Shop New October Deals
When it comes to ribbon microphones, the Royer Labs R-121 is one of the most widely used in recording studios around the world. The mic features a unique offset-ribbon transformer that offers full-frequency response on high SPL sources while producing its signature warm yet natural sound.
The success of the R-121 sparked a wave of innovation at Royer. In 1998, the company expanded on the original design with the R-122, the world's first phantom-powered active ribbon microphone. Built around the same ribbon architecture, it offered the familiar sound with the added benefits of an active circuit.
After establishing the R-121 and R-122 as studio standards, Royer turned its attention to creating more accessible options. The R-10 and R-12 bring much of the technology and sonic character of their predecessors to a lower price point, both coming in under $1,000. Like the flagship models, the R-10 is a passive ribbon microphone, while the R-12 incorporates an active, phantom-powered design.
Ribbon mics work well on nearly any source, but few pairings are as classic as a Royer Labs microphone on a guitar cab. With that in mind, we put the R-122 MKII and R-12 head-to-head in our new video to see how they compare. Watch below as we capture performances by Bryan Reilly and Dustin McLaughlin using both mics on a variety of guitar-and-amp combinations.
Want to hear every guitar take all the way through? Listen to the magic we captured with the Royer Labs R-122 MKII and R-12 below.
