Royer Labs R-10 Studio / Live Ribbon Microphone with dBooster In-Line Signal Booster Bundle

R-10

Every Royer R-10 delivers the sonic excellence, flexibility and durability that recording & FOH engineers know they can expect from Royer, but at an easier-to-handle price point than most expect! The 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 is exceptionally rugged, handling SPLs of up to 160 dB @ 1 kHz (!), and its compact size and mounting system allow for flexible, unobtrusive positioning.

The R-10’s 2.5-micron aluminum ribbon element (same as in the legendary R-121) is formed with our patented direct-corrugation process, and is extremely well-protected by a 3-layer windscreen system and internally shock-mounted ribbon transducer. The R-10’s built-in windscreen provides superior protection from air blasts and plosives, while also reducing proximity effect (bass buildup from close miking) so guitar cabinets and acoustic instruments can be more easily close-miked. The internally shock-mounted ribbon transducer isolates the ribbon element from unwanted vibrations, decreasing rumble and increasing the ribbon element’s durability. The transducer is even wired for humbucking to better reject electromagnetically induced noise!

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.

A Ribbon For Everything
Royer ribbons are an industry staple on electric guitar. The R-10 shows some of its best stuff on studio and live electrics, capturing all the low end, midrange warmth, highs and punch that guitarists and engineers expect from a Royer.

The R-10 is outstanding on brass. Close-miked trumpets, trombones, and other brass instruments are no problem – the R-10 captures them the way they’re supposed to sound; toneful and powerful and as bright as the instrument is played, but with none of the sizzle and harshness many microphones tend to generate on brass.

On keyboards, the full-spectrum performance of an R-10 (or two) inside an acoustic piano is jaw dropping, and Hammond enthusiasts can expect phenomenal results by positioning an R-10 (or two) next to a Leslie cabinet, or paired with their instrument amplification system of choice.

The R-10 is extremely well suited for vocals, from singing to the spoken word. Its reduced proximity effect and protective wind filter, combined with its classic natural tone and ribbon warmth, allow for the R-10 to capture a wide range of vocal performances beautifully. Ribbon mics take EQ extremely well, so boosting highs and utilizing creative positioning opens up all kinds of new possibilities.

Drums record full-bodied, with realistic (never 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, cellos, steel-stringed and nylon-stringed acoustic guitars, ukuleles, banjos, and other stringed instruments are open and realistic, fitting into just about any mix smoothly.

The R-10 is truly an excellent tool for recording almost any sound source you can think of!

Royer’s Patented Offset Ribbon Technology Onboard
The R-10’s patented offset-ribbon design positions the ribbon element toward the front of the transducer, which allows for high SPL handling on the front (logo) side and the option of a brighter response when recording lower SPL sound sources like acoustic guitar, ukulele and vocals on the backside (3 feet or closer; phase reversed position).

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dBooster

The Royer dBooster is an extraordinary gain boosting device unlike any other inline lifter, with design and performance specs like the front end of a high-end preamplifier and a sonic signature that will enable even the most familiar low output passive mics of all flavors to shine like never before. dBooster delivers better than double your passive mic’s output; or, with the flick of a button, quadruple the output!

In 2002, Royer Labs made history with the world’s first active microphone. The R-122 ribbon mic is a phantom-powered version of the iconic R-121, but with condenser-like output levels. This revolutionary concept has since been adopted by many audio manufacturers to bring a much-needed power boost to their low-output passive microphones.

Years later, stand-alone units placed inline between mics and preamps appeared, intended to increase the low output level of existing non-powered dynamic and ribbon mics. Most were based on decades-old repurposed technology. They can perform very differently, depending on the mic/preamp combo being boosted.

Assembled in the USA, the dBooster is simple to use but an audio tech’s dream. It has an internal regulated power supply for true electrical isolation, along with an elaborate actively balanced line driver and a top-notch dual op-amp combination that guarantees consistent gain and headroom regardless of the other components in the audio chain. Its low-impedance output keeps the audio path pristine for even the most demanding studio and podcasting applications. The dBooster is also invaluable on live stages, effortlessly driving long cable lengths and difficult loads like mic splitters and vintage-style preamps with zero loss of gain and no increased distortion.

R-10

• High SPL capabilities 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
• Hum-bucking transducer design delivers 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

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dBooster

• True Class-A input stage
• Extreme RF protection
• Crystal clear gain with virtually no noise or self-distortion
• Enormous amount of headroom – will not break up!
• Low impedance output handles splitter cables and long cable runs beautifully

R-10

• Acoustic Operating Principle: Electrodynamic pressure gradient
• Polar Pattern: Figure-8
• Generating Element: 2.5-micron aluminum ribbon
• Magnets: Rare Earth Neodymium (Grade 52)
• Frequency Response: 30Hz-15,000Hz +/- 3dB
• Sensitivity: -54dBv (re. 1v/pa)
• Output Impedance: 100 Ohms
• Maximum SPL: >160dB @ 1kHz, >135dB @ 50Hz
• Recommended Load Impedance: 700 Ohms (or greater)
• Output Connector: Male XLR 3-pin (Pin 2 Hot)
• Dimensions: Length including mounting base: 5 7/8 inches (149 mm) Width 1 3/8 inches (35 mm)
• Weight: 13 oz (368 grams)
• Shipping Weight: Single: 2.5 lbs, Matched Pair: 4 lbs
• Accessories: Microphone Holder, Mic Sock, Carrying Case
• Microphone: Adjustable Swivel Mount (Black)
• Microphone Warranty: Five Year, First Re-ribbon free in first year