Technical Data: Frequency Response: 100Hz to 15kHz
Sensitivity: -55dBV
Output Source Impedance: 600 ohms

KARMA AUDIO'S "ICON" : MIC REVIEW

Don Casale, A Legendary Engineer, New York

Recently I was asked by Karma Audio to try out their new dynamic "ICON" microphone at a session. "Just what we need", I thought. "Another dynamic mic in a seemingly endless sea of dynamic mics!" I mean, how different can it be? How much better can it be than what's already out there? Will it even compare with the Shure 57, often considered pound-for-pound the world's best and most useful dynamic mic? With all this spinning in my head, I proceeded to use the ICON.

When I stuck the ICON close in front of a very loud Fender tube amp with a Strat going through it I heard a very rich and full-sounding guitar sound, with everything you could ever want to hear from a guitar amp setup and without adding any overload distortion from the mic, itself. Using just the mic preamp in my console, it took the insanely loud level emanating from that amp and gave me the purest, richest, and most pleasing sound I could ever want. I was sold immediately. It had all the highs, mids, and lows in just the right proportion, it seemed, without adding any unwanted, non-usable tones. If it added anything, it added vintage analog sound, if that's possible. It sounded great!

As an added bonus, the ICON served above and beyond the call of duty when on another session I used it as a vocal mic in a live situation. Against my better judgment, I was forced to mic the lead vocal of a guitarist playing in front of his amp. I had the guitar amp behind some gobos, but it was loud enough that you could easily hear it in the room. This was all part of the live sound the client wanted, where room leakage was an asset in the client's mind. Ok, but I wanted at least some control over the lead vocal in the mix. I didn't want the guitar coming up, too, if and when I raised the vocal in the mix. So, since the guitar player wouldn't move away from his amp (as I begged him), I positioned the ICON with a pop filter in front of his mouth with the backside of the mic facing the amp. I told him to sing as close to the mic as possible and sing loud, which he did in no uncertain terms. Boy, was he loud! Worked like a charm. The backside rejection was amazing, yielding a very useful vocal track that I could ride in the mix without worrying that a lot of leakage would also be coming along for the ride. But the bonus was that the vocal sounded like I was using a big, expensive condenser mic on a vocal overdub session! Really. Everyone commented on it, and I took it as a personal compliment, silently thanking my new ICON mic for going where no dynamic mic has gone before.

These two session experiences have prompted me to write this review for my fellow studio engineers. I encourage you to try this mic. It's a full frequency, extremely quiet mic that can take all the level you can give it, while producing the sound you're looking for.

While I'm at it, let me say that I want to try out two other new mics from Karma Audio, the TRINITY and the PROPHECY, on my next few sessions. These condenser mics look interesting, and if they're anything like the ICON in quality, look out!

I'm told the ICON price will not be expensive at all, rivaling and easily beating the popular dynamic mics you're used to. Whatever price Karma is asking for their ICON, pay it! You won't be sorry.


Click below to hear samples of the Icon Handheld Dynamic Microphone:

Song Title: (The Holly and the Ivy Instrumental) Artist: (Wade Baynham) Instruments recorded by Icon: (flute and violin)