Classic Recording Studio Equipment

Vintage Digital

Lexicon MPX1

Lexicon MPX1 Multi-Effect Processor

The Lexicon MPX1 was aimed at guitarists/home recording musicians, and while there are programs for guitar, it also makes an excellent all round effects processor. The Lexicon MPX1 multi processor technology gives you multi-effects the way you expect them to work with instant access to individual effects, and the ability to run uncompromised stereo reverb at all times.

Details

In addition to the superb sonic quality you expect from Lexicon, the Lexicon MPX1 gives you easy, top level control over even the most complex functions, and visual feedback to let you know exactly where you are and what features are available at all times.

Six primary effect types: Pitch, Chorus, EQ, Modulation, Delay and Reverb give you push button access to an arsenal of 57 effects. 200 presets make maximum use of these effects in combination – using as many as 4 stereo effects in addition to uncompromised stereo reverb.

The preset library is organized under database control to allow you to quickly find programs designed for specific sources such as Guitar, Vocals or Live Performance, or to find all of the programs using certain effects such as Pitch or EQ. Be sure to experiment with all 200 presets to get a feel for the full range of Lexicon MPX1 capabilities.

Visual feedback is available every step of the way when you’re using the Lexicon MPX1, with lighted buttons indicating the state of the unit and alerting you to extra features available from the front panel. A large numeric display shows program (and patch) numbers. A second alphanumeric display shows you program and parameter names and settings.

Like all Lexicon processors, the Lexicon MPX1 gives you as much depth of control as you’re ever likely to want, while keeping the details out of your way. Surface control of the Lexicon MPX1 is straight forward and intuitive, with the most useful parameters of every program available right in Program mode.

In addition to this specially designed “soft row”, common functions and controls are brought right out to the front panel for instant access.

For example, Mix and Level controls, for the entire system, or for any individual effect, can be accessed at any time by pressing the front panel Mix button. The front panel Patch button, which gives you similar instant access to the Patching system, lights whenever a patched parameter is selected to remind you that you can jump right in and out of the patching system at will.

The Lexicon MPX1 gives you tap tempo control when you want it. You can assign tempo control to modulation rates, delay times or any effect parameter, ensuring that your effects are in tempo with your music. Tempos can be tapped in with the front panel Tap button (or an assigned controller) or “dialed-in”, in BPM (beats per minute) on the display.

The Lexicon MPX1 also lets you generate MIDI clock from your tempo, as well as receive MIDI tempo from an external sequencer or drum machine. Many presets have delay times assigned to Tap tempo. Try loading some of these. (Select source type: Tempo in the database to find all of them.)

When you load a tempo driven program, the front panel Tempo LED will flash at the current tempo to let you know the Tap button is active. Press Tap twice in rhythm to change tempo. An A/B glide function is also available from the front panel-and of course we’ve designed presets to show this function off to its fullest. Whenever the A or B LED is lit, press the A/B button to activate the glide.

When you want to create your own versions, you’ll find AlB available as an internal controller in Edit mode along with two LFOs, a MIDI arpeggiator, two ADRs, Envelopes, and more. Complete editing control is provided under the Edit button, where you can customize presets or make new ones from scratch, design your own soft row parameters, copy effects into new programs, and put effects in any sequence or routing configuration you want. Easy access to all of the parameters of any effect is just a button push away.

All of the front panel functions (Tap, A/B, Effect selection, etc.) can easily be connected to MIDI controllers, footswitches, or foot pedals, letting you set up all of the functions the way you want them.

Pro Tip: When the MPX 1 is left idle for any length of time, a “Sleep” mode is activated. In this mode, a set of messages is cycled across the display. When shipped, the Sleep mode is set to “English Promo” for display of MPX 1 features. You can change this mode to display features in other languages, Help messages which give you general information, or you can turn off the messages completely. To select the mode you want: press System. Use the knob to select Modes, then use the < and> buttons to select Sleep. Use the knob to select Off, Help or Promo in English, French, German, Italian or Spanish.

Specifications

Released

Quantization: 18 Bit / 20 bit
(Serial Numbers above V0900-24196 have 24 bit Converters)
Sampling Frequency: 44.1kHz
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
Signal to Noise: 90dB
Dynamic Range: 95dB
THD: 0.01%

Dimensions: 483mm x 45mm x 289mm
Weight: 2.8kg

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The details provided above are drawn from historical documents like advertising brochures or user manuals. They’re shared without bias or review. This info is given solely for your consideration, helping you gauge its usefulness to you.

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IF YOU FIND ONE ON E-BAY, DON’T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY!

by Baia do Tonhao Estudio

Sound Quality 90%
Build Quality 95%
Usefullness 95%
Mojo/Funk 80%
Reliability 95%

Very useful and great sound. Among its price competitors, such as Quadraverb and SPX 900, The Lexicon MPX1 has much superior construction and sound. The Tiled Room, PCM 60 Room and Classic DTune presets sound wonderful in high-level mixes, working very well for different styles, from the most modern to the one with a more vintage feel. If you find one on E-bay, don’t miss the opportunity.

UNDERRATED AND USEFUL

by James Meeker

Sound Quality 90%
Build Quality 95%
Usefullness 100%
Mojo/Funk 70%
Reliability 95%

The MPX-1 offers the classic Lexicon 90s sound at an affordable price. The MPX-1 has two engines: a standard DSP and a LexChip dedicated to reverb only. The range of effects is wide: reverb, delay, chorus, overdrive, phase, equalization, microshift, and more. This makes the MPX-1 a good “all rounder” for any studio. Probably not your first choice for a main or vocal reverb, the MPX-1 can certainly serve in that capacity if need be.

When these debuted they were aimed at smaller studios or professional home studios and the sound quality shows. Although the MPX-1 may not have its own distinct character, it does sound like a Lexicon. Sonically, the MPX-1 is miles above similar “semi-affordable” multi-effects units of the late 90s. A clear winner!

Review

by Giuseppe Digloria

Sound Quality 90%
Build Quality 90%
Usefullness 90%
Mojo/Funk 100%
Reliability 95%

VERY USEFUL BOX PARTICULARLY FOR GUITAR

by Steven

Sound Quality 90%
Build Quality 90%
Usefullness 95%
Mojo/Funk 95%
Reliability 90%

Was not too sure what to expect when I got this one, but what I got was a very usable digital reverb and digital delay box, with a lot of really useful presets suitable for guitar in particular. The ‘Tap’ button on the front panel for setting the delay time is an excellent idea that makes using hardware delays almost as convenient as a plugin in terms of setting the delay time.

There is also a very usable speaker cabinet simulator that I have found to work really well on guitar that has been recorded using, in my case an Avid Eleven rack. Suddenly my guitar tracks sound far more like the real deal, i.e.: a speaker cone pushing air! I should address the reverbs some more as I do not want to make out this box is only for guitar. The reverbs are very very nice, sit well in a mix and sound pretty smooth to my ears. So all in all, this is a very worthwhile investment.

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One Response

  1. Great unit that you can still *probably* find for a sane price on your local classifieds. Keep in mind that the nearly 30 year old switch mode power supply found in these is not that great, you probably should consider getting a modern direct drop in replacement of it for about €50.

    It obviously does the great Lexicon reverbs, but the digital delays and various chorus type algorithms also sound superb. The unit really wants to be run in stereo, so if you’re using a mono guitar rig or a simple mono wet/dry rig, you’ll need to be mindful of how effects are routed and setup to maintain mono compatibility.

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