Lexicon PCM 70

The sound quality is the best reverb on the market even by todays standards. I have used a strymon big sky and multiple reverb pedals, and reverb racks ( FX500 yamaha, ALESIS MIDIVERB 2, ALESIS Quadraverb ( original, and 2.0 version with resonaters, and ring mod, sampling) I also use an AXE FX 2 XL PLUS and have reverbs sounds in there too that I combine/ also have presets with no reverbs, and just an amp block/fx loop. The sound quality blows everything out of the water/sounds so nice. I'd suggest putting the mix levels around 30-60% range for best results. I have lately connected my strymon timeline delay in the feedback loop mode ( fx loop on the pedal itself that syncs another pedals modulation sound with the repeats in the delay) I use the quadraverb in a stereo flange mode in the feedback loop of the strymon, then the strymon into the send of my axe fx 2 xl plus, and the lexicon pcm70 in the return. I got some extremely beautiful/crazy sounds better than anything I have ever crafted before from pedals, or just pedals and axe fx/or quadraverb/timeline with axe fx 2. The quadraverb and timeline in my axe fx 2 sound fantastic but have a more lo fi quality like slowdive, the verve, and bands from that era. The lexicon pcm70 takes me directly to Robin Guthrie Cocteau Twins tone/Pink Floyd Tone from the late 80's and 90's. Both are great tool separately, ( i havent tried them together, but I did use the quadraverb in the feedback loop of the timeline) I normally just will probably use the timeline without the feedback loop set up ( unless I am doing layering/trying to get a really specific sound with my modulation/fx) I love the lexicon with clean ambient chorus echoes, delays, and concert hall, tiled room. The fidelity is off the charts and better than what I have heard from the strymon big sky in my opinion ( big sky has some cool sounds/interesting things but the sound quality of the lexicon is amazing, that is why they cost 3000k in 1986 and the circuit board is 4-6 times the size of the strymon board) The combination of axe fx 2, lexicon pcm70,and my strymon timeline make for stellar tones in shoegaze, ambient, jazz land, all the way to alternative, indie, classic rock, shred rock, metal etc. I use all this into a metric halo uln2 via AES out of my axe fx 2 xl plus.

One disclaimer is the menu system is a bit odd compared to other rack units like the alesis quadraverb, midiverb, yamaha fx 500, axe fx 2. I managed to hook the midi out cable from my midi interface ( saffire pro 24) and send it into the midi in on the PCM 70, I then found the sysex files for v 3.0 an v2.0 so I now have all the presets from version 2/3 and still have spaces left to store more registers. You must go to control program 1.7 or 0.7, then on the control program load that, then hit the program LED/button to turn that off, then click in the number 3 so it'd be 1.3 and set your midi to OMNI. With a mac get Sysex Librarian or Sys OX on PC, connect your interface to your computer and have the midi cable set up as I described earlier with the changes on the board made. To get the device ready to receive messages all you should have to do is hit PLAY midi messages in sysex librarian ( I have a mac, haven't done it on PC). For a while I had sat stumped with trying to figure out how to get it to receive messages/the version 2 and 3 programs. My mistake was thinking there was a sysex utility or command like that on the PCM 70 rack itself. VERY IMPORTANT TO SELECT MIDI in the program sysex librarian, it is in the middle of the window and says select device or device ready with a single bar line. Click that when your interface/midi connections are set up and everything is turned on ( rack/interface) Then hit the play button, the screen will then flash on the PCM 70 and you will have all the new presets. I'd suggest getting use to a command set up turning buttons on and off ( program/register) to get to different menus,parameter controls. It can be overwhelming at first, but if you follow these steps you will succeed. I struggled very hard on the internet, because no one mentioned how to get it to receive messages, but it is as simple as making sure the SYSEx application you are using has MIDI selected.

