Systems, video cameras, and methods for using audio sensors to control surveillance video capture are described. A video camera and audio sensor are deployed so that the audio sensor has an audio field that is at least partially outside the field of view of the video camera. The audio sensor collects audio data from the audio field and a controller for the video camera uses audio events from the audio data for modifying the video capture operations of the video camera. Video data is then captured based on the modified video capture operations, such as initiating video capture, changing the video capture rate, or changing the camera position.