Sweetwater®

Free Shipping with no minimum purchase. Learn more »
(800) 222-4700
  • Español: (800) 222-4701
Cart

Royer R-121 Studio

Item ID: R121

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

Yes, It's In Stock!

This item is available for immediate delivery. You'll enjoy the fastest delivery time in the industry with our centrally-located warehouse and latest shipping cut-off times.

Get More Value From Sweetwater

or make 3 easy payments
Limited Time Offer

24 Months Interest Free Financing!

On purchase of Royer products made with your Sweetwater Card from now through May 31, 2013.
Click here for details

From Our Research Team:

Capture a Pure, Natural Sound!

NEWS: Royer Labs has been given a GRAMMY award for their outstanding ribbon mics! In the words of the Academy, these mics "were revolutionary and moved the art of recording forward."







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!
Specification Detail
Microphone Type Ribbon
Polar Pattern Figure-8
Ribbon Type 2.5-micron Aluminum Ribbon
Frequency Response 30Hz-15kHz
Max SPL 135dB SPL
Output Impedance 300 ohms
Connector XLR
Weight .54 lb.
Manufacturer Part Number R-121

R-121 Studio Image Gallery

Can We Help?

Sweetwater's friendly and knowledgeable Sales Engineers are regarded as the most experienced and educated professionals in the music industry, with extensive music backgrounds and intense training on the latest products and technologies. As your personal contact here at Sweetwater, they are available to provide personalized advice any time you need it.
Call toll-free (800) 222-4700 or E-mail us

Recommended Accessories

My Sales Engineer helped me place the order and advised when the guitar would be shipped. Once Sweetwater received the guitar, it was quickly set up and I received it the next day. The guitar was in tune and set up properly.


Phillip, Lynwood, IL

Reviews

based on 11 reviews

Incredible Royer R-121

by John Romita from Crystal Lake, IL
July 11, 2012
Music Background: Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist, Home Engineer / Hobbyist
How many of you have spent hours tweaking your guitar tracks to get just the right sound? If you're one of many I'm sure, put the SM-57's away and pick up a Royer R-121 NOW. I've read the reviews for... read more [+] this thing but you just won't believe it until you've tried one yourself! We recorded an Ibanez Vai through a 60 Watt Blackstar with a bunch of effects and Holy Smokes!!! That's what has been missing all along. It sounds like Metallica or Priest sitting in my basement studio! Endless EQ.....forget it. Tweaking compressors? Why? This thing makes your guitars sit perfectly in the mix with little effort. What you put in...comes out. Highly Recommended! close [-]

A refreshing change......

by Dave Archer from Cincinnati
June 18, 2012
Music Background: Hobbyist
Nice to have a mic that is not hyped and edgy. It represents sources very faithfully with a touch of warmth that is not stodgy or dull. As well as using it for electric guitar (which it excels at), my... read more [+] new favorite application is as the 'Mid' in an M/S configuration for acoustic guitar together with a Blue Kiwi in Figure 8 mode. The solidity of the Royer in the middle balances the highs of the Kiwi on the sides extremely well. I'm delighted with the Royer - a great first ribbon if you don't already one. close [-]

I hear what I hear

by MEI Studio - NY from Westbury, NY
May 31, 2012
Music Background: Engineer, musician, builder of electronic devices.
Every mic has a flavor or tone if you will. Some are bright, some are harsh, some are warm some are just plain dull. Point is, all mic's impart their own sound on a given sound source. One very eas... read more [+]ily recognizable instance of this is when micing a guitar cabinet. The 57 have upper mid-range sound, a 421 has a bright high and can have more lows than the 57 depending on positioning... with this thing... what you hear coming out of the speaker is what you hear on playback. Yes there are certain little things that the ribbon imparts on the sound, (the front of the mic has a different sound than the back at close proximity) but for the most part, especially with guitar recording, THIS IS IT! close [-]

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.

inSync Review

by: Michael Goodrich
Ten years ago, most people, myself included, knew two things about ribbon microphones. First, they provide... read more »
Read more reviews

Also popular

See Also: Ribbon Mics , Royer , Royer Ribbon Microphones

Royer R-121 Studio

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

Buy Today, Make

Sweetwater's Flexible Payment Plan is a convenient, interest-free way to buy gear now and stretch your purchase across three budget-friendly payments. Simply choose the "3 Easy Payments" option in your cart, and we'll divide your purchase amount into three convenient payments, billed to your current MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express card. There is a $10 processing fee for using this service, and your billing address must be in the United States to be eligible. It's just another way we make shopping at Sweetwater easy and convenient!

Get your Royer R-121 Studio now and spread out the payments!


This program is subject to credit approval. We will pull a copy of your credit report to approve your application.

Sweetwater Sound Inc.
5501 U.S. Hwy 30 W
Fort Wayne, IN 46818
Get Directions »

Toll Free (800) 222-4700
Español (800) 222-4701
Local (260) 432-8176
Fax (260) 432-1758
E-mail us

Phone & Retail Store Hours:
9–9 Monday–Thursday
9–8 Friday
9–7 Saturday
(All hours listed are Eastern Time.)

© 2013 Sweetwater Sound Inc. All rights reserved. Please read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Links | Press Releases