Lexicon LXP-1 ...

[Sparky2]

So I went through the headache of setting up a hardware Aux using the lexicon LXP-1...used the default plate settings and setting drums through it, mostly snare, and I hate to say it but it sounded wayyyyy better to my ears than the UAD Plate, dreamverb or realverb...or even the RoomSim in Samplitude...The delays sound just wicked....everything just got warmer and less \"digital\" sounding...it may be more of a \"one-trick pony\", but there is just more authenticity to the ambience now...

I am gonna buy a LXP-5 and setup two hardware Aux's and just print the verb tracks...it seems that a better mix of \"old\" and \"new\" is proving to be a more effective way of acheiving better sounding recordings...

-Curt

 

[Michael]

Get the MRC for them both and you'll love them 10 fold !!! , Once you can access the other parameters they become more amazing .

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

Whatever happened with Cubase control panels? Back when Nuendo 3 was coming out, they showed us all these great examples of how hardware digital equipment could be controlled with these special mixer channels & then routed as hardware inserts/aux's, is this what you're doing, Curt? Has anyone made a control panel template for the LXP1? How does the LXP series compare with the MPX & MX series'?

 

[boody]

How does the LXP series compare with the MPX & MX series'?

LXP1 & 5 were nice sounding boxes but hard to control without the controller. They were combined in the LXP15 which sounded 'as good' (though some think it sounds less good) and was easier controllable which was succeeded by the MPX1, which had enhanced proccesing power and extreem versatile control, and sounds more 'modern' which some think is less good and others say it's better. The MPX100 to 500 are not in the same league and in my opinion they have little to do with that 'lexicon sound'. They're not bad though.

If you like an even better reverb: get an old pc, strip it to the bare minimum, install minimum win98se without any options and buy yourself a cheap dumped lexicon core32 card. Now that's two nice reverbs for less than 300$ and your old pc gets use again 8) No plates though!

cheers
Budy

 

[Eurocide]

As long as Lexicon is selling their hi-end hardware, they won't give away their holy know-how to plugin developers.
Maybe in a few years...?

 

[Sparky2]

Michael/Boody: Thanx for the tip on the controller...I was wondering if it was worth it but I think I'll scoop one up..

Eric: Don't know exactly what I did with the Multi-face..damn mixer is not as intuitive as my now-departed Aardvark Q10 (holy cow did I take a hit on that one!)...but in Samplitude, I bascially just treat everything like you would with a normal mixer -- route an Aux to an analog output, into the LXP, out the LXP into the RNP and back into the Multiface. Set it and forget it...but of course, pain recording the effect tracks - no doubt I will be adding some noise...

When I heard those LXP chorus'ed delays using my 70's Ibanez Les Paul copy through the Peavey Bravo into the Palmer I just about shit my pants...

 

[saemskin]

If it responds to CC commands, you should be all set.

 

[genlock]

Back in the analog days we did lots of recordings with the LXP-1 even as the main verb. It has \"that\" lush, deep Lexicon sound. A bit more noisy, more granular, less deep and much less versatile than let's say a 300L but the same \"sound\" and the same \"glue\". I think it was intended to be used as a second or third reverb for studios that already owned a big Lexicon just to quickly fill the gaps on drums or backgrounds. Easy to set up and no significant compromise in sound.

So when making our first steps in DAW-Land we made the experience that no software reverb we tried came close even remotely to this entry-level Lexicon. Then came SIR, noisevault and Pristine Space, etc. so we refurbished our old crackling LXP-1 and made some IRs ourselves which turned out to be pretty accurate.

Nowadays the available options are much more mature. The massive IR-Libraries from Altiverb and Waves (For vintage, \"independent\" IRs check out noisevault.com and http://www.echochamber.ch). There are DVL-1, VSS-3 and NonLin2 for the Powercore, all very PRO. And for lower budgets see http://www.classikstudioreverb.com/ , http://www.princetondigital.com/ http://www.artsacoustic.de/ and the UAD-1 Plate 140 is not so bad after all...

So, really, no need to look back in grief.

