re-20, whats it like with a mpc?

im thinkin of getting a RE-20 delay pedal (or maybe the dd-20) to go with my MPC and some synths - but just wondering if anyone else uses it and how it goes in a non-guitar environment, being an instrument level device rather than line level?

does it add a lot of noise or have weird levels?

id be using it as an fx send from/to my mackie onyx mixer i would think.

I own it and it is La Bomba! I did a lot of research on whether to get the old school re-201 or the re-20. The re-20 is way less hassle and sounds good. It does not add noise to the chain of sound. The echoes and reverb are lovely. You will not be disappointed with it.
Now, the only problem with the re-20 is that it doesn't have midi. That is because it was made for use with a guitar. I suggest you get the Boss RC300 instead of the RE-20. Why? The RC300 will cost a little more but you get the RE-20 in it along with many other effects, it has midi, and it is a 3 track looper.
Boss and roland use the same effects in all of their top of the line equipment. The RE-20 is in the VS recorders, the guitar pedals, the drum machines, synths and effects boxes. I have the DR880, fantom S and the VS2000(RE-20's in all of them). In the vs, I find that I like having the ability to lock the re-20's delay to the tempo. This is done through midiclock. The problem then becomes that you are using a mouse to manipulate the settings (which is really not a big deal).
With the RC300 you get the knobs and the midi capability and many more effects as well.
That all being said you will still be able to make the re-20 sync using your ear and just tapping the tempo pedal.
If you do becaome interested in the RC300, just don't make the mistake of buying the RC-50 because the midi timing in it is bad. They made the RC-300 because of all the complaints with the rc-50, trust me it will not sync correctly.
I thoroughly enjoy the RE-20. It is really good for dub.

cheers,
Ian
PS" When I say it has the RE-20 in the RC300...I should clarify that I mean that it has the tools to recreate the same sound effects...it has rate, delay, reverb, modulation etc. It does not have echo. "
PPS" others to consider...
Boss GT-Pro (reproduce all of the pedals sounds, tweaking knobs and midi)
Boss GT-10B( has midi, lots of effects, dub sounds)"

Cool cheers for the info, I'll look into that.

The midi thing was something I was thinking about. I'm not too phased as I like the idea of having to sync it by ear and it being slightly out..

But yeah awesome info there.

hello,

the biggest difference between the re-20 and the dd-20 is that the re-20 is a "one-trick-pony" as it recreates the re 201 space echo and the dd-20 is more of a allround delay pedal.

i own the re-20 for some years now and i use it on everything from the mpc to my synths, for guitars, bass, voice, precussions and for live performances with my reggae soundsystem. we have a real re 201 in the studio and the sound of the re-20 is really close. the re 201 tape sound with an old tape is somewhat different (more hiss and you can hear the tape moving) but the echo sound is really like the original. the re-20 in self oscilation is a bit more harsh and schrill. the re 201 self oscilation is a bit more on the warm side.
the reverb is also sounding good up to about 2/3rds of the way, but has a noticable "klang" sound in the upper third, like you have hit the springs.

the advantages of the re-20 pedal are obviously the size and the reliability for live performances. also the tap tempo is very handy to sync fast to a tempo. the echo sound is not interupted if you change the tempo with the tap button and that makes some funky jumps in the sound. you can also dial in the tempo with the tape speed knob. this allows for very small adjustments, but if you use it after using the tap tempo it mostly jumps a little first to pick up the position of the knob.
the sound changes if you switch the mode selector knob while an echo is running also is like on the real re 201 and makes the famous sound.

i use mine with an expression pedal (roland ev 5) to control some parameters that are not on the pedals user panel - in my case echo level - so i can control the time and echo level with my foot and tweak two other knobs (intensity and echo level or tape speed) with my hands to produce some evolving dub echoes or pick just one small sound like a snare hit out of a drumloop with a quick step on the pedal.

i never felt a need for midi sync, because the old re 201 also not had this and pitching the tempo by ear is ok - also often it is a desired effect to let the echo tempo be slightly or massive off of the music tempo.

if you like the classic dub echo sound the re-20 is great, if you need more clean, digital delays the dd-20 might be better, but this type of delay is in most daws anyways.

the levels are no problem, i use it as a line level device all the time. the input also can go into overdrive like the original and add some distortion which sounds good if it is just a little but also is getting harsh when pushed too hard.
currently i have it connected to a motu 828 mk2 interface and feeding it from line out 7+8, but returning to the front mic/guitar ins and have no problems.

there is also a little switch on the back panel to decide if the direct sound is also routed through the unit or if only the echo sound is at the outputs (when using the pedal in a typical send/return fx loop).

peace, jo

selecta jo wrote:i use mine with an expression pedal (roland ev 5)

yep its the tape echo with all its personality for dubbyness i want so im gonna go with the re-20

do you find you ever need to make much use of the adjustment of the minimum/maximum value feature of that expression pedal when using with the re-20 - or just use it at its full range..

i ask as im thinkin of just wiring a 10K linear pot to a 1/4" TRS jack and making a knob tweaking version of the expression pedal to control the extra parameters..i may even mod it directly into the pedal if theres space with a switch to choose between internal pot or external pedal.. but im getting ahead of myself now..

hello,

the adjustment knob on the side of my expression pedal is always at the zero position, because i want the re-20 to produce no echo if i do not step on the pedal. if i want it to produce some or maximum echo i just move the pedal to the desired value and leave it there. so i may be removing the value poti as i do not really use it.

the cable of the ev 5 is the real weak link - mine has been a constant hassle as it seems to be broken somewhere and was not functioning all the time, what is a pity in a busy live situation, because it causes the echo to stay on.
so i drilled a hole into the side of the housing and put in a quarter inch stereo jack and can use a detachable cable now... much better, and because the cable is now on the side i even can rest the pedal aganst a wall to prevent it from slipping away.

i imagine the space in the re-20 would be enough to fit a poti in the same place as the expression pedal jack is now, but it would be a bad place because it is at the backside of the unit between the in and out cables.
so it would be better to solder a pot to a short cable with a trs plug on the other end to position it a little better, like you said.
also it might be good to think about really using a foot pedal, because then your hands are free to control two other knobs which is really good in live performances.

the pots in the ev 5 are a 10k for the pedal and a 50k for the min/max value knob.
here is a pic of the schematics:



peace, jo