Galaxy Tape Echo
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Endless, lush, dub-style delays and psychedelic spring reverb.
In 1973, Roland created the RE-201 Space Echo* — a tape delay/spring reverb system that created warm, warped, unabashedly analog echo effects. From subtle tape textures to mindbending chaos, this iconic contraption can be heard on classic Pink Floyd and David Bowie, to seminal dub sides from King Tubby, Scientist, and Lee “Scratch” Perry.
The Galaxy Tape Echo plug-in for UAD-2 hardware and Apollo interfaces is an exhaustive emulation of the iconic, legendary ’70s unit, and expertly captures the physical behavior of the inspiring hardware, down to its distortion, musical wow and flutter, sci-fi pitch shifting, and real time tweakability.Included Versions
UAD Native
Runs on your Mac or PC without UA hardware.Apollo Realtime & UAD‑2
Runs accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD‑2 hardware.UAD Native plug-ins run on both macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer and Windows 10 and 11. Go to our UA Support page for system requirements.
- Add subtle tape delay or colorful cacophony to drums, vocals, guitars, and synths
- Harness distortion, wow and flutter, and pitch shifting, for organic time-based effects
- Use wild-self-oscillation for creative sci-fi textures and moods
- Employ the ambient shimmer of spring reverb on any source
TAKE A LISTEN
Learn how to Add Ambience to Synths
Grammy-winning engineer F. Reid Shippen (Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban) and the Galaxy Tape Echo and AKG BX 20 Spring Reverb plug‑ins.
Space is the Place
Universal Audio has painstakingly captured every quirk and characteristic of this complex device. For example, just like the hardware, you can drive the input hard to add hair to a vocal, or widen a drum bus with fat analog character. Tweak the controls and harness seemingly infinite wow and flutter and pitch shifting combinations — perfect for energizing electric guitars. From rockabilly slapback to hazey trails of swirling delay, the Galaxy Tape Echo is a secret sauce for any source in any genre.
A Faithful Reproduction — Warts and All
The Galaxy Tape Echo keeps the controls of the original hardware, and adds some for modern workflows. Use the original Mode Selector for various head combinations, Repeat Rate for timing control, and Intensity for repeats and self-oscillation. The Echo/Normal switch mutes the signal to the echo, while global Bass and Treble let you season to taste. New features include Tempo Sync, Pan controls for reverb and delay, and Tape Select, for varying delay timbres. By capturing the eccentricities of the original, and adding enhancements along the way, the Galaxy Tape Echo is a tool of infinite creativity.
“The Galaxy Tape Echo plug-in truly recreates all the nuances of the original hardware. Try automating the Delay and Regeneration settings to create those stunning Radiohead-style dub effects.”
– Steve Levine (Culture Club, Beach Boys, Honeyz)
“I've used tape echo units for years to give me that magical ambient wash. Now the Galaxy Tape Echo plug-in delivers all the warmth and grittiness of its original vintage brethren in a solid modern plug-in format.”
– Richard Chycki (Rush, Aerosmith, Dream Theater)
“The UAD Galaxy Tape Echo gives me great vintage slap delays and reverbs that no other box can produce.”
– Ken Lewis (Drake, Bruno Mars, Jay-Z)
“The reverb emulation in the Galaxy Tape Echo plug-in is just perfect to put behind a lead vocal to give it a bit more excitement and color.”
– Joe Chiccarelli (Jason Mraz, Beck, The Strokes, Morrissey)
“The new UAD Galaxy Tape Echo plug-in is one of the most organic sounding delays. It will give you tons vintage flavor on electric guitars, synths, and drums.”
– Ivan Barias (Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott, Estelle)
“The UAD Galaxy Tape Echo lives on my Moog Rogue. I call it my ‘instant vintage’ preset. I love reinventing my old synths with this thing!”
– Grieves*The Galaxy Tape Echo product is not affiliated with, sponsored, nor endorsed by Roland. The Roland name, as well as the RE-201 and Space Echo model names, are used solely to identify the classic effects emulated by Universal Audio's product.
Customer Reviews
A. Tsirliagos
April 1, 2023
The best 201 emulation out there
I tried many years ago, liked it but never bought it. I tested it again few days ago and i realised that i liked it even more, so it was an instant buy....
