About Royer Labs

When Royer Labs first opened in May 1998, ribbon mics had been largely forgotten, but the new R-121 and SF-12 quickly captured the imagination of recording enthusiasts around the world. This generation of modern ribbon microphones proved to be a perfect match to the rise in popularity of digital recording, as engineers rediscovered the warmth, analog feel and smooth sound of ribbons. Today, Royers are found in studios and on live stages around the world.

Our mission

Royer Labs’ mission is to bring the uniquely natural sound qualities of ribbon microphones to the world.

• We believe in better microphones for better music.
• Our path is constant reinvention and innovation in ribbon microphone technology.
• Our goal is to impart warmth, realism and musicality into the digital recording process.
• Our place is in every quality recording environment, from home workstations and world class studios to the concert stage.
• We hold ourselves to the highest possible standards of workmanship, to provide engineers with the world’s finest and most durable ribbon microphones.

Every person at Royer Labs is here to provide outstanding customer service, at all times and at all levels.

A new chapter

In March 2026, Royer Labs was acquired by Sounds Great Holdings, a company formed to invest in high-quality brands and products in professional audio. Sounds Great is led by Joe Covey, Matthew Davidge and Adam Pelzman.

Royer Labs remains headquartered in Burbank, California, where every Royer microphone is still built by hand and the long-term production and administration teams remain firmly in place. Co-founder John Jennings, Royer’s President at the time of the acquisition, continues to work with the company as a consultant.

The plan is simple: honor what Royer has always stood for, invest in product development and next-generation technology, and bring Royer microphones to more engineers and musicians around the world.

Undertone Audio

In April 2026, Undertone Audio joined Royer Labs. Founded by record producer Eric Valentine and engineer Larry Jasper, Undertone built its reputation on the UnFairchild, a modern reimagining of the classic tube compressor, and offers a growing line of microphone preamplifiers, console equalizers and software plugins.

Undertone now operates from Royer’s headquarters in Burbank. Eric and Larry remain involved, maintaining the standard of sonic performance that Undertone users expect.

Visit Undertone Audio

Leadership

Joe Covey, Chief Executive Officer

Joe Covey became CEO of Royer Labs in March 2026. He is a New York-based entrepreneur, investor, and musician. Joe has extensive experience in acquiring and building businesses in music and media.

“Royer Labs has built an extraordinary reputation for sonic excellence and engineering integrity. Our goal is to honor that legacy while investing in next-generation technology and expanding the brand globally.”

Joe Covey

Dave Hetrick, President and Chief Revenue Officer

Dave Hetrick joined Royer Labs in March 2026 as President and Chief Revenue Officer, leading global sales strategy for Royer Labs and Undertone Audio. A pro audio veteran based in Nashville, he was previously president of ADAM Audio and led sales at KRK, beyerdynamic and other pro audio brands.

“Royer microphones are among the most respected tools in professional audio. We see significant opportunity to grow the brand worldwide.”

Dave Hetrick

The founders

David Royer

David Royer is one of an elite group of microphone designers who know that music and sound are inseparable from electronic design. Everything David designs comes from his deep, lifelong love of music.

David’s focus on sound started in his home, where he grew up absorbing the classical and folk music that his parents played constantly. From an early age, he was transfixed by the orchestral recordings he heard, leading to a love of classical music that continues today. At 21, David decided to create his own recordings and purchased an Ampex 960 tape recorder and a couple of off-the-shelf consumer microphones. Unhappy with his early results, he started experimenting with his microphones and soon began an in-depth, lifelong study of microphone design and electronic theory.

After a four-year hitch in the Navy, where he honed his skills in electronics and acoustics as a sonar technician, David started designing his own microphones. He founded a small company called Mojave Audio in his garage in Fullerton, CA, where he modified amplifiers and made his own condenser microphones, mic pres and compressors. Building gear under the Mojave and DVA labels, he created a number of condenser mics that have become somewhat legendary among a small group of high-end audio engineers including Bob Clearmountain, Mutt Lange and Sean Beavan. During the “garage period”, David came across his first ribbon mic, a Reslo that needed repair, and his fascination with ribbon microphones was born. David eventually came to believe that ribbons are the most musical of all microphone types and he set out to learn everything he could about them.

In 1997 David designed his first ribbon mic and showed it to his friend Rick Perrotta. That microphone, which David named the R-121, led to the opening of Royer Labs in 1998. In a short period of time it became the breakthrough ribbon microphone that reintroduced the smooth, musical characteristics of ribbons to engineers around the world.

David’s visionary designs continue today with “firsts” such as phantom-powered and tube ribbon mics.

Rick Perrotta

Rick Perrotta has had a distinguished career in electronics, recording studios, and audio equipment. He co-founded Baby’O Recorders, a leading Los Angeles studio, and Matchless Amplifiers, a pioneer in boutique guitar amps. In 1998, he co-founded Royer Labs with David Royer, John Jennings, and Rafael Villafane, helping design the microphones renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship.

John Jennings

John Jennings began his career as a guitarist and singer before moving to Hollywood. He met David Royer in 1995 and became fascinated by ribbon microphones. In 1998, he partnered with David Royer, Rick Perrotta, and Rafael Villafane to establish Royer Labs, which introduced the R-121 ribbon microphone, helping spark a worldwide resurgence in ribbon microphones. John served as VP of Sales and Marketing for 26 years and as President and CEO from June 2024 until Royer Labs’ acquisition by Sounds Great Holdings in March 2026.

Rafael Villafane

Rafael Villafane is a musician, producer, and nightclub entrepreneur with roots in Mexico and Hollywood. A graduate of Amherst College, he achieved U.S. and Latin American chart success as an artist and producer. His partnership with Rick Perrotta led to Baby’O Recorders, a leading Los Angeles studio in the 1980s, and he co-founded the legendary Baby’O nightclub in Acapulco.