UAD Galaxy Tape Echo

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.

• 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

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.

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

UAD Spark, UA Connect and Native UAD Plug-Ins System Requirements

• macOS Catalina 10.15, Big Sur 11, Monterey 12, Ventura 13, or Sonoma 14
• Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit editions)
• Intel, AMD or Apple silicon processor
• Internet connection to download software and authorize native UAD plug-ins
• Free iLok account with iLok Cloud or iLok USB (2nd generation or higher)
• Free UA Connect application for managing native UAD plug-ins
• A supported DAW compatible with VST, AU and AAX plug-in file formats. Supported DAWs are listed in this article.