Royer 121 or a R84 for guitar cab recording [Archive]

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dillon

25 Jun 2010, 19:09

pauly

25 Jun 2010, 23:13

the 4038, and the 121 kick ass on rock. the r84 i prefer on drums. thats just me.

i would say you need to try them.

pauly

25 Jun 2010, 23:17

the 4038 is considered by many to be THE classic rock ribbon

Sandyrb

26 Jun 2010, 00:36

Looking to get another mic for guitar cab recording.
classic rock type [...] looking into a AEA R84 and Royer 121.

The 121 gets my vote; I've had some amazing results out of them. But you have to angle it right. ;)

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

dillon

27 Jun 2010, 10:22

I also thought of a Josephson E22 mic for guitar cabs.
any input Adam?

Zachg

27 Jun 2010, 11:24

I also thought of a Josephson E22 mic for guitar cabs.
any input Adam?

the e22 can kick ass on guitars, especially distorted ones!
At Pulsworks, Sandy and I did a guitar mic shootout, and the winners were both Josephsons, the e22 and C720.

The word I remmber using to describe it was "anger," the recordings came out sounding way more aggressive than all the others...

Sandyrb

27 Jun 2010, 11:40

I also thought of a Josephson E22 mic for guitar cabs.

I can wholeheartedly agree with Zach here, the Josephson e22 is a stunning mic. I can understand why Steve Albini - who was involved in its development - likes it so much. It's incredibly versatile and I've only found it to be a "definitely wrong" choice once. I wish I had ten of them.

Cheers,

Mixwell

27 Jun 2010, 11:50

Looking to get another mic for guitar cab recording.
classic rock type
what is the best you recommend?
Have been using a Bock 195 which I love.
looking into a AEA R84 and Royer 121.
coles 4038?
Tried a R92 was not crazy about it.

The R92 is more specialized, and certainly not going to be everyone's "cup-o-tee". But, what the hell is?? Nuthin. Though - I have grown fond of the R92 for Electric Keys. Put it on a Rhodes cab, or a Wurlitzer cab.

BOYOOYING. Certainly there are others I like as well......

"It all depends on what you have and where you want to use it"

All of these are different shades of useful for lots-o-stuff, and I can tell you, that without identifying with you and your applications more, recommending anything is like swilling warm beer in 110 degree heat. It goes down a little hard. "Classic Rock Type" is not enough for me to suggest one thing over an another here, but sure as sun shining in daylight, I am capable of attaining a "rock type" sound out of any of those aforementioned microphones with any player and any instrument/cab. How "good" or end user definable is up the player, and the TONE of the amp/cab but what it should SOUND like in the song/part etc, is up to you. The tones/responses, and characters of these microphones are very different and certainly your aesthetic will bread a popular choice.

The R84 is a personal favorite mid distance ribbon for electrics where body, and low mid punch is required. Same can be said for the 121, but its vastly different than the R84, in the way of it has less extreme proximity effect and likes when you jam it up against the speaker at high volumes. The 121 has a very interesting mid and top end cut to it, and dare I say has a brighter sound to it. I would gender the R84 as more "classic" RCA type dryness, whereas the 121 is more "hip" and polite and more "wet" and shiny "finish". Its absolutely a bad mama jama on LOUD Electric stuff. Its very punchy in the low mid, and crisp up top.

I also thought of a Josephson E22 mic for guitar cabs.
any input Adam?

The e22s does awesome on WAY more stuff than just that! Try one and you'll find out why you haven't yet re-coined the phrase "man's best freind" to a microphone. This is the only microphone that truly can be balls out everywhere you put it. Toms, Kick, Snare, OH, Stings, Electrics [GTR/Bass] Acoustic, Percussion, Room, Stereo A/B Orchestral, Horns, Woodwinds.....

The List Continues. The E22s has a SUPER HUGE amount of input headroom and a lower output, so it won't beat up the preamp on loud sharp transients. Its transformer output gives the microphone a certain kind of punch that is unholy on this type of work. The only problem is that once you get one, you'll need another, and another after that. No escaping.

the e22 can kick ass on guitars, especially distorted ones!
At Pulsworks, Sandy and I did a guitar mic shootout, and the winners were both Josephsons, the e22 and C720.