 

[Sparky2]

Another plus side to using an outboard eq is that it really conserves resources...now in Samplitude, I can use that WICKED multi-band compressor more, for example...The RoomSim in Samplitude is great, but you'll get bogged down fast before not too long...

I guess the long and the short of it is using more tracks is just less costly these days. I may even consider getting a higher end TC or eventide verb using digital ins/outs to supplement my LXP1/LXP5...for as cheap as the LXP's are, I probably will scoop another one up :wink:

-Curt

 

[djsynchro]

Strictly my opinion - but I have an LXP5 and I think it sounds CRAP.
Well maybe it will sound good now in a retro kind of way... otherwise I might have to circuitbend it.

I also have a 12-bit Roland DEP-5 Now THERE is a piece of gear that thing sounds incredible, if not exactly realistic. I used to think it was a bit noisy with the programs that have chorus in it (it is) but lately I have been feeling nostalgic about noise, I miss it sometimes.

 

[Michael]

Strictly my opinion - but I have an LXP5 and I think it sounds CRAP.
Well maybe it will sound good now in a retro kind of way... otherwise I might have to circuitbend it.

I also have a 12-bit Roland DEP-5 Now THERE is a piece of gear that thing sounds incredible, if not exactly realistic. I used to think it was a bit noisy with the programs that have chorus in it (it is) but lately I have been feeling nostalgic about noise, I miss it sometimes.

Do you have the MRC controller ? The LXP 1 & 5 are useless without one . I used to think the same way without the MRC . There are so Many user parameters that cannot be accesed with out one.

 

[Guest]

Strictly my opinion - but I have an LXP5 and I think it sounds CRAP.
Well maybe it will sound good now in a retro kind of way... otherwise I might have to circuitbend it.

I also have a 12-bit Roland DEP-5 Now THERE is a piece of gear that thing sounds incredible, if not exactly realistic. I used to think it was a bit noisy with the programs that have chorus in it (it is) but lately I have been feeling nostalgic about noise, I miss it sometimes.

Do you have the MRC controller ? The LXP 1 & 5 are useless without one . I used to think the same way without the MRC . There are so Many user parameters that cannot be accesed with out one.

True. The MRC is a *must* Also, if you want to really do yourself a favor, you should send them to Jim Williams and get them modified. I have two LXP-1 units here. I sent one of the to Jim. Now it sounds like it's in the same league with my PCM-91.

 

[djsynchro]

Do you have the MRC controller ? The LXP 1 & 5 are useless without one . I used to think the same way without the MRC . There are so Many user parameters that cannot be accesed with out one.

I had a Logic environment for it or a soundiver setup or something like that. Still can't remember ever getting anything amazing out of it... does anyone know of a freeware editor for it (Windows)?

 

[Michael]

Strictly my opinion - but I have an LXP5 and I think it sounds CRAP.
Well maybe it will sound good now in a retro kind of way... otherwise I might have to circuitbend it.

I also have a 12-bit Roland DEP-5 Now THERE is a piece of gear that thing sounds incredible, if not exactly realistic. I used to think it was a bit noisy with the programs that have chorus in it (it is) but lately I have been feeling nostalgic about noise, I miss it sometimes.

Do you have the MRC controller ? The LXP 1 & 5 are useless without one . I used to think the same way without the MRC . There are so Many user parameters that cannot be accesed with out one.

True. The MRC is a *must* Also, if you want to really do yourself a favor, you should send them to Jim Williams and get them modified. I have two LXP-1 units here. I sent one of the to Jim. Now it sounds like it's in the same league with my PCM-91.

Do you have more info on the modifications that were done and possibly how to reach this person . I don't know who this person is .

 

[djsynchro]

I think they're talking about this:

http://www.audioupgrades.com

 

[JW1970]

FYI - Sound Quest makes Midi Quest XL, which allows you to control the LXP1, LXP5. I ditched my MRC as this is a much better setup, especially if you're used to using editor/librarians. Actually, if you just have a single device you want to control, you can use their much less expensive UniQuest product (same product but only controls 1 type of device).

<http://www.squest.com/>