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Post by gravesnumber9 on Aug 16, 2023 10:07:26 GMT -6
I've had this mic for a few years and just really never seem to find a good use for it. It's to the point where I'm like... is it supposed to sound this way? Maybe mine is a bad unit or something?
I don't know.
On overheads it sounds harsh where my m-160 sounds like butter and even the Monoprice LR100 sounds better... and that thing was so cheap I think Amazon paid me to take it off their hands if I recall. So it's not a Fig 8 thing is my point.
Guitar cabs it works but doesn't do anything interesting (other than look cool) and the side rejection isn't much to speak of. Works fine on acoustic guitar but is still bright and that's not my taste for acoustic.
Anyone else struggling with this mic? Anyone else love it? I'm kinda like.. what is the point of a bright ribbon?
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Aug 16, 2023 10:17:20 GMT -6
Maybe it's my mic. I'm looking at freq response charts and this thing should start rolling off at 5k and dropping after 10k. I'm sorry, no way. Not mine.
I will say my ears are very sensitive to high frequencies and much less so to low frequencies (genetic condition) but I don't THINK that's it. I tend to like other ribbons. Just not this one. Maybe it really is just an anomaly in the way my own hearing clashes with what this mic does. Pretty close to giving up on it but everyone else is like "it's so creamy you could put it in your coffee" or whatnot.
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Post by drumsound on Aug 16, 2023 11:28:58 GMT -6
Maybe it's my mic. I'm looking at freq response charts and this thing should start rolling off at 5k and dropping after 10k. I'm sorry, no way. Not mine. I will say my ears are very sensitive to high frequencies and much less so to low frequencies (genetic condition) but I don't THINK that's it. I tend to like other ribbons. Just not this one. Maybe it really is just an anomaly in the way my own hearing clashes with what this mic does. Pretty close to giving up on it but everyone else is like "it's so creamy you could put it in your coffee" or whatnot. That sounds like maybe it should get sent to Royer.
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Post by svart on Aug 16, 2023 11:35:50 GMT -6
I never liked the R10. It doesn't have that royer sound IMHO. Nothing like an R121 at all.
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Post by christopher on Aug 16, 2023 11:49:48 GMT -6
^ what he said. Yep. I wanted an r121 so damn bad I just didn’t have the funds, after studying tons of samples I came to the conclusion the r10 was just invented to feed off the budget studios. Why did they need to make it when 121 was already amazing? Clearly because they wanted more money and willing to sacrifice quality to get access to another market.
The LR100 has blown me away for the price I paid. Way too noisy to be a great mic, but good enough to use. I think LR100 and R10 really should be in the $300 and under price, right with all the other budget ribbons which are hit/miss. I feel like paying for the name is a part of the price
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Aug 16, 2023 14:26:55 GMT -6
^ what he said. Yep. I wanted an r121 so damn bad I just didn’t have the funds, after studying tons of samples I came to the conclusion the r10 was just invented to feed off the budget studios. Why did they need to make it when 121 was already amazing? Clearly because they wanted more money and willing to sacrifice quality to get access to another market. The LR100 has blown me away for the price I paid. Way too noisy to be a great mic, but good enough to use. I think LR100 and R10 really should be in the $300 and under price, right with all the other budget ribbons which are hit/miss. I feel like paying for the name is a part of the price Guilty. A Royer that sounds good for $500? Yes please! And these user reviews, I'm confused. Are we listening to the same mic? Oh well. I'll send it to Royer to see if it's damaged and if not, at least the Royer name will make it easier to sell. I'm bad at selling gear though... "Why are you selling it?" "Cuz it sucks. Just go with Beyers."
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Post by christopher on Aug 16, 2023 16:19:14 GMT -6
Haha I hear ya 🤣 all my gear I need to sell I’m like.. uh..
Truth is I might be totally wrong and they fix your mic? That would kick ass.. let us know.
Other truth is Royer probably at least got the S/N better than the avg cheap mics. Good brand, known rep. It will sell even if it’s not 121 territory
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Post by gwlee7 on Aug 17, 2023 5:33:06 GMT -6
If you can expand the budget, you might be able to find a used Shure KSM 313 or 353. Most underrated ribbon mics in the game, tough as nails but sound amazing, the 353 especially. I have a 313 and it sounds very good on everything and outstanding on some things. It could be the only mic I have and I could make decent tracks no problem.
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Post by bricejchandler on Aug 17, 2023 5:45:08 GMT -6
You probably just don't like it.
I've used the R10, so many people have used the 121 and the 57 together, and to me it sounds like that's what they went for all in one mic with the R10, it's really got that upper mid thing that I personally associate with a 57, it's definitely on the brighter side of ribbons. I'm surprised it's brighter than the M160, in my use on a guitar amp the M160 sounded brighter.
