Logitech's Blue Sona microphone is a broadcast quality dynamic design with a super cardioid pickup ... [+] pattern. This innovative mic looks set to go head to head with Shure's ironing SM7B model.

One tech company, above many others, has managed to innovate its way through the pandemic. If anything, the pandemic has proved to be a driving force for Logitech as it propelled the company that serves a whole new market of hybrid-working creators who need enterprise-quality devices that are easy to use and easy on the eye.

At the read of Logitech Blue there's an ingenious plate that's magnetically attached and can swivel ... [+] to match the microphone's orientation. Behind the logo are switches for bass cut and presence boost.

The latest products from Logitech for Creators are the superb new Logitech Blue Sona dynamic XLR microphone and Litra Beam, an ingenious light source designed with live streamers and homeworkers in mind who want to look their very best when streaming or taking part in meetings.

The new Logitech Blue Sona is a breakaway product for Logitech’s Blue microphone division. In my opinion, this premium active dynamic microphone with its professional XLR connector is a potential rival to Shure’s iconic SM7B microphone, which seems to be the go-to choice for almost every podcaster, especially the ones who film their podcast.

The Blue Sona is a reinvention of a traditional broadcast microphone. Its stylish and modern design with beautifully rounded corner radii is a striking-looking device, especially its side-slung yoke, which gives the Blue Sona a contemporary feel. Blue Sona is unusual in that although it’s a dynamic microphone, it requires 24 or 48V phantom power from an audio interface to work correctly, just like a condenser microphone.

Logitech's Blue Sona microphone is easy to drive and has a rich quality. It's an ideal mic for use ... [+] with the RØDECaster Pro mixing desk.

The phantom power is used to drive Blue Sona’s ClearAmp technology. This technology means the microphone doesn’t need a Cloud Lifter or other gain booster and offers a +25dB gain boost. It’s refreshing to be able to use a mic without having to dial up the gain to maximum. The extra gain results in a superbly low noise floor and a gorgeously rich tone ideal for broadcasting.

As well as being an easy microphone to drive, Logitech has provided Bass Cut and Presence Boost switches into the microphone's body behind an ingenious magnetic cover bearing the Logi logo. As a result, there can be little doubt that Logitech is gently transitioning from Blue to the Logi brand.

Other advanced features with the Logitech Blue Sona include a dual-diaphragm capsule and supercardioid pickup pattern for a precision front-address performance. This polar pickup pattern brings voices into close focus while cutting out unwanted vibrations, keyboard clicks and general background noise. In addition, the capsule is so well isolated that there’s no need for a shock mount.

Logitech Blue is a very easy microphone to drive with +25dB thanks to ClearAmp technology.

Logitech has included a black windshield and an orange version in Logitech for Creators color, making the microphone look great on camera. Blue Sona is available in either Off-White or Graphite finishes. The contemporary and modern design looks stunning and different from almost any other microphone on the market.

Positioning the Blue Sona is easy because it comes with it’s a side-mounted 290-degree swivel offering plenty of placement opportunities. The Blue Sona attaches nicely to Logitech’s Compass boom arm and the XLR socket is mounted on the microphone's body, creating a much neater effect on screen than the Shure SM7B. If I had any criticism, I’d like to have seen the XLR socket positioned so that a right-angle XLR cable would align vertically rather than at 90 degrees.

According to Soren Pedersen, the senior product manager for Logitech For Creators: “Blue Sona was specifically engineered for creators. From its built-in preamp to its elegant camera-ready design, Blue Sona is unlike other XLR mics on the market.”

Verdict: The Logitech for Creators Blue Sona dynamic microphone is probably the best Blue microphone to date. The rich and deep sound, easy gain levels and low floor noise make it an ideal microphone for voiceovers, live streaming, and broadcasting. I think it’s a worthy competitor to Shure’s SM7B and well worth looking at if you want a different look but that same superb audio quality and dynamic microphone properties. Highly recommended.

The new Logitech LItra Beam provides a cinematic quality light that works with all skin tones.

Litra Beam Premium Streaming Desktop Key Light

The new Litra Beam desktop key light is launched alongside the Blue Sona microphone. This innovative lamp follows on from Logitech’s Litra Glow which was released early in 2022. The Litra Beam is a three-way adjustable desktop stand with height, tilt and rotation functions, offering endless positioning flexibility so the user can shape and direct the light with precision.

The Litra Beam can be orientated horizontally and vertically, or any angle in between to produce a ... [+] versatile lighting source to suit a range of situations.

Because it’s a physically long light source – rather than the more usual ring design – the Logitech Litra Beam covers a large area and can create mood and tone by placing and adjusting one or more Litra Beams in a studio setup for a range of professional lighting techniques.

Creators can adjust their lighting using the buttons on the back of the Litra Beam. The buttons provide quick access to five brightness and five color temperature levels (warm candlelight to cool blue) and continuous, stepless adjustment through the entire range, from 2700K-6500K. It’s also possible to have even more control of the light by using the Logitech G HUB desktop app, which enables further adjustments.

“Digital content is becoming more like cinematography,” says Arnaud Perret-Gentil, senior global product lead for Logitech For Creators. “We designed Litra Beam to do more than just deliver balanced LED light but to enable desktop streamers and creators to shape and direct this light to control the mood and expression of their content.”

Streamers and creators can fine-tune their lighting using buttons on the back of the Litra Beam. These allow for quick access to five brightness and five color temperature settings (warm candlelight to cool blue) and continuous, stepless adjustment through the entire range, from 2700K-6500K.

The Litra Beam stand is very steady but takes up a small amount of valuable desk space.

For even more control and convenience, Logitech also offers the Logitech G HUB desktop app, enabling even more brightness flexibility using percentage values and color temperature in Kelvins. The software can control one or more Litra Beams by storing and recalling lighting presets.

Litra Beam uses proprietary Logitech’s TrueSoft technology, which delivers full-spectrum LED light without any flicker and with cinematic color accuracy. TrueSoft provides a superbly natural color balance across all skin tones. I noticed that, for once, my face didn’t look like a tomato on screen, so I’ll be getting one.

The frameless diffuser of Litra Beam radiates the light widely, eliminating harsh shadows and it’s certified safe for all-day streaming, having passed strict UL testing guidelines. The LEDs in the Litra Beam can be powered by almost any computer with a USB-A port or by being plugged into a USB charger.

There is some smart cable management built into the Litra Beam and despite the length of the light source, the compact footplate keeps the lamp perfectly stable. However, because there are three tripod threads on the light, it’s possible to mount the Litra Beam on almost any stand.

Verdict: The Litra Beam lamp is a versatile lighting solution for live streamers, podcasters or for taking part in video meetings. The control buttons on the back of the light source are easy to find and use. The quality of the light is superb in terms of being flicker-free and color accuracy. This high-quality light source is an excellent alternative to a harsh ring light. The fact it can be used and controlled with Logitech’s G HUB software means livestreamers can set up a variety of lighting effects with multiple Litra units, all of which can be controlled with the click of a mouse by using presets stored in G HUB.

Pricing & Availability: Logitech’s Blue Sona active dynamic microphone is available now and costs$349.99 / £349.99 / €349, while the Litra Beam will sell for $99.99 / £119 / €119 and is also available from September 21.

More info: www.logitech.com