Equipment Review
Product Reviewed:
Royer R-121 Ribbon Mic
Made by: Royer Labs
Cost: $900 ea.
Submitted by jnorman
Rating: 
Features:
The Royer R-121 is a modern version of the classic ribbon microphone design, and utilizes the latest in both membrane and magnet technology. Unlike older ribbon mics, the Royer is designed to be virtually unblowable, even to the point of being used on kick drums and micing guitar cabinets. It has a figure-8 pattern common to ribbon mics and can support an SPL of 136dB. Extremely low self-noise.
Technical Specifications:
What I liked:
I specialize in recording solo and small ensemble classical instrumentation. The R-121 is the kind of mic I want to use on almost everything. I originally bought a pair of them to do some live hall recordings using a Blumlein configuration, in which they truly excel. They are spectacular in close micing of flutes, brass, saxes, and bowed strings. The body of the mic is heavy and of excellent construction. The mics come with a lifetime warranty, and a free re- ribboning in case you do manage to blow one.
What I didn't:
I have not found anything to complain about with these mics - I think these are the only pieces of equipment in my studio that I can say that about. They do require a lot of clean gain - around 70dB - meaning you do need to use them with some fairly upper end mic pres for best results.
User Tips:
These mics seem to work no matter what I do with them. I have used them in both Blumlein and ORTF setups for live recordings at between 5 and 10 feet, with just a tad of topend EQ, and not needed to touch the recordings during mixdown (never in my experience has any mic given me that kind of result before). In the studio, I use them singly and as stereo pairs to close mic woodwinds, brass and strings, and I use them in conjunction with a small condenser (km184) to mic harp and piano.
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