If you’re a studio engineer, the R-121 from Royer Labs probably needs no introduction: this is the studio ribbon microphone that put ribbon microphones back on the map again. Where ribbon microphones were always prized for their sound but considered largely finicky, the R-121 is equally prized for its sound and is about as durable as a ribbon microphone can be.
The mic is known for its warm and natural sound, free from the hyped-up high-end usually associated with condenser mics. It’s perfect for anything from vocals to drum rooms to guitar amps to symphonic/choral sections. With its figure-8 polar pattern, it can pick up sound equally from behind or in front of the capsule. The R-121 boasts high SPL handling for close capturing of instrument cabinets, drums, and other transient-rich sources without noise and distortion.
BOOM!
