The R-122 was the world’s first phantom-powered ribbon mic, delivering all of the warm, smooth performance of a world-class ribbon mic at a previously impossible sensitivity level. Its 2002 debut was explosive and the R-122 became our most popular mic behind the flagship R-121. In 2016 Royer updated the R-122 MKll with a high-pass filter and 15dB pad, making it the company’s single most versatile ribbon microphone.
The R-122 MKll 25th Anniversary model celebrates the R-122’s legacy with a limited edition run of eighty R-122s crafted in Royer’s custom “Distressed Rose” finish. Depending on the lightning, the special Distressed Rose finish gives a variety of looks, from a dark bourbon color in lower studio lighting and on stage to a rich rose color in brighter light.
The 25th Anniversary R-122 MKll is 100% original except for this once-in-a-lifetime 25th Anniversary finish.
The R-122 MKII is a compact, monaural, phantom powered ribbon microphone with a switchable -15 dB pad and a low cut filter. Sonically similar to our groundbreaking R-121, the R-122 MKII exhibits a flat frequency response and a well-balanced, panoramic soundfield, but it’s 13 dB more sensitive and has a faster transient response, giving a sense of more open highs.
The R-122 MKll is recommended for drum overheads and rooms, electric and acoustic guitars, brass, piano, violin, cello, ukulele, and any other acoustic stringed instrument, percussion, vocals, and countless other applications. When less low-end or proximity effect is desired, the high pass switch is perfectly balanced, set at 100 Hz and rolling off 6dB per octave. On high SPL applications like electric guitars and brass, the 15dB pad lowers the R-122 MKll output to R-121 level, helping you maintain a clean signal path with no unwanted distortion.
The R-122 MKII utilizes a low mass, 2.5-micron, pure (99.99%) aluminum ribbon element in a patented offset-ribbon transducer assembly. The smooth frequency response and phase linearity of the R-122 MKII, coupled with its sophisticated active electronics system, enable it to deliver a consistent natural acoustic performance with extraordinary realism. Frequency response is excellent regardless of the angle of sound striking the ribbon, and off-axis coloration is negligible. The R-122’s patented offset-ribbon design positions the ribbon element toward the front of the microphone body, which allows for high SPL handling on the front (logo) side and the option of a slightly brighter response when recording lower SPL sound sources on the back side (3 feet and closer; phase reversed in this position).
