Royerlabs R-10
Studio/Live Ribbon Microphone
The Royer R-10 is a passive mono ribbon microphone designed for use
in the studio and on live stages. Hand-built in our Burbank California
factory, the R-10’s sound and performance are all-Royer and it handles
SPLs of up to 160 dB @ 1 kHz. The R-10’s compact size and mounting
system allows for flexible, unobtrusive positioning.
The R-10’s 2.5-micron aluminum ribbon element is formed with our our
patented direct-corrugation process and is protected by a 3-layer
windscreen system and internally shock-mounted ribbon transducer. The
ribbon transducer is wired for humbucking to reject electromagnetically
induced noise.
The R-10’s built-in windscreen provides superior protection from air
blasts and plosives. It also reduces proximity effect (bass buildup from
close miking) so guitar cabinets and acoustic instruments can be
close-miked with less bass buildup. The R-10’s internally shockmounted
ribbon transducer isolates the ribbon element from shocks and
vibrations, increasing the ribbon element’s durability.
The R-10 utilizes a David Royer custom designed transformer for high
overload threshold, minimizing saturation at even extremely high sound
pressure levels. You’ll never overload an R-10! The mic’s open grill
design minimizes standing waves and associated comb-filtering effects
and its smooth frequency response, phase linearity and lack of
self-distortion make it ideal for all digital recording and live sound
formats.
The Sound
Royer ribbon mics are legendary on electric guitar and the R-10 shows
some of its best stuff on studio and live electrics, capturing all the
low end, midrange warmth and punch guitarists and engineers have come to
expect from a Royer. If you want more bite in the highs but don’t want
to multi-mic (particularly on live stages where blending microphones can
create phase-related problems), the R-10 takes EQ beautifully and we
suggest experimenting with your favorite EQ unit or plugin.
The R-10 is excellent on brass and can handle close-miked trumpets,
trombones and other brass instruments. Brass records naturally on an
R-10, as bright as the musician plays but without the added sizzle or
harshness commonly experienced when condenser mics are used on brass
instruments.
Close up of mount
Drums are full bodied with realistic (not over-hyped) transients
response, and the R-10’s figure-8 pattern conveys superb ambience and
depth when used for room miking applications. A compressed R-10 in front
of the kit sounds huge and punchy.
R-10 recordings of violins, ukuleles, steel-stringed and
nylon-stringed acoustic guitars, banjos and other stringed instruments
are warmth and natural and fit into mixes easily. “Airing out” the
recorded track by opening up a bit of 12K with an EQ often gives
surprisingly good results.
Vocals record record warm and naturally on an R-10, and the
EQ-friendliness of the R-10 allows for dialing in completely different
sounds with liberal use of EQ. Try experimenting with cutting bass at
100 Hz and opening up 12K by 3 to 6 dB (or more!). Some great vocal
performances were recorded on highly EQ’d ribbon mics (Sixpence None the
Richer “There She Goes Again” and “Kiss Me” for example). For audio
examples of EQ’d vocals, visit our Audio/Video Library.
See Audio/Video tab below for sound samples and mic comparisons.