BlueMicrophones enCORE 100i Microphone, Cardioid

I don't write too many reviews, but I felt compelled to share the good experience I've had with this mic. It was recommended (by a Guitar Center sales rep) as a step up from the Shure SM58 mic I'd been using. I thought the Shure was an adequate mic for what we were doing (singing R&B in an amplified band, using a PA). It seemed to reproduce my voice accurately enough, like other mics I'd used, so I wasn't sure why I needed anything else. But this sales rep said he was really impressed with the response from the Encore100, so I figured for $69 it was worth a try. Man was he right! The difference in my voice quality was, frankly, astonishing. Truth is, I'd been frustrated with the way my singing was sounding using the Shure mic, but I thought it was just me not singing well! It seemed like a lot of what I was singing (with the Shure mic) was flat, or dull. Again, I thought it just me. Singing without a mic, I thought I wasn't doing too bad. I figured singing through the mic (Shure mic) was just revealing my weaknesses. I know it sounds crazy, but the Encore100 actually improved my singing! I noticed immediately it has a better brighter response in the high range, and, amazingly, I suddenly didn't sound so flat! It's also much more sensitive, so i don't need to strain or get so close to the mic. I really didn't know a mic could make that much difference. I'm now singing with much more confidence, and liking the way I sound. I should thank the GC sales rep who suggested it (even though I ended up buying it from Amazon because the GC "sale" price was $99; Amazon's price was $69). I'm really glad a took a chance on this mic. Besides sounding good, the mic looks good, too; the light blue color and the silver ring makes it stand out. It feels solid, and comes with a nice soft cloth "case" (and a clip). I highly recommend giving it a try.

These reviews here are all subjective. Reviewers are using different mic preamps or mixers, difference processors (if any) and different EQ's, along with different power amps and different speakers. And, of course, the listening environments are different. The environments are anything from a small room, like a basement studio or rehearsal area to a large live venue. So, the only real constant is that we should have experience in comparing this microphone to another one in the setting we are accustomed to with the equipment we are familiar with. I use real-world gear such as a Behringer or Mackie mixer, Carvin or Crown power amps, and Carvin LM5, non-powered speakers for my mains. I use Peavey PR10's for my monitors. I use pretty standard mic cables, like Pro-Co or cables I've made with Belden or Belden equivalent cables. Nothing exotic.I compared this microphone with an older USA-made Shure SM58 (which has been used very little but mostly kept stored on a shelf), Shure Beta 57a, CAD D189, and AKG D880. In order of preference I like the Blue enCORE 100, CAD D189, AKG D880, Shure Beta 57a, and the SM58. There are of course many vocal microphones in the $100 or near $100 price range that I have not used. I would still like to try some Audix microphones, like the OM2 or OM3 and the AKG D5, which replaced the D880 I have, and an E/V microphone or two. These are all dynamic microphones.The SM58 is the industry standard and that is because the pro sound front-of-house techs know these microphones and know how to use them. The SM57 and SM58 have been around for many years. They are pretty flat in response compared to most microphones and don't need a lot of EQ (most times). Check the standard equipment list of most major venues and they all have Shure SM57 and SM58 microphones with an assortment of AKG or Audio-Technica microphones (and maybe some Sennheisers). They'll also have a Yamaha digital mixer, Crown power amps and most likely they'll have EAW speakers. Again, all industry standards. Your preferred list might vary. Something that has stood the test of time deserves respect, but I found that over time other companies also learn how to make different or better products worthy of consideration. Blue is such a company.I set my mixer tone controls to flat and did not use outboard EQ when comparing these. I wanted to change the EQ for all of them in actual use because they all have their built-in frequency bumps and dips, and depending on a person's voice you might find these beneficial or detrimental. Proximity effect, or an increase in low-end response as you sing closer to the microphone, also comes into play. I generally don't care for much of that because the result can be that muddy performance that so many speak of with so many microphones. Others boost the top end for more brightness to make the mic stand out in that way. What I like about this Blue microphone is the absolute clarity it has that the others don't have. The CAD comes the closest. (It has been compared to the Beta 57a, but it doesn't perform like the 57a I have - the CAD is better.) The proximity effect is slight and not overblown. I can sing right into this microphone (i.e. very close) and not be concerned about whether I'm making the tonality too muddy/bassy. This lets me sing without fighting the microphone. Some call it working the microphone but sometimes the microphone can work you. I already said I liked the clarity and by that I mean that it seems transparent and not like I put a sock over it. I believe I have read a review somewhere where the reviewer said this microphone seemed a bit like a condenser with its transparency. I just ordered a second one and I'll probably sell off other microphones and get more of these. I don't see how you could do better in this price range. If you are trying to capture a natural presentation of your voice or any voice, this is the microphone. It can't make you sing but if you can sing the microphone won't get in your way as so many seem to. Also, this microphone seems to have better gain before feedback than my other microphones or other microphones I have used in the past.

I have been using Shure SM57's and Beta 57's for miking acoustic instruments for live sound for quite awhile. I purchased a Blue Encore 100i to compare. The 100i had no problem cutting through. There were no feedback issues and it sounded great. I used it on multiple guitars, a muted trumpet, and an accordion. The 100i was more lively than the SM57, in a good way. It is articulate, yet warm sounding. The SM57 can be muddy in the lows and the mids, and the 100i eliminated that. It sounds closer to a Beta 57 than an SM57. I was concerned that it would not take to the lows, but the full range of each instrument was there. It would have been interesting to have heard a stand-up bass through it, but it was perfect for the instruments that I did get to mic. It was easy to get the instruments into the mix and bring out their individual sounds. This microphone did not require additional gain from what I was used to. In fact, it was very responsive, as well as, a joy to work with. One guitarist, who thought that he was a dancer, gave it a pretty good rap with his guitar, as he was flailing about the stage. The 100i took it well and was completely unhurt, both cosmetically and functionally, so it is well built, too. The wire mesh is very durable, for those who work around accidents waiting to happen. I did not notice any awful handling noise, but it was in a stand. I own several Blue mics currently, and I will buy more of these.

Was very excited to try this mic. My friend and I immediately took it to the church and tried it on the sound system ... comparing it to the Shure SM58. Is there night and day difference ... no. The SM58 is a good mic, but my friends vocals did sound a little better through the enCore100. The enCore100 feels very solid, and is really a nice looking mic. If I had a choice between these two mics, I would again buy the Blue enCore100.

Microphone was delivered before scheduled date which was great, price was great, I couldn't find this mic anywhere for cheaper,--- I absolutely love this mic

I've used countless SM57's and Beta 57's over the years, but having had very good experiences with Blue's studio mics, I had been wanting to give one of these a try for a while. Main conclusion first: this is an excellent dynamic instrument microphone. Really excellent. It sounds full, smooth and does not sacrifice clarity to do it. Cardioid pattern is pretty tight, but not so tight 'aiming' is ultra-critical - you can move a bit off-axis without too much drop-off in volume. Construction quality is superb. Solid as a rock and beautifully put together. The best recommendation I can give is that after trying one for a few weeks, I ordered two more.

ゲインが小さい。音質が若干こもっている。金のメッキは何回か拭くと一部剥がれてしまった。色々な声質に合わせてオールマイティーに使えるマイクではない。

Works perfect. Great price for this mic.