Royer Labs R-122 Live

The Royer R-122 Live is a road-optimized version of our phantom powered R-122 ribbon microphone. The R-122 Live's output is on par with phantom powered condenser mics and it produces the warm, realistic sounds that only ribbon mics can deliver. Along with its smooth, natural response, the R-122 Live virtually eliminates the shrill high-end often encountered with live guitars, brass and drum cymbals. Push up the faders and there's the instrument in all its fullness, minus the peaky highs that FOH and Monitor engineers spend so much of their careers fighting.

Features

• Phantom powered circuitry provides high output and impedance matching
• High SPL Capabilities
• No 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
• Rear side of mic records slightly brighter when three feet or closer to sound source

The R-122 Live contains a fully balanced, discrete head amplifier system utilizing a specially wound toroidal transformer and ultra-low noise FET's. This system is extremely quiet, can handle 135 dB SPL, and brings the R-122's sensitivity to -37 dB. The R-122 Live can be used on extremely long cable runs with minimal RF interference and signal loss, and the ribbon element cannot be damaged by phantom power, miswired cables or electrical glitches.

The R-122 Live is visually differentiated by its red logo. The ribbon element thickness is increased from 2.5-microns to 4-microns, giving the microphone greater durability and a slightly reduced high end response. Highs are often rolled off in live performances, but due to the R-122 Live's exceptionally smooth high frequency response, it needs far less eq'ing than is usually required with condenser and dynamic microphones.

The R-122 Live is backed with Royer's lifetime warranty to the original owner, and the first re-ribbon is free. We expect it to work as hard as you do, so we stand behind it the whole way. As with any high end microphone, proper storage during transit and careful handling during setup and breakdown is key to keeping the microphone in good working order.

Figure-8's On Stage
The R-122 Live's pickup pattern is figure-8, which can be used to control stage bleed with great effect. Side rejection in the null points is strong - position the mics "ears" to face the offending instrument(s) and bleed will be virtually eliminated. The top and bottom of the microphone are also null points. If monitors are in close proximity to the rear side of the microphone, a positioning adjustment can place the monitors output in the mic's null, isolating the monitor from the mic's pickup areas.

Patented Offset Ribbon Technology
The R-122 Live's proprietary offset ribbon transducer (Patent # 6,434,252) is the first of its kind, positioning the ribbon element closer to the front (logo) side of the microphone. This arrangement gives the ribbon more room to move within the prime magnetic field while maintaining full frequency response on high SPL applications. It's an integral piece of the magic of all Royer R-series microphones.

The R-122 Live accurately reproduces what you hear at the sound source. If your goal is to capture something the way it really sounds - that ripping electric guitar, that wailing trumpet, that full kit - and you've found that reproducing that sound was next to impossible, put up some Royer Live Series mics and get ready. The R-121's response is flat and well balanced, with a deep, non-boomy low end, well defined and realistic mids, and a smooth and natural sounding high end response that's never edgy or sibilant.

The R-122 Live is similar to the R-121 Live, but the faster transient response and larger size of the R-122 Live's audio transformer translates into more open highs and a tighter, more focused low end response. These characteristics make the R-122 an exceptional choice for live drum overheads, warm electric guitars, solo brass and saxophone, and percussion.

When it's time to mix the band, push up the faders and you'll see why FOH engineers love their R-122 Live's. When the instruments sound real, fitting them into the live mix is a breeze.

R-122 Live or R-121 Live?
Because of the R-122's faster transient response and tighter low end, engineers often choose them over R-121's for drum overheads and percussion. R-121 Live's tend to edge out R-122 Live's on electric guitars and brass, but it's a matter of taste. If it's mostly electric guitars and/or brass, we usually suggest going with the R-121 Live. The R-122 Live is just as good on these instruments, but you may not need (or want) the additional top-end openness (from the faster transient response) and you certainly won't need the higher sensitivity on these high SPL applications. If you plan on using the mics primarily for drum overheads and/or percussion, we heartily recommend going with the R-122 Live.

Note: The R-122 Live puts out a lot of level when used to record very loud electric guitars. To keep from overdriving the front end of your mic pre, we recommend that you use a Shure or Neutrik 10dB in-line pad. As with many high-end microphones, the R-122 Live demands the full 48 volts when it's being pushed hard. Be sure your phantom power supply is putting out full power when tracking loud sound sources, as inadequate power can lead to loss of headroom and microphone distortion.