David Royer started Mojave Audio in 1985 in the garage of his house. The location was Fullerton, California, and Mojave Audio was a one-man, custom pro audio gear shop. David is best known for his ribbon microphone designs with Royer Labs, but he originally started out designing and building vacuum tube microphones, mic pre's and compressors for engineers in the Los Angeles area.

Since the mid 1990’s, David’s custom Mojave products have been used on a number of well-known recordings and have achieved legendary status among a small circle of high-end engineers. With the launching of Mojave Audio, we are able to bring David’s non-ribbon designs to the world.

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 pre's and compressors. Building gear under the Mojave and DVA labels, he created a number of condenser mics that have become studio staples among a small group of high-end audio engineers including Bob Clearmountain, Mutt Lang and Sean Beaven.

In 1997 David designed his first ribbon microphone, The R-121, which led to the opening of Royer Labs in 1998. In a short period of time it became a breakthrough ribbon microphone that reintroduced ribbons to engineers around the world. David also designed a number of ribbon "firsts," including phantom powered ribbons and tube ribbon mics.

David has a number of proven condenser microphone designs that will be released by Mojave Audio over the next few years.

Dusty Wakeman

In his thirty-five years in the music business, Dusty Wakeman has worn a lot of hats - producer, engineer, musician, and owner/manager of Los Angeles based Mad Dog Studios. His work with Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, Roy Orbison, Michelle Shocked, Buck Owens and many other artists has helped generate a number of multi-platinum and Grammy-winning records.

Growing up in Texas, Dusty developed a love of the whole process of making music, from touring in groups to engineering records and designing his own studios. After moving to Los Angeles in 1977 to pursue a career as a bass player, he took a "temporary" gig at West L.A. Music, where he became store manager and stayed for three years. In 1980 he founded Mad Dog Studios, which continues to thrive today, with a vintage Neve 8088 console, Pro Tools HD, loads of outboard gear and a great mic closet.

Dusty discovered Royer mics in 2000, caught ribbon fever, and picked up a number of Royers for Mad Dog, leading to a close relationship with John Jennings, Royer’s VP of Sales and Marketing. One day while talking about life, Dusty's kids and the constant grind of producing records and touring, John mentioned Dave Royer's new company, Mojave Audio. Within an hour they were talking about Dusty joining Royer and Mojave.

Dusty joined Mojave Audio in September of 2005. His in-depth knowledge of recording, understanding of the importance of choosing the right microphone for the job, and ability to share his experience make Dusty an invaluable asset to Mojave Audio. Dusty serves as  President of Mojave Audio.

John Jennings

John Jennings, co-founder of Mojave Audio, has worked with David Royer since the founding of DVA in 1996. While that company was short lived, the knowledge gained from the experience ultimately led to the founding of Royer Labs, where John serves as VP of Sales and Marketing. Sensing a great demand for David’s condenser microphones, John has led the rebirth of Mojave Audio.

Rick Perrotta

Rick Perrotta, co-founder of Mojave Audio, brings with him a wealth of experience in launching  new companies and new products. After owning and operating Baby’O Recorders, one of LA’s top recording studios in the 1980s, he co-founded Matchless Amps. After selling that business, Rick co-founded the  ribbon microphone company, Royer Labs. Rick serves as CEO  of Mojave Audio.