Royer Labs

Very nice ribbon microphone for many applications OVERALL OPINION Used it for live on different Guitar amps and compared to the SM57, MD421 and the C414. All microphones are fine for this kind of application but the Royer gives a bigger and opener sound than all others. Definitely my number 1. In studio it is often used for brass sections. I also used it for Cello, oboe and clarinet recording and loved it. For the flute it missed some high end but with a little eq that was ok. On vocals it works fine if you're looking for a dark sound.

Royer SF-24 microphones where used in a studio downtown for a few years, whenever we had the chance to get into that particular studio we did because how much we loved these microphones. The SF 24 by Royer is a newer version of the SF 12. The SF-24 is very quiet and has a very low self noise to it that is lower than 18 decibels. It does not matter which instrument you are recording with the SF -24 or how far away from the SF-24 you are, you will still get a great recording without the need to process the sound anymore. All of the frequencies are very consistent and when you look at the recording in an equalizer you will see how consistent they really are. The Royer SF-24 has 2 balanced head amplifier systems that have low sensitivity of -40dB. You can pretty much use the Royer SF-24 with any pre amp that you want. OVERALL OPINION The SF-24 may look fragile but when you actually get to see one up close and feel it you will see that its pretty solid and well built. That doesn’t mean that you should take a chance with it though because the cost of it is over 4000. Which makes it pretty much out of the reach for any at home musician. I am very thankful for the handful of times that I got to use this microphone. It almost makes you not want to record instruments with any other microphone at all. The sound quality is amazing and unmatched. I have yet to hear a microphone that can record brass like the SF-24 can. If you get a chance or can afford to get this microphone it is a must have! Seriously! At least call around local studios and see if they carry it, so you can use it!

The Royer Labs SF-12 is a stereo ribbon microphone designed for the recording studio. Definitely don't bring this outside of the studio as it isn't meant for that type of use at all. The mic has a figure eight polar pick up pattern and picks up frequencies between 30 Hz and 15 KHz. While I wouldn't say that the mic is especially fragile, since it is a ribbon microphone it should definitely be handled with the utmost of care. OVERALL OPINION I don't have extensive experience using the Royer Labs SF-12, but I first used it about a year ago for a live recording session. I used the mic to capture the entire room, and I have to say that the mic did just that. We had a pretty basic modern band set up with drums, bass, and two guitars, with all of the amps and players in a single room. Of course we had everything close miced as well, but used the SF-12 to capture the ambiance and to add some depth to the recording. As far as this application goes, the SF-12 did as good of a job as any other mic that I've used in the same situation. I was amazed at how real of a sound it picked up as it felt like an exact replica of what my ears were originally hearing. While I can't say that I have had the chance to use the mic for any up close recordings, as far as picking up sounds from somewhat of a distance, this is the perfect microphone. Having a stereo microphone around is awesome, especially when it is one of this caliber, and I honestly feel like I could get a pretty good recording overall recording of a room just by using this single mic. It is well known that Royer is the best when it comes to ribbon mics, as they make extremely high quality mics all across the board. Any professional engineer will most likely agree that Royer is their mic of choice when it comes to modern day made ribbons. Of course the SF-12 is an extremely expensive mic, but keep in mind that you're really getting two microphones in one. If you're looking for one of the best stereo ribbon mics out there, look no further as it doesn't get all that much better than the Royer Labs SF-12.

This ribbon mic is made exclusively for studio use due to its incredible clarity and depth as well as its extreme fragility. Arguably the most unique feature of this mic is its reliance on phantom power, which normally destroys ribbon mics but is necessary to power this one. It pays off with a really nice, rich tone that is very useful. OVERALL OPINION Royer has done a great job here. This mic is one of my favorites. If you like the sound of a particular room and want it to be part of your recording, these need to be a part of your arsenal. I've been using mine for over six months at the studio I work at, and we can't get enough of them over here! I think it's pretty amazing how well they pick everything up. The tone is generally rich and colorful, if not the most accurate representation of the sound. However, that's not really what they are used for (at least not for me personally). I've used them as room mics on drums, pianos, and amps (guitar and bass), and they work wonders to the overall sound. I've also set one up on a piano with two AKG C12s, and I really enjoyed the sound that the combination achieved. One thing that sets them apart from other ribbon mics is that you don't have to be careful about signals being too loud. With most ribbon mics its easy to destroy the ribbon if the signal is too loud. You probably still wouldn't want to put it too close to a snare or an amp just to be safe (and because it isn't really made for that kind of recording anyway.) Also, know that if the mic is dropped or mishandled the ribbon has a very good chance of breaking so extreme caution must be taken. I haven't really had the opportunity to try many other ribbon mics, but the few that I did try didn't come close to this one. They are really expensive but if you're ready to use them they are totally worth it. I would recommend them to any studio owner, or anyone who wants to capture the sound of the room that they are recording in.

The Royer Labs SF-1 is a light-mass ribbon microphone that is made for use strictly in the recording studio setting. It is a small diaphragm mic and has a variety of possible uses and applications. The mic has a figure eight polar pick up pattern and will pick up sound within the 30 Hz to 15 KHz. OVERALL OPINION I've been using the Royer Labs SF-1 ribbon mic for about a year or so, although I don't own it and have strictly used it in a professional studio setting. I used a pair of these microphones for a variety of applications and instruments and found that they are versatile mics that are capable of a number of different things. I've used them as drum overheads as well as for other close micing applications. You would think that this wouldn't be great at handling high pressure levels since it is a ribbon mic, but this mic is unique when it comes to this as it is designed for and is able to handle loud noises and high pressure. I've also used this on an electric guitar cabinet and acoustic guitar and other acoustic instruments like piano and other stringed instruments. I've found that if you are going for this particular type of ribbon sound, that you really can't go wrong with this one. Royer is the best in the business when it comes to designing and manufacturing ribbon microphones, and this mic is especially cool because you have the best of both worlds in terms of the ribbon sound along with the capability to handle louder signals that most ribbon microphones wouldn't be best for. If you are looking for a really nice small diaphragm ribbon microphone, the Royer Labs SF-1 is a great choice and is a unique and versatile one at that.