Royer Labs R-122 MkII

Are you looking for a microphone for use on stage or to equip your recording studio ? Why not try the Royer Labs R-122 MkII ribbon microphone Just like the famous original R-122 , the R-122 MkII produces a sound that is natural , precise and warm . Its advantage? The Royer Labs R-122 MkII features a -15 dB attenuator and a switchable low-cut filter . This allows it to support loud sound sources without distortion. Want more details on this mic? Here is our complete test!

Focus on the Royer Labs brand

Before revealing the results of the R-122 MkII test, I would like to draw your attention to the Royer Labs . Specializing in the production of ribbon microphones , this American company was created by David Royer. In 1998, he launched his first ribbon microphone: the R-121 . A legendary mic that received many positive reviews from recording magazines at the time.

It must be said that the R-121 from Royer Labs has nothing to envy of ordinary ribbon microphones . This microphone benefits from two innovations that make it a better, high-performance professional studio microphone . It is equipped with neodymium magnets allowing it to generate a powerful magnetic field . In addition, the quality of its microphone output transformers gives it high signal/noise.

A year after the release of the R-121, the Royer Labs brand once again impresses sound engineers with the SF-12 stereo microphone . Followed by the R-122 which was the very first phantom-powered ribbon microphone . Next comes the R-122 V, then the Live Series microphones designed for live sound recording.

The biggest award received by Royer Labs was undoubtedly the Technical Grammy Award in 2013. This brand continues to innovate its microphones to boost their performance. The R-122 MkII is proof of this. Indeed, this ribbon microphone, unlike the original R-122, is equipped with a -15 dB pad and a high-pass filter . Features that make the Royer Labs R-122 MkII more versatile. So you can use it for a wide range of sound sources .

Royer Labs R-122 MkII Microphone Overview

The Royer Labs R-122 MkII is a ribbon microphone like the Beyerdynamic M160 or the t.bone RB 500. For information, note that this type of microphone works according to the same principle as dynamic microphones . The only difference: a thin metal ribbon acting as a diaphragm acts as a voice coil .

Unsurprisingly, the R-122 MkII features bidirectional polar pattern just like most ribbon microphones. This means that this mic is designed to pick up sounds coming from the front and back . On the other hand, a bidirectional microphone remains insensitive to sound sources from the sides. We will see the areas of application of this microphone a little further down.

But without further ado, let's find out what's in the wooden box:

• A Royer Labs R-112 MkII microphone
• A storage pouch
• A 3-pin XLR cable

First, let’s talk about the build quality of the R-122 MkII. Like all models from the Royer Labs brand, this one is not lacking in quality, far from it. It indeed benefits from a solid design .

On the back of the microphone, there are two switchable switches: a 15 dB attenuator and a low-cut filter . These are well recessed to avoid accidental manipulation.

As for the storage pouch, this device is very practical for protecting the tape from magnetic particles.

Since this is an active ribbon mic (just like the Golden Age Project R1 Active MK3 ), you'll need phantom power to operate it.

A low-cut filter and a -15 dB attenuator: two very popular features of the R-122 MkII

The Royer Labs R-122 MkII benefits from the same design as the original R-122. Among other things, it has a figure 8 pattern . Also, it produces a balanced and natural sound.

Note, however, that despite the great success that R-122 experienced, it was not perfect. If you've had a chance to use it, you might have noticed that it tends to create distortion when connected to a low input impedance preamp like the API Audio The Channel Strip (a multifunction preamplifier with several preamplification modules).

To solve this problem, the Royer brand had the idea of ​​integrating two switches into this improved version: a low-cut filter and a -15 dB attenuation pad .

• Attenuator -15 dB

Once activated, the Royer R-122 MkII's -15 dB attenuator pad removes the distortion problems associated with overloading a preamplifier. Activation of this device allows the microphone to withstand a high sound pressure level . So, you can use it to record your electric guitar. Which was simply impossible with the original R-122.

Note that with this built-in switch , the output level of the Royer Labs R-122 MkII is only 2 dB lower than the R-121.

• Low blow filter

As its name suggests, the low-cut filter is used to pass high frequencies and reduce low frequencies . Once activated, this device begins cutting bass at 100 Hz and decreases by 6 dB per octave.

This filter will be of great use to you when you want to control the proximity effect . By turning the filter off, you'll see that the bass gets stronger when you move your sound source closer to the mic. A problem that you can easily solve by simply activating the attenuation switch.

This feature is therefore very practical when you want to record sound that requires less bass . For example, when recording vocals, consider activating this filter to obtain precise sound free of parasitic noise.

The Royer Labs R-122 MkII and its areas of application

You are probably wondering which instruments are compatible with the Royer R-122 MkII ribbon microphone Well, know that this microphone can adapt to various sound sources . This is possible thanks in particular to the two integrated switches.

Just like R-121, R-122 MkII has the ability to withstand high sound pressure . Which makes it perfect for applications long considered impossible for ribbon mics.

