Royer R-10 Passive Ribbon Microphone

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.

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!