Blue Microphones enCORE 200

Aria Dynamic Capsule tuned for natural vocals and amazing detail and clarity
Blue’s innovative Active Dynamic phantom power circuit for consistent tone and minimal noise
Cardioid polar pattern delivers impressive off-axis noise rejection and high SPL handling
Blue’s proprietary capsule mount to deliver minimal handling noise without pads or filters
Stage-ready construction with heavy-gauge barrel construction, reinforced grill, and hardened metal-plated finishes
Phantom power indicator light on barrel
Unique styling and craftsmanship, including hand-painted logo, laser-engraved trim ring, and CNC-machined grip
Includes soft-grip microphone clip and soft-lined storage pouch
Transducer: Dynamic Moving Coil
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 50Hz-16kHz
Maximum SPL: 147dB
Output Impedance: 250 ohms
Sensitivity: 2.25 mV/Pa
Dimensions: 7.3" long; 1.10" diameter
Weight: 0.88 lbs.

OVERALL OPINION

Here's the story behind how I came to love this mic. I run sound for a fairly big worship service at a large church. We have a lot of voices, and a lot of instruments that compete for room in our front of house mix. So getting them on the right mic is usually the first step toward getting everyone heard. I have learned that if the mic is good, you will barely need to use any EQ at the board.

I have one guy who seems to get lost in the mix no matter what mic I use. He is the bass player and he sometimes sings lead vocals on a select number of songs. He is a tremendous singer who has a lot of nuance in his voice but unfortunately it's in a very awkward low mid/upper bass register that mics like to reject. The clarity in his voice seems to elude the front of house mix...i've tried all sorts of mics. Nothing worked.

I was recommended the encore 200 by an audio engineer friend of mine. The first thing you realize about this mic is it is very very nice for the price. Blue has stuck some next level features in this mic that should cost way more. But what's more amazing is how clear it sounds on my singer. He is heard perfectly through this mic. It just bleeds clarity through the house mix. Never unfocused or hazy sounding.

I will be buying more of these are they are a serious bargain. Seems reliable too. I have used the one I have every week for well over a year now. Not a hiccup out of it. These are a steal. Get on it.

The Blue Encore 200 microphone is a higher end entry into the hand held live vocal microphone market by the famously glitzy microphone company Blue. What is particularly interesting about this microphone is that it requires phantom power. 48 volts. Yep. Wait. What is interesting about that? All condensers need 48 volts of phantom power! I will stop you there. The Blue Encore 200 is a dynamic microphone. Phantom power is used to excite the signal. The Encore 200 like all the other Blue microphones, the 100, 100i and 300, is very glitzy and comes with a pouch and a clip. This adds to the solid weighty feel of the microphone in general. Now, the Blue Encore 200 has a frequency response rate of any average dynamic microphone. It starts down in the low end at 50 Hz and manages to extend itself all the way up to the higher airy frequencies of 16,000 Hz. Like most other microphones in this price range and this particular application as a vocal microphone, the Blue Encore 200 has a polar pattern of a typical cardioid. And again, like many other microphones in this particular live application, it has high capabilities of handling high levels of sound pressure. It is able to handle up to 147 dB of sound pressure before potentially being damaged, or significantly distorting.

OVERALL OPINION

This microphone does not have that ridiculous grainy quality as the Shure SM58. That is a plus for me, but for many other types of singers or even instrumentalists, having that grainy midrange push is an advantage for the punch of their sound. This microphone picks up a sweet sound like its friends in the same general line of microphones, but unlike the 100, this microphone has a particular exciting sound up top that works on some people and does not on others. You must try this microphone if you actually want to know what to do with it.