ROYER R-122 MK2 PADS UP
18 May 2015
Royer Labs has updated its R-122 ribbon mic. The MkII phantom-powered ribbon microphone has a switchable -15dB pad and a switchable bass cut filter. The switchable -15dB 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 — reducing any potential for headroom related distortion. With the pad engaged, the R-122 MKII actually has 2dB lower output than the company’s flagship R-121 microphone. Meanwhile, the MkII’s switchable bass cut filter is positioned at 100Hz (6dB 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.
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 favourite 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 jewellers 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 US$1995 and is shipping now.
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