Follow Slashdot blog updates by subscribing to our blog RSS feed

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
Businesses The Almighty Buck Hardware Technology

Logitech Is Acquiring Blue Microphones For $117 Million In Cash (theverge.com) 79

Posted by BeauHD from the uncharted-territory dept.
Logitech announced late Monday night that it is acquiring Blue Microphones for $117 million. The company known for USB condenser microphones, such as the Snowball and Yeti, will join Logitech's existing portfolio of brands. The Verge reports: Founded in 1995, Blue sells microphones that range in price from $60 to over $4,000 (for studio-grade hardware), and they're used by podcasters, musicians, and any other consumers who need higher-fidelity audio than what they get from the built-in microphones on their devices. Now, after dropping a heap of cash on the company, Logitech will do its best to make sure Blue's devices become just as essential as its own wireless keyboards and mice. "For Logitech, this is a new space," the company wrote in a blog post. "But, at the same time, it's not at all. Gamers are already using our Logitech G webcams to stream. People are video calling with friends and family thanks to Logitech every day. And in business, our audio and video know-how is apparent every time a video meeting takes place at the office. Joining up with Blue and their microphone lines is a logical adjacent opportunity with great synergies."
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Logitech Is Acquiring Blue Microphones For $117 Million In Cash More

Logitech Is Acquiring Blue Microphones For $117 Million In Cash

Comments Filter:

  • That's it, then (Score:3, Funny)

    by garryknight ( 1190179 ) <{moc.liamg} {ta} {thginkyrrag}> on Tuesday July 31, 2018 @04:18AM (#57039586)

    "Joining up with Blue and their microphone lines is a logical adjacent opportunity with great synergies."

    So, doomed to failure, then... ;-)

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

      They have a reputation for making priced crap, kinda like Beats headphones... Kinda like Logitech used to be, in fact.

      • Kinda like Logitech used to be, in fact.

        It's all crap. All input devices are made like poop, except maybe saitek joysticks. (I used to use a thrustmaster f22 pro... those are crap too. they break springs regularly FFS.)

        I'm still using a Logitech T-BB18 (IIRC, can't read the bottom sticker any more) trackball, the original "trackman usb wheel" thumb ball. I have to replace the crappy Omron microswitches every year or two, but otherwise it's still the best mousing device I've ever owned. The rest of it is great, only the microswitches (which they d

    • On the other hand, such a venture could dynamically incentivize ubiquitous experiences while intrinsically maintaining resource-maximizing customer service.

  • Probably a good buy (Score:2, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward

    They are known for the Blue Yeti, one of the best value for money microphones out there for streamers. Also have other quality ones.

    • Re:Probably a good buy (Score:5, Informative)

      by rahvin112 ( 446269 ) on Tuesday July 31, 2018 @07:17AM (#57040048)

      Might be a good buy for Logitech but it will be an awful buy for everyone else. Just like Harmony they will destroy a vibrant company serving a niche market.

      Harmony was producing new models and innovative remote products, then Logitech bought them and all new development stopped. The Harmony division hasn't produced a product that wasn't developed premerger. Blue Yeti will experience the same, logitech will cheap out in design products, ramp them then stop all development.

      Just like harmony who was producing new products every year they will halt all new development, fire all the designers and developers and milk the product while it stagnates and dies.

  • Blue (Score:4, Interesting)

    by phantomfive ( 622387 ) on Tuesday July 31, 2018 @05:02AM (#57039682) Journal
    Blue is kind of like Beats: stylish, easy to use, popular, but never the top quality in its price range.

    • but never the top quality in its price range.

      Are you implying that beats is somewhere near the top quality in its price range with that sentence? You sound like a very glass half full kind of guy who's too kind to label the frigging horrible waste of money for what it is.

  • Bought the brand (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    More than the customer base.

    Logitech is a consumer brand, driven by volume. Higher quality items don’t bring the same revenue, it’s N units X $P. 50 units / mo at $2000 doesn’t excite Logitech, but a few such products are a nice stable way to fund a meaningful part of the burn rate of an SME.

    10kpcs/mo of a $79 product is more like what they are interested in.

  • You need a big microphone (Score:4, Funny)

    by ruddk ( 5153113 ) on Tuesday July 31, 2018 @08:00AM (#57040190)

    Unlike TV, you need a big microphone if you are going to make a YouTube video, everybody knows that. And it should be placed directly in the middle of FOV.
    Of course that is after you have placed your musical instruments and apple products casually in the background.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by bn-7bc ( 909819 )

      The backround, hou mean berwen the “talent” and the green screen? Ot depends on the yotuber I suppose, but mi imporesson is that streamers tend to get a gren screen quite fast, i gues they want the flexibility of adding other content (Screen caprure other video etc) and still have their fase and possibly other atributes on screen at the same time, but what do I cnow not beeing a content creator.
      Am I right in thinking thar a green screen (well lit) us the easyesr way of achiving this?

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by ruddk ( 5153113 )

        I think with today’s cameras a green screen is usable way of keying it. I have just been playing a bit with it for fun and had some problems around hair and a bit of green reflecting back on the shoulders. But when it is just a small window on the stream that is not noticeable at all.
        That being said, I am not an expert at all, I just play with it because it because it is something I don’t know anything about and was curious. It is interesting what you can create with a consumer camera and a comp

  • Blue has been making very decent studio-quality mics for over 20 years. No, they are not up there with Neumann, but the large-diaphragm condensers have a very acceptable sound and that's a good alternative to other studio mics for those who want that sound. I like AKG in that price range and have always liked Shure and Audio Technica in the lower price ranges. I have not used their USB mics and don't have a need. For those who really like the studio mics, this could end up being like CBS purchasing Fender

    • Blue has been making very decent studio-quality mics for over 20 years. No, they are not up there with Neumann, but the large-diaphragm condensers have a very acceptable sound and that's a good alternative to other studio mics for those who want that sound. I like AKG in that price range and have always liked Shure and Audio Technica in the lower price ranges. I have not used their USB mics and don't have a need. For those who really like the studio mics, this could end up being like CBS purchasing Fender in 1965. It will take a while, but commoditization will drive out the things that made the products what they are.

      I can second this. Their non-podcasting, studio grade mics have a good reputation within the recording community.

  • Got a bunch of rabid fans that want the Marble FX Trackball brought back Logitech! Please bring it back newer and better (well just add USB connectivity, it was pretty much perfect the way it was): https://www.facebook.com/Bring... [facebook.com]

  • Jake: You traded the Bluesmobile for this?

    Elwood: No, for a microphone.

    Jake: A microphone? Okay, I can see that.

Slashdot Top Deals

"The medium is the massage." -- Crazy Nigel

Close