OBSBOT Tail 2 Audio

OBSBOT Tail 2 - The Camera You Didn't Know You Wanted!

Update 07.04.25: Full review of OBSBOT Tail 2 now live here.

Caveat out of the way: I was sent this for review so I didn't pay for it. As always, I did my research before accepting and it took all of 60 seconds to see that this camera was a bit special. This is my audio test. Full review soon.

OBSBOT Tail 2 Audio Test

The OBSBOT Tail 2 does not have an internal microphone so no audio is recorded without help. I wanted to test the available mics that I own to see how each one faired with the Tail 2. 

Each microphone is suitable for different scenarios so if you are buying the OBSBOT Tail 2, think about what you need the microphone for:

Note: I think you are able to provide audio to the Tail 2 via HDMI and other means but for this review, I have kept it to just the "line in" and "mic in" 3.5mm inputs to keep it simple. I think a lot of OBSBOT buyers will buy just one camera to use for more basic use like myself...for now. I.e. office based.

The Set Up

All mics were run through the Zoom H8 and into the line-in 3.5mm jack input on the Tail 2. Each mic was used individually with no other mics active during recording. Levels were all kept the same and well away from any peaking.

It is worth noting that as far as I can see, the OBSBOT Tail 2 records to a single channel regardless of how many mics you have plugged in. This is why I recommend recording to both the OBSBOT Tail 2 and Zoom H8/other sound mixers in case you need to separate and work on each mic/track individually.

Rode Videomic Pro

I was impressed with this mic. It created clear, directional audio and the quality didn't differ between that taken from the Zoom H8 and the OBSBOT like some others did. 

It is great for office based recording as well as out and about as it is lightweight, the battery lasts a long time and the quality is superb. I recommend to buy an extension cable for connecting and remember, it is highly directional so be sure to bear that in mind when filming.

Rode Podcast Mic

Another great mic from Rode but one BIG caveat. Keep it off the desk if possible and away from any vibrations or sounds coming from computers or hard disk drives (that can fire up and whirr at any given time).

In the review, you will hear a hum from a disk drive leaning against my office desk that stops half way through. This both highlights the problem and shows the quality from this mic without the humming! Best to use a spring loaded arm or something to suspend the mic away from danger zones : )

I have used this for recording guitar from both having it close to an acoustic guitar, and next to the amp of an electric guitar. Worked like a charm. You need to keep the mic close to any audio source for best results.

Audio recorded to both the Zoom H8 and OBSBOT Tail 2 was identical.

Sennheiser e822S

An aging but still highly capable microphone from Sennheiser. There are newer versions of this but if you can pick up a decent second hand copy, it is well worth it. 

Much like the Rode Podcast mic, I have used this for recording guitars both acoustic and next to an electric amp. Superb quality but make sure you check audio levels before recording. it is pretty sensitive. 

I have also used it with a singer in a band to record his first set of songs recorded during lockdown. The quality was excellent when run through both the Zoom H6 and H8.

It could potentially be used on the road alongside a Zoom recorder (maybe the smaller Zoom H4), for street interviews and the like. Great microphone.

Note: I did notice, when using headphones, some distortion when listening to audio from the OBSBOT Tail 2 recording. This wasn't the case when listening to audio from the Zoom H8. Another reason to record to both. 

Sony Lavalier Mic

One of my favourite mics due to its flexibility and portability. I recently used this when filming a live rock gig and dangled the mic over one of the speakers. It is also used a lot when I do product review both in the office or out and about. Highly reliable, flexible and great sound quality. 

In the video, I messed up a couple of times. Worth noting is the fact that when used close to another wireless mic such as the DJI Mic 2, you will get interference that ruins the audio so be aware and test before recording. 

Also, I said in the video that the mic couldn't be plugged directly into the OBSBOT Tail 2 but it can as you will see in the edit that I drop in. In fact, it worked perfectly and from a great distance. I love this set up. 

Note: Again, I did notice, when using headphones, some distortion when listening to audio from the OBSBOT Tail 2 recording in the office. This wasn't the case when comparing the audio from the Zoom H8. 

Rode NTG4+ (Supercardioid) Shotgun Mic

The Rode NTG4+ is a fairly specialist mic. I use it for backup audio on some of my desk based recordings but like the Rode Videomic Pro, it is highly directional. The great thing about this mic is that it is dual powered. 

The dual-power operation allows the mic to be powered by conventional P48 phantom power from a mixer or recorder, or to be powered by its long-lasting, and I mean long-lasting internal Li-Ion rechargeable battery. This give it maximum flexibility in connecting to cameras and other equipment

Best accessories are definitely a "dead cat" cover for outdoor use and even the superb "blimp" for extra protection and maximum audio quality. 

A good use, using the blimp and dead cat cover, is "foley" audio when out and about. Its highly directional feature means you can target sounds such as waterfalls, animals, engines, music etc without picking up too much ambient noise. 

Note: Once again, I did notice, when using headphones, some distortion when listening to audio from the OBSBOT Tail 2 recording in the office. This wasn't the case when comparing the audio from the Zoom H8. 

Zoom H8 XYH-6 Unidirectional Capsule Mic

The stereo audio from this mic is, in my opinion, exceptional quality. You will hear this in the review above and of all the mics, this one sounded better coming from the OBSBOT as opposed to the Zoom H8. Better stereo IMO.

It is superb for recording foley anywhere and the audio would be perfectly placed as b-roll for any number or productions. I love this sound.

Audio recorded to both the Zoom H8 and OBSBOT Tail 2 was identical with regards to quality but the OBSBOT stereo seemed clearer and more centred.

Summary

Despite not having its own internal mic, all of the above options are useable and really effective. Whatever the OBSBOT does inside works really well in most cases but I need to establish where the [very] slight distortion is coming from when listening to the OBSBOT recording. 

This only happened on 3 of the 6 mics so I will update this page if and when I find the reason. 

In just a few days of using the OBSBOT Tail 2, I have fallen in love with it. It is so versatile and great for any number of shoots whether that is live-streaming or simply using as a video camera. Highly recommended.

If you found this review useful or have any questions, please comment below. Also, the links to buy the OBSBOT Tail 2 are affiliate links. You don't pay any extra but the small commission pays for the ever-increasing costs of running this website. Thank you.

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