Powered by Lexicon's proprietary Lexichip, the MPX 500 has 240 presets with classic, authentic stereo programs, including Ambience, Plate, Chamber and Inverse, as well as Tremolo, Rotary, Chorus, Flange, Pitch, Detune, 5.5 second Delay and Echo. Dual-channel processing gives you completely independent effects on the left and right channels. Editing is straightforward, with dedicated front panel controls and graphic display of program number, metering, tempo and routing. An easy Learn mode allows Dynamic MIDI® patching of front panel controls. Tempo-controlled delays lock to Tap or MIDI clock and tap tempos can be controlled by audio input, the front panel Tap button, dual footswitch, external MIDI controller or MIDI program change.
Features
- Latest Lexichip(tm) engine - classic Lexicon sound
- 24-BIT Balanced analog I/O
- S/PDIF digital I/O
- Graphics Display of Program & System Status at-a-glance
- Easy Operation
- 240 Factory Programs, 30 User Programs
- 16 Adjustable Parameters
- Tap Tempo, MIDI Clock Tempo
- MIDI Controllers & MIDI Learn for Automation
- Built-in universal power supply
The sonic quality of Lexicon processing has been admired and imitated for over 25 years. Powered by Lexicon's proprietary LexiChip(tm) engine, the MPX 500 was designed to be the processor that finally brings professional features and the 'Lexicon Sound' to audio artists at a breakthrough price.
With 24-bit dual channel processing, 240 classic true stereo programs, 24-bit A/D and D/A converters (operating at 44.1 or 48kHz), balanced analog I/O (XLR and 1/4" TRS), S/PDIF digital I/O, internal universal switching power supply, and straightforward MIDI implementation, the MPX 500 sets a new benchmark in value. Discrete stereo/dual channel operation allows the MPX 500 to function as two completely independent stereo processors.
Ease and affordability combined with high-end power and quality - the MPX 500 delivers it all, without compromising the superior sonic quality you expect from Lexicon.
EASY OPERATION
The MPX 500 is so simple to operate, we've included a user guide simply for nostalgia. Programs are organized into 25 Banks (24 loaded with presets and one for your own programs). The front panel Program Select knob allows you to scroll through all of the stored programs, or jump between banks for faster selection.
Each MPX 500 program has as many as 16 adjustable parameters, organized into "edit pages" consisting of as many as four parameters each. The front panel Edit button cycles through all of the available pages (up to four) for the current program.
Dedicated edit knobs corresponding to displayed parameters make editing easy. We've even included a special custom parameter in each program that lets you make quick adjustments to the most critical aspects of the sound. In many cases this parameter controls several effect parameters simultaneously to provide simple control of a complex editing process. In many Chamber and Room programs, for example, this parameter controls the "Liveness" of the space by changing decay, EQ and early reflections all at the same time.
GRAPHICS DISPLAY
The MPX 500 graphic display gives you program and system status at a glance, or easy access to as many as four edit pages per program.
TAP TEMPO
The MPX 500 Tap Tempo feature allows you to set the delay times and modulation rates of tempo-based programs to the beat of the music. To set the tempo from the front panel, simply press the Tap button twice in time with the music - the MPX 500 will figure out the time for you. When you want to change tempo, just tap twice again in the new rhythm. For live performances, Tap Tempo is a must - an easy way to set delays to follow your rhythm. You can even use audio input to set the tempo of the MPX 500 delay and modulation times.
SETTING TEMPO VIA MIDI
Tap can also be set remotely from any MIDI device, using Continuous Controllers for manual Tap, or MIDI Clock for automatic synchronization.
MIDI LEARN(tm)
The MPX 500 offers a powerful, remote editing feature called Learn which allows Program Change messages and/or Continuous Controllers to remotely control all of the parameters of a program, Bypass and Tap functions. In a studio, the controls can be automated with MIDI and recorded into any sequencing software, allowing for complete automation of MPX 500 programs.
ADDITIONAL TOOLS
The MPX 500 breaks new ground for features versus price. In addition to the professional features you'd expect from Lexicon, the MPX 500 offers tools such as ProgramCue (especially useful for live sound) that displays the next program to be loaded, Locked Mode (for live sound and fixed installations) that loads only specialized User programs, and Digital Output Mode that enables the MPX 500 to act as a stand-alone 24-bit converter and an effects processor simultaneously.
THE EFFECTS
Legendary Lexicon reverbs are represented in full force, with classic Plates, Gates/Inverses, Halls, Rooms, and Chambers that recreate the acoustics of actual live spaces and world-class Ambience for room sounds without reverb.
Inherited from the award-winning PCM 70, the Lexicon Chorus effect uses six independently randomized delay voices panned across the stereo field to create a rich, airy effect that can multiply a single source into many.
Lexicon Flange recreates the rich, sweeping sound of classic analog flanging by use of two 2-tap delays - one per channel. While one tap is fixed, the second sweeps past it. Mixing the two delay taps together creates the characteristic swishing, tunneling and fading sound.
Pitch allows complete program material or monophonic sources to be shifted from two octaves down, to one octave up.
An elaborate and comprehensive arsenal of Delay and Echo effects (up to 5.5 seconds) can be found in the MPX 500. Programs supporting rhythmic Tap Tempo or MIDI clock control include mono, stereo, dual, cross-tapped, ducking, ping-pong and other time-based delay and tape echo effects.
Tremolo offers a variety of shapes (square, sawtooth, triangle, sine and rectified sine). The synchronization of the left and right sweeps can be adjusted to produce mono and stereo effects. As the tremolo rates of several programs are set with Tap Tempo, so it's easy to match the tempo of the music. Other programs let you set right and left channels out-of-phase, for colorful panning effects.
Rotary is a detailed simulation of a Leslie(tm)-style cabinet. Like the physical model, the high (horn) and low (drum) frequencies are "spun" in opposite directions. Horn and drum speeds are independent, and are designed with acceleration and deceleration characteristics to simulate the inertia of the original mechanical elements.
Detune provides one pair of voices per channel - one sharp and one flat.
Special FX include Jet Flange, Infinite Delay, Diffusor, Dream Sequence, Echoes: Beats, Stereo Stage, The Abyss and more.
DUAL CONFIGURATIONS
Dual programs combine either a Delay or a Reverb algorithm with a Flange, a Pitch, a Chorus, or each other. An Effects Balance parameter allows you to control the relative balance of each effect in the combination. Four routing configurations are used in the Dual programs: Dual Stereo (Parallel), Cascade, Mono Split and Dual Mono.
THE PROGRAMS
240 programs provide an enormous range of effects including Lexicon's lush reverberation algorithms. Whether using a single or dual program, you'll be sure to find just the right effect for your sound. From Single effects such as Concert Hall, Rich Plate, Small Church, Marble Foyer, Vocal Chamber, Fat Space, Flange Deep180, Rotary TapRate, and Pitch PowerInv, to Dual effects like Flange Tap, 4th5th Room, DeepFlange + Delay, and XFeed + Midsize, the MPX 500 offers a tremendous palette of reverb and effects. Finally, there are 30 User storage locations for saving your own customized effects.
