Roland announces official RE-201 Space Echo plugin!!

[Cavey Arrgh]

Probably an unpopular opinion, but I've honestly never bought into the hype over this unit. I have the UAD one and while I certainly wouldn't say it sounds bad, I don't think I've ever found a use for it in any of my tracks. Every time I've popped it into a track I end up just going nope, not at all what I'm looking for...delete. Maybe it's just not for me, or maybe I just haven't found the best uses for it.

I don't really care for tape echoes either. I like a clean digital delay.

[UltraByte]

The only difference between Universal Audio's Galaxy Tape Echo and their RE-201 is Roland pulled their licensing and forced them to make trivial aesthetic changes to the name and graphics. The sound and operation did not change.

what is the source for this claim ?

[jamcat]

Universal Audio

[jens]

The only difference between Universal Audio's Galaxy Tape Echo and their RE-201 is Roland pulled their licensing and forced them to make trivial aesthetic changes to the name and graphics. The sound and operation did not change.

what is the source for this claim ?

Nothing else would make even the slightest sense if you think about it.

[CapnLockheed]

Probably an unpopular opinion, but I've honestly never bought into the hype over this unit. I have the UAD one and while I certainly wouldn't say it sounds bad, I don't think I've ever found a use for it in any of my tracks. Every time I've popped it into a track I end up just going nope, not at all what I'm looking for...delete. Maybe it's just not for me, or maybe I just haven't found the best uses for it.

I don't really care for tape echoes either. I like a clean digital delay.

Then why even comment in a thread about a tape delay emulation?
Just because tape delays, both hard and soft, are not to your personal
liking has no bearing on the fact that many people, myself included,
not only like them but use them in their productions. I also like a
clean digital delay when a song calls for it but I prefer not to limit
myself. The more colors on my pallette the better. IMHO, personal
taste should not come before service to the song and especially not
before service to the needs and visions of paying clients. YMMV.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Probably an unpopular opinion, but I've honestly never bought into the hype over this unit. I have the UAD one and while I certainly wouldn't say it sounds bad, I don't think I've ever found a use for it in any of my tracks. Every time I've popped it into a track I end up just going nope, not at all what I'm looking for...delete. Maybe it's just not for me, or maybe I just haven't found the best uses for it.

I much prefer Audio Thing's OuterSpace because it's got a lot more options, including stereo spread, which I love a little on with delays. OuterSpace is like a super Space Echo, which is my favorite kind of emulation. The UA and IK ones never did it for me. Arturia's isn't too bad but I still prefer OuterSpace. Roland? Not even going to try. I hear the guitar pedals are good, but I ended up getting the much cheaper Nux pedal.

Anyway, it's cool if Space Echoes in general aren't your thing, I just don't think the UAD one is a great example for what it's worth. Check out OuterSpace if you're interested in a better take on that with more modern options.

[cryophonik]

Arturia's isn't too bad ... I just don't think the UAD one is a great example for what it's worth.

Now that you mention it, I own the Arturia FX collection so I guess I do have their emulation as well, but I don't recall if I've ever actually given it much of a shot. Maybe I need to revisit and compare them. Like I said, I've never really found a use for them, but I probably just need better understand their strengths and best applications.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

...but I probably just need better understand their strengths and best applications.

I'd say the strengths are lofi and character. One of the cool things about the webpage for the Roland plugin is that they call out and link to classic tracks featuring the RE-201. So it calls out House of Cards and Subterranean Homesick Alien by Radiohead, Magnificent Seven by The Clash (I'm pretty sure Rock the Casbah uses one on some of the crazy FX and ear candy), Mysterons by Portishead, then Lee Scratch Perry and King Tubby tracks. That's the vibe.

[ghettosynth]

Arturia's isn't too bad ... I just don't think the UAD one is a great example for what it's worth.

Now that you mention it, I own the Arturia FX collection so I guess I do have their emulation as well, but I don't recall if I've ever actually given it much of a shot. Maybe I need to revisit and compare them. Like I said, I've never really found a use for them, but I probably just need better understand their strengths and best applications.

I don't care for them much either. I've owned a real RE201 and an SRE555, both long gone, no regrets. I certainly don't think that Roland has any special sauce here. It's still a digital emulation. I find the "official emu" lingo a bit weird TBH.

[Liero]

Yes, the fact that this is an "official" emulation says absolutely nothing about its quality. Actually knowing it's from Roland, whose analog emulations are (IMO) mediocre level at best given the current competition makes this a bit less interesting than perhaps otherwise.

[Lbdunequest]

I think this unit is useless same as UAD Version because it has no stereo compatibility. Id give away UAD licence if it wasnt bundled.

[Agreed]

The RE-2 and RE-202 are quite good sounding DSP-based pedals aimed at emulating the RE-201 (one's small, one's big and has more features). They're both stereo, and if you ask me, really fun to use. I have no reason to suspect they'd screw it up for the plugin but who knows.

[Lotuz2019]

Probably an unpopular opinion, but I've honestly never bought into the hype over this unit. I have the UAD one and while I certainly wouldn't say it sounds bad, I don't think I've ever found a use for it in any of my tracks. Every time I've popped it into a track I end up just going nope, not at all what I'm looking for...delete. Maybe it's just not for me, or maybe I just haven't found the best uses for it.

I don't really care for tape echoes either. I like a clean digital delay.

I never use clean digital delays tbh. Tape/BBD/vintage digital delays are more interesting to me, because there is movement in the sound.

Too bad Roland makes it difficult to use their plugins. I already have Outer Space, Space Delay and Stardust, but I'd still like to try RE-201, just out of curiosity, but all the hassle people are talking about, makes me reluctant.

[mothra]

The RE-2 and RE-202 are quite good sounding DSP-based pedals aimed at emulating the RE-201 (one's small, one's big and has more features). They're both stereo, and if you ask me, really fun to use. I have no reason to suspect they'd screw it up for the plugin but who knows.

Im still curious as to how they stack up next to the RE-201. I had just bought a 201 maybe a year before those things came out, and I was so pissed that the 202 comes with a line/instrument switch. My whole plan for the 201 was to use it as a send on my console for dub delays, and the damn thing needs another $100+ in DI/reamp boxes to get the levels working right, so it got sent to my guitar rig ultimately.

Roland needs to pony up and do a damn SDE-1000 already. Mine 'died' a couple years ago (starts up with gibberish on the screen now) but man that thing was AWESOME..

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

If you can spring for a vintage RE-201, I'd think the cost of the Reamp boxes would be a drop in the bucket. A real RE-201 is way cooler than the RE-202 anyway. Might as well just use plugins at that point. The real deal will be unique. But I wouldn't want the upfront or maintenance costs of an original if I'm being honest.