I just wanna say thank you so much for this video. I feel like you’ve done the best job of any of the videos I’ve seen and pointing out the differences between these two microphones. I’m halfway through the video and I’m so not sure which one would be better for me, but you’ve given me a lot to think about.
I just wanna say thank you so much for this video. I feel like you’ve done the best job of any of the videos I’ve seen and pointing out the differences between these two microphones. I’m halfway through the video and I’m so not sure which one would be better for me, but you’ve given me a lot to think about. Your description of ethos is exactly what I think drew me to the microphone in the first place. It has some of that SM7B style, but with a lot more clarity in the mids and highs. I really like the detail in the ethos.
You’re very welcome. The best way to know which mic is right is to have it in your space, doing what you do and trying it over the course of a few sessions. If possible, you can always get both from a retailer that has a liberal return policy and just keep the one you like best after trying both.
@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff Good idea. I’ll have to order online because nobody around me carries them. I don’t like being wasteful, but this may be the only way.
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.
I really wanted to love this mic because of how beautiful it is, really I think second to only Soyuz mics. The sound did not blow me away at first, but I spent time on refining the sound because like I said, I wanted to love this mic. I think the trick to the Icon pro is a 3db boost around 60hz to 70hz, a 2db drop around 600 to 650hz, a 2db boost at 4k and a 1 to 2db boost around 9k. But really if you don't want to refine it that much a simple drop at 620hz clears the mic up. There's just some muddiness at that range that kind of chokes off all the other frequencies.
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!
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.
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 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.
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 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
@@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.
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).
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.
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...
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!
@@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.
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.
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.
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.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I just wanna say thank you so much for this video. I feel like you’ve done the best job of any of the videos I’ve seen and pointing out the differences between these two microphones. I’m halfway through the video and I’m so not sure which one would be better for me, but you’ve given me a lot to think about.
I just wanna say thank you so much for this video. I feel like you’ve done the best job of any of the videos I’ve seen and pointing out the differences between these two microphones. I’m halfway through the video and I’m so not sure which one would be better for me, but you’ve given me a lot to think about.
Your description of ethos is exactly what I think drew me to the microphone in the first place. It has some of that SM7B style, but with a lot more clarity in the mids and highs. I really like the detail in the ethos.
You’re very welcome. The best way to know which mic is right is to have it in your space, doing what you do and trying it over the course of a few sessions. If possible, you can always get both from a retailer that has a liberal return policy and just keep the one you like best after trying both.
@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff Good idea. I’ll have to order online because nobody around me carries them. I don’t like being wasteful, but this may be the only way.
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.
Thank you!
I really wanted to love this mic because of how beautiful it is, really I think second to only Soyuz mics. The sound did not blow me away at first, but I spent time on refining the sound because like I said, I wanted to love this mic.
I think the trick to the Icon pro is a 3db boost around 60hz to 70hz, a 2db drop around 600 to 650hz, a 2db boost at 4k and a 1 to 2db boost around 9k.
But really if you don't want to refine it that much a simple drop at 620hz clears the mic up.
There's just some muddiness at that range that kind of chokes off all the other frequencies.
I agree. It's a mic that needs some finessing to get the most out of it.
It's good to hear this from a professional rather than reading about it on a forum.
Glad to help
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!
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.
These both sound great... if I didn't already have something I would be looking at these
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!
@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff you're right what was I thinking... my gf even agrees
@@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.
@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff she's really the best... cheers :)
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!
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!
@@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
@@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.
Icon sounds really nice. But the Ethos is the clear choice, to my ear, anyway. Great vid!
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).
Jeff, have you tried the SSL E channel with the Ethos? Might help your low end resonance issues.
@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff I haven’t! But I will now. Thanks, man!
For oud which microphone suggestion please.
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.
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...
If your room isn’t treated, stick with a dynamic mic like an SM7b. Condenser mics don’t like untreated rooms.
@@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!
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!
@@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.
Will those microphones pick up voice recordings 12 inches from the mouth in your opinion?
Great job!
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.
@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff thank you 👏🏿👏🏿
I own both but the ethos is something else.
Totally agree.
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.
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.
Which would you recommend for deep rap vocals and deep singing?
Which one first?
Ethos