The invention relates to a device for optical remote monitoring, preferably an opticalIy readable membrane-based microphone, and a system comprising such a device. The device (1) for optical remote monitoring comprises a retroreflector (3, 4) and an acoustic membrane (2). The acoustic membrane (2) suitably is a light-modulating component and modulates the reflection of an incident light beam (6) in relation to the pressure field (5), from a sound source, to which the membrane (2) is exposed. The retroreflector may comprise a corner cube (3) comprising three sides (31, 32, 33; 31', 32', 33') with the membrane (2) arranged on one of the sides. The membrane (2) can be part of a side (31) or one side (31') may consist of a membrane (2).