Boss Boss RE-202 Space Echo Pedal

Presenting the all new Boss RE-202 Space Echo Pedal, a faithful tribute to the original Roland RE-201 Space Echo. Introduced in 1974, the original 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 Roland's latest innovations, the new RE-202 Space Echo Pedal faithfully delivers the authentic sound and behavior 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 colorful preamp circuit. And to take things even further, they’ve expanded the vintage Space Echo experience with lots of new features tuned for today’s music. Let's look at some of the RE-202's Standard Features: Authentically recreates the sound and behavior of the legendary Roland RE-201 Space EchoClassic multi-head tape echo sound with expanded delay timeOriginal three-head configuration plus additional tape head for 12 unique echo combinationsIndependent stereo reverb section with original spring reverb type plus hall, plate, room, and ambienceSaturation control for adding magnetic tape compression and preamp colorationWow & Flutter control for introducing varying levels of natural tape modulationChoose between new and aged tape conditionsSelectable input modes for optimum performance with instruments and line-level gearWarp and Twist effects with footswitch controlSelect between the unprocessed analog dry signal or the modeled sound of the original Space Echo preampFour onboard memories plus the current panel settingsSave and select 127 memories via external MIDI program changeTap tempo and carryover functionsTrue stereo input and outputExpandable control via external footswitches, an expression pedal, or MIDI Tape Echo Magic Tape echo was the first delay effect and one of the first effect processors ever 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 colors 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 original RE-201 was a benchmark product for Roland, 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, analog preamp circuitry was another key ingredient in the Space Echo’s rich sonic recipe. RE-202: 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 new RE-202 brings the complete Space Echo experience to life in a versatile modern pedal. While previous BOSS designs captured the true sonic flavor and essential characteristics of the Space Echo, new advancements have allowed the team at Roland to go much deeper than ever before. With the RE-202, their engineers have fully reproduced all the complex, non-linear behaviors 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. RE-202: 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 behavior 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 behaviors of the RE-201, with the sound becoming warmer and more compressed as you turn up the knob. And with the expressive Wow & Flutter control, you can conjure all the natural modulation characteristics that are essential to the Space Echo sound. RE-202: Sonic Enhancements The RE-202 includes many new features that extend the Space Echo for today’s musicians. Twice the delay time is available, along with a fourth virtual tape head that unlocks five additional sound combinations. There’s also an echo type that changes the distance between the heads, something not possible with the original. In contrast with the mono RE-201, the RE-202 provides true stereo I/O and selectable operation for guitar or line-level devices. For the dry sound, you can choose between the warm and fat RE-201 preamp tone or a clean signal with zero processing. Also included is a stereo version of the original spring reverb sound from the RE-201, along with hall, plate, room, and ambience types for additional versatility. Expressive Warp and Twist effects are available as well, allowing you to launch the sound into outer space with the press of a footswitch while performing. RE-202: Modern Control To complement its vintage heart and soul, the RE-202 has all the modern features you’d expect from a modern advanced delay pedal. There are four onboard memories for storing and recalling favorite sounds, and 123 more are accessible via MIDI program change. Tap tempo is also on hand, as well as selectable delay carryover when switching memories. It’s also possible to mute the dry signal for parallel effect setups and studio usage. Expanded control is available via external footswitches, an expression pedal, and MIDI, including real-time operation of multiple parameters at once. 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 Memory: 127 + 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 adaptor Current Draw: 140 mA Accessories: AC adaptor 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 AND 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) * 0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms *The specifications are subject to change without notice