AudioMedia - October 2008 - (Page 30)

LEXICON PCM96 Digital Reverb The return of Lexicon’s prized heritage reverb – and DAVID HELPLING thinks this might just be a new legend in the making. he world over, Lexicon has been held in the highest something from SPL a very impressive design indeed. regard as the manufacturer of premium effects A look at the back end shows more than I expected. processors, digital reverb units in particular, which it Of course there is AES/EBU and XLR I/O, but also virtually invented in with the Model . dual FireWireports for getting the Lexicon Throughout the s with the L sound into your favourite DAW. (costing more than some cars) and the Other than the Ethernet, Wordclock, and smaller PCM- , it garnered a reputation MIDI ports that’s it – no SPDIF, Adat, or for an extremely dense, realistic, and Toslink connectors. Now I am starting to tweak-able simulation of acoustic get a bit too excited for a product review reverberation. In the early s Lexicon – this IS a pro unit! P C M 96 S U R R O U N D ! After connecting and powering on the introduced the more attainable PCMWait for a new Lexicon, and two come unit a brilliant yellow/gold Lexicon logo and PCM- – bringing a bit of that L along at once. As we were finishing up appears on the screen for a few seconds, sound to the rest of us. So many of those this review, Lexicon announced a new then displays ‘verifying hardware great records produced in the s (that PMC, this time called the PCM restoring state ’ for another before the you still secretly listen to) owe much of Surround. So, no prizes for guessing default Large Plate preset screen appears. their magical sound to Lexicon. what one extra is – more outputs. You The crisp font and OLED screen in general Then came the next best – the L– can choose between six XLR stereo rivals most audiophile home theatre and some other lower-end units that left inputs and outputs, or analogue and some wondering when the next legend components in quality. When navigating would appear. Enter the new PCM , a through parameters all but the current digital I/O on DB connectors. blend of heritage and innovation navigated word is dimmed causing the Internally, the PCM can be sporting new and legendary Lexicon selected item to pop out in a very easy divided into up to four virtual reverbs, delays, and modulation effects to read way – very fancy stuff really. machines, each capable of running its straight into your DAW. Appearing for This thing better sound pretty darn own algorithm and thus expanding the the first time are new Room and Hall amazing, or it could be a serious operating configurations enormously. algorithms, plus an assortment of new embarrassment for such a divinely The list goes as follows: Dual Super mono reverbs and effects. With decades appointed machine. The main Select Mono, Quad Mono, Super Stereo, of legacy products to pull from, the knob has a wonderful feel and is Super Stereo Mono In, Dual Stereo, PCM also includes a massive softly de-tented – pressing inward on Dual Stereo Mono In, Dual Mono + collection of factory presets (over , the knob loads the currently selected and growing apparently) including program or confirms other actions. Single Stereo, Cascade Mono, Cascade some recognisable classics from the Under the algorithm name on the Stereo, Cascade Mono + Single Stereo, immense library of classic Lexicon display are three vertically arranged -in -out, -in -out, -in -out, -in sounds. Wow. parameters that correspond to the -out, -in -out. three Soft Row knobs for a quick tweak As well as the additional I/O and A New M achine of key parameters – typically Pre Delay, engine configurations, the PCM Upon opening the box and removing Reverb Time, and Reverb Out Frequency. adds the new Lexicon Surround Room the PCM from its plastic sheath, Like the main Select knob, these knobs algorithm, new pitch algorithms, I am a bit star-struck by the physical have additional context-sensitive and more factory presets (over , design of the unit itself. This is not functions when pressed. To the right of and counting ). my father’s Lexicon. Gone is the black these are Tap/Tempo, Load, Compare and powder-coated steel and Star WarsStore buttons. Also on the front panel like blue lines! This thing is gorgeous – with a thick and are two columns of six multi-coloured gain LEDs that heavy textured Nickel faceplate, beveled silver knobs, show analogue and digital input levels and a Compact and a deep black display, the PCM looks more like Flash card slot. T THE REVIEWER DAVID HELPLING is a full-time composer/producer with over ten years experience in music for picture. He runs DHM Music Design in San Diego, California, producing music for film, TV, corporate, interactive, and web clients. David has two ambient/ cinematic albums released on the Spotted Peccary label, with a third now in production, and has several independent film projects on deck. Clients include DELL Computers, Hewlett Packard, Boeing, Lexus, Microsoft Game Studios and Qualcomm. 30 AUDIO MEDIA OCTOBER 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of AudioMedia - October 2008

Audio Media - October 2008 Content Recording Post Broadcast Geofocus:�Portugal &�Spain What's Up UK IBC Report Microtech Geffel UM 930 Steinberg Cubase 4.5 ADK�Hamburg &�Vienna Final Cut: House of Fallen Lexicon PCM96 Review The Conch Awards Feature Sound Devices 788T Review Lexicon PCM96 Allen &�Heath Zed R16 Power: Fact & Fiction, PT.2 Product Sampler Plug-ins Video Guide AMSR Plasa Report Audio Technica IEM�M3 Rushes Live Mixing Techniques:�Bruce Johnston Drawmer 4x4 Kickbox

AudioMedia - October 2008

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