Earthworks Mic Comparison: Ethos vs Icon Pro

Earthworks VO mic shootout! Ethos and the Icon Pro both in the booth today. Let's find out how they compare. It's crazy to think that the Ethos is $399 and the Icon Pro is only $499.
Which do you like better?
Big thanks to ‪@EarthworksAudio‬ for providing the Icon Pro microphone.

[@geezer2tech154]

2:20 Two to three minutes of very helpful comparison which I have not seen in other videos of these microphones. It really gives you a feel for the real world use of these mics.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Thank you!

[@outdatedgear5036]

It's good to hear this from a professional rather than reading about it on a forum.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Glad to help

[@MikeShepherdVO]

Mark, nice comparison. It's a very tough call, to me. Don't know why but to my ear, sans processing the Icon seems more in line with a 416 perhaps, than the Ethos, FWIW. As you say, and, agreed, neither is a bad or wrong choice. Also, in my testing, the Ethos really require EQ to bring it into focus for VO use, and perhaps same with the Icon. It totally transforms it into a very appealing mic, and once there, it's very much in the realm of a 416, to me. Thanks for the shootout!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Hey Mike! Yeah, I'm really thinking these are mics that can potentially replace the 416 in the booth for me. And you're right that they both do require a little finessing to reach the level of pro VO, but it's absolutely possible with a little EQ to get them dialed in for serious work.

[@liquidvelvetliterature]

Icon sounds really nice. But the Ethos is the clear choice, to my ear, anyway. Great vid!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Thanks Jeff! Yeah, I'm still partial to the Ethos, so far. It's not that the Icon Pro is deficient, but it's a matter of me figuring out what it's best for on my voice and if whatever that is, sounds better than my other current options for that/those task(s).

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Jeff, have you tried the SSL E channel with the Ethos? Might help your low end resonance issues.

[@liquidvelvetliterature]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff I haven’t! But I will now. Thanks, man!

[@phoenixbt]

Great comparison! I’ve had both mics since they came out and love them. Your EQ tips from the last video make it sound way better though! Any chance you can do a video on your studiobricks setup? I know you did the short tour, but would love more details on the setup and how you’ve found it/if you’d recommend. I was looking at one of their studiobricks one VO packages and am wondering how it’ll do/if it’s worth the cost. Thanks and happy holidays!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Thank you Draco! I can put together a video about the StudioBricks at some point in the near future for sure. Happy Holidays to you as well!

[@phoenixbt]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff thank you so much! That’d be awesome. Taking your advice and going to try for a treated space in 2023 to improve recordings. I can’t do much to the physical room, so I’m thinking this may be a good solution

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

@@phoenixbt You got it. Having a dedicated well-treated space will make a HUGE difference. And a booth vs a fixed installation is a great choice because it can always move with you.

[@RickMolloy]

These both sound great... if I didn't already have something I would be looking at these

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Thanks Rick… wait are you trying to say you already have enough mics? Explain please. Because no one here understands or accepts that kind of thinking. MUST HAVE MORE MICS! MORE!

[@RickMolloy]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff you're right what was I thinking... my gf even agrees

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

@@RickMolloy Whew! For a moment there, Rick, I was worried you had lost your mind. That's a good GF, so you don't want to disappoint her and not buy more mics. She knows the score.

[@RickMolloy]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff she's really the best... cheers :)

[@foursite]

I own both but the ethos is something else.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Totally agree.

[@jsasa5668]

Listening to their differences while you talk about them is very educational. You nailed it! I'd like the Icon Pro (your Ss are more pronounced on the Ethos, a bit more piercing, much more natural on the Icon Pro) but I am looking for a podcast mic (pair, or three) but the room is not always going to be ideal (floating recording set up), which means the Ethos may be better? What do you think? Have you tried the Schoeps CMC641 for voice work? I am intrigued by them and I know I would be able to used them for acoustic instruments, mainly guitar. I am also a musician and would hate to spend money on mics for podcast and more money on other mics for other applications. If I can get a pair of mics that I would use for both applications I'd go that route...

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

If your room isn’t treated, stick with a dynamic mic like an SM7b. Condenser mics don’t like untreated rooms.

[@jsasa5668]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff I just saw your video about the Hush App..... Oh my God! I have been using Izotope RX 8 but this is an amazing solution!

[@jsasa5668]

By the way, the way you control the plosives while being so close to the mics is astounding, especially on the Ethos since you are using it without the foam. Impressive technique and professional expertise!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

@@jsasa5668 Thank you very much. Somewhere on this channel is a video where I show the technique how to kill your plosives. It’s easy to learn and fairly quick to master.

[@Musicagine]

For oud which microphone suggestion please.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

As I only record voice over, I'm not going to be able to give you a proper recommendation for oud, but I would guess you'd probably want a small diaphragm mic that has a very flat frequency response and not one with a high end lift.

[@enriquekahn9405]

I really like the Ethos more I think - but then I think that has something to do with the fact that you're further off from it? And I like to get really close to the mic to make up for my terrible recording space. Maybe what I need is something like the Icon Pro, but the one I really like is the Ethos, at least on your voice and with how you're using them.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

I think that at least on my voice, mics that have that much of a low end rolloff like the Icon Pro tend to sound a little more boring on me. The Ethos, once you get it dialed in, is pretty killer.

[@joonajks]

Will those microphones pick up voice recordings 12 inches from the mouth in your opinion? Great job!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Bummer. The maximum range is 11.99 inches so you may be out of luck. Just kidding. The answer is yes, but for best results always use in a well treated space.

[@joonajks]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff thank you 👏🏿👏🏿

[@user-qn4or8km8p]

Which would you recommend for deep rap vocals and deep singing?

[@auroraflash]

Which one first?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Ethos