Lexicon Vortex

Programming the Vortex is not for the faint of heart. The device consists basically of algorithms made up of two delay lines, two modulators, and an envelope follower. The algorithms often have complex routing - for example, delay 1 may feed into delay 2, with a feedback loop on delay 1 and another feedback loop from delay 2 back to delay one. So modifying a parameter often has unexpected effects. You really, really need a manual.

Beyond the complexity, there is no midi and no other mechanism for saving your patches externally. If you want to remember a patch, you make a patch sheet on paper and write the parameters down. And there's no patch naming, either - user patches are just a number and an A/B bank. Write 'em down, again.

Presets are a mixture of tame and wild, but the real interesting stuff happens when you start to program.

I bought mine new near the end of the (short) production cycle, and have used it off and on since. Caveat #1 - the input impedance is very low (25k in mono). It should be fed a well-preamped, low impedance signal. If you're using it with guitar, it needs buffered.

Unlike many devices, the mix is a programmed parameter, rather than a separate knob, so it's not meant to go in a mixer fx send. Caveat #2 - it needs to be inline with your source.

Although it can run in mono, many of the best things about the Vortex happen in the stereo field, with wild panning and beautiful spreads. Caveat #3 - you want to run in stereo if you can.

As "features" go, it doesn't have many. No reverb. No pitch shifting. No modulated delays. Limited delay time. No distortion or compression or other pseudo-analog stuff. All it does is delay and modulation. Caveat #4 - it's not a true multi-effects box.

That said... it produces sounds that no other effects box can do. First, the complex signal paths between its delay/modulation components create effects that simply cannot be done anywhere else, even in the most expensive boxes, short of slapping them together in a mixer yourself. Awesome #1 - wild, evolving delay/modulation systems.

The envelope follower is keenly implemented in the various programs, making them very dynamically sensitive and performance oriented. The ducking delays that everyone thinks are so impressive in other boxes barely scratch the surface... how about flangers that respond dynamically to your picking? Rotary effects that speed up when you hit a chord and slow as it decays? Echo repeats that increase when you stop playing? Awesome #2 - it LISTENS to how you play.

Morphing was the selling point, and something no other pedal or rack does, really. Programs are arranged in A/B pairs, and the A/B switch "morphs" between them at user defined rates - from .1 second to ten seconds, iirc. Plus you can assign an expression pedal to the morph and stop it at in-between states, with wildly different programs interacting. Awesome #3 - the spaces between the programs.

Overall, the Vortex is capable of fine versions of conventional sounds, but shines at the unconventional.

Mine broke down on me once - one of the digital encoder knobs started generating garbage. A call to Lexicon assured me that the encoders were flawless and installed on a zillion Lexicon boxes and never broke. Then I shipped it to Lexicon, and they fixed it by replacing the broken encoder. Feh. And I'm not the only one who's had these problems. But other than that, it's never broken down on me. It's low-end Lexicon construction and you should be careful with it. Me, I've slapped velcro on it and zip-tied it to a pedalboard with other pedals velcroed on top. I use it without a backup, just because. If it ever breaks, I'll probably go pay through the nose for another.

As detailed in the "reliability" section, my experience with Lexicon wasn't positive - but it DID get fixed.

Like I said, I've owned it for 15 years or so now. And I've gone through bouts where I used it constantly, and bouts where it gathered dust. It's sometimes frustrating to work with, but it's also capable of true magic. I've gotten great use out of it live as a dynamic looper and all-around delay/modulation line, but then I have to make sure I remember which program goes with which song and stuff.

For a recent recording, I wanted to apply the feel of someone falling out of control through the air to a fast guitar solo. So I reamped the guitar part out into the Vortex and generated a half-dozen AMAZING, dynamic, crazy-angular panning sounds that I couldn't have created for love nor money with any other device. That makes it worthwhile, imho.

Well its time that I write a review about this magnific product.
How easy it is to tweak?
Well it is easy and quick to edit a parameter and it is also easy to get good random sounds. But if you want to understand the Vortex or get a special sound you will need a long time.
Why is it so? when I read the reviews I see that most did not even come close to understand the Vortex as they treat it as ONE effect. It is NOT ONE effect!!! It is several effects and routings in one box! In fact its 32 different routings of some effects so every parameter, even if it has always the same name will show different changes. I d say this unit is almost as hard as tweaking a complete FX path in studio and it isabout to be impossible to make it out without the manual which is very short (for me the explanations in the manual could be a bit more. Of course it would have been possible to fill 200 pages or more about the vortex). The manual of the Vortex is still available on the URL of Lexicon. If you dont have it get it first. Perhabs I should explain it in another way. The Vortex gives you effects paths containing modulations and delays to get the most amazing effects. How easy is it to tweak such path out? Well it is clear that it is NOT easy. But the effects are between hypno and blow your head!

