Lexicon PCM 70 Digital Effects Processor

The Lexicon PCM 70 has become something of a legend of late, with good examples selling for the same money or more, than what they sold for when new. It is ironic really...when the Lexicon PCM 70 was released everyone said it was not a 'real' Lexicon. While it may not be a 224X, released the same year, it does offer a taste of the Lexicon sound.

Lexicon PCM 70 Digital Effects Processor Details

The Lexicon PCM 70 Digital Effects Processor gives you access to the same astonishing digital effects used by the world’s top artists and studios – all in a compact single-space rack mount unit.

The Lexicon PCM 70 offers more than 40 digital effects and reverb programs, including chorus and echo, resonant chords, multiband delays, rich chamber, rich plate, and concert hall. Add to these the 50 programs you can create and store in user registers, and you have instant access to more than 90 programs.

If creative control is what you are after, more than 70 different parameter types can be edited to produce just the sound you need. Everything from delay times to feedback, filters, panning, and early reflections.

Great sounds are only half the story. The Lexicon PCM 70 introduces revolutionary MIDI capabilities that will change forever the way the world uses effects. Lexicon’s Dynamic MIDI gives you real-time remote control over up to ten different parameters at the same time from a MIDI keyboard or sequencer.

You can patch any effects or reverb parameter to any variable MIDI controller on your synthesiser-modulation wheel, pitch wheel, data entry slider, sustain switch, and others. You can also patch parameters to vary with MIDI events like key velocity, pressure, or aftertouch.

The Lexicon PCM 70 offers more than 40 digital effects and reverb programs, including chorus and echo, resonant chords, multiband delays, rich chamber, rich plate, and concert hall. Add to these the 50 programs you can create and store in user registers, and you have instant access to more than 90 programs.

If creative control is what you are after, more than 70 different parameter types can be edited to produce just the sound you need. Everything from delay times to feedback, filters, panning, and early reflections.

Great sounds are only half the story. The Lexicon PCM 70 introduces revolutionary MIDI capabilities that will change forever the way the world uses effects. Lexicon’s Dynamic MIDI gives you real-time remote control over up to ten different parameters at the same time from a MIDI keyboard or sequencer.

You can patch any effects or reverb parameter to any variable MIDI controller on your synthesiser modulation wheel, pitch wheel, data entry slider, sustain switch, and others. You can also patch parameters to vary with MIDI events like key velocity, pressure, or aftertouch.

If you have a sequencer, control changes sent to the Lexicon PCM 70 from your keyboard or controller can be recorded and repeated perfectly-every time. A corresponding register feature lets you choose effects or reverb programs remotely, from sequencers, synthesisers, and other MIDI devices. To top it all off, an innovative and uncomplicated user interface ensures that you can access all of this power quickly and easily.

These features give the Lexicon PCM 70 capabilities far beyond any other effects processor available, at the time. However, the Yamaha SPX90 was hot on its heels for less money, but the Lexicon PCM70 did find it’s place in the studio’s of musicians with deeper pockets.

Specifications

  • Frequency Response
    • Processed Signal: 20 Hz to 15 kHz, ±1 dB
    • Direct Signal: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, ±0.25 dB
  • Dynamic Range
    • Processed Signal: 80 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz noise bandwidth
  • Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise
    • Processed Signal: <0.05% @ 1 kHz and full level
    • Direct Signal: <0.025% @ 1 kHz @ 3V out
  • Audio Input
    • Levels:
      • +4 dB; -8 to +18 dBV balanced
      • -20 dB; -23 to +3 dBV unbalanced
    • Impedance:
      • +4 dB; 40 kilohms, paralleled with 150 pF (balanced)
      • -20 dB; >500 kilohms, paralleled with 150 pF (unbalanced)
    • Connector: 1/4″ tip/ring/sleeve phone jack
  • Audio Outputs (Two)
    • Levels:
      • +4 dB; +10 dBV into 600 ohms
      • +16 dBV into >10 kilohms
      • -20 dB; -8 dBV into >10 kilohms
    • Impedance: 600 ohm unbalanced
    • Connectors: 1/4″ tip/sleeve phone jack
  • Dimensions: 483mm x 45mm x 344mm
  • Weight: 4.9 kg

TRY OUR ‘MY EFFECTS RACK’ FEATURE TO TRACK WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR EFFECTS RACK NOW, AND THOSE ITEMS YOU WISH TO ADD.

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.

Lexicon PCM 70
User Reviews

GREAT IN PURE PROCESSING

By Mixroom.One

Sound Quality 100%
Build Quality 85%
Usefullness 100%
Mojo/Funk 85%
Reliability 90%

Using it primarily for Tiled Room, which sounds really lively and spacey on drums, separate percussion or to get some instrument, mostly guitars, move a little bit to the back of the mix, but retaining it’s urgency. It does not sound like a 224 or 224X as you read sometimes, but it sure has a classy sound. The delay sound quality is great also, really biting through the mix, and the flange and chorus FX are up with the better of them. Admitting that i actually use it not that often maybe comes from the fact that i sure have some big workhorses in the control room that often get used because they are default connected to the sends and returns of the console, like 2 224’s, 2 300’s, an AMS RMX16 and a SST282 by Ursa. But the PCM70 sure deserves to be used big time!

MY MAIN REVERB FOR PRO-RECORDINGS

By Magnus Consitt

Sound Quality 90%
Build Quality 90%
Usefullness 100%
Mojo/Funk 85%
Reliability 95%

STALWART OF PROCESSORS

By Marcus

Sound Quality 90%
Build Quality 90%
Usefullness 100%
Mojo/Funk 60%
Reliability 90%

It’s my main reverb for a start point on vocals. Most of times it’ handles the vocals to glue perfect in the mix, that’s why this is the most used machine in studios around the world. Soft, no harsh tales as the software reverbs. For a pro level studio this is a most to have!

CLASSIC BUT NOISY

By Simon Alexander

Sound Quality 85%
Build Quality 80%
Usefullness 65%
Mojo/Funk 90%
Reliability 90%

This was my first Lexicon, back around 1990. I absolutely loved it and the presets, but is was so noisy it had to go. While all outboard gear from this era suffer with a bit of noise, this unit is notorious from suffering with this annoying trait. Sadly, it had to go for the PCM 90, which I love.

A CLASSIC BUT NOT KILLER

By Martin Jones

Sound Quality 75%
Build Quality 75%
Usefullness 85%
Mojo/Funk 85%
Reliability 75%

This is still a reverb you will find in many studios, but it is not because it is so pristine and great, but because it sits in mixes well and has some mojo compared to many others from the period. I would not make it my only reverb, but would have one for that something different.

Used it? Leave your rating and review.

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