Get Ready to Ribbon Revolutionise Your Sound: Introducing the Royer Labs R-12

Here at Sounds Easy, we're always excited to bring you the best in pro audio gear, and this just in from Royer Labs is something truly special. Get ready to meet the Royer Labs R-12 Active Ribbon Microphone, a game-changer designed for both the discerning studio engineer and the demanding live sound professional. And the best part? It delivers that renowned Royer quality at a seriously accessible price point!

The Royer Legacy, Now More Versatile Than Ever

Royer Labs has long been synonymous with the warm, natural, and highly nuanced sound of ribbon microphones. Their R-121 is an industry standard for a reason. The new R-12 takes that legendary foundation and builds upon it, offering incredible performance across a vast array of instruments and vocals.

What makes the R-12 stand out? It's all about combining the signature Royer sound with enhanced versatility:

Natural Sound Capture: The R-12 features the same 2.5-micron direct-corrugated ribbon element as the R-121, ensuring it captures instruments and voices exactly as they sound in the source. This natural pickup is a dream for electric and acoustic stringed instruments, vocals, brass, pianos, organs, drums, and percussion.

High SPL Handling:Don't let the delicate reputation of ribbons fool you. Like other R-series mics, the R-12 can handle incredibly high SPLs (up to 160dB @ 1kHz), making it perfect for close-miking even the loudest guitar amps and drum kits without distortion.

Active Electronics for Condenser-Level Output: This is where the "active" in active ribbon truly shines! The R-12 boasts Royer's proprietary phantom-powered electronics, paired with a beefed-up transformer. The result? Output levels comparable to condenser microphones, making it ideal for quieter sources and ensuring optimal performance regardless of your preamp or DAW.

Built-in Pad & High-Pass Filter: These integrated features are game-changers for adaptability.

Switchable -15dB Pad: Need more headroom for screaming guitar cabs or thundering drums? Engage the pad to drop the output to the level of Royer's non-powered R-10, giving you pristine sound even at extreme volumes.

Switchable High-Pass Filter:Precisely tuned to reduce low-end proximity buildup and rumble, this filter makes the R-12 an excellent choice for close-miking vocals, instruments, and loudspeaker cabinets, ensuring clarity and tightness.
Robust Design: Royer has thought of everything for both studio and stage. The R-12 houses an internally shock-mounted ribbon transducer for isolation and reduced handling noise. Plus, a triple-layer windscreen system effectively protects the ribbon element from plosives and air blasts, ensuring durability and consistent performance.

"World-Class Performance at a Killer Price"
John Jennings, President of Royer Labs, sums it up perfectly: "The R-12 is a beautifully designed ribbon mic, delivering world-class performance at a killer price." He highlights its roots in the globally acclaimed R-10, known for handling Dave Grohl's intense live guitar cabs, and its integration of active ribbon circuitry from more expensive Royer models. This truly is an incredibly versatile ribbon mic.

Pre-Order Yours Today!
The Royer Labs R-12 Ribbon Microphone, complete with mic mount and a hard-shell case, is expected to become available in mid to late July 2025. With a street price of just $1500 AUD, this is an opportunity not to be missed for anyone serious about capturing incredibly natural and detailed audio.

As a proud Royer Labs reseller, Sounds Easy is excited to bring this exceptional microphone to our Australian customers. Get in touch with us today to learn more or to pre-order your Royer R-12