R-121-300

R-121 Ribbon Microphone

Released in 1998, the award-winning R-121 is our flagship microphone; the world’s first radically reengineered ribbon microphone and the model that reintroduced ribbon mics to engineers around the world. We did away with the large, heavy, fragile “classic” approach to ribbon microphones and went in a completely new direction. The R-121 gives all of the warmth and natural sound that experienced engineers have long turned to ribbon mics for, but in a compact, light-weight, high output and tough-as-nails package that was unheard of in a ribbon mic before the R-121. In its 10+ years in the market, thousands of R-121’s have been sold around the world and it’s well established as a standard for tracking electric guitar and brass.

The R-121 redefined ribbon microphones so completely that Recording Magazine wrote: “…the Royer R-121 is destined to become one of the classic microphones of the 21st century.”

Like many of the best classic ribbon mics, the R-121 has a figure-8 pattern, output level comparable to a dynamic mic, and a warm, realistic tone and flat frequency response. But that’s where the similarities end. By using advanced materials and a blend of cutting edge and old-school, hand-build construction techniques, the R-121 is an extremely versatile and user-friendly ribbon mic that can stand up to the most demanding tasks. Cranked up electric guitars, close up brass, drums – you name it, the R-121 will help you record it with realism you have to hear to believe.

We build the R-121 solid enough to give it a lifetime warranty. We expect you to own it for as long as you record, and we’ll stand behind it the whole way

Patented Offset Ribbon Technology
The R-121’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 during high SPL recordings. It’s an integral piece of the magic of all Royer R-series microphones.

