Lexicon VORTEX User Manual
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Lexicon VORTEX User Manual

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UDIO
ORPHING
ROCESSOR
User Guide

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  • Page 1 UDIO ORPHING ROCESSOR User Guide...
  • Page 2 DO NOT OPEN constitute a risk of shock. Lexicon Inc. 3 Oak Park Bedford, MA 01730USA Telephone 781-280-0300 Copyright 1993, Lexicon Inc. Fax 781-280-0490 All Rights Reserved. Lexicon Part 070-09940 Printed in the U.S.A.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Rear Panel Connections ............4 Footswitch and Footpedal Connections • Headphones Effect Descriptions ..............25 Audio Connections ..............6 Overview ................25 In-Line Processing • Using Vortex on a Mixer Reflexion ................26 Effects Return Bus Atmosphere ................. 28 A/B Relay Switch ..............8 Orbits .................

  • Page 4: Getting Started

    Vortex are: tex, the world's first Audio Morphing™ pro- modulation and delay functions, and each cessor! You are about to discover that Vortex • Flexible processing paths: true stereo, has its own distinctive sonic signature. Some sets new standards for sound processing —...

  • Page 5: Front Panel Overview

    Front Panel Overview STORE Stores the current effect to whatever register is indi- REGISTER/PRESET cated by settings of A/B and REGISTER/PRESET. Button selects preset or register mode. PEDAL/TAP LED lights when register mode is selected, CLEAR If a footpedal is connected, assigns footpedal Clears register pairs (A and B) to allow effects to be turns off in preset mode.
  • Page 6 Setting Audio Levels Setting MIX Values 1. Turn Vortex INPUT all the way down (fully 5. Adjust amplifier or mixer levels for opti- The sound of each Vortex preset is highly counter-clockwise). mum signal-to-noise performance. dependent on the mix of dry (unprocessed) and wet (processed) signals.

  • Page 7: Rear Panel Connections

    INPUT POWER Two Tip/Ring/Sleeve phone inputs, for momentary Single-ended (unbalanced) inputs accept levels Use Lexicon MSA power pack, contact footswitches, allow footswitch control of as low as -30dBu. Input impedance is 50 k or 9VAC 1 amp equivalent. front panel functions.

  • Page 8: Footswitch And Footpedal Connections • Headphones

    Footswitch and Footpedal Headphones A stereo signal which is adequate to drive Connections high-efficiency headphones is available at Footswitches connected via the rear- the left output, provided no connections are panel footswitch jacks allow you to perform One footswitch is provided with your unit, made through the right output .

  • Page 9: Audio Connections

    Dual Mono Out Stereo Out jacks at the Vortex end. Reflexion A/B Atmosphere A/B Vortex is a true stereo processor. Left and Orbits A/B right inputs are processsed separately. The Centrifuge A/B chart to the right shows the processing path Aerosol A/B of each preset.

  • Page 10: Effects Return Bus

    Using Vortex on a Mixer Note that MIX settings are stored with Effects Return Bus Vortex effects. The presets have been de- If Vortex is using a console’s returns, signed with specific MIX settings for each select each effect's MIX parameter, then...

  • Page 11: A/B Relay Switch

    * To switch polarity, use a stereo plug into switch effects and amplifier settings. Vortex, with a mono plug going into the amp. Attach the two wires to the connector sleeve and ring so that A = open and B = closed.

  • Page 12: Basic Operation

    Basic Operation Overview Audio Morphing™ gives you unprec- Vortex provides a rich set of performance A dual footswitch, provided with your unit, edented real-time control of parameter val- and programming features — all of which are allows you to bypass effects, step through ues, effects ordering and control routing.

  • Page 13: Presets And Registers

    (The any register space. ability to make these transitions is one of the most exciting features of Vortex and is ex- plained fully under Morphing later in the manual. ) Vortex has 32 presets and 32 registers for storing your customized effects.

  • Page 14: Effect Parameters

    Effect Parameters Adjusting Parameter Values Each effect in Vortex has sixteen adjust- The VALUE knob is always active, and will The decimal point on the display will light able parameters. Control over these param- adjust whichever parameter is indicated by when a parameter is adjusted to indicate that eters is simple —...
  • Page 15 Controls the level of the modulation portion of an effect. 1=off. Vortex much more like a musical instrument Vortex has two LFOs which are used to than a simple effects box — they let you play control different types of modulation (such as *ECHO FX LVL Vortex's unique effects.

