Lexicon Alex

The Alex is a dummy-proof effects unit in some regards. You can use one of sixteen different effects- reverbs, delays, chorus & flanger. Editing the presets is easy, but there are only a few parameters to alter. For the reverbs & delays this isn't so bad. The modulation effects are puzzling without the manual. The manual is good, and useful. Presets can be modified and stored, though I've never used this feature and probably won't ever do so.
For those of you with crowded power-strips, I have 2 words: WALL WART!

I find the reverbs to be excellent for low-budget studio work. Initially, I had planned to use them for a guitar rig, too. This ended in disappointment. While most people I know seem to gravitate toward the Hall Reverbs, I prefer the Gold Plate for vocals. It's very warm and natural sounding as such: Decay:8, Delay:6. You don't need much, and it doesn't clog the mix with that processed reverb mush. The chorus and flanger are unforgiveably bad. I hate 'em. In a pinch, I have used the chorus, but found the results to be unsatisfying. The delays are good utilitarian tools, but I would probably use something that I could tweak more precisely. In spite of the bad Mod effects, I have to rate it highly for the reverbs. Noise is not an issue.

Mine went goofy soon after I bought it, and 2 other people I know have had troubles with theirs. I think Lexicon is putting good sounds on crappy circuitry to keep this level of unit cheap. Since mine was repaired, it seems to do everything I require, but I use very few of the available functions. I recommend a spare, and might acquire a second one of my own. Seems cheaply made, though.

Mine was serviced under warranty, either by the vendor or Lexicon, I don't know which. There were no difficulties as such. I have (in other instances) found Lexicon to have great support.

I am in a process of transforming from a hobbyist home-studio to something more serious. Having used numerous bad reverb units on home recordings, The first Alex I ever borrowed impressed me into buying one of my own. While it's fairly pedestrian, you can get great sounds from it. I love the reverbs, especially the Gold Plate, but hate the chorus & flanger. I wish they were even as good as a Quadraverb, which is a much older technology. I will replace it if necessary. Just as the other Lexicon effect units in this genre, it uses a wall wart. I hate those things.

Instant excellent reverb. 16 programmable registers which can be variations of any of the 16 presets. Only one criticism: when using as a looper you can have your I/P going straight through but not adding to the loop, this is done by using the "effect level" control, which varys the I/P to the echo, not the O/P. Unfortunatly you have to turn the data entry knob at least 3 times to achieve this.

Although the sampling frequency is only 32kHz quality is Lexicon (=excellent). This is mainly a reverb unit and there are a good selection here, from a short rev which can make a mix sound full without intruding, to massive spacey effects which only sound unnatural when you extend the time beyond the reasonable.Adjusting reverb parameters is basically glitch free. Chorus and flange are disapointing, can't really vary them much. Echo is excellent, a generous 1.5s. Not quite infinite recycling but OK for looping.Quality only starts to degrade after a great many repeats, and even then it isn't offensively digital. Gated reverb doesn't actually have a gate, just a dense block of reverb with zero decay time. Works though. Reverse is like gate, only reverb volume increases from zero.

Haven't abused it (yet).

I filled out the registration card for my Lexicon Jamman, subsequently I was phoned from the States by a guy called Greg to answer my questions. Later they sent me a large collection of information including Vortex and Jamman application notes.

Basic high quality reverb. The sounds aren't instantly recognisable as ,say, a bedroom or a small church, rather they seem to be idealised to be musically useful.(You don't get that annoying first echo off the back wall which would add to realism, but wouldn't help your mix). Echo is an bonus (1.5s), but then you have to do without that reverb.

Very easy to use, only 3 editable parameters besides the standard mix, input, and output knobs. Manual is very brief, but there isn't much to learn anyway.

Noise free on all settings. Reverbs are not true stereo, so they are just OK. Delay's are either standard Echo, 4 tap ping pong, or chorus delay (which is really cool because the timbre changes as it decays). Flanging and chorus are both good. Plates are good. For reverbs which are much better, spend twenty bucks more and buy the Reflex. Actually, the Reflex is better in all respects.

Reliable

I don't know - people are generally nice though.

All in all, if I could have bought another Reflex instead, I definately would have, but seeing as I'm using the Alex as a delay processor exclusively, I'm not complaining - it's very quiet. If you want a new FX box, always choose the Reflex over the Alex, but if this is your best price option by a fair amount - it still beats alot of whats available.

Sometimes it can be a little difficult to "seat" the reverb in the mix without it sounding like reverb (It can easily sound cheesy). Selecting and editing are very simple and quick, this makes it simple to fingd the appropiate effect. The manual is short and allmost unnecessary.

Not noisy on any settings. The effects are useful. Some very unique sounds can be produced by setting the parameters to their limits. It would have been better if the unit were true stereo.

No problems to report. But, it has just been sitting in a studio.

Never delt with the company for customer support.

I would but it again but I would not buy another to have two. It has good sounding reverbs but they seem to be somewhat particular about dynamic range. There sounds to be a low-level threshold where above the reverb kicks-in and below that it is lowered in volume. This helps keep quiet sounds clear but it can be somewhat abrupt. This box complements a sans amp VERY nicely. It also works well for any guitar/bass in an anps effects loop or for recording direct. For drums & vocals it is ok. If this is all that you can afford, you will not be making a bad choice. Any negitive comments I may have is just because I am very picky when it comes to reverbs.

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