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Description

Step into the realm of professional sound design with the Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb, a staple in studios since its introduction in the mid-1980s. Renowned for its rich, lush reverb tails, this effects processor has cemented its place in music history, becoming a favored tool for producers and engineers who demand sonic excellence. Its intuitive interface, coupled with powerful algorithms, offers a wide array of reverb types, from small room ambiances to expansive halls, making it versatile for any recording scenario.

The PCM-70 Reverb is celebrated for its ability to bring a detailed, three-dimensional quality to tracks, enhancing vocals, instruments, and even full mixes. With its proprietary Lexichip, this processor delivers unparalleled depth and clarity, allowing users to sculpt their sound with precision. Musicians and producers alike appreciate its reliability and the consistency it brings to their projects, whether in the studio or live performances.

Designed for easy operation, the Lexicon PCM-70 features a straightforward control layout, ensuring that even the most complex reverbs are accessible and adjustable. The unit's presets provide a solid foundation for quick setup, while its extensive editing capabilities allow for deep customization to suit any musical style.

Key Features:

  • Renowned for its rich and lush reverb tails
  • Proprietary Lexichip for superior sound quality
  • Wide range of reverb types, from rooms to halls
  • Intuitive interface for easy operation
  • Extensive editing capabilities for sound customization
  • Trusted by professional producers and engineers worldwide

Product specs

Brand Lexicon
Model PCM 70 Digital Effects Processor
Finish Black
Year 1980s
Made In United States
Categories Multi-Effect

FAQs

What are the main reverb types available on the Lexicon PCM-70?

The Lexicon PCM-70 offers a variety of reverb types, including Hall, Plate, Room, and Concert Hall, known for their rich and lush sound quality suitable for both studio and live applications.

Is the Lexicon PCM-70 suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Lexicon PCM-70 is well-regarded for live performances due to its robust build and versatile reverb settings, providing high-quality effects that enhance live sound production.

How does the Lexicon PCM-70 compare to newer reverb units?

While newer units might offer more features, the Lexicon PCM-70 is celebrated for its classic digital reverb sound, which remains a favorite for its warmth and character in both studio and live settings.

Can the Lexicon PCM-70 be integrated into a modern DAW setup?

Yes, the Lexicon PCM-70 can be integrated into a modern DAW setup using appropriate analog-to-digital converters, allowing you to leverage its classic reverb sounds in digital productions.

What is the user interface like on the Lexicon PCM-70?

The Lexicon PCM-70 features a straightforward interface with a digital display and tactile controls, making it user-friendly for quick adjustments and parameter settings during sessions.

Michael Nielsen - Big Hairy Guitars

Michael Nielsen - Big Hairy Guitars

Reverb: What is the Lexicon sound?

Video thumbnail for Reverb: What is the Lexicon sound? by Michael Nielsen - Big Hairy Guitars

Reverb: What is the Lexicon sound?

Michael Nielsen - Big Hairy Guitars

Michael Nielsen - Big Hairy Guitars

Video thumbnail for Demo :: Lexicon PCM70 Reverbs on SH101 (Aphex Riff) by SOLON Music

Demo :: Lexicon PCM70 Reverbs on SH101 (Aphex Riff)

SOLON Music

SOLON Music

Video thumbnail for A Lexicon PCM70 in a Pedal!?! Yes. by Michael Nielsen - Big Hairy Guitars

A Lexicon PCM70 in a Pedal!?! Yes.

Michael Nielsen - Big Hairy Guitars

Michael Nielsen - Big Hairy Guitars

Video thumbnail for Lexicon PCM70 vs 480L by Espen Kraft

Lexicon PCM70 vs 480L

Espen Kraft

Espen Kraft

Video thumbnail for Lexicon PCM70. by Retrosonic Pro Audio

Lexicon PCM70.

