Royer Live Series
Royer Live Series mics – R-121L and R-122 MKllL (formerly R-122L) were introduced in 2008, making ribbon mics available to FOH engineers for the first time. As a group they won the 2008 TEC Award for Microphone Technology/Sound Reinforcement, and they’re showing up in performance venues around the world.
Royer Live Series mics utilize thicker ribbon elements – carefully chosen for increased durability and minimal sonic variation from their studio brethren. The thicker ribbons have a slightly slower transient response, resulting in softer highs.
Live Series mics are identified by their red logos (studio models have green logos). Live models can be converted to Studio models any time – we simply re-ribbon the mic to studio spec and replace the red logo with a green logo.
Like any high-end microphone, Royer Live Series mics need to be handled carefully during set-up and break-down. Proper handling and storage in a dedicated microphone container will assure years of reliable service.
Royer R-10
The Royer R-10 is a passive mono ribbon microphone designed for use in the studio and on live stages. Hand-built in our Burbank California factory, the R-10’s sound, and performance are all-Royer and it handles SPLs of up to 160 dB @ 1 kHz. The R-10’s compact size and mounting system allow for flexible, unobtrusive positioning.
Royer R-121 LIVE
The R-121 Live is a ruggedized version of our popular R-121 ribbon microphone. The studio R-121 is tough and has been used on live performances for years, but the increased durability of the R-121 Live gives FOH engineers greater confidence in the ribbon standing up to life on the road.
Royer R-122 MKII LIVE
The R-122 Live is a road-optimized version of our phantom powered R-122 MKII ribbon microphone. The R-122 MKII Live’s output is on par with phantom powered condenser mics, allowing long cable runs with minimal signal loss or RF pickup, and it produces the warm, natural sounds that only ribbon mics can deliver.
A Bit of History: How Aerosmith Came to Ribbons on the Road
How Aerosmith Came to Ribbons on the Road
While Aerosmith was rehearsing the Just Push Play tour in 2001, they were looking for a way to replicate their studio guitar sounds (recorded with their new R-121’s) and control on-stage microphone bleed. An engineer suggested trying R-121’s – they were studio ribbons but they were tough, the figure-8 patterns would control the bleed, and Joe Perry already liked the sound. It was the first time Royers had been tried live (that we know of). The rehearsal tests went great and Aerosmith ended up taking six R-121’s on the road for the tour (five for cabinets and one for standby).
Those six R-121’s stayed on Joe’s and Brad’s live guitar cabinets until 2009, when FOH engineer Jim Ebdon replaced them with R-121 Live Series mics. They had only stretched one R-121 ribbon in eight years, but Jim opted for the extra durability.
Ribbons On The Road
According to Jim Ebdon – front-of-house engineer for Aerosmith, Matchbox Twenty and Maroon 5 – “Joe Perry from Aerosmith had been using Royer R-121s in his studio and decided to take them on the road. We used a mixture of the Royers, [Shure] 57s and [Audio-Technica] AT4050s”. more
Royer Ribbons Rock Muse
New York (August 9, 2011) – FOH engineer Marc Carolan has been miking Muse singer/guitarist Matthew Bellamy’s guitar cabinet with a Royer R-122 live active ribbon microphone. more
The Brian Setzer Orchestra Live – FOH Engineer Jimbo Neal using Royers
Video: Front of house engineer Jimbo Neal takes us behind the scenes with the Brian Setzer Orchestra, showing how he uses Royer and Mojave Audio microphones