Lexicon MPX1 Thoughts...?

SFW

SFW

Well-known member
Looking at rack gear again. Would love thoughts on the Lexicon MPX1 as a delay and reverb processor. I've done the TC Electronics G Major 1&2 and the G Force in the past. Was thinking about giving Lexicon a shot. Would love to hear from those who have experience with the unit.
 
Got mine in like 98.. LOL Wow, that's a long time, but I still use it because I don't have anything better.. Still sounds pretty good. I looked into replacing it, but nobody make a rack piece unless you spend thousands.. Everything else is in a floor stomp format..

Never thought the Chorus was that great tho.. Lots of parameters to tweak but could never get it to sound like a simple chorus pedal..

Hard to program. Not that intuitive like a Quadraverb, but it's full MIDI.. You can control any parameter with an expression pedal..
 
I think they sound great. For 200$, or whatever they go for they are a bargain IMO. I had a PCM 81, which is killer but A/Bing the MPX1 and PCM, yes the PCM is better but not 800$ or more better. The MPX1 is better than the Intellifex, and any/all pedals you want to compare to. IMO.
Right now I use the MPX1 for Reverb and have 2 Roland SD3000s set with different delay times in my WDW rack. Killer setup and the MPX1 holds its own.

Only drawback is the programming...it is rather complicated. Manual though is available online....
 
1. Amazing sounds, especially for the price.
2. Frustrating routing and understanding. You'll absolutely need to read the manual.
3. Absolutely requires a line mixer to properly use this.
4. If you're used to the ease of use of the G-Major/G-Force, it will probably be very frustrating to use unless you take the time to learn it.
5. The G2 is technically better if you can find one of those.
 
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Geo said:
Much easier to use for guitar but the MPX sounds better.

I have both.
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How are you comparing them? The G2 has the same algos as the MPX1 (and then some), only the G2 has the ability to forego using the pre-gain FX and provide further processing power to the post-gain FX. If you're comparing stock preset to stock preset, that's not really a fair assessment.
 
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Code001 said:
How are you comparing them? The G2 has the same algos as the MPX1 (and then some), only the G2 has the ability to forego using the pre-gain FX and provide further processing power to the post-gain FX. If you're comparing stock preset to stock preset, that's not really a fair assessment.
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The MPX just sounds a bit better, warmer for some reason. I don't know why, it just is.

Maybe someone knows more. Is it maybe the analog effects on the front end of the G2?
 
I think it sounds great, especially for Reverb. The Delay is pretty good. The Chorus is not the best, but it does a great pitch detune which can work in it's place. The downfalls are the limitations and it is not the easiest thing to use. After a few years I have gotten pretty quick at it, but it takes awhile to learn. The limitations can be annoying. You cant use pitch detune and Chorus together, which would really help get the analog Chorus pedal sound. You cant do something like just grab a modulated delay. You have to build one by putting the Chorus in the delay feedback loop. You cant just EQ the reverb either. You have to run EQ blocks after it to combine them. You also need to run it with a parallel mixer, which just brings more gear to hook up. It is also best in stereo. If you run in mono, like in an amp loop, you have to make special presets to sum to mono because it doesn't do it automatically.

I have several old rack units, and sometimes I think about selling mine just because I dont use it much. It does sound great though. I might even like the Reverb more than my Fractal gear.
 
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Since you mentioned G Major 2, I have one of those also. I think the GM2 has better delay, and the chorus has a really good spacialness to it in stereo. I think it is great at the stereo chorus/detune/delay stereo widening thing. The Reverb is not great next to the MPX-1 though. I run both through a parallel mixer.
 
I'm most interested in the delays and verbs. I enjoy the tones I get from my pedalboard, but sometimes I miss the "studio quality" delays and verbs that you get from rack gear.
 
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SFW said:
I'm most interested in the delays and verbs. I enjoy the tones I get from my pedalboard, but sometimes I miss the "studio quality" delays and verbs that you get from rack gear.
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It really is a step up from pedals. Worth it even if you just use it at home. As cheap as they are, when you add up the best sounding pedals they'll be double the price of the MPX1 in the end.
 
IMHO nothing trumps Lexicon 'verbs.

The company's reputation and ubiquitous studio presence for many decades are well-deserved.

As a bonus, if you overdo the 'verb a bit your geetar won't get lost in the mix as it would with most other 'verbs. One of the classic Lexicon strengths.
 
midnightlaundry said:
Got mine in like 98.. LOL Wow, that's a long time, but I still use it because I don't have anything better.. Still sounds pretty good. I looked into replacing it, but nobody make a rack piece unless you spend thousands.. Everything else is in a floor stomp format..

Never thought the Chorus was that great tho.. Lots of parameters to tweak but could never get it to sound like a simple chorus pedal..

Hard to program. Not that intuitive like a Quadraverb, but it's full MIDI.. You can control any parameter with an expression pedal..
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Digital chorus kinda blows anyway.
 
Geo said:
I agree, but it's always what I used from the start so that might be why I feel that way.
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I have been trying to get along with TC Reverb, from the GM2 and Hall of Fame pedal. It is a clearer type of Reverb that sounds nice sometimes, and then other times just sounds weird. Sometimes I like it for its transparency, and other times I think that it isn't adding the space I want, but when you turn it up it sounds synthetic.

I recently got some UA Reverb pedals, and I have been really liking those.
 
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Shask said:
I have been trying to get along with TC Reverb, from the GM2 and Hall of Fame pedal. It is a clearer type of Reverb that sounds nice sometimes, and then other times just sounds weird. Sometimes I like it for its transparency, and other times I think that it isn't adding the space I want, but when you turn it up it sounds synthetic.

I recently got some UA Reverb pedals, and I have been really liking those.
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The only other reverb I get along with is real spring reverb. I do have a Z-Verb I like to use.
 
Shask said:
I have been trying to get along with TC Reverb, from the GM2 and Hall of Fame pedal. It is a clearer type of Reverb that sounds nice sometimes, and then other times just sounds weird. Sometimes I like it for its transparency, and other times I think that it isn't adding the space I want, but when you turn it up it sounds synthetic.

I recently got some UA Reverb pedals, and I have been really liking those.
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Rolling off the highend on the Verb response helps with the fakeness.
 
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