I
Ivorykeys
New member
Forgive me for the length of this post, but I think the info is all relavent to understanding my situation. I am brand new to this forum and recording in general & this is my first post. There are several forums within homerecording.com that I could have posted this, such as 'The Rack' or 'Live Sound', but I would consider myself a real newbie, never having actually recorded anything, other than via an internal sequencer in my workstation, which I do alot. If that is considered recording, than I guess I have some minor experience.
I just began gigging both acoustically (piano & voice), & with a PA system & electronic keyboard, depending on the venue. I had the Lexicon MPX110 first, & then the MPX200 for voice reverb only. Both had issues with low headroom with significant distortion when pushed. And the thing that kills me was that they both exhibited that hummmm when close to my Crown Microtek 2400 amp.
I need the reverb only for voice (mine, and my duowhich is not good enough to deliver dry), and examining some of the forums out there, quite a few others have experienced the same with the dreaded MPX line of effects units due to their relatively low grade power transformers, which was apparently admitted to at some point by Lexicon. Anyway, there are some fixes, apparently, by replacing caps or something, but the fact that increasing the input causes so much ugly distortion, I just want to bite the bullet & go with another unit. I guess I may be a glutton for punishment, but for Sinatra-type standards, 70's/80's/90's mellow rock with reverb only needed for voice-work, (and acoustic piano), I keep hearing the same thing - that the units to go with for studio (& live, albeit, maybe overkill), is the Lexicon PCM series, and specifically, the PCM91. But before deleting my post due to a what might be percieved as an overspending $ syndrome, please read on.
Originally, I wanted a Lexicon because of the reputation, but suffered with their lower-end units, so although I think I still want a Lexicon, I believe I need to go higher-end to be able to appreciate the quality of a clean reverb & good components (hummmm) required for quiet operation in my studio/room that make up the unit. I know that there are alot of units out there from TC Electronics, Yamaha, Eventide, and I'm sure they are also excellent, but the only truly consistent reviews I've seen are those associated with the Lexicon PCM units. And for voice, the PCM91 always seems to be the desired unit by the experienced forum posters (I know used ones are available on ebay). Unfortunately, no local stores carry any units even remotely in that category. I do see alot of MX units out there though, but having been burned twice with the lower-end Lexicons, I'm not going that route again.
I have a Furman PL-PLUSDM power conditioner, MPX110 (lucky to have sold the MPX200!), Crown Microtek 2400 amp, Klark Teknik DN360 EQ, Mackie ONYX 1220 mixer, a pair of custom-made speakers (12"/1") with really quality components, a pair of EV SxA 100+ speakers for a remote location in a larger venue gig, a Neumann KMS105 mic, with a Roland Fantom X8 at the helm. I also have a pair of M-Audio Bx5a's in my home "recording" studio, although I've never actually recorded anything other than MIDI-related sequences with the Fantom. And for acoustic acts, I play piano with some vocals, which is where I use the EV's on those smaller venues. I do alot of sequencing on the Fantom for recording demo CDs, but there are already on-board effects (a reverb + 2 Multi-effects) , but no live recording, per say, as of yet. I just realized, by reading some of the posts here, why some of my mixes sound so bad, as I was mixing them through the headphones, not the studio monitors. In my opinion, that makes me a newbie, which is why I'm here. That could change, though, who knows, which is why I've been lurking in the dark of this forum trying to pick up some knowledge through osmosis.
I use the pair of EV SxA100+ powered speakers for the acoustic gigs, smaller venues, or when I'm just too lazy/tired to lug around the amp/PA system (the amp is pretty heavy). I'm thinking down the road, after I settle on an effects unit, that I will want to have a separate rack with another Furman power conditioner, and another reverb unit, all just dedicated to taking on those smaller gigs, without the amp. And I'll need another mic, as I'm working with someone now on a duo act as well. I think actual recording (yes, with a mic) is in my future, as my duo-singer also plays guitar.
