Driven by a Passion for Music: David Royer, founder of Royer Labs, is one of an elite group of microphone designers who know that music and sound are inseparable from electronic design. He founded his first company, Mojave Audio in his Fullerton garage, where he modified amps and made his own condenser mics, mic pre’s and compressors. Building gear under the Mojave and DVA labels, he created a number of condenser mics that became popular among top audio engineers like Bob Clearmountain, Mutt Lange and Sean Beaven. During this “garage period,” Royer came across his first ribbon mic, a Reslo that needed repair, and his fascination for ribbon mics was born. Believing that the ribbon mics were more musical and like the human ear than any other kind, he set out to learn everything he could about them. The design of his first ribbon mic, the R-121 led to the opening of Royer Labs in 1998.
A Special Grammy: In 2013, Royer Labs received the coveted Technical Grammy Award for bringing ribbon microphones into mainstream recording around the world. John Jennings, VP of Sales and Marketing says, “Royer is made up entirely of musicians who really care about music and quality, so we don’t cut any corners and are driven by the energy and excitement of everyone pulling in the same direction.”
The Flagship R-121: The award-winning R-121 is Royer’s flagship microphone; the world’s first radically reengineered ribbon microphone and the model that reintroduced ribbon mics to engineers around the world. Royer Labs 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 two decades 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. Its users include Al Schmitt, Arturo Sandoval, Wayne Bergeron, Jerry Hey, Zakk Wylde, Eddie Van Halen and Jeff Beck.
The Royer R-10 Studio/Live Ribbon Microphone: The Royer R-10 is a passive mono ribbon microphone designed for use in the studio and on live stages. Hand-built in the company’s Burbank 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 allows for flexible, unobtrusive positioning. The ribbon transducer is wired for humbucking to reject electromagnetically induced noise; you will never get a “harsh” recording. The R-10’s built-in windscreen provides superior protection from air blasts and plosives. It also reduces proximity effect (bass buildup from close miking) so guitar cabinets and acoustic instruments can be close-miked with less bass buildup. The R-10’s internally shockmounted ribbon transducer isolates the ribbon element from shocks and vibrations, increasing the ribbon element’s durability. The price point of $499 is significantly lower than Royer’s other flagship products. The R-10 is currently being used on tour by the Foo Fighters and other acts.
Contact Royer Labs, 818-847-0121, royerlabs.com