ArtistMaterialEngineer, ProducerMicrophoneInstrumentGenreMedia
Johnny HawthornFull MixCharley PollardR-121Electric GuitarRockAudio
Amalia StephensonRibbons OnlyRichard DobsonR-121Vocals, Acoustic GuitarTraditionalAudio
Andy GeorgesIsolated Ribbon TracksDusty WakemanR-121Electric GuitarRock, BluesAudio
blink-182Full MixSean O'Dwyer, Jerry FinnR-121PianoRockAudio, Photos
Brian SetzerFull Mix and Isolated Ribbon
Tracks
John Holbrook, Dave DarlingR-121Electric Guitars, Big BandRock, RockabillyAudio
California
Wind Orchestra
Ribbons OnlyJohn La GrouR-121Woodwinds, LiveClassicalAudio
CanaanFull MixKyle Homme, Shawn SullivanR-121Acoustic Guitar, Drums, VocalsPopAudio
ChlorineFull MixMatt HydeR-121Electric GuitarsRockAudio
Coal ChamberFull Mix and Isolated Ribbon
Tracks
Ross HogarthR-121Drum Room, Drums, Electric
Guitar, Electric Guitar-Heavy Rock
Hard RockAudio, Photos
Diana KrallFull MixAl Schmitt, Tommy LiPumaR-121Electric Guitar, Electric
Guitar-Jazz
JazzAudio
Fiach and TradalsaRibbons OnlyChristyR-121Accordion, Acoustic Guitar, BassCelticAudio
JewelFull MixMichael O'Reilly, Arif MardinR-121Electric Guitar, Orchestra,
Pedal Steel Guitar
PopAudio
Jim LauderdaleFull Mix and Isolated Ribbon
Tracks
Randy KohrsR-121Acoustic Guitar, DobroCountry, AmericanaAudio
Jodi EnglishIsolated Ribbon TrackLes CamachoR-121Kick Drum, DrumsRockAudio
John JenningsEducational Microphone TechniqueJeff GrossR-121Acoustic Guitar, ComparisonsFolkAudio
John MarchRibbons OnlyJohn MarchR-121Acoustic Guitar, Electric
Guitar, Home Recording
BluesAudio
Kings XFull Mix and Isolated Ribbon
Tracks
Michel WagenerR-121Electric Guitars, Electric
Guitar-Heavy Rock
Hard RockAudio, Photos, Video
Lily
Wilde and her Jumpin' Jubilee Orchestra
Ribbons OnlyCraig Brock, Tom RoyerR-121Brass, Drum Room, Drums, Big
Band
JazzAudio
LoudmouthFull MixJoe Barresi, Allen Sides, Johnny
K, John Sullivan
R-121Drum Room, Electric Guitar,
Electric Guitar-Heavy Rock
RockAudio
Mark KnopflerFull MixChuck AinlayR-121Electric GuitarsRock, PopAudio
Marvelous 3Full MixJerry Finn, Butch Walker, Joe
McGrath
R-121Electric GuitarsRockAudio
Melissa
Etheridge
Full Mix and Isolated Ribbon
Tracks
Ross HogarthR-121Drum Room, Drums, Electric
Guitar
Rock, PopAudio, Photos
Michael DeTempleRibbons OnlyMichael DeTempleR-121Vocals, Banjo, Acoustic GuitarFolk, BluegrassAudio
Monster MagnetFull MixRandy Staub, Matt HydeR-121Drum Room, Drums, Electric
Guitar
Hard RockAudio
Rafael
Manriguez and Quique Cruz
Full MixBrian KnaveR-121ViolinWorldAudio
Rascal
Flatts
Full MixJustin Niebank, Dan HuffR-121Electric GuitarsRock, CountryAudio
Robert CrayFull MixDon Smith, Steve JordanR-121Electric Guitars, VocalsBluesAudio
Ross
Hogarth
Isolated Ribbon TracksRoss HogarthR-121Bongo, Drum Overhead, Drum Room,
Drums, Electric Guitar, Electric Guitar-Heavy Rock, Percussion, Shaker
RockAudio
Shawn
Sullivan
Isolated Ribbon TrackShawn SullivanR-121Acoustic GuitarPop, FolkAudio
Sixpence
None The Richer
Full MixRuss Long, Steve TaylorR-121Electric Guitars, CelloPop, Rock, Christian RockAudio
SlashIsolated Ribbon TrackJim MitchellR-121Electric GuitarRockAudio
Sonny
Landreth LIVE
Full Mix and Isolated Ribbon
Tracks
Tony DaigleR-121Live, Electric GuitarsBlues, RockAudio, Photos
Steve AlbiniMicrophone ComparisonsSteve AlbiniR-121Acoustic Guitar, Comparison,
Drums, Electric Guitar, Electric Guitar-Rock, Saxophone, Trumpet
Rock, Jazz, FolkAudio
Teddy
Andreas and Bruce Watson
Ribbons OnlyNeil CitronR-121Acoustic Guitar, AccordionPop, FolkAudio
The
Quincy Jones - Sammy Nestico Orchestra
Full MixTommy Vicari, Quincy Jones, Sammy
Nestico, Jerry Hey
R-121Big Band, Brass, Trombone,
Trumpet
JazzAudio
Treble
Charger
Full MixMatt HydeR-121Electric GuitarsRockAudio
Backward R-121 SamplesFull Mix and Isolated Ribbon
Tracks
VariousR-121VariousVariousAudio
Dirty Dozen Brass Band 1Full Mix and Isolated Ribbon
Tracks
Clint Bennett, Anthony Marinelli,
Shawn Amos
R-121, R-122Brass,Drums, Percussion,,
Saxophone, Sousaphone, Tuba, Vocals
New Orleans Brass BandAudio, Photos
Stephen
Bruton
Full Mix and Isolated Ribbon
Tracks
Ross Hogarth, Stephen BrutonR-121, R-122B3, Drum Room, Drums, Electric
Guitar, Harmonica, Resonator Guitar
Rock, BluesAudio
Lukas
Rossi and Kenny Aronoff
Full Mix and Isolated Ribbon
Tracks
Ross HogarthR-121, R-122, R-122V, SF-24Drum Overhead, Drum Room, Drums,
Electric Guitar,
Rock, PopVideo
Ross Hogarth
and Tim Pierce
Ribbons Only, EducationalR-121, R-122, R-122V, SF-24Electric Guitar, Electric
Guitar-Heavy Rock, Electric Guitar-Jazz, Electric Guitar-Rock
Rock, Blues, Heavy Rock, PopVideo
Fab recording
Will Knox
Full MixFabR-121, R-122, R-122V, SF-24, SF-2Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Drum
Overhead, Drums, Fiddle, Kick Drum, Standup Bass, Tom-Toms, Upright Bass,
Violin
FolkVideo
Arturo
Sandoval
Full MixAl Schmitt, Gary Grant, Arturo
Sandoval
R-121, R-122, SF-12Big Band, Brass, Drum Overhead,
Drums,åÊ Trombone, Trumpet
JazzAudio, Photos, Video
Dirty Dozen Brass Band 2Full Mix and Isolated Ribbon
Tracks
Clint Bennett, Anthony Marinelli,
Shawn Amos
R-121, R-122, SF-12Brass,åÊ Electric Guitar, Sousaphone, Trombone,
Trumpet, Tuba
New Orleans Brass BandAudio, Photos
CyriusFull MixBruce SwedienR-121, SF-12Percussion, Congas, TimbalesWorldAudio, Photos
John ThomasRibbons OnlyDusty WakemanR-121, SF-12Acoustic GuitarsFolk, AmericanaAudio, Photos
Les GoFull MixBruce SwedienR-121, SF-12Percussion, Hammer DulcimerWorld PopAudio
Roger Wojahn
& Scott Wojahn
Full MixSteve KempsterR-121, SF-12Drum Overhead, Drums, Electric
Guitar, Percussion, Violin
WorldAudio
The
Carl Verheyen Band
Full MixShawn SullivanR-121, SF-12Drum Room, Drums, Electric
Guitar
Blues, RockAudio
Tony FurtadoFull MixDusty WakemanR-121, SF-12Acoustic Guitar, Drum Room,åÊ Electric GuitarAmericana, RockAudio
Kevin
Shepard
Isolated Ribbon TracksRoger SummersR-121, SF-12, SF-1Drum Overhead, Drums, Kick DrumRockAudio, Photos
Brian SetzerFull mixJimbo NealR-121, SF-24Big Band, Electric Guitar, Drums, BrassRock, RockabillyVideo
Gordon GoodwinFull Mix and Isolated Ribbon
Tracks
Tommy Vicari, Gordon GoodwinR-121, SF-24Big Band, Brass, Saxophone,
Trumpet
JazzAudio
Matchbox Twenty LIVEFull Mix and Isolated Ribbon
Tracks
Jim EbdonR-121LiveLive, Electric GuitarsRock, PopAudio, Photos

