There's a lot of promise in a mixer called "StudioLive" — about twice as much promise as most mixers make. Does the PreSonus StudioLive 16.4.2 Digital Mixer live up to its moniker? We asked engineer Rick Weldon to take it for a couple of spins and let us know what he thought.  

BLUE is well known for great-sounding studio microphones, but their new enCore mics are meant for the stage. While the 100 and 200 versions are standard dynamic mics, the enCore 300 has a condenser capsule for rich, warm vocals in a live setting. Gearwire's own Owen O'Malley gave this microphone the once-over-twice, and dishes all the dirt in this hands-on review.  

Wait, let me get this straight. You're playing the local coffee house? And you're bringing a line array with you? All by yourself? It may sound crazy, but a new breed of portable PA systems makes this scenario a reality. Owen O'Malley recently spent some quality time with one such system: the Fishman SA220, and he tells you what he learned in this review.  

Hearing the the BLUE enCore 200 Active Dynamic microphone was capable of "studio quality vocals in a live setting," bassist and recording engineer Eli Crews took a pair on tour with him, as well as to his New, Improved Recordings studio. Did this bold-looking hand-held live up to its company's bold claims?  

Time for another Gearwire Pro Review. This time 'round, Eli Crews -- bassist, engineer, and co-owner of New, Improved Recording in Oakland, CA -- puts the BLUE enCore 100 dynamic vocal mic through a stage and studio gauntlet.