Lexicon MX400 - thoughts?

[Kevin Nolan]

Are there any Lexicon MX400 users out there? If so - how do you find it?

for the first time I'm 'noticing' it - and it looks like a really great unit - classic Lexicon reverbs, SPDIF, dual channel, surround mode - and - incredibly good second hand prices.

Is this perhaps a "hidden gem" in Lexicon's legacy of hardware effects units?

In particular I'm wondering how its reverbs sound compared to the likes of the PCM 80/81 / 90/91 - I don't expect the same amount of editing detail - but do they sound, basically, as good?

And even though a legacy unit - any chance it's DAW GUI can run on the latest Macs?

Overall - it look like an intriguing, and quality unit - for what it says on the tin - and wonder how it fairs in real use?

[Kevin Nolan]

Just read the SOS review of it - rated very highly indeed. Still interested to hear from anyone who has used it, and whether there's a chance it's software will work in a current Mac (I expect not!).

[BillB]

I was just about to point you to that Kevin, but for everyone else:
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/lexicon-mx400400xl

I’m afraid I can’t comment on the MX400, but I do have an MX200 and a bunch of other budget Lexicon boxes (Reflex, MPX110, MPX200, MPX550). I must say that I have always been a bit underwhelmed by the sound of the MX200, although I expect that, in terms of facilities, the doubling up of processing power and the display probably make the MX400 more than twice as good as an MX200.

Just recently, I have been playing with the Reflex, MPX110 and MPX200, and found that using MIDI CCs really makes the reverbs accessible and, in some cases, seems to expand the parameter range over that available from the front panel. Not just more parameters, but, for example, adjusting the 110 decay range via MIDI CC enables a much longer reverb than when using the ‘adjust’ knob on the rack. It really makes you re-evaluate their sonic potential. So I need to MIDI up the MX200 and see if that has any surprises!

It looks, from the MX400 review screenshot, that the software gives a good range of parameter access, so it should be a very flexible unit. Popular opinion on the net - where I have comes across discussions of the MX’s versus the older or top-range lexicons - is that they are a pale imitation. I think this can be driven by snobbishness of those who own the more expensive units and wishfulness of those who would like to. Both the SOS MX200 and MX400 reviews put it very well, as you can read - maybe not so fabulous a sound, but pretty fine in its own right.

Doesn’t really answer your questions, but just a general endorsement of Lexicon’s budget hardware. And yes, all of my units were second-hand bargains.

[Moroccomoose]

I have the MX400, I bought it to ease the CPU consumption of an aged PC. That reasoning is a little obsolete now, but non the less it is still in my rig. For my ears, it works just fine. Its a very versatile unit, being able to be 4 mono, 2 stereo, or a quadriphonic effect.
The main benefit...and complication ..... for me is the use of VST to control it. Meaning you can control the hardware as if it was a plugin. The problem being that the VST is 32bit, meaning you need to use a wrapper to make them work in cubase which does not support 32bit vst. Because of the way the vst work, there are some more advanced settings that need to be set to make it work. If you decide to take the plunge, I'll happily detail those steps.
The upshot of it all is I have no complaints.

Stu.

[Kevin Nolan]

Thanks for the feedback everyone - much appreciated. And to Stu - thanks for the offer - alas (for my sins ) - I'm an LPX user! I'm perpetually contemplating moving to Cubase but haven't taken the plunge yet!

[Airfix]

take the best fun from these boxes - some unique stuff - even lesser boxes have sonic values that come with the limitation/restrictions that are interesting - or there just crap -adulterating audio - nice reverbs no doubt on a lex - still useful

[Moroccomoose]

Thanks for the feedback everyone - much appreciated. And to Stu - thanks for the offer - alas (for my sins ) - I'm an LPX user! I'm perpetually contemplating moving to Cubase but haven't taken the plunge yet!

Kevin, not sure the issue I have is not explicitly a cubase issue, more whether the DAW host is 32bit compatible. If not, then a wrapper is needed. I use Jbridge, which has some background settings that are needed to make it work properly. If LPX supports 32bit vst, then happy days! No wrapper required

[Arpangel]

Lexicons I have owned.

