User guide

Specialized Recording Techniques
Recording on the back side of the R-121
The R-121 incorporates an “offset ribbon” design that enables it to handle high sound pressure
levels such as those produced by loud guitar amplifiers and other instruments. An interesting
phenomenon as a result of this offset ribbon construction is that the R-121 records slightly
brighter on its back side than on its front (logo) side, when the microphone is three feet or closer
to the sound source. This can be extremely useful when a brighter response is desirable, such as
when recording acoustic instruments or vocalists.
When recording vocals on either side of an R-121, a quality pop filter (such as the Royer PS-101
metal pop screen) is essential to protect the ribbon element from wind blasts. As with any figure-
8 microphone, the front side of the R-121 is in-phase and the back side is out-of-phase. We
suggest that you reverse the phase polarity on your microphone preamplifier to achieve in-phase
recordings when tracking on the backside of an R-121.
Normal proximity effect (increase of bass), which is prevalent on the R-121 and all ribbon
microphones, increases with closeness to the microphone. Vocalists and voice-over talents often
take advantage of proximity effect to give an authoritative quality or rich texture to their voice.
Cautionary Note:
It is important to note that the SPL handling capability of the rear side of the R-121 is lower
than its front side. The R-121 is rated for 135dB SPL on its front side, but recordings on the rear
side should not exceed 115dB SPL. When tracking loud sounds on the front side, the R-121’s
offset-ribbon design allows ample space for rearward excursions of the ribbon element.
However, tracking on the back side causes the ribbon to move forward towards the front side of
the microphone, where the internal dampening screen is much closer to the ribbon element.
Rear-side recordings of loud, low-frequency sounds, or vocalists with no pop filter, can drive the
ribbon into the front dampening screen, creating noise and possibly damaging the ribbon
element. Limit back side recording on your R-121 to lower SPL sound sources.
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