Royer Labs has announced the R-122 MkII Phantom-Powered Ribbon Microphone for acoustic instruments and other sources with low SPL characteristics, as well as high SPL instruments.
The R-122 MkII is an R-122 with two additional features – a switchable -15dB pad and a switchable bass cut filter. The pad is positioned before any of the microphone’s electronics and allows for high SPL recordings with no microphone distortion or preamplifier overload. With the pad engaged, the R-122 MkII has 2dB lower output than the flagship R-121.
The switchable bass-cut filter is positioned at 100Hz (6dB/octave) to help reduce the excess low end created by proximity effect. The bass cut capability is also useful when miking electric guitars in sessions or live performances where less low-end is desired.
The mic uses a low mass, 2.5-micron, pure (99.99%) aluminium ribbon element in a proprietary offset transducer assembly that is common to all Royer R-series mics. Its increased sensitivity is accomplished by a Royer-designed torroidal transformer, which delivers 13dB higher output with no additional self-noise. The torroidal transformer also gives the R-122 MkII a faster transient response than traditional ribbon mics, resulting in a tighter low end and a sense of the highs being more open.
The R-122 MkII’s patented offset-ribbon design positions the ribbon element toward the front of the microphone body, which allows for high SPL handling on the front (logo) side and the option of a slightly brighter response when recording lower SPL sound sources on the back side (3-ft and closer; phase reversed in this position).
‘The original R-122 was the world’s first phantom powered ribbon microphone and people didn’t know what to make of it at first, but when Bruce Swedien announced it was his favourite ribbon mic ever, we literally couldn’t build enough of them,’ says John Jennings, Royer VP of Sales & Marketing. ‘Dave Royer and Rick Perrotta designed a beauty with that one, so when they started tinkering with it again last year we all knew something interesting was coming. Both the pad and bass cut functions do their job beautifully and add tremendous versatility to the mic. Furthermore, when you disengage the switches, they are completely out of the signal path and you have an unadulterated R-122. The R-122 MkII is a next-generation ribbon microphone, another first of its kind.’
Royer Labs’ new R-122 MkII Phantom-Powered Ribbon Microphone ships in a wooden case and carries a lifetime warranty to the original owner. Additionally, the first re-ribbon is free to the original owner. The R-122 MkII carries an MSRP of US$1,995 and is shipping now.
More: www.royerlabs.com