To give you an idea, here is a non-exhaustive list of areas of application for R-122 MkII (according to Royer Labs recommendations):

• Amplifier of an electric guitar
• Acoustic guitar
• Electric guitar
• Percussion instruments (snare drum, drum, tom-tom, claves, etc.)
• Acoustic piano
• Harp
• Violin
• Choirs
• Orchestras
• Duo of singers located on opposite sides of the mic (due to the mic's bidirectional polar pattern)
• Voice recording
• Voice off

Now let's see the Royer Labs R-122 MkII in action. To do this, let's test it on an acoustic guitar jack with and without the high pass filter:

• Low cut filter disabled: proximity effect emphasizes low frequencies
• Low-cut filter activated: you can immediately see the difference; the proximity effect linked to bass has disappeared .

Here are the tests of the Royer Labs R-122 MkII on an electric guitar connected to a preamp of 300 ohms input impedance (like the Channel Strip AMS Neve 1073 DPX preamp which is adjustable with up to 300Ω input impedance 'enter using its Lo Z switch):

• Attenuator – 15 dB disabled: this low input impedance reduces the headroom, causing microphone distortion on sources with high sound pressure levels
• Attenuator – 15 dB activated: no more distortion problems

You will have understood : the two integrated switches are of capital importance for optimizing the quality of your recordings .

Focus on the sound quality of the Royer Labs R-122 MkII

Now for the part you're probably looking forward to: testing the sound quality of the R-122 MkII.

Most ribbon microphones need a high gain microphone especially when recording a weak sound source. Please note that the Royer R-122 MkII, although it is a ribbon microphone, is not at all subject to this type of problem.

Indeed, it benefits from a high output level . It is equipped with an integrated amplifier . This has a toroidal and low noise FETs . Thanks to this silent system, the sensitivity of the microphone increases to 37 dB . All with a high SPL. Note also that the phantom power circuit does not add any noise of its own. All this explains the fact that the R-122 MkII can be adapted with any preamp .

The Royer Labs R-122 MkII displays a flat frequency response varying between 30 Hz and 18 kHz . Compared to R-121, R-122 MkII is more sensitive ( +13 dB ). In addition, its transient response is much faster.

If you use the Royer Labs R-122 MkII, you will no longer need to invest in a high-end preamp . Indeed, like a condenser microphone , this miro is very sensitive. So it shows its full sonic potential even if you use a low gain preamp. What's more, the electronics of the Royer Labs R-122 MkII provide excellent loading on the tape.

With a preamp with an input impedance of 1200 ohms , we notice a slight clipping of the microphone. This is due to high sound pressure levels as well as low input impedance. Which reduces the safety margin.

With a preamp of 300 ohms input impedance , microphone clipping becomes more important. This can be explained by the fact that the sound pressure levels are high and the input impedance very low. Result: considerable reduction in the safety margin . However, once the -15dB attenuation pad is activated , mic distortion is removed completely.

Due to its low output impedance, this mic is compatible with long cables without noticeable loss of audio signal.

Let's finish this test of the sound quality of the Royer Labs R-122 MkII with the offset tape . This device saves space in the main magnetic field. As a result, it maintains a consistent frequency response during high SPL recordings . Note also that all Royer R series microphones benefit from the same configuration.

The technical characteristics of the Royer Labs R-122 MkII

• Type: ribbon microphone
• Directivity: figure 8
• Frequency response: 30 Hz – 15 kHz
• Switchable attenuator: – 15 dB
• Switchable low cut filter: 100 Hz
• Replacement sound level: <18 dB
• Sensitivity: -36 dB ( Ref 1V/Pa/-2 dB )
• Output impedance: 200 Ohms
• Maximum SPL: 135 dB at 20 Hz
• Output connector: 3-pin XLR
• Power Requirements: Phantom Power: 48V
• Dimensions (L x l): 206 mm x 25 mm
• Weight: 309g

Our opinion on the Royer Labs R-122 MkII microphone

If you are a fan of ribbon microphones, you will probably not be disappointed to adopt the Royer Labs R-122 MkII in your home studio. In terms of performance, the Royer R-122 MkII is well above average. Its high output level, low-cut filter, -15 Db pad and high SPL capacity make the R-122 MkII an exceptional mic.

Thanks to its high output level, I had no problem connecting it to a variety of preamps, even those with low gain.

And what about its two integrated switches? Thanks to the -15 dB attenuator, it can handle loud sound sources without distortion problems. Furthermore, activating the low-cut filter allows you to control the proximity effect.

These features simply make the R-122 MkII more versatile than the original R-122. Acoustic instruments, electric guitars, male voices, female voices... It can be suitable for a wide range of applications.

As for sound quality, the R-122 MkII meets my expectations perfectly. The sound is precise, natural and warm. In short, the characteristic sound of ribbon microphones. What sets it apart from other microphones of this type: no need for an equalizer to obtain a balanced and rich sound.

Given its performance, I can only recommend the Royer Labs R-122 MkII. What's more, it offers good value for money.

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