Royer Labs is pleased to announce the R-122 MKII Phantom-Powered Ribbon Microphone. With its high output level and -15 dB pad, the new R-122 MKII is extremely versatile and ideally suited for miking acoustic instruments and other sources with low SPL characteristics, as well as high SPL instruments like electric guitar.
Royer Labs’ new R-122 MKII is essentially an R-122 with two additional features: (1) a switchable -15 dB pad and (2) a switchable bass cut filter. The switchable -15 dB Pad allows for high SPL recordings with no microphone distortion or preamplifier overload, which is particularly useful for close miking electric guitars. The pad is positioned before any of the microphone’s electronics— greatly reducing any potential for headroom related distortion. With the pad engaged, the R-122 MKII actually has 2 dB lower output than the company’s flagship R-121 microphone.
The MKII’s switchable bass cut filter is positioned at 100 Hz (6 dB per octave). When activated, this filter helps reduce the excess low end created by proximity effect, the bass buildup commonly experienced during close miking of vocals and acoustic instruments. The bass cut capability is also useful when miking electric guitars in sessions (or live performances) where less low end buildup is desired.
The R-122 MKII utilizes a low mass, 2.5-micron, pure (99.99%) aluminum ribbon element in Royer’s patented offset-ribbon transducer assembly, which is common to all Royer R-series microphones. The microphone’s increased sensitivity is accomplished by the utilization of a special Royer-designed toroidal transformer which delivers 13 dB higher output with no additional self-noise being generated. The toroidal 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 feet and closer; phase reversed in this position).
John Jennings, Royer’s VP of Sales and Marketing commented on the company’s new offering, “The original R-122 is a very popular mic that has sold well since its introduction in 2002. It 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 favorite ribbon mic ever, we literally couldn’t build enough of them. 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, and I’m confident that recording engineers will find it to be a valuable addition to their mic closets.”
Royer Labs’ new R-122 MKII Phantom-Powered Ribbon Microphone ships in an attractive wooden jewelers box and carries a lifetime warranty to the original owner. Additionally, the first re-ribbon is free to the original owner. The new R-122 MKII carries an MSRP of $1,995.00 and is shipping now.