Roger Fingas
Accessory maker Logitech this week announced the takeover of Blue, best known for its microphones that have become a staple of recording, particularly in the streaming and podcast industries.
The acquisition has a cash value of $117 million, Logitech said, noting that it will allow "additional synergies related to our existing gaming, PC webcam and audio categories." The company already owns several prominent audio brands, namely Astro Gaming, Jaybird, and Ultimate Ears.
Blue is promising that it will "keep creating cool stuff for professional musicians, gamers, podcasters, YouTubers, and streamers."
The outfit's Yeti and Snowball USB microphones are popular for enabling relatively high-quality recording at a reasonable price. Blue also sells XLR mics aimed strictly at professionals, the most expensive of which — the Bottle — costs $3,999.99. Others mics like the Raspberry can be used with iPhones and iPads.
Plans for the XLR gear are unknown in light of Logitech's focus on computers, consoles, and mobile devices. It has typically allowed its audio brands to stay on the same track, keeping their names, existing products, and separate websites.
Logitech's resources could make Blue products more ubiquitous, and carry over some technology to other lines.
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8 Comments
In the professional music creation world they are best known for their condensor mics ranging from $199 to $9999.
Personally I think the best mics are dynamic cardioids with large diaphragms, like the Heil Sound PR-40. Don’t mention condenser mics to me.
Aw, crap. Expect their mics will become shoddy junk now.
In addition to a great range of USB mics ideal for podcasting, Blue also makes some terrific headphones. I hope Logitech will keep them as a separate division; if so, then Blue is essentially just adding Logitech's wider distribution network, and that would be a big plus for the existing team.