In Japan you would be hard pressed to find a studio that doesn’t have at least one Sony MU-R201 in their racks even today, many have two. Yuji Sugiyama is a very famous Japanese engineer and he is a big fan of the Sony MU-R201, and an engineer who has worked with numerous artists such as Soft Ballet, X Japan, and Luna Sea. Yuji has used the Sony MU-R201 in both recording and live situations to great effect. And then of course, there is the controversial (debatable) use of the Sony MU-R201 by Roger Nichols on Steely Dan mixes.
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is about this unit that makes it so good, but it sits in a mix really well and is very well made, in particular the ultra rare remote control with it’s solid steel casing is very solidly built. Some of the stereo reverb patches are of particular interest as they are very good indeed.
Effect Types Available
- Hall
- Room
- Plate
- Gate Reverb
- Delay
- Flash Panning
- Dual Reverb
- Reverb & Gate
- Reverb & Delay
Impressive Stereo Ambience
All circuits from the input to the output stage are equipped for stereo processing. The key device of the Sony MU-R201 is a newly developed 2-channel audio processing LSI (Digital Presence Synthesiser CXD1079), which creates stereo effects not possible with two monophonic reverberators. The result is striking, high-quality reverberation.
Versatile Preset Characteristics
Musicians, recording engineers and sound technicians from all over the world have contributed to select a total of 100 presets which are stored in the memory of the Sony MU-R201. The user can immediately choose a setting for any application.
Creative Effect Shaping
The EDIT and EQ (equalising) functions of the Sony MU-R201 can be used to change preset reverberation effects and to produce original settings. Besides the 100 factory-preset characteristics, a user memory for another 100 settings is provided, offering unlimited creative potential.
Wide Variety of Reverberation Types
10 basic modes on the Sony MU-R201 serve as reference, complemented by many versatile effects, such as hall ambience, acoustically “live” room effects, tightly controlled plate reverberation, percussive multi-gate reverb and multi-reverse reverb. The dual multi delay setting offers up to 20 repeat outputs for each channel separately, and reverb & gate effects further enhance versatility.
Direct Memory Selection
Memory selection and adjustment is simple and straightforward, for easy operation also during a live performance.
Serves as Two Independent Reverberator Units
In modes 3 (Multi Gate Reverb), 4 (Multi Reverse Reverb), 5 (Dual Multi Delay), 7 (Dual Reverb), 8 (Reverb & Gate), and 9 (Reverb & Delay), the two channels of the Sony MU-R201 operate separately. This permits use, for example, with two different instruments during recording or a live performance.
Precise Sound Definition
Up to 26 parameters can be set, to design exactly the sound field you want and to create special effects not available in ordinary surroundings.
4-Band Equaliser Control
The Sony MU-R201 incorporates a programmable two-channel four-band equaliser (LOW, L-MID, H-MID, HIGH). Equaliser data can be stored along with effects settings, to instantly provide the desired sound shaping characteristics for each application.
Remote Control Capability
An optional remote control unit (Sony MU-RM1, cabled) permits operation of the unit from any convenient location. A foot switch (FS-11) can be used to increase or decrease memory numbers, switch effect processing off and on, and suspend effects.
Flexible Input/Output Configuration
Two sets of input/output jacks are provided, to accommodate either standard phone plugs or RCA-type phono plugs. A +4/-20 dB LEVEL selector matches the unit to professional or consumer equipment and any musical instrument.
Easy Combination with Digital Instruments
The integrated MIDI interface accepts program change signals for external selection of memory numbers during a performance. The effect level can also be controlled via key-touch and control change signals, making the Sony MU-R201 ideally suited for use as an effect for digital instruments.
Reverberation with the Sony MU-R201
When trying to recreate the ambient sound field by means of digital signal processing, using two monaural reverberator units does not produce fully satisfactory results. The width and depth of the sound stage present in the stereo will not be preserved with such an arrangement.
This becomes obvious by picturing for example a sound which originates from the right side of the stage Its early reflections on the right will reach the listener earlier than the reflections on the left, and the reverberant sound field also gradually spreads from the right. To achieve natural-sounding reverb in such a case requires a reverberator which provides stereo inputs, stereo signal processing, and stereo outputs.
In the Sony MU-R201, this goal is achieved by the use of a two-channel digital audio signal processing LSI and latest stereo algorithms, producing natural and effective reverberation of very high quality. Different algorithms are required for delay effects, gate reverb effects, and auto-panning effects.
All algorithms were newly developed for the MU-R201 and form the basis of the ten different effect modes (0-9). By using these modes in combination with suitable parameters a multitude of impressive and striking effects can be created.