Retrosonic Pro Audio

Retrosonic Pro Audio

Video thumbnail for Lexicon PCM70 by Leon Todd

Lexicon PCM70

Leon Todd

Leon Todd

Video thumbnail for Demo :: Lexicon PCM70 on TR8 + Reface CS (Aphex Ageispolis Riff) by SOLON Music

Demo :: Lexicon PCM70 on TR8 + Reface CS (Aphex Ageispolis Riff)

SOLON Music

SOLON Music

Video thumbnail for How to use outboard reverb in Pro Tools | Lexicon PCM 70 / Yamaha SPX 90 by Seawell Studios

How to use outboard reverb in Pro Tools | Lexicon PCM 70 / Yamaha SPX 90

Seawell Studios

Seawell Studios

Video thumbnail for Cheap vs Expensive Reverb : Lexicon PCM70 vs Korg DRV1000 by Clifton Wright

Cheap vs Expensive Reverb : Lexicon PCM70 vs Korg DRV1000

Clifton Wright

Clifton Wright

Reviews

PROS

  • Customizable patches allow for unique sound creation

  • Includes revered presets like "Tiled Room" and "Long Hall"

  • Superior sound quality, outperforms top software reverbs

  • Can produce classic 80's sound with direct instrument input

  • MIDI in/out/thru for versatile live and studio applications

  • Offers mono to stereo conversion

  • Repairable by specialists, ensuring longevity

CONS

  • Older units may be prone to failure, hard to fix

  • Does not include an FX loop

  • Editing can be cumbersome compared to older models

  • Sound may not blend well in mixes, very pronounced effect

  • Considered overpriced by some users

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb.

Comparisons

  • The PCM 70's delay quality is highly praised, often preferred over the Axe FX II's delay for its superior tone.

    Source
  • The SPX 90 may be seen as redundant due to alternatives like the Magicstomp, which offers similar algorithms with easier programming.

    Source
  • The Ensoniq DP4/DP4+ is considered the closest in sound to the Lexicon 224 due to algorithms reverse-engineered by an ex-Lexicon engineer.

    Source
  • The Valhalla Vintage Reverb is often compared to Lexicon hardware but is seen as too precise in pitch shifting compared to the AMS 1580.

    Source
  • The Lexicon PCM 70 is often preferred over plugins for its unique character, particularly when compared to ITB options like Altiverb and Valhalla.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • PCM 70 is optimized for stereo use, and using it in mono might not fully utilize its algorithmic potential.

    Source
  • The Lexicon 224's preamps and transformer-coupled outputs significantly contribute to its unique, expansive sound profile.

    Source
  • The PCM 70's sound is highly valued for its distinctiveness, especially in creating three-dimensional spaces that some users feel plugins can't replicate.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • PCM 70 is favored for metal solos, but its nuances may be lost in heavy gain contexts.

    Source
  • For hardware reverb under $2k, consider pairing a used PCM 70 with various plugins to maximize both hardware uniqueness and software flexibility.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Consider cheaper Lexicon models like the LXP-1 or MXP-1 for adequate delay and chorus effects without investing in a PCM 70.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Electrolytic capacitors in older Lexicon units need replacing every 30 years, and parts might be difficult to source.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners note an intuitive interface on the Model 200 and Prime Time delay units, enhancing user interaction compared to software.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • It's suggested to use the PCM 70 with firmware version 2.0 for optimal performance and feature set.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Lexicon PCM70 (HSR Feb 86)

muzines.co.uk

The Lexicon PCM-70 is a versatile effects processor offering more than just reverb, with capabilities including flanging, chorus, and a unique resonant chord program. Its MIDI compatibility allows dynamic control over effects, making it a valuable tool for electronic music studios. The unit lacks a reverse reverb preset, which some might miss, but its comprehensive handbook and user-friendly interface ensure easy operation. While the price may place it above budget options, its innovative features and flexibility justify the investment for serious musicians needing diverse effects.

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 10 Ratings

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jimmarchi1

Still expensive, sound matches price point if you're into lexicon reverb.

A crisper sounding pcm60. Mono to stereo. No fx loop. MIDI in, out and thru. If you like the 60 you'll like the 70. Just a more modern flavor of the 60 with more of everything. Midi patch selection makes it great for live performance or FOH where you need different verbs every tune. Editing is less fun than the 60 but the screen is better. Very complex sound but as a result it doesn't tuck in a mix as well as the 60. You KNOW it's on an aux send. Kinda overpriced these days.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Tiled room.

atonalmeasure

Dark

Dark, massive 224 style reverbs.. loved it.. but a bit too limited for my small studio..

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Tommy Lee uses Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb

Tommy Lee

Drummer

Mötley Crüe

...
Verified via YouTube

This can be seen as part of the rack-mountable equipment in the studio in this video.

See how Porl Thompson uses Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb

Porl Thompson

Guitarist

The Cure

...
Verified via the-saleroom.com

According to the items he sold at auction, this processor was one of those things. It was another piece of gear he used.

