PCM 90 or 91...do I need it at this point?

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Seeker of Rock

Seeker of Rock

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Just been doing a little research on the PCM series. I'm in the process of building what would best be described as a "recording room"...I'm basically, with good advice on the Studio forum, building a small control room that I plan to track in as well. My personal stuff, my personal use. So I plan to end up with a room that is decent for mixing after all is said and done and the credit cards have taken a beating. Anyways, if I have a decent room, nothing great, but decent with the right dimensions and right treatment, would a PCM90 or 91 be justified at that point. It's subjective, I know. Here is my equipment setup minus the instruments, amps, and 'drums'...
Mackie 24.8 board
Alesis HD24
joemeek VC 1
joemeek MQ3
Alesis Midiverb IV
Lexicon LXP-15II with the Audio Upgrades (Jim Williams) mod
ART Pro VLA
joemeek MC2
TASCAM CD-RW700
joemeek VC1Qcs
ART dual 15 band EQ
Belden snakes with Neutrik and Switchcraft connectors
Furman (bottom of the line model) conditioner

My mics are Sennheiser E609, Shure SM58, and joemeek JM47 (circa 2002, which I love as my main condenser and please don't try and talk me out of it...it works great for my voice, my drums are electronic, I track bass directly so the only thing I really mic are electric/acoustic guitars and vocals)....I love that mic.

Anyway, assuming that I do a halfway decent job of following directions on building the "room within a room" and given I am only recording myself, do you think a PCM 90 or 91 would be an overkill at this point? I realize I have things to finish first with the construction, but just wondering about the near/intermediate future. I love the Jim Williams modded LXP, but that is only one real effects unit. I would rather dedicate that to Chorus and Plates for the drums, maybe a dark room reverb for the cymbals, and have something nice for the overall ambience reverb for the entire spectrum.

Any thoughts?

PS-I love the joemeek series and I run my DM Pro kit through one of the meeks before the board...in this case, I want the color....the meeks make the Alesis drums come alive, best as they can for an electronic sample through a triggered kit anyway.
I love them for vocals, too.
 
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Look for a TC electroninc M-one. You can use it for two effects at once and it's every bit as good sounding as the PCM 90. I have a PCM 80 and for some things I like the M-one better. The M-one will also be a lot cheaper than a PCM, so you could get two of them. (or an M-one and a PCM)

Also remember that the cheaper Lexicons are using the same reverb algorhythms, you just don't get to tweak as deaply. Hell, I used to use an ALEX for drum verb to free up the PCM for special effects or vocal verb.
 
Farview, thanks for the response, but I'm not looking at the cheaper Lexicons at this point. Not the 480, but the PCM 90/91. I know there are good competitors out there, but I am a little biased toward Lexicon on reverb and that is what I feel would suit me best for my likes. Now my LXP-15 modified is no slouch, mind you, but I've just read about, not demo'd, a PCM 90 or PCM 91. So I read the PCM 91 has a "surround sound encoding" option. Not sure the other differences between 90/91. Anyway, I'm set on Lexicon, just wondering if the PCM reverberators, not multi-effect units, would really be that big of a step up from my Audio Upgrades LXP-15II considering my current setup and future needs :) .
 
Like I said before, the reverb algorhythms are the same. (there might be a couple more in the PCM) The PCMs give you more parameters to tweak.

I can't remember the difference between the 90 and the 91, I seem to recall something about the 91 being a 'broadcast unit', meaning it was loaded with presets that were suited for broadcast. I could be wrong about that.

You seem pretty set on the 91, so get it. You will (very quickly) need more than two effects units in the future.


I, too, like the Lexi-verb sound. I have found that it is sometimes useful to have different textures of reverbs in a mix. It keeps things from getting washed out as easily.
 
the 300 sounds much better to me. I like the 90 better than the 91 though. Its your studio, your baby..nothing is overkill if you want it....
 
Yeah, I guess a PCM is what I feel I need next. Decent monitors are already planned (I have these little Nady monitors I've been using up to this point), and that will be the next priority, but I think the PCM will follow.

Farview, I also recall reading something about encoding for surround sound systems or something that was an available option via the card on the PCM 90 but built into the 91. I'm not sure I would really need that option, but I guess it could never hurt to have it to play around with. It will be used whatever I buy, so a 90 may fit the bill better. :)
 
There is a noticable difference in tone between the cheaper Lexicon's and the PCM-91. It is impossible to get the lower end units to sound as good as the 91/300/480. I know because I've tried. I haven't tried the new low end units though, the MX200 and 400.

Not sure about the Jim Williams modded LXP15II. That might be worth keeping, alongside a 91.

There are some differences between the 90 and 91, one of which is the 91 has XLR/TRS jacks, and I believe some extra algorithms built in as compared to the 90. If it were me I'd get the 91. It's a nice unit, I have one and it gets used on everything.

The only less expensive unit that comes close in quality (but sounds different) is the Kurzweil Rumour. I'd take that over the M-One. But if you go for an M-One, the unit to get is the XL version, which has some improvements over the original M-One. It actually does sound pretty good, but does not have the richness of tone that PCM-91 has. It's a little bland in my opinion, but still good. Sometimes you need a lighter reverb to tuck in behind the Lexicon, and for this some of the TC stuff is great.

Like compression, it's good to have a variety of reverbs.
 
I know that you are looking for a Lexicon, but the Ensoniq DP Pro is an awesome multi effects unit. The reverbs on it are VERY rich and warm sounding. I have had some of the lower end Lexicons and they are too sterile sounding compared to it. You have to find them used now since they are no longer made.
 
SonicAlbert said:
Not sure about the Jim Williams modded LXP15II. That might be worth keeping, alongside a 91. QUOTE]

Absolutely I am keeping the LXP. It sounds fantastic. BTW, I remember when you recommended that and the MPX1 as well as the JW mod. Everything worked out great, but agreed that different tracks sometimes take a different reverb. I plan to use the LXP for plates on the drums, and a PCM 91 or whatever I end up getting for overall ambience on vocals, maybe guitars. Midiverb IV has a decent chorus that I'll add a bit to the guitar and vocal tracks. PCM 60s are selling for cheap too. I wonder how much of a sonic difference between that and the PCM 91. I know it is not nearly as tweakable, and I actually like that. Hmmm.

Btw Sonic, I remember you recommending the LXP-15 II, which I got its predecessor (there were two versions of the LXP-15) and then bought the eprom for the II version and installed before I got the mod. The major difference between the I and II I've found is a few new presets and it is MUCH faster loading presets. The previous version was pretty slow. Thanks again for that advice, man. :)
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Concerning the PCM60, on second thought I think I'll hold out and take the $$$$ hit for a PCM 91. I like the thought of "spatial ambience reverb" Lexicon says it has.
 
I still use my old PCM-60 a lot, so if you find one cheap enough, snag it too! You can never have too many doodads, especially great sounding doodads! ;)
 
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