LXP1
It was my only reverb for about ten years, "good" reverbs, but didn’t quite cut it for me, I only had it because it was all I could afford secondhand.
It did have great delays though, sounded fantastic on drum boxes for some reason, a great selection of beat times on the delays, easily selected.

LXP15
I kept it for about a month, programming was a nightmare, as for the sound, well, I never used it much.

MX100
I don’t know how Lexicon could put their name on it, some things are interestingly bad, but this was just bad, my Midiverb 2 was more interesting, which is proved by the fact I still have it.

MX200
Great, especially the delays, loved the ability to stack two effects.

Vortex.
I didn’t keep it, it didn’t make that much of an impression on me.

224
Totally beyond, a real Lexicon, it can catapult you into the farthest reaches of the universe at the touch of a slider.
Unfortunately it was so unreliable it wasn’t working more than it was, and I had to put it on a ten metre cable, the fan was so noisy.
I still miss it, a lot, could be an excuse to get an Apollo interface.

The MX300/400 are OK, but nothing to write home about, the delays on these cheap Lexicons are their selling point, "not" the reverbs.
I’d rather have units like the Zoom RFX1100, or Yamaha SPX90/900, they’ve got far more character than the cheap Lexicons, and can be had for virtually nothing, "at the moment"
I have a Princeton 2016, and a Big Sky, the Big Sky may well be the only reverb I’ll ever need, it stops me thinking of old Lexicons.

[ken long]

Lexicons I have owned.

Love my PCM60 still. Heard great things about the Big Sky.

[Arpangel]

Lexicons I have owned.

Love my PCM60 still. Heard great things about the Big Sky.

The PCM60 is still highly regarded as you know, I haven tried one personally but still wouldn't mind getting one, I think, like the LXP1, the 60 has some incredibly realistic small rooms and small halls, really great for percussion.
These are a bit noisy, but nothing you can't get around.
I don't use anything else but the Big Sky these days, in fact, I may as well just have one aux send!

[Smellthevalve]

I have the 400xl but haven’t used it for ages as I tend to either use what’s on the computer(s) for editing or on a keyboard I’m playing.

[BillB]

MX100
I don’t know how Lexicon could put their name on it, some things are interestingly bad, but this was just bad, my Midiverb 2 was more interesting, which is proved by the fact I still have it.

AFAIK there is no MX100, I think you probably mean the MXP100. If anyone would like a different, more detailed opinion:
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/lexicon-mpx100
Summary The MPX100 gets very close to a big Lexicon sound for very little money.

MX200
Great, especially the delays, loved the ability to stack two effects.

I am going to have to spend more time with mine and see what it can really do. Interestingly, out of the whole series: MPX100, MPX110, MPX200, MX200, I think only the 110 can use CC's to really dig into the Reverb (etc) algorithms, such as:
Decay PreDelay RTHiCut Bassmult Bassxover Rolloff
This brings it closer to the level of parameter control of the MPX500/550.

or, in the case of Delay/Echo:
MstrDly MstrFbk MstrXFbk RTHiCut DlyLeft1 DlyLeft2 DlyLeft3 Rolloff LvlLeft1 LvlLeft2 LvlLeft3 DlyRight1 DlyRight2 DlyRight3 LvlRight1 LvlRight2 LvlRight3.

By contrast, all of the others only allow CC access to duplicate the front panel controls, which are key, but fairly limited parameters. I think (happy to be corrected) that even the MX200/400 MX Editor software can only duplicate the front panel controls although, being software, it can provide more meaningful labels than those printed on the front panel (e.g. "Variation").

All of the MPX's can do fully detailed editing via Sysex, but then you have to decode Lexicon's rather complex MPX MIDI Implementation manual.

Have to say, when I am flipping between different Lexicon models, I am tending to like the sound and ease of use of the old Reflex... If I said it sounds "warmer", is that a punishable offence?

And apologies to Kevin for the topic hijack