Logitech Is Acquiring Blue Microphones For $117 Million In Cash (theverge.com)
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."
Get a dictionary. Cash doesn't need to be in physical form on order to be paid to someone. cash NOUN 1Money in coins or notes, as distinct from cheques, money orders, or credit. ‘the staff were paid in cash’ ‘a discount for cash’ 1.1 Money in any form. ‘she was always short of cash’
"Joining up with Blue and their microphone lines is a logical adjacent opportunity with great synergies."
So, doomed to failure, then... ;-)
Garry Knight
They are known for the Blue Yeti, one of the best value for money microphones out there for streamers. Also have other quality ones.
"In cash" here means that they're not paying it with stocks, like some acquisitions are done.
captcha: currency
They're making pretty damned good microphones e.g the Yeti is very popular among serious streamers.
I'd suggest if anyone is interested in getting one, do it before the deal takes serious effect, Logitech isn't what it once was.
Blue is kind of like Beats: stylish, easy to use, popular, but never the top quality in its price range.
"First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
But I like my AT2020 :(
They're making pretty damned good microphones e.g the Yeti is very popular among serious streamers.
Video blogging is not exactly what you need a "pretty damned good" microphone for. You want a reliable USB interface, that's all (and that basically precludes using more than one microphone at the time, anyway). The microphone capsule shouldn't suck too bad, but you don't need to worry about excellent SNR ratio or off-axis coloring or extended frequency range or transient response.
Basically it's a small step up from budget headset quality. Which indeed puts it into Logitech ballpark.
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyV_UG60dD4
You must have reading comprehension in issues. That definition states that cash is coins and bills like a dime and 100 dollar bill, and NOT checks, IOUs, or contractual agreements to pay etc. So IOW all cash transactions involve cash. Who'd a thunk it!?
Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
I've got a Yeti myself, and so does a friend of mine that runs his own business. He bought his after hearing how mine sounded, it can provide that rich "radio announcer" voice that people like to listen to. (in addition to the audio clarity, I also really appreciate its directivity and noise-cancelling selectable sampling patterns) He ended up re-dubbing all his existing instructional videos for his product line with the Yeit because of how much better it sounded.
I really don't know why you'd describe them (all?) as "crap mics", without anything to back up what you say, you don't sound very convincing. Cheap webcam mics are my idea of crap because that's what they sound like. And I'm speaking with over a dozen years of radio experience under my belt.
And no, you don't see them in hardly any big studios, because that's not what they are. They're high end consumer mics, not professional recording studio mics, at least not ones like what I got. The Yeti is one of their best values / most affordable small-studio-grade mics and is a great choice for smaller outfits like podcasters, streamers, and small businesses.
I get the impression you've never spent any time with a Blue mic and are just kicking the brand for some hidden agenda, or just snobbing it because "that's not what my friend the PRO uses".
I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
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.
L'Idiot
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.
Second for AT2020 :) I like the Blues too, but I personally like my AT2020 on a mixer board.
There is no XUL, only WebExtensions...
I used to use a Blue Yeti for screencasting but got rid of it. They tend to perform horribly in untreated rooms because they pick up everything.
You can usually get a much better result with a dynamic mic for any type of recording where you're not moving around and it's just you talking. Not only will you reduce background noise, but you'll also get a great tone. A $70 AT2005 dynamic mic (which has both USB and XLR connections) outperformed the standard Blue Yeti in my case by a huge amount.
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...
whoooosh!!
I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
I was surprised at the amount being so low. The company I worked for was acquired for $147MM+. We didn't make anything...just a slight fintech marketing shop.
I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
Bought a samson directional mic years ago with a USB interface. Perfect for pod casts and videos.
[Disclaimer: I am not Creimer.]
I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
Complete nonsense. You don't need a "pretty damned good" microphone, but when the majority of value you provide to your viewers is your appearance and voice, you want a "good" microphone.
I'm surprised at the number of streamers / Vloggers / Youtube channels where they have a ridiculously expensive microphone, yet still get lots of really distracting popping because they are basically eating the microphone. I've had better results using dollar store microphones for naration.
It's actually funny how many people have really expensive gear, but no clue how to use it, or not even very good content.
Jake: You traded the Bluesmobile for this?
Elwood: No, for a microphone.
Jake: A microphone? Okay, I can see that.