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Exclusive Mic Month Special

18 Months Interest Free Financing from Royer!

May is Microphone Month at Sweetwater, and we've partnered with Royer to make it easy to add that coveted Royer mic to your collection. From April 30 through May 31, 2012, use your Sweetwater Musician's All Access Platinum Card to purchase Royer microphones, and you'll pay NO INTEREST for 18 months! Minimum payments are required, and some restrictions apply. Click Here for full details.

Royer R-121 (Nickel)

Item ID: R121

Dynamic Ribbon Microphone with Figure-8 Polar Pattern, Comes in Beautiful Wooden Box - Nickel

2 models to choose from:
 

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From Our Research Team:

Capture a Pure, Natural Sound!

Royer ribbon microphones are simply wonderful! Here at Sweetwater, many of our Sales Engineers own and use these microphones due to their flexibility and versatility. The R-121 is a Sweetwater best-seller and hundreds of our customers agree that you can use it on everything from guitar amps and percussion to woodwind and acoustic instruments. Vocals? You bet. The R-121 is a wonderful studio must-have whether you're looking for just one microphone to do it all, or another flavor to add to your locker.







Royer R-121 Dynamic Ribbon Microphone at a Glance:
  • Warm, realistic tone with a flat frequency response.
  • Works well on just about everything.
  • The R-121 can take on high SPLs!
  • Sonically substantial: 2-in-1!

Ribbon-Velocity Studio Microphone
The Royer R-121 is a radically redesigned ribbon microphone and Royer's flagship product. Like most ribbons, the Royer R-121's pattern is figure 8, its sensitivity is roughly equal to a good dynamic mic, and it exhibits a warm, realistic tone and flat frequency response. But when it came to design time, Royer threw out the molds and took a fresh approach to ribbons using advanced materials and cutting edge construction techniques. The Royer R-121 redefines ribbon microphones, leading Recording Magazine to say "the Royer Royer R-121 is destined to become one of the classic microphones of the 21st century." It's a sleek, light, extremely versatile microphone that is easy to use, wonderfully musical, and extremely sturdy.

Recording With The Royer R-121
An Royer R-121 ribbon microphone hears things the way your ears hear them. If you've ever heard that incredible guitar, melodic trumpet, sweet flute, deep kick drum, (pick your sound), and found that getting that sound to tape or hard drive was impossible, you owe it to yourself to try a Royer ribbon. On playback you'll notice that the recorded sound is natural and alive, with a panoramic, ambient feel much like what you heard when you were standing in front of the instruments you recorded.

An Royer R-121's response is flat and well balanced; low end is deep and full without getting boomy, mids are well defined and realistic, and the high end response is sweet and natural sounding, never edgy or sibilant.

Need to record at insane levels?
No problem! The Royer R-121's maximum SPL rating is >135dB and it can take that all day long. In practical terms, that means you can put your Royer R-121 directly in front of a souped up mega-watts Marshall and turn it up to 11 without microphone distortion or doing any damage to the ribbon. We don't recommend trying this with other ribbon mics, but the Royer R-121 can take it, no sweat.

2 Mics In One
At distances of two feet and closer, the back of the Royer R-121 is brighter than the front side. The difference in the sound is somewhat like blending 10% of a condenser mic in with your ribbon mic signal. This can be extremely useful when you record acoustic guitars, vocals, and other sound sources that you may want to hear a little more top end on.

Royer R-121 Dynamic Ribbon Microphone Features:
  • High SPL Capabilities
  • No internal active electronics to overload or produce distortion up to maximum SPL rating
  • Extremely low residual noise
  • Ribbon element is not affected by heat or humidity
  • Absence of high frequency phase distortion
  • Equal sensitivity from front or back of element
  • Consistent frequency response regardless of distance
  • Field replaceable ribbon transducer

Capture any sound the way you hear it with a Royer R-121 dynamic ribbon microphone!

R-121 (Nickel) Image Gallery

Specification Detail
Microphone Type Ribbon
Polar Pattern Figure-8
Frequency Response 30Hz-15kHz
Max SPL >135dB @ 20 Hz
Output Impedance 300 Ohms @ 1K (nominal)
Ribbon 2.5-micron Aluminum Ribbon
Length 6.13"
Width 1"
Depth 1"
Weight .54 lbs.
Notes Able to withstand high SPLs
Manufacturer Part Number R-121

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Reviews

based on 8 reviews

It's true!

by Joshua Ray from Minot, ME USA
April 24, 2012
Music Background: Songwriter,Studio Owner, Producer, Recording Engineer.
This mic is the real deal. I couldn't believe my ears especially when using on electric guitar. It's very cool on drums and acoustic instruments as well. Great mic that's worth the investment.

Get to know it!

by Christian Thomas from Caldwell, NJ
January 11, 2012
Music Background: Recording Engineer, Quasi-pro Musician
This mic is a common sense mic. Place it where it sounds great and it will sound great. You may have to throw out your dynamic or condenser mic paradigms but you’ll soon find this an irresistible opti... read more [+]on once you’ve figure it out. It’s hard to make it sound bad. I have a unique “singer/songwriter” voice that has some harsh upper-mids that my MA-200 was picking up well (not its fault). The Royer smoothed everything out without sacrificing fast transient response, clarity, or “air” in the recorded track. Play around with it and it will not disappoint you. The more you get to know it, they more you’ll see how priceless it is to have in your mic locker.

*Do make sure you treat yourself to a mic-pre with plenty of gorgeous clean gain. I used a Daking Mic Pre One. close [-]

Well Seasoned

by Charles Denler from Colorado, USA
December 28, 2007
Music Background: Composer for film and television
I have been using my R-121 in my studio for about 2 years. It has been my consistent go to mic on almost every session. It excels on horns, and is breathtaking when close recording hand percussion. I ... read more [+]used it on my flugel horn a few years ago, and the track won me an Emmy! One of my absolute favorite mics! close [-]

The finest

by M.J. Ward from California
May 19, 2007
Music Background: Studio engineer, producer
The Royer R121 is the finest, smoothest mic for electric guitar. This mic is has two distinctive sounds, depending on which side you point it. It's like having two completely unique sounds that are ... read more [+]both astounding. I own almost 30 mics, and this is the best of the bunch. I have used it for recording strings, piano, guitar, vocals, drums, accordion, wind and brass horns, and oh, my, it has sounded incredible for every last one. This mic is to die for. If it were a woman, I'd marry it, if it were an idol, I would worship it. Come to think of it, I already do. close [-]

OH WOW!!!!

by IMAGO RECORDING STUDIOS from Lexington, Ky
February 28, 2007
Music Background: Recording Engineer, pro musician, and Independant producer.
GENIUS....Dave you're the man. I use these mics on everything....literally. This is my studio workhorse. It is so three dimensional that it really does put you in the mix. I have a femal artist tha... read more [+]t I'm producing that loves this mic for vocals. Very Very warm and vintage. If you have these mics I would also recommend getting the AEA Ribbon Pre. It's a great price and it compliments these mics perfectly. I also love the Presonus ADL 600 and the Focusrite Red Series on ribbons.Get a couple. close [-]
Read more reviews

Also popular

See Also: Ribbon Mics , Royer , Royer Ribbon Microphones

Royer R-121 (Nickel)

Today's Payment: $441.66
Includes $10 processing fee
Payment 2: $431.66
In approx. 30 days
Payment 3: $431.66
In approx. 60 days

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