Roland Space Echo RE‑201

Released in 1974 by Roland, the RE‑201 “Space Echo” combined a tape-delay system with spring reverb — wrapped in a portable, road‑worthy chassis. It quickly became a studio staple for its warm, organic echoes and flexible analog character. The RE‑201’s innovative tape‑echo mechanism and robust construction made it a touring and studio favorite. Its distinctive character has defined genres like dub, post‑punk, trip‑hop, and rockabilly. Artists like Lee “Scratch” Perry, Radiohead, Portishead, and Bob Marley have all used it.

Plugin Emulations

• Roland Space Echo – Plugin 1
• Roland Space Echo – Plugin 2
• Roland Space Echo – Plugin 3

How It Works

• Single recording head + three playback heads selectable via 12-mode selector
• Onboard spring reverb, plus bass/treble EQ, echo volume, repeat rate, intensity, and reverb mix
• Inputs: two mic, one instrument, one line-level

Legacy & Evolution

Produced continuously until 1990, the RE‑201 was succeeded by:

• RE‑301 Chorus Echo (1977) – added chorus + sound‑on‑sound looping
• RE‑501 / SRE‑555 (1980) – rack‑mount variant with XLR I/O
• RE‑3 / RE‑5 (1988) – first digital implementations

In 2007, Boss released the RE‑20 pedal, recreating the RE‑201 digitally.

Key Specs

• Production Years: 1974–1990
• Delay Modes: 12 (multi-head echo + reverb-only)
• Tape Format: ¼″ magnetic tape
• Inputs: 2× mic, 1× instrument
• Production Years: 1974–1990