How does a Roland Space Echo sound ?

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cjacek

cjacek

Analogue Enthusiast
Hi,

Does anyone here have a short mp3 clip of the space echo in action ? Rather than a description in words, I'd really like to hear it and make up my own mind.

Thanks in advance,

Daniel
 
this guy's on a roll

I hate it when people tell you that what you want isn't what you should. THe guy asked for info on what the space echo sounds like and you tell him about something else.

I'm sure you're a nice guy and you mean well...but you aren't helping him.

jacob
 
Great advice. Get the ancient model that sheds iron oxide with each pass. :rolleyes:
 
Thank you for the link and opinion on the space echo but I'd still like to hear it.

~Daniel
 
Daniel, THIS GUY got couple of 'mad' recordings ... scroll down...see song description...on the bottom of the page couple mp3s ( StratoMorphisis and The Old Castle ...well, this is sorta' experimental stuff :)..but you get some idea about how SE could "sound". BTW, while you're there you can 'get a feel' about how Teac 144 Portastudio 'sounds in action' ;) heh heh
To say shortly - Space Echo sounds like tape-delay :p ...well, also a bit more 'complex' depending on mode selection and feedback level.
You really should just try to experiment yourself with what ever R-t-R machine with record and play heads you have.... set the output to 'tape'(repro) and send it/patch output back into the mixer (adjust level) - send to deck's input - play something and record ..have fun :D you get the idea about tape-delay sound. Nothing is like it. BTW the tape itself and all the things related to it and all the "inperfections" of the tape is a part of the effect.... so there.
I have posted some direct links to mp3 samples of my 'cassette tape delay' machine , while I was just experimenting and playing some synth sounds from JV-1080 synth through it... it is HERE at DUB discussion board, scroll down ...the samples in the later post there. Again...this is not Roland, but so you can get some taste of tape delay if you wish.
Also Roland SE units are mad-expansive nowdays... around 500 bucks if in good shape ..grrrrrrrrrrrr. I'd say using R-To-R machine with three heads and speed control is one of the alternative ways to get tape-delay/echo effect.

/later
 
Dr. Zee,
Excellent samples! Really like your makeshift tape delay. I'm tempted to try it.
 
Dr ZEE said:
Daniel, THIS GUY got couple of 'mad' recordings ... scroll down...see song description...on the bottom of the page couple mp3s ( StratoMorphisis and The Old Castle ...well, this is sorta' experimental stuff :)..but you get some idea about how SE could "sound". BTW, while you're there you can 'get a feel' about how Teac 144 Portastudio 'sounds in action' ;) heh heh
To say shortly - Space Echo sounds like tape-delay :p ...well, also a bit more 'complex' depending on mode selection and feedback level.
You really should just try to experiment yourself with what ever R-t-R machine with record and play heads you have.... set the output to 'tape'(repro) and send it/patch output back into the mixer (adjust level) - send to deck's input - play something and record ..have fun :D you get the idea about tape-delay sound. Nothing is like it. BTW the tape itself and all the things related to it and all the "inperfections" of the tape is a part of the effect.... so there.
I have posted some direct links to mp3 samples of my 'cassette tape delay' machine , while I was just experimenting and playing some synth sounds from JV-1080 synth through it... it is HERE at DUB discussion board, scroll down ...the samples in the later post there. Again...this is not Roland, but so you can get some taste of tape delay if you wish.
Also Roland SE units are mad-expansive nowdays... around 500 bucks if in good shape ..grrrrrrrrrrrr. I'd say using R-To-R machine with three heads and speed control is one of the alternative ways to get tape-delay/echo effect.

/later

Thanks Mike! :) Thanks for looking this up for me and also your tape delay project and samples are too cool! Great stuff!

