Lexicon Prime Time Model 93

with one knob or slider per fucntion, this box couldn't be any easier to use. the manual does help in figuring out proper set-up of the I/O, as it's a little different from what you might expect. basically there is a main output and an aux input. however, although there are two seperate delay lines, the inputs are not divided between them. if you have two seperate input signals hitting the unit, they are going into both delay lines at the same level. then there is a summed mono transformer coupled XLR output of both delay lines, as well as seperate 1/4" outputs for each delay line in case you want to pan them to different positions at the console.

this box seems to have been made before any manufacturers had the (not) bright idea to implement menu-based editing on digital devices, so the interface was kept as simple as any analog gear that had preceeded it: one knob/one job. it doesn't get much easier to use than that.

this unit came with a stock memory that allowed 128ms of delay time, with a multilpy factor to 256ms, 512ms and 1024ms respecitvely. the audio bandwidth is cut in half for each multiplier - 128ms = 12khz, 256ms = 6khz, 512ms = 3khz, 1024ms = 1.5 khz. there was an optional memory upgrade that double the possible range of the delay times to 256ms, 512ms, 1024ms and 2048ms respectively. my unit has this upgrade.

the manual for this thing, aside from explaining everything you need to knwo to use it, could also be course material for a class on delay effects and their applications. it's awesome! it even contains "patch sheets" to jot down your favorite settings, as there is no patch memory on this unit. I guess you have to keep in mind that it was aimed at the professional market when it came out 20+ years ago and look at the manual from that perspective.

it sounds incredible. very warm, no noise that isn't already present from my analog synths ;-)

I use it with a patchbay and a mixer to patch freely between a modular synthesizer and other FX units.

not much else to say - anyone who buys this should already know that they aren't getting a modern super-clean unit. this is a very early digital delay that still sounds like it could have been analog - it was made in the days before digital equated to boring in the sound department ;-)

seems sturdy. it lived in a theatre's sound studio for all of it's life before I bought it, so it hasn't been subject to any serious abuse... but that said, it's built like a tank so I'm not worried.

never dealt with Lexicon.

I think I got a better deal than what these usually sell for on the used market - you usually see them in the $400 USD range. to be honest, I wouldn't pay that much for one, but for what I paid it's a great value.

my favorite feature is the "repeat hold" fucntion - it basically samples what is in the delay line, then lets you modulate the pitch of the "sample" by applying modulation from the VCO (that's right, it says VCO right on the front panel, even though it's really more of an LFO)... you can also shift the pitch of the "sample" completely by switching to a different multiple of the delay time. so it's great fun grabbing a 128ms clip of sound and then shifting it waaaaaaaay down multiplying the delay time to 1024ms, or even 2048ms ;-)

this fits in just as if it were another piece of my modular synth. it even has a 0-10 CV input to control the delay time with external signals - you would think this means a pedal, but the manual mentions connecting other "function generators" to this input, so Lexicon knew what they were putting on the table even back then ;-)

I can't say enough good things about this piece.