One more thing,
if you dont want t spend a lot of time to understand the Vortex...
DONT BUY IT!

if you want simple default effects...
DONT BUY IT!

if you dont like to spend time on tweaking...
DONT BUY IT!

if you give up easyly...
DONT BUY IT!

Attention! The Vortex presets are mostly high dynamic! So dont expect that presets from others to match on your gear directly. Use these as a base and go for the details yourself! Mail me if you want to share your presets! THX!

OK... Due to such thing cant be easy to tweak such thing out I d give a 7

I like the guitar of Pink Floyd (Dave Gilmour) and generaly I use a power Strat on a HiWatt with Fane Speakers which isnt 2 bad ;)
But lately I cant use these due to my dougther (3) and I found out that I get a good sound when I plug my guitar directly in the Vortex and listen with a headphone. I should add a comp (a comp is one of the few effects the Vortex doesnt offer) before the Vortex.
In general I dont like digits at all and I try to avoid them due to their cold and quickly boring sound. I dont know why but the Vortex isnt cold and boring at all. The unit is not noisy at all. If there is no input the unit is quiet like switched off. Of course keep away your guitar and cables from TV, Monitors, Neon light, celular phones but that all should be well known already. Of course you will need to avoid humm loops either, but that aint new (even if some reviews seems as if these matters are new to some ppl). OK the bypass is a crap and you should spend a looper to get a propper bypass but if I add the costs of all equipment needed to make Vortex's sound (exept what you can do with the morphing due to here the costs would explode up to be impossible to be reproduced) with the quality of Vortex sound, a Vortex + a looper is a gift! Anyway I give a 10 here. 10 and a small - for the bypass.

Well it seems build like a tank. But on the other hand it was a cheap product by Lexicon. I d say yes. A backup would rather be interesting to expand the few places to store presets. I had no problems at all even if my display shows up a light damage in the red plasic of the screen which, of course, doest affect the sound.
Due to I read a lot about the Vortex I know about some problem these units have and I m happy that mine doesnt!

They seems good but I never dealed with them.

First of all I want to thank all those who dont and dont want to understand the Vortex due to they made it possible that I got mine that cheap! But... (see *)

Well if stolen, lost or broken I ll miss it a lot and for that case I m already looking for a backup. I think the Vortex cant be compaired to anything else on the market. Of couse there are many things which could be improved like add more pedals (real time tweaking on more than one value), more storage space for presets and, what I personaly miss last if the first 2 issues where solved is MIDI. Of course MIDI could solve the 2 beore.

* Unfortunately there is no big brother of the Vortex. This may be caused due to the Vortex is highly missunderstood and there are not enought customer estimated who would buy it.
What a pitty!

Best freature? MOPHING!

One more thing. There is a nice site for the Vortex just google for it (no it is NOT mine) and dont hesitate to mail me if you have cool presets you want to share. THX!

some terrific, unique patches(#10 choir a terrific reverb-short delay: much nicer than straight reverb for vocals). Editing requires patience and the manual.

I use this as my primary effects for recording. I like the way it sounds. A bit noisy for some of the mod effects.

This is the second lower range lexi product that has died (the first was a Reflex). Lexi tech support guy basically said, 'hey, these things are over ten years old and, given their price, you have gotten a good life from them." Lexi no longer services them -- NO REPAIRS ARE AVAILABLE unless you know something that I don't (please email me if you know of a repair tech lead). There is a guy in new england, a former lexi tech, but he only works on the higher end pieces (PCM, etc.) and his website stated that he does not want to be othered with inquiries about repairing the cheap stuff.

Here is what happened to my vortex: random crackling for 10 minutes, followed by a weird rhythmic low level beep (a digital timing fart I guess). I turned the unit off, waited 5 minutes, then powered up. Error message on display and overload LED is permanently on.

the Reflex also crapped out with a rhythmic, metallic noise.

