Earthworks - Ethos and Icon Broadcast Mics | Review

Earthworks is a small American microphone manufacturer known for their high quality, exceptionally clean audiophile products. They have released a line of broadcast microphones for spoken word, aimed at everyone from professional audiobook narrators to folks who just want to sound better talking over Zoom. In this episode, I delve into both mics in some detail, and then have a broadcast microphone shootout with some of the most well-known microphones for this purpose.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:24 The Earthworks Company
01:12 The QTC-1 Omni mics
02:24 The new line of broadcast microphones
03:20 The Icon
05:04 The era of home journalism
06:10 My audiobook story
07:56 How does the Icon sound
09:22 The Ethos
11:33 What the Audionowcast thought
12:24 Broadcast microphone shootout
13:26 Earthworks Ethos
14:33 Neumann TLM103
15:41 Sennheiser MD421
16:49 Electrovoice RE20
17:57 Sennehiser 416
19:40 Webcam
20:46 Earthworks Icon
21:52 Quick edit - all mics
22:55 Outro

Under the Big Tree is Nicolas Peck's YouTube channel, focused on esoteric electronic music, modular and vintage synthesizers, sound design equipment and techniques, and the composition, production and performance of music.

[paulk.dicostanzo]

I’ve owned the Icon Pro for just about a year now, and it has shown itself to be a truly lovely addition to the locker. Extremely complimentary to my voice, and when on-camera it is eye candy. As microphones go, it has what I can only describe as a futuristic race car aesthetic. It is highly sensitive to plosives to be sure, and when close mic-ing it requires solid mic technique. With the 103 and RE20 on hand, the Icon Pro always makes it a difficult game time decision for which gets the start. At the end of the day, it is worth every pence. It could easily serve as a forever mic, and certainly feels machined well enough to become a long enduring family heirloom. A wonderful product, bar none.

[benjameek]

So Good, I was looking for something comparing tlm series to the ethos. the tlm definitely has way more room tone and reflections

[loudandclearmedia]

I'm torn...the Ethos does seem like a better mic, but for being on camera IMO the Icon is better looking without that big windscreen on the front. If only one could get the Ethos with the Icon's milled steel and mesh capsule cover/windscreen on the front.

[RufusKSala]

Does the Icon USB have a high pitched whine?

[RyanMcShane]

Sorry this is unrelated, are both your wrist still good since the carpal tunnel surgery?