Can anyone recommend a continuous cloud storage camera that has software allowing you to track spikes in environmental noise?
The Situation:
A friend of mine (let’s call her Jenny) bought a condo a year ago. At first, she loved it, but for the last few months, she’s been staying at my place most nights because her upstairs neighbors are constantly making noise.
The unit is leased to two people, but their boyfriends have moved in, and between the four of them, they’ve turned it into a nonstop disturbance. Loud parties, constant coughing/spitting out the windows, and random crashes that sound like people falling over—even in the middle of the day.
The landlord isn’t local and rents the unit out for income. Jenny has contacted her multiple times, and the response is always: Can you provide video and audio proof of the noise?
That’s been a challenge. The noise is unpredictable, so a motion-activated or sound-activated camera won’t work. Jenny is usually trying to sleep when it happens, so manually recording isn’t an option either.
What We Need:
A camera that records continuously to the cloud.
Decent audio quality to capture noise levels.
Ideally, software that helps identify spikes in sound levels over a long recording period.
Would love to hear any recommendations—whether it’s a specific camera or another way to track the noise effectively.
What would video add in this situation? If it’s just to prove the noise happens at night, you could aim the camera at a wall clock near a window. Or even place it in front of a phone running a sound level meter app.
Some cameras (like Amcrest) have settings to trigger recording after noise spikes, but most home cameras have pretty weak microphones and no input for an external mic.
You might have better luck using a mini voice recorder with a high-capacity microSD card and a better mic. Some also have timestamps.
Another option: Look into a decibel data logger—some models record both audio and dB levels.
@CharlotteAmelia
These are all great ideas, thanks! I originally wanted a camera that visually marks loud moments on the timeline, like a video editor where you see an audio wave below the footage. That way, Jenny wouldn’t have to scroll through hours of video to find the worst noises.
But now I’m realizing she could just upload the full video file to a shared drive, and we could use any video editor to spot the spikes manually. That way, the camera just needs decent audio, continuous recording, and easy file export.
If it doesn’t have timestamps, we could even point it at a clock, like you suggested.
Really appreciate the ideas—if you have any camera recommendations with a solid mic and simple file-sharing options, I’d love to hear them.
@Guy
If you go this route, look for a camera with a built-in microphone or an RCA Line In jack. Some security cameras have a pigtail connector for external audio input.
Another option: Some doorbell cameras offer continuous recording and tend to have better microphones than regular security cameras.