Do we have a Blue-hued coup on our hands?

The word is out: Blue Microphones -- for almost 15 years makers of some of the most popular project-studio microphones in the world -- are expanding their focus to include the live sound. Introducing the new Blue Encores series of live mics.

Any new hand-held stage mic has a crowded field and a formidable standard with which to compete. Man manufactures have hoped to best the Shure name, and while some have fared better than others, none has unseated them as live-mic champs. Blue, however, is a unique company. They established themselves quickly as a brand both easily recognized and widely respected in the high-end project and professional recording studio market, and their announcement is a bit more exciting than would one from most other audio companies. Blue thinks the Encore series has got the right stuff to become the new standard in stage mics, and their press literature targets the two factors that have become bywords of SM58 and 57 dominance, namely "fidelity" and "durability." From their release:

"The new enCORE series microphones are the result of years of research designed to bring Blue’s legendary studio sound to the stage, starting with their exclusive Aria Capsule. Every element of the Aria Capsule is precisely matched and tuned to achieve a detailed and clear sound. To protect the capsule, the enCORE Series feature the thickest steel grills on the market along with an over-sized reinforcement ring. Further adding to their ruggedness are heavy, precision-machined cast-zinc bodies, which have been tested to perform uniformly after dropping, throwing, and even being run over by a 7-ton truck."

Aggressive language, no? The pricing is just as aggressive. A quick look at the encore series with respective MSRP:

• Blue enCORE 100 -- hand-held dynamic mic for vocals / instruments -- $99.99 MSRP


• Blue enCORE 200 -- hand-held dyanmic mic plus Blue's Active Dynamic circuitry (as seen in the popular and unique Ball series mics) for the "high SPL handling of a dynamic mic with the consistency and low noise of a phantom powered mic" -- $149.99 MSRP


• Blue enCORE 300 -- hand-held condenser microphone with Aria condenser capsule, phantom-powered preamp and specially designed chassis which "controls airflow around the capsule for unparalleled vocal control and a natural, open sound, no matter how the artist holds the microphone" -- $199.99 MSRP

The Encore series recently made their live debut and are currently the house mics at three famous LA music venues -- The Highline Ballroom, The Viper Room and The Troubadour. Go check 'em out if you're curious.

If you don't live in LA and you're not planning on attending AES in NYC, you'll have to wait until the end of October for the Encore 100 and Encore 200 to make it to retail stores. The Encore 300 should be arriving by the end of the year.