If you are debating on getting a strymon big sky or eventide space, I'd get the PCM70 all day, better fidelity to my ears and it has delays and amazing mod fxand cool resonators, and although it doesnt do shimmer and some odder sounds. you can always use plugins, or other pedals that will do the same job better/or close. I am stoked I have 3 amazing recording configurations with rack setups/pedals. ( plus a million more with guitar choice, tuning, string guage, frequency tuning calibration, axe fx parameters, dAW parameters, the options are endless)

The Lexicon PCM 70 is a digital reverb unit in the form of a piece of hardware gear. It has XLR connections and is a rackable effect - it will take up a single rack space unit.

UTILIZATION

The general configuration of Lexicon PCM 70 is somewhat easy to follow, but does take a little while to get used to. Like most of the early digital reverb units like this one, it has a lot of windows inside of windows that take a bit of getting used to. However, it is easy to get a good sound from it as it is easy to access the basic types of reverbs and their parameters. I don't have a manual for this, so I can't speak to how helpful it is or not, but would probably be helpful when learning the PCM 70.

SOUND QUALITY

The sound quality of the Lexicon PCM 70 is pretty good and is what I have come to expect from Lexicon in terms of reverb units like this. It is pretty versatile and most of the sounds are beyond usable and effective. I like using this on all sorts of instruments, including steel guitar, lead and back up vocals, electric guitar, and anything else I feel calls for some reverb. While this isn't the best reverb I have ever heard by far, it does the job and provides a good amount of control.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using the Lexicon PCM 70 for about a year and I have found it to be a nice digital reverb unit. However, I find myself using reverb plug-ins more and more and straying away from reverb units like this one. The reason for this is because they are much easier to use, provide more control, and some have comparable, if not better sounds than the PCM 70. This being said, I will use the PCM 70 for a specific type of sound when I am after it. The price of these has fallen because of these reasons, and you can get one of these at a pretty reasonable price if you can find one used. If you are looking for a reverb unit in terms of a piece of hardware, I would recommend checking the PCM 70 out as well as some of the other reverb units that Lexicon has to offer.

Between a mono, Stereo output, jack in!
routing simplistic
mine is a V2.1

! attention it gets hot, not opening the cooled aluminum frame inside the chassis, prvoir some space for the evacuation of hot air!

UTILIZATION

Trs clear even if the user manual without the storage of your own effects is a bit nbuleux for the rest it is functional trs, many parameters for the era, one of the first res offer a lot of work on primary and reflections on the dissemination of CONTRL, 4 or 6 reflections, 2 x RT crossover etc ...
and the rest we came to love his few dfaults ergonomics ....

SOUND QUALITY

By the cons, it is a fact that will remain in the history of audio, the same as that for minimmoog synthse, indeed, the concert hall, the gymnasium or the PCM Titled Room 70 are unmistakable!
how many albums and concerts around the world have benefitted and still bnficient service this machine. There are some models of the universe with programs 480L Lexicon 200 short fawn and more scintillating and less class, whatever its working a little program, it is not far, but serious or not, for a, you need a 200 or a Bricasti !!!!.
it is superb on acoustic guitars (rich plate), lead and backing vocals (voice flat and concert hall on the batteries ...), programs yard (gate reverb, titled room, big dark chamber ...) on the ropes with rooms, meals and short halls etc ...
I have thirty Users personal that I have worked over time and to me quite a long time now and indispensable!

it is a machine of PCM diffrent 80 91, it's a natural trs, trs is also simple set, I love the 3 paramtres envelope (diffusion, and attack DEFINITIONS) which couples the size of pice, the chorusing and 2 allow time RT dj any imagination!

OVERALL OPINION

A fabulous reverb, when we can not afford a 480L
trs a good balance between warmth and precision! and then the fawn calculator display of the 70's, I love it! I even bought the Bricasti that display the same !!!!!!!!

Everyone should have his own!
but it is a machine that does not dcote, part or in some cases poor state of the machine justify a price infrieur.

my machines PREFERRED:

- The Bricasti M7 (for cot dark whole mix, voice, strings, piano)
- PMK 70 (for the type chamber reverbs 480)
- The AKG ADR 68K (for the synth strings and other long reverbs, see trs long)
- LMA 245 (for mdium and voice)
- The Lexicon 200 (for small pices serious acoustic music and drums)

Arnaud Houpert
Techicien its