~Daniel
 
Hey, guys, thnX :)
I have to make a note here again about that cassette tape-delay machine, (especially if you, (RecTechMin), may get an idea to build some similar device), :... Even thou it was fun to build and then experimenting with, but I've found it pretty hard to use from practical point and the effect you get with it is also rather freaky ... so it is really rather a 'special effect' than a 'common tape delay effect'. Plus if you expect to "control it with precision - FORGET about it :eek: :o :eek: ..heh heh . With sucha' unit you only can rely on public tolerance of madness in your area and the help from a ghost in tha'wire ;) .
Without having a dedicated unit, to get a more generally acceptable tape delay effect, I'd say, the way to go would be using a three-head Reel-to-reel machine (or two r-t-r machines of the same model and run the tape from one machine to the other). But then again, the whole 'patching around deal' (to created feedback loop and control it) is a pain in tha'A%s, also 'eats up' channels on your mixer - well, the point is - this is not a simple 'send-return' kind of 'effect' .
What I really want to do next (when ever and if ever I get an "inspiration" and some time to do it) is to actually convert a reel-to-reel deck into tape-delay unit and actually ad (or say - build in) a small mixer 'section' into it (some kind of small 4chnl/2bus mixer) and maybe also a two chnl 10-band (or so) eq - so I can create and control/adjust the feedback without need to use an 'external' mixer (or channels on main mixing board) and 'external patching' and also , of course, the speed control and/or adjustable distance between rec. and play heads has to be there.
It's all doable... really. The delay/echo effect you get with tape IS really irreplaceable and inimitable from my 'experience'.... gotta have it :cool: :p :cool:
 
the space echo kinda sounds like this.......


wooooooop waaaaaaaah warrrrrrrwhoopwhoop weeeeeerrrrrnnnn
 
Roland Space Echo

I dont have the ability to put samples up, but i will say this... i have owned two and i have also used the modeled space echos. Like you probably already know the echos are not really consistant, but they are consistant enough for 95 percent of songs in a home studio. Digital delays may be more reliable in the realm of consistancy, but that doesnt always sound good. At least to me. As your echos trail off on a tape echo, the sound changes tone. Whats good about that is that you can hear a difference between the sound and each echo as it repeats, instead of it just being a wall of repeats. The change in tone is like a miniature "ear orgasm", because the sound evolves a bit as it fades. I was about to sell mine recently because i needed cash badly, but i pulled it off ebay and decided to keep it and take it on the chin. And im glad. For me personally, the best two echos ive ever used were tape (roland, echoplex) and analog (Deluxe Memory Man, Boss DM2). Using a tape echo is like playing an instrument, kind of like a reverb plate or a spring reverb. There is a difference you can "feel". Im sorry to give a sound description rather than what you asked for, but i always want ANY help or info when im curious about something, especially from people who own and use the equipment regularly. Do yourself a favor and make sure you get a good strong one and get it totally gone through by Fuzzorama.com. They specialize in Roland echos.
 
They are unreliable to an extent, but I think they sound fantastic. The oxide shedding is part of the sound. Same reason why analog recordings of the past have a pleasurably gritty sound.
 
planetorange said:
I dont have the ability to put samples up, but i will say this... i have owned two and i have also used the modeled space echos. Like you probably already know the echos are not really consistant, but they are consistant enough for 95 percent of songs in a home studio. Digital delays may be more reliable in the realm of consistancy, but that doesnt always sound good. At least to me. As your echos trail off on a tape echo, the sound changes tone. Whats good about that is that you can hear a difference between the sound and each echo as it repeats, instead of it just being a wall of repeats. The change in tone is like a miniature "ear orgasm", because the sound evolves a bit as it fades. I was about to sell mine recently because i needed cash badly, but i pulled it off ebay and decided to keep it and take it on the chin. And im glad. For me personally, the best two echos ive ever used were tape (roland, echoplex) and analog (Deluxe Memory Man, Boss DM2). Using a tape echo is like playing an instrument, kind of like a reverb plate or a spring reverb. There is a difference you can "feel". Im sorry to give a sound description rather than what you asked for, but i always want ANY help or info when im curious about something, especially from people who own and use the equipment regularly. Do yourself a favor and make sure you get a good strong one and get it totally gone through by Fuzzorama.com. They specialize in Roland echos.


Excellent info. Thank you! :)

~Daniel
 
There are some space echo impulses at noisevault.com. Try them on some of your own material to get an idea of the sound. I personally couldn't live without mine... but I think I dig the oil can delay even more.

Jay
 
jayridge said:
There are some space echo impulses at noisevault.com. Try them on some of your own material to get an idea of the sound. I personally couldn't live without mine... but I think I dig the oil can delay even more.

Jay

I'll check out the noisevault. Thanks! :)

~Daniel
 
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