  • Page 16: Tap And Echo Rhythms

    TAP and Echo Rhythms Tempo and Rhythm Tapping in a Tempo In Vortex, tempo is set simply by pressing Setting the tempo for Vortex couldn't be Vortex has two independent delay lines TAP twice. Because every effect in the box is (ECHO1 and ECHO 2), which are configured easier —...
  • Page 17 Echo Rhythms Echo rhythms are divisions of the tap inter- Tap intervals in Vortex can be as long as The ability to set different rhythmic divi- val you've selected for Vortex. The ECHO 1 28 seconds, allowing long phrases of music,...
  • Page 18 ECHO 1 and Rhythmic Divisions Vortex's two delay lines in series is 1846 ms. ECHO 2 are highly accurate and stable, even In theory, this would require you to calculate for unusual polyrhythms such as 2 against 9, the allowable tap interval/rhythmic division to or 11 against 13 —...

  • Page 19: Audio Morphing

    One of the most exciting controls that the effect. trol of morphing — and allows you to create Vortex gives you is the ability to continuously dramatic new effects. transform one effect into another. This fea- Morphs are performed between register ture, which we call Audio Morphing,™allows...
  • Page 20 A/B pairs. When A/B is pressed (from the specify independent morph rates for each The A and B versions are similar, but the front panel, or via footswitch), Vortex will effect. The combined morph rates set for A difference in parameter settings for the two...

  • Page 21: Pedal Control

    — and pedal assignment can be stored as 1. Plug a pedal into Vortex, and load a new part of an effect. A and B effects can each effect (so that Vortex will recognize pedal 4.
  • Page 22 VALUE; the pedal will continue to con- trol its assigned parameter. Note: If the pedal is unplugged while an effect is running, Vortex will not recognize the fact that there is no pedal until a new effect is loaded. If the pedal is unplugged while an effect with a pedal assignment is running, Vortex assumes the pedal has been moved to value = 1, and will not allow pedal reassignment or deassignment.
  • Page 23 Controlling Morphs with a Pedal Pedal Control When you deassign the pedal, Vortex will If you are using Vortex's A/B relay fea- The behavior of the pedal when MORPH immediately switch to whichever effect, A or ture, pedal morphing allows independent A/B is selected for pedal assignment is slightly B, is indicated by the front panel LEDs.

  • Page 24: Using Registers

    If you make changes to a preset and want to LED will go on, indicating that Vortex has turn the REGISTER/PRESET knob to the save the changes as a custom effect, or if...
  • Page 25 Skipping registers and creating chains the use of footswitches to link effects in a Vortex to perform register step and bypass Vortex’s clear function allows you to use a variety of useful ways. Clearing a register functions. (A second footswitch allows hands-...
  • Page 26 In this state the With the REGISTER/PRESET knob set to Register 1, the footswitch will output of Vortex will remain at the level set by step through the remaining registers, then loop back to Register 1.
  • Page 27 The number and version (A or B) of the create a particular stored sound. preset used to create that register will be Note that Vortex will load the preset which displayed briefly. corresponds to the current knob position. This will not affect the audio —you will still be hearing the selected register.

  • Page 28: Effect Descriptions

    Effect Descriptions Overview Vortex effects are not passive, they are All Vortex effects have the same general Vortex presets are designed to empha- responsive to your playing. Each can be structure, as shown below. (The shaded size certain functions in each effect, but you...

  • Page 29: Reflexion

    1 REFLEXION Mod Fx Lvl Reflexion consists of a stereo envelope detune module in series with dual echoes. Each echo, in turn, feeds an indepen- Rate1 Fbk 1 Depth 1 dent auto panner. ECHO 1 L PAN The detune is driven by ENVELOPE. The amount of detuning DETUNE* Echo Fx Lvl increases as the input varies from soft to loud.
  • Page 30 About the Reflexion Presets If you have an expression pedal, you can In Reflexion B, the envelope value is Reflexion A produces a moderate dou- use Reflexion to create a pedal-controlled turned down, making the doubling effect bling effect on loud attacks combined with flanger.

  • Page 31: Atmosphere

    2 ATMOSPHERE Mod Fx Lvl Atmosphere A consists of a stereo vibrato module which is ECHO 1 fed by the input signal and echoes of the input signal. The echoes are arranged in a cross-mix configuration. Fbk 1 Fbk 2 Echo OFFSET Fx Lvl...
  • Page 32 2 ATMOSPHERE Rate 1* Depth 1 Fx Lvl MOD 1 Atmosphere B has two modulators, each with two indepen- Echo dent taps (a and b), which allow you to create tunable reso- Fx Lvl Res 1 Res 2 ECHO 1 nance effects.

  • Page 33: Orbits

    To accurately simulate a cabinet rotary speaker with high-fre- quency and low-frequency rotors, use a mixer with low and high EQ ECHO FX LVL Delayed rotary output level on its sends feeding Vortex left and right inputs. MOD FX LVL Undelayed rotary output level FEEDBACK 1...
  • Page 34 About the Orbits Presets The A and B presets of Orbits are de- The morph rates are set to simulate the signed to simulate a pair of rotating speak- inertial drag when the rotors are sped up or ers, with A set for fast, and B set for slow. slowed down.

