Boss Re-202 Space Echo Effects Pedal

Description

Boss RE-202 Space Echo Digital Delay

The experience of the legendary Roland RE-201 Space Echo returns, in an advanced delay pedal with modern features.

Introduced in 1974, the Roland RE-201 Space Echo is among the most legendary and sought-after effect units ever produced. This classic tape echo remained in production for over 14 years, and its unmistakable rhythmic echoes, warm character, and unique musical sonic qualities continue to inspire musicians, producers, and composers for over four decades.

Supported by an intense phase of research and development and our most recent innovations, the RE-202 faithfully offers the authentic sound and behavior of the Space Echo as never before. Built by the company that designed the original, this advanced pedal captures all the magic of the RE-201 in every detail, from the properties of the magnetic tape and motor to the lively spring reverb and the colorful preamplifier circuit. And to go even further, we have expanded the vintage Space Echo experience with many new features, optimized for today's music.

• Most authentically recreates the sound and behavior of the legendary Roland RE-201 Space Echo
• Classic multi-head tape echo sound, with expanded delay time
• Original three-head configuration with an additional head, for 12 unique echo combinations
• Independent stereo reverb section with the original spring reverb, along with hall, plate, room, and ambience
• Saturation control to add tape compression and preamplifier coloring
• Wow & Flutter control to introduce variable levels of natural tape modulation
• Choose between new and aged tape conditions
• Selectable input modes for optimal performance with instruments and line-level devices
• Warp and Twist effects with footswitch control
• Select between the unprocessed analog dry signal and the original Space Echo preamplifier sound reproduced via physical models
• Four internal memories in addition to the current panel settings
• Save and select 127 memories via external MIDI program change
• Tap tempo and carryover functions
• Fully stereo input and output
• Expandable control via external footswitches, expression pedal, or via MIDI

All the Magic of Tape Echo

Tape echo was the first delay effect and one of the first effect processors available to electronic musicians. Unlike today's CPU-based digital units, a tape echo is a simple machine that uses a motor to run a magnetic tape over one or more record and playback heads. Warm, full, and dynamic, the sound of tape echo is influenced by many factors. The continuously 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 attractive modulated character that is continuously and subtly evolving.

RE-201 Space Echo: Simply Legendary

The RE-201 was a landmark Roland product and one of the most important tape echo units of its era. It featured three equidistant heads that produced a wider range of echo effects than typical single-head designs, along with an innovative tape transport system that offered superior performance with minimal tape wear. Convenient controls allowed easy access to clean single delays or various head combinations for creating rhythmic echoes. A spring reverb "tank" was also included, making the RE-201 a complete unit for creating quality effects. Last — but not least — the analog preamplifier circuit was another key ingredient in the Space Echo's rich sonic recipe.

Rebirth of a Masterpiece

Realized through the most modern technologies and a comprehensive analysis of several vintage RE-201s, including an original unit in perfect condition from the BOSS and Roland company archive, the RE-202 brings to life the most complete Space Echo experience in a modern and versatile pedal.

While previous BOSS designs have successfully captured the true sonic character and essential features of the Space Echo, new advancements have allowed us to delve deeper than ever before. With the RE-202, our engineers have fully reproduced the complex and non-linear behaviors that contributed to the RE-201's immortal character. Everything that affects the sound has been carefully examined and recreated with brand-new algorithms, including the tape path, recording and playback mechanism, motor variations, preamplifier coloration, tape aging, spring reverb character, and much more.

Retro Sound at Your Fingertips

The RE-202 provides all the vintage atmospheres of the RE-201, without the need for regular tape replacement and hardware maintenance. All the fundamental controls of the original are present, including the iconic 12-position mode selector. Every behavior is replicated with total precision, such as the gradual pitch variation that occurs when adjusting the Repeat Rate knob, or the pleasant feedback created with the Intensity knob at maximum.

With selectable tape age and variable controls, you can set everything from a brand new Space Echo to the worn character with the peculiarities of a well-preserved vintage piece. The Saturation control has been carefully calibrated based on the behaviors of a real magnetic tape and the RE-201's preamplifier, with the sound becoming warmer and more compressed as you turn up the knob. And thanks to the expressive Wow & Flutter control, you can set all the characteristics of natural modulation that are essential to the Space Echo sound.

Sonic Enhancements

The RE-202 includes many new features that bring the Space Echo into the modern era. Double delay time is available, along with a fourth virtual tape head that allows five additional sound combinations. There is also an echo type that changes the distance between the heads, something that was not possible with the original. Unlike the monophonic RE-201, the RE-202 offers fully stereo inputs and outputs, and selectable operating modes for guitar and line-level devices. For the dry signal, you can choose between the warm and full-bodied tone of the RE-201's preamplifier, or a perfectly clean signal, without any processing.

We have also included a stereo version of the original RE-201's spring reverb sound, along with hall, plate, room, and ambience types, for unbeatable versatility. The expressive Warp and Twist effects are also available, allowing you to launch the sound into outer space with the simple press of a footswitch while playing.

Modern Control

To complete its vintage heart and soul, the RE-202 has all the modern features you expect from an advanced delay pedal. There are four internal memories for saving and recalling your favorite sounds, and another 123 are accessible via MIDI program change. You can enter the tempo by tapping it, and you also have selectable delay carryover when changing memories. It is also possible to mute the dry signal for parallel effect setups and studio use. Expanded control is available via external footswitches and an expression pedal, and via MIDI, including simultaneous real-time control of multiple parameters.

Specifications

- 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

-Dimensions 192 (W) x 133 (D) x 52 (H) mm / 7-9/16 (W) x 5-15/64 (D) x 2-3/64 (H) inches

192 (W) x 133 (D) x 53 (H) mm / 7-9/16 (W) x 5-15/64 (D) x 2-3/32 (H) inches (including rubber foot)

-Weight (including battery) 860 g, 1 lb 15 oz

- 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 * 0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms