Logitech’s Yeti GX is a new USB microphone with RGB lighting

Logitech is launching a new set of products that will begin shipping on September 24 and are aimed directly at gamers, streamers, podcasters and other creators. The biggest is the $149.99 Logitech G Yeti GX, a “broadcast-style” USB microphone with a heavy stand and RGB lighting.

The Yeti GX is a dynamic supercardioid microphone, which is a kind of unidirectional mic designed to focus on the sound in front of the mic rather than behind the microphone. This is a good thing if you don’t want the noise of your keyboard to overpower your voice. This also means that if you move off-axis your voice quickly disappears, but the trade-off may be worth it when you’re faced with poor recording spaces. Soren Pedersen, Logitech’s global product manager, described it as having the vibe of a Shure SM7, a popular broadcast microphone.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a gaming mic without configurable RGB lighting. There are two configurable LEDs – one in a circle on the back of the mic and one behind the Logitech G logo on the side – and you can set various animated effects or just choose a specific color for the lights. An LED strip in the digital volume wheel is red or blue, depending on whether the mic is muted or not.

Pressing the volume dial activates Smart Audio Lock, a feature Pederson describes as a “safety net” to prevent the mic from cutting out and distorting when, say, a streamer gets excited and starts yelling about of something. The mic does this with an analog limiter – like you’ll find on the Razer Seiren V2 X – which compresses the signal when you get too loud to prevent the mic from distorting. The feature also uses a built-in downward expander to reduce the volume of background noise or unwanted echo in a poor recording environment.

The mic comes with a desk stand with USB-C to USB-A cable, but can also be attached to a standard boom mic stand, with adapters for 5/8-inch and 3/8-inch connections.

Logitech also announced the $59.99 Yeti Orb, a small ball-shaped USB mic similar to the Yeti Snowball. The mic has a more discreet look than the Snowball, with a fabric-covered front and configurable RGB lights on top. Like the Yeti GX, it has a USB-C port on the back for connecting to your computer. The Orb is a cardioid condenser mic, and Logitech says it will also minimize background noise. It can also be removed from its small desk stand for use with a boom pole.

Logitech also announced an updated version of its Litra Beam X LED light bar, the $149.99 Litra Beam LX. The LX is double-sided, with an adjustable white bar (2700K – 6500K) like the original on one side and an RGB light on the other. Andrew Siminoff, senior director of product marketing, said the lights are UL certified for safe, all-day use. The light has 1/4-inch to 20-inch threaded connections for mounting either on its end or in the middle of the light, and it connects via USB-C or Bluetooth.

All three work with Logitech’s G Hub app to configure lighting effects, as well as voice effects and specific audio profiles via the software’s Blue Voice feature presets. If you own multiple Logitech Lightsync devices, you can also sync lighting effects, if you really want to be flooded with strobing and pulsing RGB colors while you game. Logitech says they will also be compatible with Windows Dynamic Lighting, where you can sync lighting effects with other non-Logitech lighting.

It’s worth noting – and I do this with some nostalgic sadness – that these are the first Yeti microphones not to be branded “Blue” since Logitech purchased the company in 2018. In an FAQ earlier this year, Logitech said it would not do so. will no longer use the Blue brand in its product names and will instead use it “to describe our technologies.”

Pour one out for old Blue, my friends.