On the cheap ribbon side of things, I like the SE VR1 better for amps.
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Post by drumsound on Aug 17, 2023 8:35:16 GMT -6
^ what he said. Yep. I wanted an r121 so damn bad I just didn’t have the funds, after studying tons of samples I came to the conclusion the r10 was just invented to feed off the budget studios. Why did they need to make it when 121 was already amazing? Clearly because they wanted more money and willing to sacrifice quality to get access to another market. The LR100 has blown me away for the price I paid. Way too noisy to be a great mic, but good enough to use. I think LR100 and R10 really should be in the $300 and under price, right with all the other budget ribbons which are hit/miss. I feel like paying for the name is a part of the price Guilty. A Royer that sounds good for $500? Yes please! And these user reviews, I'm confused. Are we listening to the same mic? Oh well. I'll send it to Royer to see if it's damaged and if not, at least the Royer name will make it easier to sell. I'm bad at selling gear though... "Why are you selling it?" "Cuz it sucks. Just go with Beyers." "I'm just not using it much" is the advertising way of saying that.
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Post by gwlee7 on Aug 17, 2023 16:17:24 GMT -6
You probably just don't like it. I've used the R10, so many people have used the 121 and the 57 together, and to me it sounds like that's what they went for all in one mic with the R10, it's really got that upper mid thing that I personally associate with a 57, it's definitely on the brighter side of ribbons. I'm surprised it's brighter than the M160, in my use on a guitar amp the M160 sounded brighter. On the cheap ribbon side of things, I like the SE VR1 better for amps. I have two of those too. Great mics.
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Post by chessparov on Aug 17, 2023 16:24:30 GMT -6
Guilty. A Royer that sounds good for $500? Yes please! And these user reviews, I'm confused. Are we listening to the same mic? Oh well. I'll send it to Royer to see if it's damaged and if not, at least the Royer name will make it easier to sell. I'm bad at selling gear though... "Why are you selling it?" "Cuz it sucks. Just go with Beyers." "I'm just not using it much" is the advertising way of saying that. Hmm... Reminds me of my Warm 47jr. Good for my "Chipmunk" voice, and a few other wierd Character voices (but nobody here )
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Post by recordingengineer on Aug 17, 2023 16:59:07 GMT -6
I remember when Royer put out a CD of their mics. It’s at the studio somewhere. Honestly, was not impressed with any of them, but one. Some, I disliked. The R-122V really floored me and the studio-owner though, so that’s what’s been at the studio since! I’ve seen and heard a few people do some very cool things with R-121s though!
OPR’s most expensive take on the 121 samples impressed me though… It’s been on my list for a very long time. One day!
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Post by drumsound on Aug 17, 2023 19:16:21 GMT -6
I remember when Royer put out a CD of their mics. It’s at the studio somewhere. Honestly, was not impressed with any of them, but one. Some, I disliked. The R-122V really floored me and the studio-owner though, so that’s what’s been at the studio since! I’ve seen and heard a few people do some very cool things with R-121s though! OPR’s most expensive take on the 121 samples impressed me though… It’s been on my list for a very long time. One day! I mixed a record where they used a 122 on guitars, I don't remember is it was the 122V, but those guitar parts did sound good. I'm not a big 121 fan, anytime I've been in a room with them.
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Post by Ward on Aug 19, 2023 10:53:42 GMT -6
No idea why people expected a much cheaper Royer to sound like R121.
R121 is a $1600 mic (new) R10 is a $600 mic (new)
Didn’t Royer make a another inexpensive one like an R100?
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,086
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Post by ericn on Aug 19, 2023 12:01:45 GMT -6
No idea why people expected a much cheaper Royer to sound like R121. R121 is a $1600 mic (new) R10 is a $600 mic (new) Didn’t Royer make a another inexpensive one like an R100? This is always the problem with moving down market, everyone thinks your lowend product is going to give the tone of its higher dollar cousin. It’s sad that most think the tone is all about the designer, when often the sector sauce is some high dollar ingredients. That doesn’t mean these lower priced products are bad, many represent a great bargain for what they are, they just aren’t the high dollar product. Though often these lower dollar products use enough of the same components as the expensive product that the quantity of lower priced unit holds down the price of the big boys.
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Post by notneeson on Aug 20, 2023 12:28:13 GMT -6
I remember when Royer put out a CD of their mics. It’s at the studio somewhere. Honestly, was not impressed with any of them, but one. Some, I disliked. The R-122V really floored me and the studio-owner though, so that’s what’s been at the studio since! I’ve seen and heard a few people do some very cool things with R-121s though! OPR’s most expensive take on the 121 samples impressed me though… It’s been on my list for a very long time. One day! I mixed a record where they used a 122 on guitars, I don't remember is it was the 122V, but those guitar parts did sound good. I'm not a big 121 fan, anytime I've been in a room with them. The 122V is a beast. I only have one or two sessions on one, but it left a mark. (I like it). Place I have been working has 122s, working nicely for me on kick out. Another engineer came through and put a blue mouse on kick out. Also nice. I guess that is a lot of cash for a kick mic, and you do have to keep clear of air blasts.