Listen to More Samples in the Audio/Video Library

Features

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

Applications

Electric Guitar Amps
Brass Instruments
Horn Sections
Drum Rooms
Kick Drum
Woodwinds
Percussion Instruments
Acoustic Piano
Acoustic Guitar
String Instruments & Sections
Choirs & Orchestras
Commercial Broadcast

Technical Specifications

Acoustic Operating Principle: Electrodynamic pressure gradient
Polar Pattern: Figure-8
Generating Element: 2.5-micron aluminum ribbon
Magnets: Rare Earth Neodymium
Frequency Response: 30 -15,000 Hz +/- 3dB
Sensitivity: -47 dBv Re. 1v/pa
Output Impedance: 300 Ohms @ 1K (nominal)
Rated Load Impedance: >1500 Ohms @ 300 Ohms
Maximum SPL: >135dB @ 20 Hz
Output Connector: Male XLR 3 pin (Pin 2 Hot)
Dimensions: 155.7mm L, 25mm W (6.13" L, 1" W) Weight: 244g (8.6 oz) Finish: Dull Satin Nickel/Matte Black Chrome optional

Polar Pattern

polar pattern

Frequency Response

frequency response

SaveSave

Manual

R-121 CD-R manual 2015_Page_01

Cutsheet

R-121 Cutsheet_Page_1

SaveSave

Home Recording - Royer Labs R-121 Ribbon microphone - A Mic For All Seasons by David Darlington

Vintage Guitar - R-121 Ribbon Microphone by Steve Patt

Tape Op - R-121 Ribbon Microphone  by Steve Albini

Sound on Sound - Funky Ribbon - Royer R-121 Studio Ribbon Microphoneby Hugh Robjohns

Electronic Musician - Electronic Musician - Editors Choice Award January 2000, Microphone (ribbon)

Recording Magazine - Royer R-121 Ribbon Microphone - What Went Around Has Come Around Again by DaviMoulton

Pro Audio Review - Royer R-121 Ribbon Microphone by Russ Long

Electronic Musician - Royer Labs R-121 - A New Ribbon Mic Ups The Ante On A Classic Design by Myles Boisen


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