Read MoreP. Sviyazov
March 27, 2023
It just sounds right
Every time I use any of the Space Echo plugins I find it hard to fit them in the mix. But this one. It just sounds like it's always been in my mix, perfectly take a spot!
Read More -
Key Features
Add subtle tape delay or colorful cacophony to drums, vocals, guitars, and synths
Harness distortion, wow and flutter, and pitch shifting, for organic time-based effects
Use wild-self-oscillation for creative sci-fi textures
Employ the ambient shimmer of spring reverb on any source
Create with plug-in-only features Tempo Sync, Effects Pan, and Tape Select
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Customer Reviews
Galaxy Tape Echo
A. Moreno
I love it
It really works in my studio
A. Moreno
I love it
It really works in my studio
A. Tsirliagos
The best 201 emulation out there
I tried many years ago, liked it but never bought it. I tested it again few days ago and i realised that i liked it even more, so it was an instant buy.
J. Salvacion
delay for days
just classic tape delays and what not
J. Haskins
It wold be great if UA would allow me access to this plugin since I purchased it on 3/15.
It wold be great if UA would allow me access to this plugin since I purchased it on 3/15. It's borderline criminal that I pay for a plugin, and it doesn't give me access on my Apollo. What's the deal? UNREAL!
C. Madrinan
Worst impossible
Doesn’t work on OSX 10.7.5, no possibilty of exchange or money back.
P. Sviyazov
It just sounds right
Every time I use any of the Space Echo plugins I find it hard to fit them in the mix. But this one. It just sounds like it's always been in my mix, perfectly take a spot!
J. Powell
Great Tape Echo
Easy to use and sounds great!
F. San Filippo
Classic tape delay
I'm not sure I agree with keeping ALL the limitations of the original interface, but it will be hard to make a sound with this that isn't plausibly analog-like. UA's experience in tape simulations comes through here over some of the competing versions.
E. Bureau
Great for keys and 70's vibe
I slept on this for a long time, as I prefer the Echoplex or Ampex for a more 60s sound. The Galaxy however shines on keys and synths! Really full and warm textures and really true to the sound of the original units (which I both owned and used extensively). The best RE201 emulation out there, period.
R. Vidal
Sensational
He is sensational and very clear in the purity of the delay.
O. James
Such a vibe
Such a killer delay/reverb for adding depth AND sonic character. It's really fun to play with, and when driven, sounds remarkably close to a proper tape delay, without the maintenance. Only giving 4 stars as you can't manually adjust the delay time beyond fixed parameters, such as 1/4 or 1/8, or variations of around 100 milliseconds on fixed times from the original unit. I think sometimes UAD shoot themselves in the foot by not adding extra features which everyone would have gladly had on the original hardware and are easy as pie to add to the plugin. But for fixed times and even as a stand alone reverb, this is a fantastic plugin, hands down.
v. krumov
Awesome delay
I like so much Roland tape echo. This plugin is so close to the real one.
L. Spilger
Check pur the Spring Reverb!
Own and love the delay sounds for a very Long time now - but I just recently tried the spring reverb on vocals of a vintage type song - and it just fitted perfectly! Great sound!
J. Metzger
Change from my first review
I thought when I first got this plug in that it sounded off and the repeats weren’t in time, after further investigation and diving into the phone book shaped manual I realized there was 73 samples of latency on consoles Aux tracks , so I moved the space echo to an insert and the echos are now in time , what’s even better is I can move the space echo to an aux track without the latency penalty afterwards since I won’t need the aux track in Arm mode = no 73 samples of latency ! This plug in sounds amazing . Adds a lot of depth and character to my guitar. Thanks uad !
D. Shiman
As close as it gets
As an owner of the real unit, I can surely say the Galaxy Tape Echo is the closest emulation I heard.
C. Özdemir
Echo
Fantastic.
A. Gorobets
Great!
Add some variations to my mixes.
h. josemans
Great and really super Tape Echo to use when appropriate to use!
Great and really super Tape Echo to use when appropriate to use!
A. Smith
That extra warmth on your channels
Great for adding that extra warmth on any of your channels. Recommended!