  • Page 35: Centrifuge

    4 CENTRIFUGE Mod Fx Lvl Centrifuge A is designed around two rotary effects, one fed by Rate 1*+Rate 2* Fbk 1 Depth 1+Depth 2 Echo the left input, one by the right. The output of both rotary effects Res 1 Fx Lvl is fed to echoes configured as a stereo pair.
  • Page 36 4 CENTRIFUGE Mod Fx Lvl Centrifuge B is designed around two rotary effects, one fed by Rate 1*, Rate 2 Depth 1*, Depth 2 Echo the left input, one by the right. The output of both rotary effects Res 1 Fx Lvl is fed to echoes configured as a stereo pair with cross-feed.

  • Page 37: Aerosol

    5 AEROSOL Rate 1* Depth 1 Aerosol A has two modulators which interact to produce a Res 1 Mod Fx Lvl MOD 1 variety of modulation effects (flanger, vibrato, chorus, etc.) The modulators feed two echoes which are configured as a cascade looper.
  • Page 38 5 AEROSOL Rate 1 Depth 1 Mod Fx Lvl Aerosol B has two modulators which interact to produce a MOD 1 variety of modulation effects (flanger, vibrato, chorus, etc.) The modulators feed two echoes which are configured as a bounce echo. Echo Fx Lvl Res 1 ECHO 1...

  • Page 39: Mosaic

    6 MOSAIC Mod Fx Lvl Mosaic A is configured with dual chase panners, one on each Res 1 input. This allows the left and right modulation effects to be MOD 1 chased by their echoes in opposite directions. ECHO 1 Fbk 1 Rate 2 Rate 1*...
  • Page 40 6 MOSAIC Mosaic B has four modules arranged in series. Modulation Mod Fx Lvl and echo effects are accumulated as signals progress through this configuration. Echo Fbk 1 Fbk 2 Fx Lvl ENVELOPE decreases the vibrato depths, causing modulation MULTI MULTI ECHO 1 ECHO 2...

  • Page 41: Maze

    7 MAZE Fbk 1 Echo Fx Lvl Maze A has a panner that sprays a mono mix of the input ECHO 1 signals across the inputs of a stereo modulator and a stereo Rate 1* echo pair. Depth 1 Fx Lvl STEREO ENVELOPE decreases the panning speed, so that pan rate decreases with loud signals.
  • Page 42 Rate 1 7 MAZE Depth 1 Fbk 1 Echo Fx Lvl Maze B is configured as two parallel effects. One has stereo ECHO 1 envelope detune, and the other has a unique echo configura- tion with feedback AM. Fbk 2 Rate 2 Depth 2 ENVELOPE controls the amount of detune, so that louder signals...

  • Page 43: Duo

    8 DUO Duo A is configured as two independent mono effects. The left Echo Fx Lvl* input feeds a cascade echo. The right input feeds a cascade ECHO 1 ECHO 2 vibrato. Fbk 2 Fbk 1 ENVELOPE decreases ECHO FX LVL, pulling the echoes down Rate 1 Rate 2 out of the way of loud signals, and bringing them back up whenever...
  • Page 44 8 DUO Rate 1* Depth 1 Duo B is configured as two independent mono in/stereo out VIBRATO 1 effects. The left input feeds a dual vibrato effect. The right Fx Lvl Res 1 input feeds a dual delay effect. Res 2 VIBRATO 2 ENVELOPE increases vibrato rates, with louder notes making the Rate 2*...

  • Page 45: Deja Vu

    9 DEJA VU Deja Vu A is configured with a cascade looper with envelope Mod Fx Lvl control of the looper's output level. The output of the looper is fed into a panner which sprays the effect into a stereo glide. Echo Fx Lvl* The stereo glide is also fed directly by the inputs.
  • Page 46 9 DEJA VU Deja Vu B is configured with a cascade looper with envelope Mod Fx Lvl control of the looper's input mix. The output of the looper is fed into a panner which sprays the effect into a stereo glide. The Echo stereo glide is also fed directly by the inputs.

  • Page 47: Choir

    10 CHOIR Choir A is configured with three modules: Haas Effect, Multi Chorus and cascaded echoes. This effect produces rich cho- Mod Fx Lvl rusing, widens stereo images and synthesizes stereo from Echo mono sources. Fx Lvl ECHO 1 ECHO 2 HAAS MULTI ENVELOPE decreases chorus depths, so that the chorus effect...
  • Page 48 10 CHOIR Choir B is predominantly an echo effect, with a cascade looper feeding a Haas Effect and a multichorus module. Echo Fx Lvl ENVELOPE decreases chorus depths, so that the chorus effect Mod Fx Lvl increases as the signal gets softer. HAAS MULTI ECHO 1...