So that's my story. Probably more than you wanted to hear, but I thought I needed to explain my train of thought behind the PCM91, as well as give some of my overall application & equipment so some other more experienced members that have been in similar situations could help me. I would appreciate any input regarding an effects unit for voice & live performance, with the probability of doing some home recording at on acoustic piano & guitar in the near future.
Thanks,
Ivorykeys
I just began gigging both acoustically (piano & voice), & with a PA system & electronic keyboard, depending on the venue. I had the Lexicon MPX110 first, & then the MPX200 for voice reverb only. Both had issues with low headroom with significant distortion when pushed. And the thing that kills me was that they both exhibited that hummmm when close to my Crown Microtek 2400 amp.
I need the reverb only for voice (mine, and my duowhich is not good enough to deliver dry), and examining some of the forums out there, quite a few others have experienced the same with the dreaded MPX line of effects units due to their relatively low grade power transformers, which was apparently admitted to at some point by Lexicon. Anyway, there are some fixes, apparently, by replacing caps or something, but the fact that increasing the input causes so much ugly distortion, I just want to bite the bullet & go with another unit. I guess I may be a glutton for punishment, but for Sinatra-type standards, 70's/80's/90's mellow rock with reverb only needed for voice-work, (and acoustic piano), I keep hearing the same thing - that the units to go with for studio (& live, albeit, maybe overkill), is the Lexicon PCM series, and specifically, the PCM91. But before deleting my post due to a what might be percieved as an overspending $ syndrome, please read on.
Originally, I wanted a Lexicon because of the reputation, but suffered with their lower-end units, so although I think I still want a Lexicon, I believe I need to go higher-end to be able to appreciate the quality of a clean reverb & good components (hummmm) required for quiet operation in my studio/room that make up the unit. I know that there are alot of units out there from TC Electronics, Yamaha, Eventide, and I'm sure they are also excellent, but the only truly consistent reviews I've seen are those associated with the Lexicon PCM units. And for voice, the PCM91 always seems to be the desired unit by the experienced forum posters (I know used ones are available on ebay). Unfortunately, no local stores carry any units even remotely in that category. I do see alot of MX units out there though, but having been burned twice with the lower-end Lexicons, I'm not going that route again.
I have a Furman PL-PLUSDM power conditioner, MPX110 (lucky to have sold the MPX200!), Crown Microtek 2400 amp, Klark Teknik DN360 EQ, Mackie ONYX 1220 mixer, a pair of custom-made speakers (12"/1") with really quality components, a pair of EV SxA 100+ speakers for a remote location in a larger venue gig, a Neumann KMS105 mic, with a Roland Fantom X8 at the helm. I also have a pair of M-Audio Bx5a's in my home "recording" studio, although I've never actually recorded anything other than MIDI-related sequences with the Fantom. And for acoustic acts, I play piano with some vocals, which is where I use the EV's on those smaller venues. I do alot of sequencing on the Fantom for recording demo CDs, but there are already on-board effects (a reverb + 2 Multi-effects) , but no live recording, per say, as of yet. I just realized, by reading some of the posts here, why some of my mixes sound so bad, as I was mixing them through the headphones, not the studio monitors. In my opinion, that makes me a newbie, which is why I'm here. That could change, though, who knows, which is why I've been lurking in the dark of this forum trying to pick up some knowledge through osmosis.
I use the pair of EV SxA100+ powered speakers for the acoustic gigs, smaller venues, or when I'm just too lazy/tired to lug around the amp/PA system (the amp is pretty heavy). I'm thinking down the road, after I settle on an effects unit, that I will want to have a separate rack with another Furman power conditioner, and another reverb unit, all just dedicated to taking on those smaller gigs, without the amp. And I'll need another mic, as I'm working with someone now on a duo act as well. I think actual recording (yes, with a mic) is in my future, as my duo-singer also plays guitar.
So that's my story. Probably more than you wanted to hear, but I thought I needed to explain my train of thought behind the PCM91, as well as give some of my overall application & equipment so some other more experienced members that have been in similar situations could help me. I would appreciate any input regarding an effects unit for voice & live performance, with the probability of doing some home recording at on acoustic piano & guitar in the near future.
Thanks,
Ivorykeys