BE MINDFUL OF NO APPARENT REPAIR SERVICES -- these things do break...

see above for the bad news...

great, distinctive sounds. throw it away when it breaks.

ok agreed can be fiendishly complex but perseverance yields etc..
RTFM Many times.....and then Again..... then you begin to get the picture.......manual so so...Editing complex but patience rewards.....ok sometimes seems to have mind of its own......not always a bad thing tho.....serendipity etc.....

pretty clean and noise free......watch out for repeat echo loops ..
use it all over guitars,vox,main mix buss.....good on evolving pads/ambience.....never less than interesting......

still going after 10 years...no probs....can get hot on occassion...
yeah stands up to gigs/beer/spikes etc OK.....no worries on the whole.....power supply can be weird/loose....watch cable run on gigs...i.e. leave some slack in line.......

never needed to............

cover most styles and this unit is very useful, if sometimes unpredictable....tho i tend to favour this unpredictability....throws up some fascinating scapes .......tap tempo delay cross limked with Mod's...Excellent creative tool.....great partic for Dance/techno chaos....but generally will find a place on most mixes...either judicious use or total trance out......

The Vortex is not your ordinary multi-effects toy. The processor is set up with an odd effects configuration where every preset has some combination of modulation and delay, but don't expect to find a simple Chorus-Delay patch like on the MPX 100. Here's how the manual describes the preset Mosaic 6B; "Mosaic B has four modules arranged in series. Modulation and echo effects are accumulated as signals progress through this configuration." The entire manual reads like that.

Editing is tricky, especially when you first try tweaking the presets. (For some reason, user patches are called Registers.) Even hardcore gearheads will have to check the manual to be sure what they're adjusting. You get one knob to select among 16 parameters, and one Value knob for tweaking. There is an Input knob, but you can't store the Input level as part of a Register. The display is a 2-digit LED, so all your parameter values go from 1 to 64. There's a Mod FX LVL, and an Echo FX LVL, so you can zero out the modulation or delay effects while you experiment. You'll really need the manual to understand what Envelope does to each preset; some of the other controls you could set by ear, but get the manual, if you don't have one. Some presets, like Choir, sound normal enough, and you tweak away without getting too lost; others, like Bleen, wander right off into space, or self-oscillation.

The manual will also tell you which presets are Dual Mono, True Stereo, etc., which will help a lot if you use the Vortex in stereo. You'll miss out on a lot of the sound if you run the Vortex in mono. The manual also explains how to use an expression pedal with the Vortex. I give the Vortex a 6 for ease of use because it takes some getting used to, and you really, really need the manual to get into the Vortex.

As always, a PRS Santana SE, into a GT-3 and some delay/loopers. When I use an amp, I use a JC-90.

The Vortex isn't really noisy, but some of the effects can get out of control. There's an Input knob, but no Output knob, unlike most of Lexicon's rack gear. There's no Mix knob, but Mix is one of the parameters you can set for each Register. The Input doesn't overload as easily as some other Lexicon boxes, like the MPX 100. The preset 15 BleenA tends to overload, or self-oscillate really easily. The manual suggests that the Bleen presets are good for short percussive sounds, but I like using it for sick ring modulator guitar sounds.

Among my favorite artists; Fripp, Frisell, Vernon Reid, Spiritualized, Stereolab, Residents, Slapp Happy/Henry Cow. I don't know if any of the artists I listen to are using the Vortex.

The Vortex tries hard to be unique, so the sounds are a real mixed bag. There are a few "normal" sound effects. Choir sounds like a lush Chorus/Delay, Orbits tries for the rotary speaker sound, Deja Vu is a delay/looper with just under 2 seconds of delay time, which isn't much for guitar looping. Aerosol seems to be an all-purpose modulation effect. Then there are things like Bleen and Fractal, which are very hard to describe. (Actually, Bleen A and Bleen B are different effects configurations that both manage to produce weird mangled sounds.) On almost all of the effects, setting the Resonance values high will take you right into space.

I give the Vortex an 8 for sound quality because it's just clean enough, unless you go for extreme settings.

My Vortex is nearly ten years old, and still weird, thank you. It would be hard to find a backup, and nothing else really does what the Vortex does.

Lexicon's customer support people are some of the best, right up with the folks from Godlyke. Lexicon manuals are expensive, and so are the Lexicon footswitches. (You can get the same footswitch for less, without the Lexicon logo, under the name Sili Spares; you want the Dual Momentary Footswitch. Sorry, Lexicon.)

I play experimental guitar, which means I'm trying to create new sounds, as well as new music. Some of my music could probably be considered structured noise. The Vortex allows me to do some really twisted things to my sound that other effects processors just won't do, but it's not something I use all the time.

