Royer R121 Michael Wagener Style

[MetalWorks]

So I have been itching to pick up a Royer R121 for some time and saw Sweetwater is having a Mic month special with 0 interest and was lucky enough to score the new Black Nickel finish 121 mic.

I watched some Youtube videos recently of Michael Wagener in his studio and everything he did on metal guitars was with the R121 directly on the cone but at about a 45 degree angle which mostly helps relieve pressure on the ribbon and allows the sound to hit and travel down instead of strait into it but I assume also relieves some of the harsh brightness of the cone.

Regardless, I just eyeballed the placement and used the DI from the Rose of Sharyn Guitar tracks to reamp into my 5150 and Mesa 4x12 and I am quite impressed. I'd have to say its the best guitar tone I have had in 10 years of recording with little effort.

I have had struggles with the SM57 placements in the past and the 121 just sounded great in the first try. I felt like I could have used the tracks without any additional EQ processing to cleanup or enhance the sound.

Definitely recommend it to anyone able to get their hands on one.

I thought I was going to use it in combo with the 57 or 421 etc but now I see why Michael Wageners videos show him only using the 121 on everything.

Granted he has worked on tons of 80's-90's metal bands, cool video series to watch making an EP and another one going through his studio.

 

[PhilTheBeard]

R121 is a godsend of a mic. Takes eq so fucking well and just sounds amazing

 

[MetalWorks]

I went pretty heavy on the Low and Prescense 5150 knobs and yes it sounded great. I was fully impressed with the raw sound. It also seemed there were less of the harsh frequencies when I combed through the track with an 7 Band EQ in PT.

It will be fun to keep experimenting with mic combos but I am really happy with the stand alone sound so far.

I ordered a Chameleon Labs 7602 but its got a long wait. I hear the EQ on that is amazing and will enjoy playing with all of the above.

 

[PhilTheBeard]

I went pretty heavy on the Low and Prescense 5150 knobs and yes it sounded great. I was fully impressed with the raw sound. It also seemed there were less of the harsh frequencies when I combed through the track with an 7 Band EQ in PT.

It will be fun to keep experimenting with mic combos but I am really happy with the stand alone sound so far.

I ordered a Chameleon Labs 7602 but its got a long wait. I hear the EQ on that is amazing and will enjoy playing with all of the above.

7602 eq is fantastic I use mine all the time on everything

 

[LoftMusicRob]

I love my Royer. You will have fun with it!

 

[BLUElightCory]

The R121 is great, it's especially nice when you mix a good dynamic with it for a touch more presence.

 

[C-Martin]

Bought my 121 just a few months ago, it's an amazing mic! It's my current favorite mic for guitars, and mixing it with a 57 is a great way to add more versatility to an already great sounding mic.

 

[ArthurD]

Own a 121 here. Awesome mic. EQ distorted guitars became easy.

 

[egan.]

The R121 is great, it's especially nice when you mix a good dynamic with it for a touch more presence.

This is an important point. One of the things dynamics do better is the ultra-dry, right-on-top-of-you presence.
For those guys new to the royer, make sure to try turning it around backwards too. It sounds awesome and has some more high-end that way.

 

[MetalWorks]

I just did a quick mix of the Rose of Sharyn DI's with the Royer on all the tracks with my 5150 head. Used the Red Channel on a left and right and a Green Chanel Left and Right with OD808.

Not too shabby.

 

[ArthurD]

Awesome tone. I think a bit more of HP will just sit it tight with bass.
What are your 5150 settings? Cheers!!!

 

[MetalWorks]

Awesome tone. I think a bit more of HP will just sit it tight with bass.
What are your 5150 settings? Cheers!!!

Lead Pre-5.75
Low-8
Mid-2
High-6.25
Lead Post-1.25
Res-8.75
Pres-9

 

[Melodeath]

Used an R121 mixed with an SM57 on a different speaker cone on my bands album. I would kill for a pair of R121s. Too expensive for me, though. I could settle for one instead of a matched pair, but I'm curious how a pair sounds on overheads or in an M/S miking technique on acoustic or something.

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

You can't use a pair of 121 for M/S recording because their polarity is fixed (fig8) and you need a cardioid.

 

[vespiz]

I think you can use any pattern for the M? It's just a question of processing, if you don't it's a lopsided Blumlein, right?
I know I've used an omni and that worked fine, so I see no reason why a fig-8 wouldn't.

edit: yes, the "classic" way is using a cardioid.

 

[~BURNY~]

You can't use a pair of 121 for M/S recording because their polarity is fixed (fig8) and you need a cardioid.

Actually you can use two fig 8 or even a fig 8 and one omni... It still works fine. But the classic MS setup is indeed one fig8, one cardioid.
Oh and three cardioids works too.

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

Damn I was THAT close to being pawned Pheeeeew!

 

[Melodeath]

You can't use a pair of 121 for M/S recording because their polarity is fixed (fig8) and you need a cardioid.

I actually didn't mean to imply using two 121s for M/S, but just using one for the S mic (bi-directional).

However, technically you absolutely could use two 121s for M/S. Two coincident bi-directional mics is typically called "Blumlein," and angled 45 degrees instead of head-on. But M/S miking just requires one bi-directional mic for the Side, and the M mic can be any pattern. Cardioid is the most common, but it's not required.

 

[Sacha]

This is an important point. One of the things dynamics do better is the ultra-dry, right-on-top-of-you presence.
For those guys new to the royer, make sure to try turning it around backwards too. It sounds awesome and has some more high-end that way.

+1 - Royer is an awesome sounding mic but I wouldn't use it as my main for guitar or overheads. The pattern and frequency response aren't really suitable for crisp, direct sounds and rejection. However as a blend on guitars and anything you want to sound natural it RULES! Fantastic as a room mic.