The word I remmber using to describe it was "anger," the recordings came out sounding way more aggressive than all the others...

dillon

29 Jun 2010, 16:01

Mixwell

01 Jul 2010, 13:05

well I use Matchless amps and I have a Komet concorde EL 34.
The sound I like to get is like a sheryl crow, aerosmith sound.
I also like the sound of Joan osborne "one of us" guitar sound.
That is what I am looking to get.
I play a Tom anderson Cobra.
I also wondered how the new Shure 353 ribbon would sound or
is it overkill?

I always love 121 for this type of "pop-ish" but mellow texture.

They are very open and clear sounding with a crisp attack to the sound that favors this tone. The KSM353 has a vastly different sound, [WAY more SPL intake across the entire spectrum] and if you were recording stuff that was way more aggressive it would also be a good call, but personally, the tone of the Royer is more fitting for your setup IMO. As always, trying a bunch and sending back the loser[s] is the best course of action. Another GREAT option [if none of these satisfy the tone thirst] is the 122V, which I find to be a monster of epic proportion in all regards.

dillon

01 Jul 2010, 20:19

How does the sound of the 122V differ from the 121?
Is it different or is the 122V better?

pauly

02 Jul 2010, 09:37

the 122v is a tube ribbon, i cant tell you how it compares to the 121 because the demo i got was screwed up.

Mixwell

02 Jul 2010, 13:06

How does the sound of the 122V differ from the 121?
Is it different or is the 122V better?

I'll try and post examples for you

btheadbtheadbtheadbtheadbthead

dillon

03 Jul 2010, 12:27

adam have you heard of cloud microphones?
They are basically a RCA BK-11.
WOuld that be a good choice?

Sandyrb

03 Jul 2010, 16:06

WOuld that be a good choice?

Problem is you're not really going to know which mic you prefer until you've heard them for yourself. Everyone here has their own perfectly valid opinion, some in agreement and some not. There may be so many differing preferences that there aren't even enough to reflect a majority view! :) Plus, as has already been said, choice of microphone depends a lot on stylistic considerations. So there's mileage in finding the most versatile.

Unless you're in a hurry to purchase may I suggest taking as much time as possible to evaluate different choices. In particular, try them with your own choices of preamps and outboard to see how they react with them. Ultimately, before you part company with money, you'll want to be satisfied that you're getting the best possible choice for your intended application.

Hope this helps. :)

Cheers,

Mixwell

03 Jul 2010, 16:38

Just last night; I cut KEEPER electric GTR tracks with BOTH a Josephson e22s and a Royer 122V about 1 foot off the speaker. Didn't have a 121, but those worked instead.

I'll post the song sometime soon. it was a Gibson Firebird into an FMR A.R.C compressor pedal [which adds clarity] into an Oahu Head w/ a Marshall 4X12 cab and each microphone on a speaker. Both Microphones went into Great River Microphone Preamplifiers and straight into RADAR.

Sandyrb

03 Jul 2010, 20:47

BOTH a Josephson e22s and a Royer 122V about 1 foot off the speaker.

Haven't tried that combination meself but I can imagine it being an excellent pairing. They're both superb mics.

I'm trying to get the boss to spring for some 421s at the moment... but maybe I should ask for a couple of Royers instead! :)

Cheers,

Zachg

03 Jul 2010, 22:42

I'm trying to get the boss to spring for some 421s at the moment... but maybe I should ask for a couple of Royers instead! :)

Cheers,

Ask for Both!!! :D

Mixwell

07 Jul 2010, 13:09

Haven't tried that combination meself but I can imagine it being an excellent pairing. They're both superb mics.

I'm trying to get the boss to spring for some 421s at the moment... but maybe I should ask for a couple of Royers instead! :)

Cheers,

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs023.ash2/34505_131115453594983_127073923999136_168736_26727 0_n.jpg

dillon

07 Jul 2010, 15:40

thats pretty cool looking.
I ordered a R121 royer.

Thanks