From the AES newsletter:
Roland RE-201 Space Echo
Tape Echo & Spring Reverb
In 1973, Roland created the Space Echo system that utilized multiple play heads to create warm, highly adjustable echo effects, which added wonderful tape character and chaos to performances and recordings. The Space Echo can be heard on numerous recordings, from 70’s space rock like Pink Floyd and David Bowie, to countless Reggae and Dub albums, to more recent electronic and electronic-crossover bands like Portishead and Radiohead. Universal Audio has been entrusted by Roland to re-create the highly beloved RE-201 unit, considered the best of the Space Echo line. Our team spent over a year developing our RE-201 Space Echo, which truly captures the physical behaviour of this complex device “warts and all”, down to the distortion, wow and flutter, pitch shifting, and warmth that tape based delays are famous for; but our plug-in goes even further, capturing the complex self-oscillation that makes the Space Echo more than an effect, but a unique instrument unto itself.
UA’s RE-201 Space Echo faithfully retains all the controls and features of the original, such as the Mode Selector for various head combinations, Repeat Rate for fine timing control, and Intensity which sets repeat count and allows the unit achieve self-oscillation. The all-important Echo/Normal “Dub” switch is retained for muting, as well as the tone controls. Last but certainly not least, the atmospheric shimmer of the Space Echo’s spring reverb is faithfully captured, putting this fantastic plug-in on par with the original unit as a tool of infinite creativity. Our emulation also adds substantial “digital only” features like host Tempo Sync, Output Volume, Echo and Reverb Pan, plus a clever Tape Select switch which allows the user to select between three distinct grades of tape loop quality; new, used and distressed.
• Meticulous model of original Roland RE-201 Space Echo
• Tape echo modeling, complete with saturation, wow & flutter, and splice
• Incredible tape oscillation effects and spring reverb emulation
• Entrusted by Roland for accurate analog modeling
• Original features like Mode Selector, Intensity and “Dub” switch
• Digital only features like tempo sync, effects pan, and tape select
• Tape loops modeled from original Roland tape loops
• User selectable tape loops from New to Distressed
• Spring modeled from the commonly updated “Accutronics” tank
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