See how Mark King Level 42 uses Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb

Mark King Level 42

Singer, Bassist

Level 42

...
Verified via Muzines

Having survived John's intrepid questioning we drove over to King's home studio, which is located a few miles out of Rye, in a house overlooking the site where in a grey and distant past the Isle Of Wight Festival took place. Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan once played there. Now there are only hills, grass and cows. And a studio which left John breathless for a moment. He gazed in astonishment at the 48-channel SSL E-series desk and the 15 or so Alembic and Status basses on the walls surrounding it. He skimmed the walls of outboard gear, including AMS, SPX90II, Lexicon PCM70, 480L and 224X, Urei's, decided that he felt more comfortable with the view outside, and silently settled into a chair, watching the snow fall on the grass.

See how John Sykes uses Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb

John Sykes

Guitarist

Thin Lizzy

...
Verified via Johnsykes

The rack setup used during the later Blue Murder days included a Mesa Boogie Dual Recto head, a Mesa Boogie Tri-Axis Preamp, a Mesa Boogie IIC+ head, a Mesa Boogie Strategy 500 Power Amp, a rackmounted Dunlop Crybaby, a Lexicon PCM 41, a Lexicon PCM 70, and an H&H V800 Power Amp.

See how Richard Barbieri uses Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb

Richard Barbieri

Keyboardist

Porcupine Tree

...
Verified via Davidsylvian

"He still tends to treat his sounds heavily after programming: favourite devices for creating movement are his Roland SBF325 stereo flanger and Roland SDE3000 digital delay. Other effects come courtesy of Lexicon PCM70, Yamaha SPX90II, and Korg SRV reverbs, Sound City distortion pedals, and a stereo ring modulator which he had custom built. Again, like Sylvian, and still harking back to Tin Drum times, Barbieri prefers the sound of keyboards recorded to tape (the Fostex E16), and so, oddly for a modern keyboard player, doesn't own any sequencer or computer."

See how Butch Vig uses Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb

Butch Vig

Drummer, Music Producer

Garbage

...
Verified via reverb.com

"My favorite digital reverb. I had a bunch of custom presets I made that I used all the time. 'Pelvisman' (named after a song by Knerble Knerble) was a huge, bright hall sound with a lot of pre delay, and 'Anti-Pelvis' was a super fast gated snare sound, used on a ton of sessions."

See how Andy Gill uses Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb

Andy Gill

Guitarist

Gang of Four

...
Verified via Photo

In this article, Andy's approach to recording vocals is explained. "The album was rounded out with King’s vocals, captured on a Shure 57 or Neumann 67 and given a touch of delay and reverb with the PCM 70 or 80 and Logic reverb, 'to help the vocals sit in the track.'"

See how Mathew Jonson uses Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb

Mathew Jonson

Music Producer

Cobblestone Jazz

...
Verified via YouTube

In his Studio Tour Feature for FACT Magazine, Mathew Jonson's PCM-70 can be seen at at 2:48.

See how Dann Huff uses Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb

Dann Huff

Guitarist, Music Producer

White Heart

...
Verified via Photo

In a 1988 photograph, Dann Huff is shown using a Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb, a popular effects processor during an era when rack rigs were highly valued in professional music production.

See how Karl Bartos uses Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb

Karl Bartos

Keyboardist, Composer

Kraftwerk

...
Verified via MusicRadar

A pair of Lexicon PCM 70s can be seen in Karl's studio (sixth photo, right side of rack, third and fourth from bottom).

See how Laurie Anderson uses Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb

Laurie Anderson

Singer, Keyboardist

We Are Family Collective

...
Verified via Muzines

"The PCM70 is also a favourite toy; it has so many lovely things to it. Its Rich Chamber setting is a real warm, beautiful sound. So I was able to do the whole movie score with just that setup and I was very happy with it." Another smile, another cigarette, another subject. Art. To call Laurie Anderson a musician is to do her an injustice. Her work to date has involved songwriting, choreography, film-making and performing, so "artist" is a more accurate term. And strangely, it's from interviewing those sculptors that this artist has drawn many of her ideas."

See how Alan Braxe uses Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb

Alan Braxe

Music Producer

Alan Braxe & Fred Falke

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video with Alan Braxe, you can see a PCM 70 being used at 5:50.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Lexicon PCM-70 Reverb, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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