I've been playing since before BBD's, and my mainline rig is a Boss GT-3 into a chain of delay/loopers. If something happened to my Vortex, I'd try to find another one, because it really is a unique box, in spite of some limitations.

I love the Morphing feature; with an expression pedal assigned to Morph, you get a whole new range of sounds. I can't say that I really hate anything about the Vortex, but Lexicon clearly left out a few things, like MIDI, to keep the Vortex under $500. Morph is probably my favorite feature.

There's not really anything to compare the Vortex to. For weird sounds, there's the now-extinct Digitech Space Station, but it doesn't really sound or work like the Vortex. The Vortex is kind of a freak box, especially when you add a couple of footswitches and an expression pedal. Combined with the GT-3, I get an incredible variety of sounds.

A couple of things the Vortex could have used; MIDI ports, and an Output knob. While I can see where it would have been hard to design a patch editor for the Vortex, electronic musicians like to back up their data, even if we have to settle for bulk dumps. If you really get into programming your Vortex, once you fill up your Registers, you're out of luck; the only way to save more patches is with an old-school patch data sheet.

The Vortex has given me some sounds that I wouldn't have been able to get from my GT-3, and it fills out my sound toolbox, but I can't say that a sound from the Vortex has ever led me to create a piece of music. It's a strange box, and you have to dig in, past its limitations, to really make it happen. The weird preset names, the oddball architechture and the 2-digit display probably put off a lot of potential buyers. Whatever the cause, the Vortex didn't seem to be a big hit for Lexicon, which is too bad. The Vortex is a complex creative tool; I'm glad I got mine before they vanished. I give it an 8 because it may be a great tool, but it was pretty expensive by the time I'd gotten a second footswitch and an EV-5. Maybe you should change the rating to "Fantastic Product" instead of "Fantastic Value."

If you find a used one, make sure it has the right AC adapter (they're really hard to get, otherwise), try to find a manual, and get at least one footswitch. Manuals are somewhere around $17, plus shipping, if I remember right. If you order the footswitches from Lexicon, they'll cost around $30 each, but the Sili Spares are closer to $20. A Roland EV-5 expression pedal works with the Vortex, and that's another $55. IF you like the Vortex, you'll love it with the expression pedal. There's also a Vortex Database web site, with patch data, and other useful info.

This box should have been made as a desktop or large stompbox format. The manual is a must for understanding the programing. The presets are only OK at best - sort of a hint of what this thing can actually do. There is no MIDI control or sysex dump feature. Only memory for 16 pairs of user programs. You have to push a panel button or footswitch each time you change a patch to tell it what parameter you want the pedal to control.

When I first got this, I put it in the effects loop of a line mixer used with synths. It was kinda OK, but not fantastic. DOH! Most of the presets are amplitude envelope sensitive, and are looking for a percusive attack - great for drums or guitar, fair with synths.

Plugged right into the board, or into a tube preamp, this thing sounds great with electric & acoustic guitars. The presets are so-so, but you can program some whacked sounds - for instance, a panning delay that decays into ring modulation & pitch bend. Delays that morph into a solid throbing soundscape. Reverb that morphs into syncopated delay. You can program some realy cool and unique effects.

Beats me. Hasn't exploded yet. If it died on a gig, I'd do something else. I'll give it a ten because it's always worked fine for me.

No idea.

This is great for unique effects, spacey soundscapes, visitations from the bizzarro world. You wouldn't use it as your basic reverb & delay unit. I would definately replace it if I had to.

I listed a lot of shortcomings with this unit under the ease of use header. Even though it isn't all that it could be, what it is is still well worth it if you like to play with weird effects, especially for this price. IMO, Lexicon should update this with more user program space, desktop/stompbox interface like pod or adrenalinn, MIDI sync, patch change, and sysex dump capability, and reissue it.

