PCM 42 replacement
Ninety98
Has anyone found a good replacement for the Lexicon PCM 42 as a simple
delay line for professional recording studios?
tga...@auraltek.com
In <4q9u6n$l...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, nine...@aol.com (Ninety98) writes:
>Has anyone found a good replacement for the Lexicon PCM 42 as a simple
>delay line for professional recording studios?
There is none that I know of and there probably won't be in the near
future. The PCM 42 and its brother the PCM41 were unique pieces. They
used a TRUE pulse code modulation scheme that puts todays best "1 bit
converters" to shame. Even though the PCM 41 and 42 use 12 bit
converters and memory to digitize and store the data there is no
amplitude quantization in the signal. This effectively provides
"infinte" bits of resolution". This is acomplished by having A-D
conversion take place after the audio is processed into a true
"analog" pulse width modulated signal. The data going into the A-D
converter is either a "1" or a "0" to start with so all that the
converter has to do is clock the information in and cut it up into 12
bit chunks for the memory chips to hold. The D-A process is the mirror
immage of this. Once the audio passes the anti-aliasing filters which
are really integrators to convert the PWM signal back to audio, there
are no quantization "steps" to grain up the signal. Even at the lowest
levels the only sound you get other than the processed signal is white
noise and not an objectionable ammount of that either I might add.
The onslaught of parallel converters that quantify the signal sample
by sample has enabled the DSP industry to do great things in the area
of manipulation but has set us back in fidelity. I have great hopes
that when true 20 bit (or more) DSP boxes become prevalent, the sound
will be back. The new 20 bit Sony reverb really impressed me with its
dynamic range but the algorithms didn't sound as good to me as an
ALex. Maybe it was the Sony headphones they demoed it with.
We are using the JBLs new 20 bit sound system controller that Brooke
Siren designed for them and its really fine. We get a lot of extra
dynamic range from it by splitting the subs off first with a JBL M552
analog crossover at 90 Hz and running the "highs" into the digital
box. The combination with our 5-way JBL mains and Crest/SAE/Ramsa amp
mix takes your breath away!
My point is that 16 or even 18 bit boxes will never have the sound
that you get from the venerable PCM-42 but the new generation of 20
bit stuff may do it. Of course there will likely never be one that
only does delay. C'est la vie.
Tom Garson
Lithia Sound
tgarson...@auraltek.com
541-482-3307
Richard Kuschel
nine...@aol.com (Ninety98) wrote:
>
>Has anyone found a good replacement for the Lexicon PCM 42 as a simple
>delay line for professional recording studios?
I've been looking for just such an Item.. Everything I've found is too
damn complicated to use quickly & easily.
With memory prices and chips selleng for what they do now I bet lexicon
could build & sell a new PCM42 for about $500
-
RICHARD KUSCHEL EXY...@prodigy.com
"I canna' change the law o'physics."-Scotty
tga...@auraltek.com
Wrong,
See my earlier post for specifically why. The PCM-42 can't be
duplicated by any "chip set" on the market! Thats why Lexicon stopped
selling them. Because of the excellent construction and semi-discrete
design and the volume of sales dropping off considerably, they would
have cost virtually as much to build as the dealer cost was once they
ran out of original parts to make them with.
I have been asked by the newer Lexicon engineers thenselves what it is
about the PCM42 that made it such a "cult" piece. Once they realise
what it is about the unit that makes it so cool, they go try to find
one for themselves because they know there will never be any more
built!
Steven John McLoughlin
>>>Has anyone found a good replacement for the Lexicon PCM 42 as a simple
>>>delay line for professional recording studios?
>Wrong,
>
>See my earlier post for specifically why. The PCM-42 can't be
>duplicated by any "chip set" on the market! Thats why Lexicon stopped
>selling them. Because of the excellent construction and semi-discrete
>design and the volume of sales dropping off considerably, they would
>have cost virtually as much to build as the dealer cost was once they
>ran out of original parts to make them with.
>
>I have been asked by the newer Lexicon engineers thenselves what it is
>about the PCM42 that made it such a "cult" piece. Once they realise
>what it is about the unit that makes it so cool, they go try to find
>one for themselves because they know there will never be any more
>built!
Possibly wrong:
Lexicon is planning a 25 year aniversary reissue of the PCm42 with a
gold plated face pannel, but it will be VERY EXPENSIVE (ie: $1500 resale
probably). Why? again because the parts are totaly unavailable. After this
limited run is sold out (all on pre-orders) they are also looking into
making an addition to thier cheeper line (like the ALEX and REFLEX) that
will be a dedicated digital delay with fewer knobs than the 42. Remeber
buttons and knobs cost MONEY!!!!
Also remeber that this was Lexicons plan of action 1/2 year ago......
things do change, who knows?
--
*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*
Steven John McLoughlin
NYC based Recording Engineer
See my home page for the latest
updates to my discography
<http://www.dorsai.org/~stvemc/>
*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*
david
> gold plated face pannel, but it will be VERY EXPENSIVE (ie: $1500 resale
It may be the 25th anniversary or Lex's first delay line, whic was some
huge dinosaur (they had one in a clear case at last year's AES - it was a
beastie) and not a pcm-42 Sorry for stating the obvious...
david correia
celebration sounds
pawtucket, rhode island usa
--
david correia
celebration sounds pawtucket, ri usa
Danny Caccavo
(Steven John McLoughlin) wrote:
<snip>
<<25 year aniversary reissue of the PCm42 with a
gold plated face pannel,>>
That device did not come out in 1972, sorry folks!!! OH, YOU MEANT 25TH
ANNIVERSARY OF LEXICON... sorrry...<g>-DC