Royer Labs R-121

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Ribbon Microphone

Directional characteristic: Figure 8
Extremely low inherent noise
Ribbon element insensitive to heat and moisture
Ideal for guitar recordings, wind instruments, overheads and string instruments
Frequency range: 30 Hz - 15 kHz +/- 3 dB
Sensitivity: -54 dBv re. 1 V/pa +/- 1 dB
Output impedance: 300 Ohm @ 1 k (nominal)
Maximum SPL: > 135 dB
Length: 158 mm
Diameter: 25 mm
Weight: 245 g
Colour: Nickel
Incl. wooden box and protective cover

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3-Year Thomann Warranty

Available since November 2001
Item number 136816
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
shockmount included No

£1,390

All prices incl. VAT

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in Ribbon Microphones

The quintessential ribbon microphone

The Royer Labs R-121 ribbon microphone may be less than two decades old, but it has already achieved legendary status. For many, it represents the benchmark for modern ribbon microphones. It delivers a warm, balanced sound with finely detailed midrange reproduction, minimal self-noise, and a strong proximity effect. Built with a figure-eight polar pattern, the R-121 features a patented ribbon alignment that gives each side a slightly different tonal character – an advantage that can be creatively used during recording. It comes packaged in an elegant wooden case, complete with a microphone clamp and protective cover.

A microphone for all situations

The Royer Labs R-121 is often described as a "bread and butter" microphone – one that performs reliably across a wide range of sound sources and consistently delivers excellent results. As a passive dynamic ribbon mic, it doesn't require phantom power. It can handle sound pressure levels up to 135dB from the front, and despite its ultra-thin 2.5-micron ribbon transducer, it remains impressively durable thanks to Royer's patented ribbon arrangement. When used with the rear side facing the sound source, the mic produces a brighter tone, though with a slight reduction in maximum SPL. Its sensitivity of 2.2 mV/Pa is relatively high for a ribbon microphone, but to get the best performance, it should be paired with a high-quality, low-noise preamp.

Round, balanced, and warm

The Royer Labs R-121 is a highly versatile microphone known for its distinctive sound. Unlike many other microphone types that accentuate upper treble frequencies and sibilants, the R-121 maintains an exceptionally flat response in this range. The result is a tone often described as round, balanced, and characteristically warm – qualities that make it an appealing sonic alternative to high-resolution large-diaphragm condenser microphones. When using the R-121, there are a few important things to bear in mind: It should be stored upright during long periods of inactivity to prevent ribbon sagging; and although it is a passive ribbon microphone, care should be taken not to connect it to an input with phantom power engaged. If the cable is faulty or the polarity is reversed, phantom power could potentially cause damage.

About Royer

Royer Labs is an American company founded in 1998 by David Royer and Rick Perotta. The key element at the core of Royer Labs' commercial success is the R-121 ribbon microphone, developed by microphone enthusiast and sonar measurement engineer David Royer in 1997 - at a time when the ribbon microphone was considered to be something endangered and exotic. The R-121 rapidly gained a remarkable reputation in international recording studios and quickly became a "classic" for miking guitar amplifiers. In 2013, Royer Labs was recognised with a Technical Grammy, the music industry's highest honour, for its dedication and inventive spirit. To this day, Royer Labs exclusively builds ribbon microphones. In addition to the legendary R-121, Royer Labs now also offers stereo ribbon microphones and active ribbon microphones with internal amplifier circuitry.

Also suitable for vocals

The Royer Labs R-121 ribbon microphone is widely regarded as a top choice for recording clean electric guitar tones. A classic setup – pairing a Fender Stratocaster with a Fender Twin amp and placing the R-121 in front of a Jensen speaker – is a go-to combination for achieving rich, clear clean sounds. When it comes to distorted guitars, the R-121 pairs brilliantly with the Shure SM57, combining the warmth of the ribbon mic with the SM57's focused bite for a well-balanced tone. Though not as commonly used for vocals, the R-121's unique sonic character can add depth and warmth to vocal recordings as well. For a brighter tone, the mic can simply be rotated 180 degrees. In this configuration, it should be positioned slightly farther from the source, and a pop filter is strongly recommended for optimal results.

40 Customer ratings

5 39 Customers 4 1 Customer 3 0 Customers 2 0 Customers 1 0 Customers

5 / 5

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26 Reviews

An expensive but brilliant ribbon mic

Peter Glavanov 02.04.2021

R121 in combination with Shure SM57 is a standard for the recording of the perfect guitar sound. I also use it for acoustic guitar tracking along with another mic (Rode NTK)
This mic worth its money on 100% if you are professional.
If you wanna record both (sm57 and R121) together and always in phase I would recommend buying the Royer Labs SM-21 AxeMount as well.

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The Real Deal!

SerdarY. 31.08.2022

With having this mic finally I can hear what the real guitar tone is coming from the amplifier + cabinet!

I recommend to use it with Shure SM57 to fill the mid-range because Royer gives you open-wide full bottom-end very smoothly so when you engage the 57 you get the huge and impressive guitar tone!

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Floff 28.07.2020

Excellent quality and exquisite tone. Together with the SM57 (using the Axemount nut), they're a match made in heaven for guitar tones.
Prior to using the 121 I thought that being a ribbon it would need quite a lot of gain from the preamp. But I realized that actually my 121 needs a hair less gain than the SM57.
Mixing the 121 / SM57 pair results in an almost finished, polished guitar tone that sits in the mix perfectly.

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The best

Johnnyalucard 16.04.2018

Royer mics are the standard bearers for ribbon microphones and the R-121 is the daddy of them all. Incredible quality and they sound impeccable.

I use them on virtually any source apart from vocals where I'm slightly nervous of putting them anywhere near the vocalists mouth in case they blow on the ribbon!

Incredibly versatile, a thing of beauty, and paired with a good mic pre one of the all time classic recording devices.

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Royer Labs R-121

Ribbon Microphone