Sweetwater Welcomes Turtle AV

Royer R-121 Live Version Ribbon Microphone

Dynamic Ribbon Microphone for Live Stage Use
Share
Item ID: R121Live

Sorry, the Royer R-121 Live Version Ribbon Microphone is no longer available. We've left this page up for reference only.
Check out the great alternatives on this page or call toll-free (800) 222-4700 to speak with a Sweetwater Sales Engineer about similar products.

We recommend these great replacements:
Royer R-121 Live Version Ribbon Microphone
Royer R-121 Live Version Ribbon Microphone
Skip to Description
Most Popular Accessories & Related Items
Back to navigation

This article was Written By

Our Product Research Team

Get to know them!

A Royer Ribbon for the Stage

Royer's R-121 is a favorite studio mic here at Sweetwater, with many of our Sales Engineers owning and using these microphones due to their flexibility and versatility. The R-121 Live is a R-121 with a thicker ribbon manufactured specifically for use on the live stage. You can use the R-121 Live on everything from guitar amps and percussion to woodwind and acoustic instruments and rest assured that your ribbon will survive its time on stage. The R-121 is a studio must-have, and the R-121 Live is certain to be a FOH favorite as well.

Royer R-121 Live at a Glance:
  • Ribbon-Velocity Live Microphone
  • Rejection
  • Off-Axis Coloration

Ribbon-Velocity Live Microphone
The Royer R-121 Live is a live-sound specific version of the radically redesigned ribbon microphone and Royer's flagship product, the R-121. Like most ribbons, the Royer R-121 Live'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 Live again redefines ribbon microphones, bringing the Royer sound that's quickly becoming legendary to live stages everywhere.

Rejection
Royer ribbon mics are figure-8, picking up sound from the front and rear of the microphone, and rejecting sounds approaching from a) the left and right sides of the mic, b) the top of the mic, and c) the bottom of the mic. These are extremely effective dead zones that engineers use to isolate instruments by positioning the mics in such a way that the dead zones face, and cancel, offending sound sources.

Off-Axis Coloration
There's a lot of sound on a live stage and you can't entirely control for off-axis information getting into microphones, even ribbons. Most microphones color off-axis information in highly unflattering ways, which is why bleed can sound so nasty. Ribbons don't color off-axis information, so any bleed that manages to get into your onstage Royers will sound natural, not harsh or colored.

Royer R-121 Live Features:
  • Designed for Live use
  • Thicker Ribbon for durability
  • 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
  • Dull Nickel finish
  • Comes in wooden box
Royer R-121 Live brings ribbon sound to the live stage!

Resources

Warranty Info

Sweetwater's FREE 2-Year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty

Extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

  • Save money with FREE parts and labor
  • Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time
  • Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department
Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage
Back to navigation

Tech Specs

  • Manufacturer Part Number: R-121L

What Makes Our Sales Engineers Great?

Sweetwater Sales Engineers are a world-class team of experts dedicated to you. Hand selected from across the globe, each brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of music gear to provide you with unparalleled service completely free of charge. Friendly relationships, real trust, and the right gear are only a call or a click away!

Back to navigation

When Royer Labs got their Technical Grammy in 2013, they couldn't wait to come to Sweetwater to show it off. One thing they impressed on us was how much our amazing relationship helped to get the word out about their products. Of course, getting the word out about their amazing ribbon mics was easy - we've never regretted recommending them. In fact, it wouldn't be immodest to say that Royer was one of the biggest forces behind the ribbon mic's recent return to popularity. In addition to providing greater clarity and transparency to the classic ribbon sound, Royer's designs dramatically reduced the bulk and weight of these mics. That's made it easy for the engineers at Sweetwater Studios to use Royer ribbons for close-miking amps and getting deep into drum kits and acoustic pianos. We absolutely love them, and we're sure you will too.