Royer Labs R-10 Ribbon Microphone

Manufacturer's Description from Royer

The Royer R-10 is a passive mono ribbon microphone designed for critical studio and live performance applications. Its compact size and mounting configuration allows for flexible placement with minimum intrusion. The R-10 exhibits a flat frequency response and a well-balanced soundfield, while at the same time handling sound pressure levels of up to 160 dB @ 1 kHz.

The R-10 incorporates advancements pioneered by Royer Labs, including a multi-layered wind screen and an internally shock- mounted ribbon transducer. The layered wind screen provides superior protection from air blasts and plosives, and also reduces proximity effect so guitar cabinets and acoustic instruments can be close miked with less bass build-up. The R-10’s internally shockmounted ribbon transducer assembly isolates the ribbon element from shocks and vibrations and increases ribbon durability.

The R-10 is a perfect choice for electric guitars, brass instruments and drums, and its figure-8 pattern conveys superb ambience and depth when used for room miking applications. The R-10’s smooth frequency response, phase linearity and lack of self-distortion make it ideal for digital recording.

The R-10 incorporates Royer’s patented offset-ribbon technology and low mass, 2.5-micron (99.9% pure) aluminum ribbon element. A custom designed impedance-matching transformer minimizes saturation and the open grill configuration minimizes standing waves and associated comb-filtering effects. The transducer’s flux-frame design and rare earth Neodymium magnets create a powerful magnetic field which increases sensitivity while reducing stray magnetic radiation.

The R-10’s patented offset-ribbon design positions the ribbon element towards the front of the transducer, which allows for the higher SPL handling of the front (logo) side and the option of a brighter response when recording lower SPL sound sources on the back side (3 feet or closer; phase reversed position).

R-10 FEATURES

• High SPL capability for electric guitar, brass and other close miking applications

• Multi-layered wind screen provides superior protection to ribbon element

• Internally shock-mounted ribbon transducer gives increased durability

• Passive design and custom transformer minimize high SPL overload

• Extremely low residual noise

• Ribbon element not affected by heat or humidity

• Absence of high-frequency peaks, “ringing” and phase shifts

• Equal sensitivity from front or back of the element

RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS

• Close miking in the studio and on live stages

• Electric & acoustic guitars

• Drum overheads, kick drum (see manual for position), room miking

• Percussion instruments

• Brass, horn sections

• Strings - solo & sections

• Acoustic piano

• Vocals

About Manufacturer

After years of designing and manufacturing microphones in Los Angeles, David Royer teamed up with Rick Perrotta, former President and co-founder of the prestigious Matchless Guitar Amplifier Company, and together with studio owner Rafael Villafane and musician/marketing director John Jennings, formed Royer Labs, a California based company dedicated to the development and production of high quality ribbon microphones and transducer elements. DAVID ROYER Best known for his ribbon mics, David has designed countless other mics and outboard devices that are in use throughout numerous LA studios. When David's not designing new gear, his idea of fun is climbing desert mountains or pounding dirt roads in his new pickup. RICK PERROTTA Rick Perrotta's name may sound familiar - he and Rafael Villafane owned LA's Baby-O Recorders during the 80's, then Rick went on to co-found Matchless Guitar Amplifiers, where he was President and Production Chief of the prestigious amp line until 1995. At the helm of Royer Labs, Rick brings an extraordinary level of craftsmanship to every Royer microphone (hold one in your hand and you may never give it back!). JOHN JENNINGS John worked for years as a guitar player and singer, in the studio and on the road. He took an 8-year detour into the corporate world as VP Sales & Marketing for an LA communications firm, but came to his senses in 1996 and ditched the suit to get into pro-audio manufacturing and sales. John handles sales and marketing for Royer Labs. RAFAEL VILLAFANE Rafael Villafane co-founded Baby'O Recorders with Rick. He has produced a #1 and numerous top ten hits in the US and abroad. He drinks too much. Owns a club in Acapulco (Baby'O). If you can prove you own a Royer product, the first ten tequilas are on him---really. Drives too fast. Been doing a record for ten years he STILL can't finish. Has a six-second attention span. He torched a school with young pal Jeff "Skunk" Baxter in Mexico City when they were kids. What else? Oh yeah, he's Mexican... nobody's perfect. CHRIS PERROTTA As another co-founder of Matchless Amplifier Company, Chris was responsible for the high quality detail work that Matchless is famous for, including the light up "dashboard" and three dimensional logo. At Royer, Chris is the chief mechanical designer and another confirmed precision freak. Every Royer microphone owes its beauty and elegance to Chris wonderful interpretations of the designers art.

Recording Electric Guitar - Session 4 Microphone Placement with Ross Hogarth

Grammy Award winning Producer/Engineer Ross Hogarth explains his critical microphone positioning technique using a Royer R-121 and Shure SM57 on a guitar cab.