Still, for the ability to have your sound morph into outer space, this thing can't be beat.

not very easy. this unit requires a bit of "get familiar" time. twisting the parameter knob and tweaking and selecting a new parameter and tweaking......setting up some "customized" patches could take an afternoon.

a bit of noise. the effects (themselves) are sometimes very subtle and never "outrageously" radical.

no problems. had it for years. i DO wish it had a dedicated ON/OFF button. i hate units that lack this feature.

very friendly people.
parts are almost ALWAYS available.
repairs and parts will cost you a LARGE handful of greenbacks. bummer.
still, if you own a Lexicon and like the sound of your Lexicon,..you (like i've done) will fork out the cash to restore brainpower to your beloved Lexi-rack effector.

this is a misunderstood beast. it will not wreak sonic havok on your signal. there are no reverbs. the chorus and flange and delay seem fairly tame (on the surface). after ALOT of tweaking,...and alot of "get familiar" time,...you can create some wobbling, vibrating, rotating, swirling motions and delays that dance back and forth in the stereo field. you can create two seperate effects and use an expression pedal to "bleed" back and forth between them. nothing is too over the top,..although with EXTREME tweaks you can get the Vortex "talking". i think this unit works best (and is MOST usuable) by sonic "texture" experimenters. run a distorted and heavily delayed guitar into it.......send a vocal track into the Vortex, use an expression pedal and send the output into your reverb unit. the Vortex begs for experimentation. it is like an exotic spice or herb in a dish....on it's own it might appear less than useful,...but add a few other ingredients and your sonic meal is kicked UP A NOTCH. good stuff.

6 So far even with the manual I am disappointed

fernanded sustainer -into pod- into fender ultimate chorus- vortex in fc loop- dl4
To my ear too electronic-too digital...although i have only had a week so far
I do notice a noise floor in the unit

too soon to tell

they emailed me info the same day I asked for info!!!

WOW

I love Michael Brook, Bill Frisell, U2, David Torn
I was looking to augment my set up with what I thought would be a cool boutique piece so far it is a major disappointment
any advice would be welcome
email me

I find it extremely easy to use, but Im a very experimental player and not a programmer. All I know is how to twist and this baby will get you to some wild places if you twist right. :)

Sounds awesome to me. I have not noticed any extra noise or hum. Seems very useable in recording and live situations.

no problem for 2 years

not sure

the vortex is a very unusual beast and there isnt much like it. Its amazing that it didnt sell that well, kind of like Emu's Morpheus synth where people just didnt understand the concept of dig it.
I love the polyrhythmic stuff you can do with morphing all thruout betweeen 2 totally different FX. Its 2 in one FX processor, but linked synced morphable and triggerable in very exciting ways. Hard to really describe how cool this is. It is a REAL groovebox, no doubt about it and somehow it has slipped thru the cracks. In other words, way under-rated !!! EASY 10 for innovation and for sounds that will amaze you almost every time as long as you twist your way into the "sweet" spot, you do do a lot with this pup.

The Vortex is relatively easy to use but it can also be very complicated if you start tweaking aimlessly. The presets are vdery good, probably among the best for a multi effects units. Many of the presets are very useable. You do need the manual once you become brave enough to modify patches, or registers, as Lexicon calls them.

I'm running the Vortex through the effects loop of a Peavey Ecoustic 112 along with a JamMan and an MPX 100. I use a few different Tech 21 pedals going into the front of my amp (Acoustic DI, CompTortion, TRI OD) to add distortion and warmth. The Vortex is (as all Lexicon gear is) very quiet and the effects can be in your face to subtle and all points in between. The flange and swirling rotary, vibrato, & temolo effects are outstanding. The chorus is also good and the rhythmic options for delays is way cool. They can be straight delay or polyrhythmic and up front or in the background. Once you learn how to manipulate the patches, you can experiment with the many features of the Vortex. Even if you stick with the presets you have a plethora of sounds to choose from. There doesn't seem to be a reverb in the box although you can get the impression of that type of ambience. The morphing feature is also way fun in a trippy sort of way.

I've had it for close to four years with no problems. The same can be said for my JamMan and MPX 100. It should be noted that I have rarely taken out of my studio. The footswitches are small and plastic but if you take care of your gear that shouldn't be an issue.

They have always been prompt and considerate the few times I've contacted them.

I play psychdelic, jam-based, acoustic music and the Vortex is very psychedelicized. I don't really like it as a dedicated chorus, but the chorus is good (the MPX 100 is better). What it is especially good for is textural modulations and undulations along with polyrhythmic delays. I have (or have had) tons of gear over the past 25 years and I have never once considered selling or trading the Vortex (or JamMan). That's saying something considering what a gear junky I am. I'd have to think twice about getting another one only because you can only find them used and they're overpriced. I'll keep this till it breaks as it's one of my favorite pieces of gear (along with my JamMan). There aren't many products to compare the Vortex with so you could use this easily with other multi effects units. There always seems to be a couple up for grabs on e-Bay, just don't pay too much for a used peice of gear. Peace