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Here's the much-beloved Royer R Series. At left, the R-121 that vaulted Royer to the top of the ribbon mic resurgence. In the middle, the R-122, the world's first phantom-powered ribbon. At right, the R-122V, Royer's tube-powered ribbon. Wahat do they all have in common besides the slick design and logo badge? Duh... great sound! Didn't you read the article on the right half of this page?
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Back in black with the SF Series. The mono SF-1 is at left, next to the SF-12 (middle) and SF-24 (right) stereo mics. Like the R-122, the SF-24 uses phantom-powered active electronics to give you more output and impedance matching that you'd never expect from a ribbon mic. Use these for string quartets, chamber orchestras, harps, timpanis, French horns... hell, use 'em on the soprano. But don't make her angry. Getting beat up by a soprano is embarrassing unless it's Tony.
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The ribbon mic can be your savior. Seriously, have you ever run into one of those sources to record, be it a sax, a brash vocalist, or even a guitar that just doesn't seem right with any of the mics in your arsenal? That, my friend, is the time to turn to the amazing power of the ribbon mic. If you haven't been living in a cave on a mountaintop since 1998 (and maybe if you have), you should be aware that the premiere name in today's ribbon microphones is Royer Labs. Let's take a look at how Royer almost single-handedly brought the ribbon back to the spotlight.
Wait... What's a Ribbon?
A ribbon microphone is its own subcategory of mics. Traditionally a dynamic mic, the ribbon mic uses (oddly enough) a thin ribbon made of corrugated aluminum which acts as both the voice coil and the diaphragm. The ribbon is attached to a magnetic circuit which measures the velocity of the ribbon as it reacts to sound pressure. Since helping to ressurect the ribbon into popularity, Royer has taught a few new tricks to the old ribbon dog, but more about that later.
Aren't Those Things Fragile?
Again, when you're referring to the classic ribbons made by companies like RCA in the Thirties, the answer is a resonding yes! But Royer's modern take on the vintage ribbon concept has made these mics much more robust than their predecessors ever were. Today, you'll see guitarists cranking high-gain amps with a Royer R-121 not far from the grille, as well as people using Royers onstage for national tours. In other words, today's ribbon mics are still pieces of sensitive equipment, but you no longer have to worry about them breaking if you look at them cross-eyed.
What Do I Use Royer Ribbons On?
If you can hear it, chances are a Royer ribbon mic might work on it. Since we hate writing these types of generalized responses as much as you dislike reading them, let's talk about the most popular sources on which ribbons are used. First, Royer ribbons have become the go-to choice for people recording horns, both solo and in sections. The way the ribbon captures the natural vibe of saxes, trumpets, trombones and so on somehow gives them the ultimate tone on recordings.
Can you use a ribbon on vocals? You bet. Remember, ribbons were used on so many of the classic vocal recordings of the past, you're probably very familiar with their warmth. If you're looking to round out the sound of a digital recording (or have a brash vocalist, male of female, blend better in a mix), a ribbon might be a great place to start. Ribbon mics have an amazing proximity effect, with bass frequencies becoming much more pronounced as one moves closer to the mic, so vocalists who know how to "work a mic" will have a field day with a great ribbon.
Other instruments? Sure... Carlos Santana uses a Royer ribbon to mike his guitar amps, so that should tell you something about their ability to capture creamy guitar tones. Finally, engineers like Bruce Swedien swear by Royer ribbons for drum overheads.
What's So Cool About Royer?
Well, for one thing, they've modernized the ribbon design so you no longer have to worry about using them on sources with high SPL, like drum kits or guitar amps. Take the R-121 for example: it can handle up to 135dB for hours on end.
While the R-121 emplys a revolutionary offset ribbon design, their next mic in the series offers an even more unexpected twist to the ribbon story. The R-122 is the world's first phantom-powered ribbon mic. It emplys internal active electronics to deliver 13 dB more output than the R-121, and impedance matching circuitry that makes it compatible with almost any mic preamplifier.
The R-122V adds yet another twist to the equation: a low-noise, triode-connected military grade 5840 vacuum tube. Yep, a tube ribbon mic. As you'd expect with a tube ic, it uses a dedicated external power supply.
Classic Mics for Classical Recording
In addition to the R Series, Royer also offers the SF ribbons. These mics provide an amazing "you are there" quality. The SF-12 is a stereo mic with two ribbons, while the SF-24 employs phantom-powered active electronics for higher output. Finally, for engineers wanting to take advantage of the SF sound for mono sources, Royer has the SF-1. All three mics have developed outstanding reputations for making classical recordings, in orchestral ensembles and solo instruments.
Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the GC Pro Tree!
If there's one thing the GC Pro Account Managers love, it's great mics. After all, you can have the world's finest recording, processing and monitoring systems, but if the original sources aren't captured well... there's a reason for the GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) saying. If it's time to add a terrific new mic to your locker, a Royer ribbon might be exactly what you need. Contact us today to set up a demo!
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