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Post by drumsound on Aug 20, 2023 13:14:58 GMT -6
I mixed a record where they used a 122 on guitars, I don't remember is it was the 122V, but those guitar parts did sound good. I'm not a big 121 fan, anytime I've been in a room with them. The 122V is a beast. I only have one or two sessions on one, but it left a mark. (I like it). Place I have been working has 122s, working nicely for me on kick out. Another engineer came through and put a blue mouse on kick out. Also nice. I guess that is a lot of cash for a kick mic, and you do have to keep clear of air blasts. I believe the old Royer demo CD has a BD out sample, and they put it at a downward angle to it was not directly pointed at the head.
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Aug 20, 2023 13:58:16 GMT -6
No idea why people expected a much cheaper Royer to sound like R121. R121 is a $1600 mic (new) R10 is a $600 mic (new) Didn’t Royer make a another inexpensive one like an R100? Well I didn't expect it to sound like an R121. Actually I've never even used an R121 so I don't even really know what that would sound like. But for $600 I expected it to be usable. Lots of great mics in that range including the Beyer m160 which absolutely smokes the R-10 in my opinion. Case in point... I don't expect a TLM 102 to sound like a U87 but I do expect it to be a very usable microphone and it is!
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Aug 20, 2023 13:59:09 GMT -6
Slight update though... tried this out on a mandolin the other day and it sounded exactly like the mandolin. First thing it's ever worked on.
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Post by notneeson on Aug 20, 2023 15:26:08 GMT -6
The 122V is a beast. I only have one or two sessions on one, but it left a mark. (I like it). Place I have been working has 122s, working nicely for me on kick out. Another engineer came through and put a blue mouse on kick out. Also nice. I guess that is a lot of cash for a kick mic, and you do have to keep clear of air blasts. I believe the old Royer demo CD has a BD out sample, and they put it at a downward angle to it was not directly pointed at the head. I think I've seen that on the youtubes. People double take when they see the Royer on kick out, but it works for me!
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Post by drumsound on Aug 20, 2023 19:36:02 GMT -6
I believe the old Royer demo CD has a BD out sample, and they put it at a downward angle to it was not directly pointed at the head. I think I've seen that on the youtubes. People double take when they see the Royer on kick out, but it works for me! Nothin' wrong with a little 'off book' usage!
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Post by rowmat on Aug 21, 2023 2:51:09 GMT -6
According to Royer the R10 has been designed to reduce proximity effect.
The AEA N22 was also designed to reduce proximity effect and I hated mine.
I don’t know if the R10 uses a similar design to the AEA N22 which used a perforated metal tube that covered the entire ribbon motor assembly.
This not only reduced proximity effect but also seemed to provide some high boost around 10khz along with the reduced low end produced a rather thin anaemic tone nothing like a true ribbon.
After I removed the tube (it just slid off) the mic was completely transformed and became a favourite.
I suspect removing the tube basically converted the AEA N22 into an AEA R8.
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Post by Ward on Aug 21, 2023 11:25:16 GMT -6
I think I've seen that on the youtubes. People double take when they see the Royer on kick out, but it works for me! Nothin' wrong with a little 'off book' usage! So true! RE20 RE27 D12 D20 421 many others designed to be 'announcer' or 'voice over' microphones became the standards for Kick Drum capture before dedicated kick mics were developed.
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Aug 21, 2023 11:38:49 GMT -6
According to Royer the R10 has been designed to reduce proximity effect. The AEA N22 was also designed to reduce proximity effect and I hated mine. I don’t know if the R10 uses a similar design to the AEA N22 which used a perforated metal tube that covered the entire ribbon motor assembly. This not only reduced proximity effect but also seemed to provide some high boost around 10khz along with the reduced low end produced a rather thin anaemic tone nothing like a true ribbon. After I removed the tube (it just slid off) the mic was completely transformed and became a favourite. I suspect removing the tube basically converted the AEA N22 into an AEA R8. Maybe I've been using it wrong. I want ribbons to warm up sources like my m160 does on overheads. Based on this comment and also on how much Royer brags about SPL handling, maybe the idea is to take the R10 and just smoosh it right on the source. If the idea is a fig. 8 with minimal proximity effect I could see some use there. Maybe I'll just change my mindset and stop hoping this will be a "warming effect" mic and think of it as a more of a specialty type mic.
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