  • Page 49: Shimmer

    Mod Fx Lvl maintains its stereo image throughout. Tremolo is synchronized so that left and right channels move together. The tremolo effect is maintained even if the output of Vortex is mixed to mono. * ENVELOPE Increases tremolo rate The Preset is set to provide dynamically controlled tremolo.
  • Page 50 11 SHIMMER Shimmer B has a stereo resonator feeding a stereo amplitude Mod Fx Lvl modulator, which is, in turn, sent to both the outputs and the inputs of a cascaded echo. The output of the cascaded echoes Echo Fx Lvl is sent to an auto-panner before it too is sent to the outputs.

  • Page 51: Sweep

    12 SWEEP Mod Fx Lvl Sweep A consists of a stereo glide whose outputs go directly Echo to both left and right outputs, as well as to a pair of cross-feed Fx Lvl ECHO 1 echoes. Fbk 1 STEREO ENVELOPE decreases the glide depths, so that the glide effect GLIDE Fbk 2 grows stronger as sound fades.
  • Page 52 12 SWEEP Mod Fx Lvl Sweep B consists of a stereo multi-vibrato effect whose outputs go directly to left and right outputs, as well as to a Fbk 1 Echo stereo pair of echoes. Fx Lvl ECHO 1 MULTI VIBRATO ENVELOPE decreases the vibrato depths, so that vibrato grows Fbk 2 stronger as sounds fade.

  • Page 53: Shadow

    13 SHADOW ECHO 1 HI CUT Shadow A is configured as two independent stereo effects. Fbk 1* One is a cross-resonance modulator, the other consists of Fbk 2 Echo cross-mix echoes with high-cut filters in the feedback paths. Fx Lvl Fbk 2 Fbk 1 ENVELOPE decreases both feedback mix and echo outputs for...
  • Page 54 13 SHADOW Shadow B uses a dynamic low-pass filter as a master tone Fbk 1 control for its modulation and echo effects. The filter can be set for a uniform tone, or used to create constantly varying ECHO 1 Fx Lvl shades from light to dark.

  • Page 55: Cycloid

    14 CYCLOID Mod Fx Lvl Cycloid A utilizes a dynamic stereo low-pass filter that pro- ECHO 1 duces different spatial effects by cyclic changes in the tone of left and right signals. Fbk 1 Fbk 2 STEREO Echo FILTER Fx Lvl ENVELOPE raises the filter cutoff frequency, so that loud sounds Fbk 2 are initially bright, then grow darker as they fade.
  • Page 56 14 CYCLOID Mod Fx Lvl Cycloid B varies the configuration used in Cycloid A by ECHO 1 placing the cross-mix echoes in front of the stereo filter. This allows the filter to change the tone of echoes as they repeat. Fbk 1 Fbk 2 Echo...

  • Page 57: Bleen

    15 BLEEN Bleen A has a stereo resonator feeding a stereo amplitude Mod Fx Lvl modulator, which is, in turn, sent to both the outputs and the inputs of a cascaded echo. The output of the cascaded echoes Echo Fx Lvl is sent to an auto-panner before it too is sent to the outputs.
  • Page 58 15 BLEEN Rate 1 Depth 1 Fbk 1 Echo Bleen B is configured as two parallel effects. One has stereo Fx Lvl ECHO 1 envelope detune, and the other has a unique echo configura- tion with feedback AM. Fbk 2 Rate 2 ENVELOPE controls the amount of detune.

  • Page 59: Fractal

    16 FRACTAL Fractal A and B are configured with a cascade looper with Mod Fx Lvl envelope control of the looper's input mix. The output of the looper is fed into a panner which sprays the effect into a stereo glide.
  • Page 60 About the Fractal Presets Fractal B is designed as a looper, with Fractal A produces a long echo with rhythm input signals looping indefinitely. As phrases patterns that degenerate as the echo re- within the loop repeat, they are deconstructed, peats and fades away.

  • Page 61: Specifications

    Specifications Audio Inputs (2) A/B Relay Dimensions Level -30dBu minimum Tip/Ring/Sleeve phone jack, rated at <100mA 19"W x 1.75"H x 4"D (483 x 45 x 102mm) Impedance stereo/50k unbalanced Frequency Response Weight mono/25k unbalanced 20Hz-14kHz, +1dB to -3dB Unit: 2 lbs, 12 oz (1.2kg) Audio Outputs (2) THD+N Environment...

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