Notes: Based on the legendary Roland Space Echo, the RE-202 brings tape-style delay effects into the future. Classic vintage sound in a modern, user-friendly package.
Supplier's Notes:
A Masterpiece Returns in the Modern Era
Introduced in 1974, the Roland RE-201 Space Echo stands among the most legendary and sought-after effect units ever produced. This tape-based classic remained in production for over 14 straight years, and its distinctive rhythmic echo sounds, warm character, and highly playable sonic quirks still inspire musicians, producers, and audio mixers over four decades on.
Backed by intensive R&D and Boss' latest innovations, the RE-202 faithfully delivers the authentic sound and behaviour of the Space Echo like never before. Built by the company that designed the original, this advanced pedal captures the RE-201's magic in flawless detail, from the magnetic tape and motor properties to the vibrant spring reverb and colourful preamp circuit. And to take things even further, Boss have expanded the vintage Space Echo experience with lots of new features tuned for today's music.
Tape Echo Magic
Tape echo was the first delay effect and one of the first effect processors available for electronic musicians. In contrast with today's CPU-based digital units, a tape echo is a simple machine that uses a motor to pull magnetic tape across one or more record/playback heads. Warm, full, and dynamic, the tape echo sound is influenced by many factors. The ever-changing input level colours the sound with varying amounts of tape saturation and compression. In addition, motor speed fluctuations, friction, wow and flutter, and other elements introduce an appealing modulated character that's subtle and continually evolving.
RE-201 Space Echo: Simply Legendary
The RE-201 was a benchmark Roland product and one of the leading tape echo units of its era. It featured three evenly spaced heads that produced a wider range of echo effects than typical single-head designs, plus an innovative free-running tape system that provided superior performance with minimal tape wear. Grab-and-go controls enabled quick access to clean, single delays or various head combinations for dense, rhythmic echoes. A spring reverb tank was included too, making the RE-201 a one-stop shop for quality ambience effects. Last but not least, analogue preamp circuitry was another key ingredient in the Space Echo's rich sonic recipe.
A Masterpiece Reborn
Realized through the latest technologies and exhaustive analysis of several vintage RE-201s-including a pristine original unit from the BOSS and Roland factory archive-the RE-202 brings the complete Space Echo experience to life in a versatile modern pedal.
While previous BOSS designs captured the true sonic flavour and essential characteristics of the Space Echo, new advancements have allowed us to go much deeper than ever before. With the RE-202, Boss' engineers have fully reproduced all the complex, non-linear behaviours that contribute to the RE-201's immortal character. Everything that influences the sound was carefully examined and recreated with all-new algorithms, including the tape path, record/playback mechanism, motor variations, preamp coloration, tape age, spring reverb character, and more.
Retro Sound at Your Fingertips
The RE-202 delivers the full vintage vibe of the RE-201-without the need for regular tape replacement and hardware maintenance. All the core controls of the original are here, including the iconic 12-position mode selector. Every behaviour is replicated with complete accuracy, such as the gradual pitch change that occurs when the Repeat Rate knob is tweaked, or the cool runaway feedback that happens when the Intensity knob is maxed.
With selectable tape age and variable controls, you can dial in everything from a brand-new Space Echo to the worn character and quirks of a well-loved vintage piece. The Saturation control has been carefully calibrated based on the actual magnetic tape and preamp behaviours of the RE-201, with the sound becoming warmer and more compressed as you turn up the knob.
Sampling Frequency: 48 kHz
AD Conversion: 24 bits + AF method
AF method (Adaptive Focus method) This is a proprietary method from Roland & BOSS that vastly improves the signal-to-noise (SN) ratio of the AD converter.
DA Conversion: 32 bits
Processing: 32-bit floating point
Modes: 12 modes
Memory127 + Manual
Nominal Input Level: INPUT A/MONO, INPUT B: -10 dBu
Maximum Input Level: INPUT A/MONO, INPUT B: +7 dBu
Input Impedance: INPUT A/MONO, INPUT B: 1 M ohm
Nominal Output Level: OUTPUT A/MONO, OUTPUT B: -10 dBu
Maximum Output Level: OUTPUT A/MONO, OUTPUT B: +7 dBu
Output Impedance: OUTPUT A/MONO, OUTPUT B: 1 k ohm
Recommended Load Impedance: OUTPUT A/MONO, OUTPUT B: 10 k ohms or greater
Bypass: Buffered bypass
Controls: ON/OFF switch, MEMORY switch, TAP switch, SATURATION knob, WOW & FLUTTER knob, MODE SELECTOR knob, BASS knob, TREBLE knob, REVERB VOL knob, REPEAT RATE knob, INTENSITY knob, ECHO VOL knob, MEMORY button, INPUT button, TAPE button
Connectors: INPUT A/MONO jack, INTPUT B jack, OUTPUT A/MONO jack, OUTPUT B jack: 1/4-inch phone type
CTL 1, 2/EXP jack: 1/4-inch TRS phone type
MIDI (IN, OUT) jacks: Stereo miniature phone type
DC IN jack
USB port: USB micro B-type (program update only)
Power Supply: AC adapter
Current Draw: 140 mA
Accessories: AC adapter, Owner's Manual, Leaflet ("USING THE UNIT SAFELY," "IMPORTANT NOTES," and "Information"), Rubber foot
Options (sold separately)
Footswitch: FS-5U
Dual footswitch: FS-6, FS-7
Expression pedal: FV-500H, FV-500L, EV-30, Roland EV-5
MIDI/TRS connecting cable: BMIDI-5-35, BMIDI-1-35, BMIDI-2-35, BCC-1-3535, BCC-2-3535
Size & weight
Width: 192 mm / 7-9/16 inches
Depth: 133 mm / 5-15/64 inches
Height: 52 mm / 2-3/64 inches
Height (including rubber foot): 53 mm / 2-3/32 inches
Weight: 860 g / 1 lb 15 oz
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