two-way talk via the DMSS app requires P2P to be enabled on the device and a stable internet connection.
• On mobile, DMSS requires microphone permissions granted in the phone's OS settings.

Site commissioning check

After setup, test with a second person at the remote location to confirm:

• Audio is audible in both directions
• Latency is acceptable for the intended use
• The session ends cleanly without requiring an app restart

---

This article was adapted from dahuawiki's original guidance: "Two Way Talk Setup" — https://dahuawiki.com/NVR/2_Way_Talk_Setup Habitech-edited for UK trade installer context. Original © Dahua Technology Co., Ltd.