RE-202 a month in and looking back at other recent buys.

[rfurtkamp]

The more I've used the RE-202, the more I've liked it - for one simple reason.

Of all the units I've handled since my original RE-301, it's the most intuitive to my work flow to get things going.

It has the sound, sure - that wasn't ever in dispute.

But it's the little things that matter. The "heads" having LEDs to indicate which is on or off is something I would have (and still would) kill for on my actual Space Echo or the RE-20.


The "worn tape" isn't so much "worn", as in "Shot out, where's my echo?" which is what actually happens on a Space Echo when the tape fries. There's no grand moment of "suddenly it's good." It's more akin to "I've cleaned the heads six times, and....the echo's not back. Screw me! Can I cut and splice a new tape during the set break with a pocketknife and using a piece of tape or cassette label for the splice join?" that I knew VERY well. But that memory lane aside, the "worn" just sounds "more correct", like most of them sound in actual practice especially after decades of use even with "fresh" tape.

I dial in instinctively. I'd do that on the RE-20 as well, but I usually left it on the same head settings (which I also have a tendency to do on my actual tape unit), but am far more prone to swapping things.

There's a bonus feature that the manual and the demos didn't do justice to - the leftmost button on the unit (the on/off) on hold isn't a "warp" but a "wash." I thought it was infamous Roland/Boss translation, but it actually is akin to the "loop what's in the buffer" of some granular delays and is VERY pleasing in that regard. I didn't expect that to be in there, and it can be operated with the "Warp" feature simultaneously for spaceship noises galore

I haven't gotten into using the presets yet, I'm sure I will eventually but it's such an easy box to reach out and tweak it hasn't seemed necessary.

One thing I will note is that for those of you sonic explorers out there, running the output of one channel into the input of the other works but it creates a pretty ugly ground loop that's present EVEN with the effect "off"

That applies even if you're using it as an "internal effects loop basically, which I suspect is the preamp modelling but haven't gotten around to checking as I'm not keen on turning it off, especially for that novelty use. If I really want to play with that, the Digitech TimeBender is still king - no problems and the individual channel pitch shifting gets wild in conjunction if run in series.


But as a "digital Space Echo" (or a "Space Echo period") it's top-notch. Initial impression has only gotten better with time.

I also picked up the Bogner clearance "big" pedals over the last few months.

THe Ubershall does the "stupid Marshall in a box" thing very well, and when hit with a HM-2 first, does the metal sound that I would have KILLED for when I started out years ago. Very quiet for the amount of gain as well. Would I want it as my "only" dirtbox? No. But it's one of the better stacking high-gain things I've ever used.

The surprising one is the Ecstasy Blue. I got it mostly on a whim, and figured for the price and after being impressed by the Ubershall that...why not? It's far better as a standalone dirtbox than the Ubershall, and stacks VERY well with it. For modern medium gain to a little higher, it does the job VERY well, and the unexpected happy place war run into the (very realistic) Tweed Deluxe model in my Eleven Rack. It adds some definition but makes the spiky happy of the tweed breakup even more present and alive. If I could get that combo alone in a pedal, I would definitely acquire it.

Certainly not what I expected to be adding to my absolutely obscene pile of pedals this year, but...I'm happy.

Should note I'm also still very pleased with the Behringer HM-2 clone, even in the cheap plastic box. It actually in all honestly sounds a little better to my ears (brighter and more fuzzy in a good way) than my nice early MIJ HM-2.

[oldangelmidnight]

I'm glad to hear your impressions. I've never used an original and I have enough digital multi-delays that I wouldn't really consider spending for one of these but it sounds like fun. Hearing that the UI is good makes me want to give it a try.
Do you mostly use it tabletop?

[rfurtkamp]

Mostly, but if I want the footswitch functions, I floor the thing.

[Seance]

The more I've used the RE-202, the more I've liked it - for one simple reason.

Of all the units I've handled since my original RE-301, it's the most intuitive to my work flow to get things going.

Have you done the Boss firmware update to your RE-202?
https://www.boss.info/us/support/by_pro ... bdca55b68/
It offers the ability to tweak how the "twist" function does its twirls (see point #3).

UPDATE HISTORY
[ Ver.1.10 ] 2022/08
Additional Functions
—It is now possible to set a reverb type for each individual memory.
—A setting has been added to sustain the SATURATION effect in DIRECT MODE even when effects are off.
—It is now possible to add new tones to TWIST and to set the type.
—It is now possible to select the playback head and dotted eighth notes as the reference when inputting the tempo.


It does look pretty spiffy.

[rfurtkamp]

I haven't done the update yet, I'm still on the OG firmware apparently.

What I can't find is any documentation on how to adjust said twist options, which is why I haven't rushed to update.

[Zork]

I thought I was relatively GAS free for a while but since I scaled down my live synth setup I really really want one of those for my Sub37.

[Seance]

I haven't done the update yet, I'm still on the OG firmware apparently.

What I can't find is any documentation on how to adjust said twist options, which is why I haven't rushed to update.

Page 18 of the updated manual seems to address the Twist Type adjustment procedure.
https://static.roland.com/assets/media/ ... ng02_W.pdf

It involves the whole "press and hold tap switch while powering up" procedure and then set Mode to 2.
Then it gives the options of Normal/Hard/Natural "Twist Types".

QUOTE________________________________
Switching Between TWIST Types (TWIST TYPE)
1. Press and hold down the [TAP] switch, and turn on the power.
2. Turn the [MODE SELECTOR] knob to the “2” setting.
3. Use the [MEMORY] button to select the twist type.
MEMORY indicators
TWIST type
Explanation
MANUAL
1 Hard Produces a wilder effect.
2 Natural Produces a natural effect to match the echo you set.
4. Press the [TAP] switch to exit the settings.

[Seance]

I’m glad it’s good, it lessens my fomo about never getting the old one
Now I can not get the new one instead.

I have a RE-20 that I use often and I'm glad the RE-202 sounds good.

But the fact that the RE-202 doesn't add the ability to set/change
the stereo field of the repeats makes me feel a bit better about the fact that
I can't afford to get an RE-202.

Which helps me avoid the foment of FOMO.

[rfurtkamp]

Page 18 of the updated manual seems to address the Twist Type adjustment procedure.
https://static.roland.com/assets/media/ ... ng02_W.pdf

Thanks, it's what I figured, I just didn't want to go randomly spinning the dial to see what happens.

Come to think about it, maybe I should!

[qersty]

—It is now possible to set a reverb type for each individual memory.

uhhm this was an update? ....

[rfurtkamp]

Yea, it didn't ship with being able to save that originally.

They're doing a lot of stuff in response to the initial reactions.

The core is good, just needs a little tweaking for memory/save/options.