Yonac Zodiak Echo is a new, authentic Roland RE-201 Space Echo emulation plugin for iOS and macOS with additional features.
Echo processors are widely used effects for synthesizers, with the Roland RE-201 Space Echo being the most famous. This iconic device has been emulated by various companies, including AudioThing, Arturia, Cherry Audio, and many others.
Today, Yonac has launched a new emulation of this classic effect called Zodiak Echo. While it’s yet another emulation, it stands out because it is designed for iOS and macOS AUv3 platforms.
Yonac Zodiak Echo
Zodiak Echo is an authentic emulation of the legendary Roland RE-201 Space Echo hardware unit from 1974. The app is a new release in their Zodiak effects lineup. According to Yonac, Zodiak Echo recreates its operational properties and quirks.
It starts with an input volume knob that controls the signal’s input gain. From here, it goes into a tape delay with three independently adjustable delay heads and a reverb.
Each delay head offers dedicated tempo syncable delay time, panning, and gain controls. Next to the repeat time is an intensity control that can self-oscillate. Plus, the delay has a tweakable EQ with bass and treble controls.
The developers made the tape speed as smooth as possible to achieve realistic speed-up/slow-down effects. Zodiac Echo offers even more possibilities to intervene in the character. This includes various other adjustable controls: tape frequency response, wow and flutter, and delay head drift.
12 Iconic Modes
Like the original hardware, it has a mode selector with 12 modes that switch through different tape head combinations. Of course, there is also the spring reverb-only mode.
The reverb offers two distinct spring reverb models (A/F) that can be routed in series or parallel. Alongside this, you can control the reverb dwell and decay time as well as the panning.
In addition to the legendary spacey echoes, the original was also known for its saturation. Yonac attempted to recreate this as well. A special preamp option with saturation and tone controls infuses the sound with that special sauce.
There is also a vari-amp control for amplitude modulation. For additional crunch and vintage character, Zodiak Echo also features independently tweakable tape hum and hiss, as well as a tape age parameter—the latter changes tonal and modulation characteristics.
Other features include: custom presence control, mono-summed delay-line input option, stereo or mono-summed feedback selector, and more. Yonac Zodiac Echo supports MIDI with easy MIDI learn and over 40 MIDI-controllable parameters.
The plugin ships with over 140 factory presets that cover all the Roland RE-201 effects and many that go beyond that. From perfectly timed ping-pong delays and spacey echoes to the psychedelic effects we all love from the original.
First Impression
Another Space Echo emulation isn’t huge news. It’s just another one in a nearly endless list. How good it is remains to be seen.
However, I’m pleased that there’s now another iOS option besides AudioThing’s Outer Space. A big bonus: it also ships with an macOS AUv3 version.
Yonac Zodiak Echo is available now for an introductory price of $6,99 (over 50% OFF) for a limited time. It runs as a standalone app and AUv3 plugin on iOS and macOS (native Apple Silicon 12.5 or higher only).
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