Is it possible to record though rain gutter downpipe?

[jeanpal]

Hello everybody,

I am new here and I haven't managed to record any sounds yet. I had the opportunity some time ago, when I had pretty loud neighbours, but I had no microphone then or simply didn't think about it.

Where I live now I have two neighbour girls who live across the street on the second floor. They have sex with their boyfriends on a regular basis... at least I suppose this is what happens when I first see them walking around their room half naked and then pull the curtains and switch the lights off.

Since they live on the second floor, I think it would be difficult to have a good capture across the street even if they leave their windows slightly open. On the other hand I noticed the following: above their rooms there is a rain gutter and the downpipes run next to their rooms down to the ground on the street. The downpipes are rather exposed so if I had to place a microphone behind one of them I would have to do it quickly, in just one movement. The same if I want to retrieve them. I think metal transmits sound pretty well and I might get a good result.

Does any of you have any similar experience? What microphone would you suggest?

[tweaktweak]

If I'm understanding it right it probably wouldn't work very well. The gutters and pipes don't go into the apartment and won't really transmit sound from inside the apartment well. Also the shape and materials of the pipe would greatly effect the sound. It would probably sound very echo-y and more like reverb and some frequencies of the sound would resonate and overpower the rest of the sounds.

If it's really that hard to get to then I wouldn't even bother trying to see how well it'd work. If you were really curious it might make sense to try it on your own place first if it's possible.

[yeppie]

Honestly, to me it sounds like too much risk ... being caught while placing or removing the recorder could become a problematic situation. Maybe I don´t understand the situation completely but don´t expose yourself to any serious danger and don´t do anything illegal like covert recordings.

[HeWhoHsNoNm]

Ah... that is what people here are doing "covert recording" of people going at it.

[yeppie]

Ah... that is what people here are doing "covert recording" of people going at it.

Did you read the forum rules? Please do so.
Covert recordings are illegal almost everywhere and could entail serious consequences if detected. Covert means hiding a recorder inside someones appartment for example - not recording from public places like a motel floor or through the wall from your own room.

[HeWhoHsNoNm]

Ah, in that way well I would not go into a persons room to do that but covert means in secrecy and your in a way you are recording peoples noises they make while they are going at it without them knowing it but not puting the device in the same room they are doing it in.