Recording sounds directly across the hall?

[stuffedpanda99]

What would be the best way to record sex from a room directly across the hall of a motel or apartment? I know some of you wander hotel hallways or go to a different floor to improve the odds of catching something, but the easiest place in the new apt building seems to be right across the hall.... I was wondering if there's a more creative way to do it since my doorway is right there facing theirs and I know there's often sex going on as she's moderately loud towards the end.
If I come home from an evening shift on thursdays or fridays sometimes I'll be able to hear them having sex fairly easily from the hallway... but there's a lot of traffic at that time with usually more people from work coming home at that hour (i'm right next to the elevators) so I don't really want to stand around in the hallway like an idiot constantly pocketing the recorder as the same people walk past me.

I can only hear it in the hallway. If I shut the door I can't hear a thing.


The gap under my door is extremely narrow and probably would be difficult to get something pushed under there like a microphone or tiny recorder to get what's coming through from the hallway.

Any suggestions?

[sc0tt-uk]

First question is, while a microphone or recorder or the like won't slide through the gap, could a thin cable? My thinking being that you could easily run the cable under the door and close it with only a small mic on the outside, with the cable running under connected to whatever you like safely out of view. If anything at all outside looks too conspicuous, you might consider leaving post or a bag or some everyday object outside your door and tucking the mic in there? When you're checking this out, remember to check the under side as well as both sides, I've seen a lot of doors where the bottom corner along the hinged side is a weak spot with a gap.

My guess is that if your door does a good enough job to block out the action from an eager ear, you might struggle with this aproach, but it's worth investigating first of all.

[Rograd]

I'm thinking a cheap baby monitor. Rip the guts out. Put in something like a pop can tape to a corner behind something. Or just tape the guts out of the way somewhere. It's in a public place.

[broggie1]

If the apartment is yours to modify as it were, buy 2 cheap door peephole assemblies. Preferably the ones with a slide over flap on the inside which prevents people from looking in the other way as it were.
Either remove the glass from one, or drill it out with a bench drill and vice...

Drill your front door and fit it...You can then use an electret power mic (tie pin type) and insert it into the barrel, a bit of blue-tack will hold the mic in place whilst you commit the evil deed and when you are satisfied you can remove it and fit the proper working peep-hole and no-ones the wiser.



Ray.

[stuffedpanda99]

Hi,
Those are great suggestions, guys.
As I have three room-mates and not a lease holder, I probably couldn't modify the door at all... but that's something to keep in mind if I move somewhere else.
The other ideas are good too. I'll see what I can come up with.

[sonar]

chimney? air shaft?

[mjj9994]

Without knowing the lay-out of the apartments is hard to give quality recommendations (ie, can you hear them from through their entrance door or just the walls; is their bedroom on opposite side of entrance door, etc). If you can hear them through the entrance door and there is minimal interference (outside noise like cars, noise in the hallways, etc).. you could possibly use a shotgun microphone under the door of your apartment aimed at theirs (but if you have roommates, that could cause them to ask questions you arent comfortable answering).

I try to avoid any 'wireless' devices altogether, as their quality varies way too much and can be difficult to control the reception (device issues, electrical interference, etc). too easy to get a 'missed opportunity'. I would stick to a portable self-contained setup (like an MP3 or voice recorder), and maybe an amplification device if needed and try to conceal or disquise it in a suitable location.

[sonar]

A few years ago I used a home made system: an old videorecorder which one is has a microphone input.
I was putting it in into a depository and I pierced the wall, and the into the hole from my side i put an electret microphone.
The sign with the video recorder rf transmitter I put into the cable TV network and in my flat the TV tuned to it's signal.