Lexicon MP-100 User Manual

MP-100

Reverb & Effects Card

for the Core2 Audio System

U s e r G u i d e

Unpacking and Inspection

After unpacking the system modules, save all packing materials in case you ever need to ship the units. Thoroughly inspect the modules and packing materials for signs of damage. Report any damage to the carrier at once; report equipment malfunction to your dealer.

Communications Notice

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help

Le présent appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le materiel brouiller du Canada.

Lexicon Part # 070-13820

Lexicon Inc. 3 Oak Park Bedford MA 01730-1441 Telephone 781-280-0300 Fax 781-280-0490 www.lexicon.com

Table of Contents

Using the MP-100

Basic Operation....................................................1

Inserting MP-100 within an MMIO Application ..2

Routing an Audio Channel through the MP-100 Using Aux Sends and Returns • Selecting MP-100 and Making Settings • Naming Effects • Saving Effects • Loading Effects • Editing Effects

Using MP-100 within an MMIO Application.......5

Routing an Audio Channel through the MP-100 • Making Settings for the MP-100

The Interface ........................................................7

Loading Effects ................................................. 8

Editing Effects...................................................9

Tempo Functions ............................................ 10

Bypass ............................................................ 10

Saving Effects.................................................11

Beyond the Basics .............................................12

Routing a Plug-In ............................................ 12

Automating the MP-100 .................................. 15

MP-100 Programs and Parameters

About the MP-100 Programs.............................. 17

Bank: Plate......................................................... 18

Bank: Gate ......................................................... 19

Bank: Hall........................................................... 20

Bank: Chamber .................................................. 21

Bank: Ambience ................................................. 22

Bank: Room ....................................................... 23

Bank: Tremolo.................................................... 24

Bank: Rotary ...................................................... 25

Bank: Chorus ..................................................... 26

Bank: Flange ...................................................... 27

Bank: Pitch ......................................................... 28

Bank: Detune ..................................................... 29

Bank: Delay, Echo.............................................. 30

About the Dual Programs ...................................32

Bank: Flange-Delay............................................ 34

Bank: Pitch-Delay............................................... 35

Bank: Chorus-Delay ........................................... 36

Bank: Delay-Reverb ........................................... 37

Bank: Flange-Reverb ......................................... 38

Bank: Pitch-Reverb ............................................39

Bank: Chorus-Reverb......................................... 40

Bank: Special FX................................................ 41

Basic Operation

The MP-100 combines the quality and power of Lexicon reverb and effects on dedicated hardware with the ease and elegance of a software plug-in interface. Unlike software-based plug-ins, the MP100 provides outstanding sonic quality without burdening your computer’s performance.

If you are installing the MP-100 into an existing Core2 system, please refer to the Read Me file accompanying your software, the hardware installation instructions and the section of the Core2 User Guide describing the procedure for updating drivers.

Different procedures are used to access the MP-100 interface in ASIO and MMIO applications. These are described separately in the following sections, followed by detailed descriptions of the MP-100 controls and features.

Using the MP-100MP-100 User Guide

Using the MP-100

Inserting MP-100 within an ASIO Application

The following procedure details the steps to open a MP-100 plug-in in an ASIO-capable program such as Cubase VST or Opcode Vision DSP. This procedure will vary depending on your application.

Routing an Audio Channel through the MP-100 Using Aux Sends and Returns

1. In the Audio menu, select System.

2. Set Monitoring to Tape Type and press the ASIO Control Panel button.

3. On the Lexicon Control Panel Core2 tab, make sure the Aux Send and Aux Return are enabled. If they are not, enable them, then restart Cubase.

4. In the Cubase Audio menu, select Inputs. Enable the Aux Return input. Make note of the corresponding Cubase input (e.g. In 3 L&R), as you will need it later.

5. In the Cubase Audio menu, select Master and enable the Aux Send Output bus. Make note of the corresponding Cubase output bus number or name, as you will need it later.

6. On the Lexicon Control Panel, go to the Effects tab and set the routing for MP-100 as follows: From Aux Send L (VST) and Aux Send R (VST) To Aux Return L (VST) and Aux Return R (VST).

7. In the Cubase Audio menu, select Monitor.

8. On an unused stereo track, select the Aux Return input corresponding to the input selected in Step

3. Enable that input. (The button should be yellow.)

9. Click on the FX button on the audio channel where you want effects. This will open the selected Channel Settings window.

10. Click on the pop-up menu below the Effect Send knob, and select the output bus number or name noted in Step 4.

11. Make sure the Dry button is off. (This deactivates all four effect sends for the channel.)

12. Click On for each effect send you want to activate, and turn the corresponding Send Level knob to a moderate value.

13. If you want the signal to be sent to the effects before the faders, click on the Pre button for the send.

Lexicon

Using the MP-100MP-100 User Guide

14. With Pre-fader effect sends, the amount of effect for the channel is not affected by the volume fader. With Post-fader effect sends (Pre button not pressed), the amount of effect is proportional to the channel volume, and will change with the volume fader movements.

The next step is to select programs and set the parameters for the effect processors. As you will probably need to adjust the send levels while doing this, leave the FX window open.

Selecting MP-100 and Making Settings

Effect types and programs are selected in the Effects window:

1. Pull down the Audio menu and select Effects. This window resembles an effects rack, with stacked processors.

2. Pull down the pop-up menu in the processor’s upper right corner and select MP-100 to activate an MP-100 Rack within VST. Click on the Power button.

3. Use the Send Level knob in the FX window to control the amount of effect for the audio channel.

4. Click the Edit button to activate the MP-100 interface. See details on the MP-100 controls.

5. Use the Aux Send knob assigned to the MP-100 to set the input level to the MP-100. High values may cause clipping (distortion) in the MP-100.

The Interface

later in this chapter for

NOTE: As the Cubase VST Rack Xpander was designed specifically for software plug-ins, some of its controls are not designed to work with the MP-100 – most notably, the Input Level and Bus Select Buttons. MP-100 Input Level is controlled by the Aux Send knob in the channels monitor section. MP-100 bus selection is performed on the Reverb page of the Lexicon Studio Control Panel.

Using the MP-100

Lexicon

Naming Effects

1. Click on the Program name in the top center of the effect processor display to open a name dialog.

2. Type in a new name.

3. On the keyboard, press Return.

Saving Effects

Save your edited effects in the File pop-up menu to the right, under the Effect Type pop-up.

1. To save the current Program, select Save Effect.

2. To save all Programs of the same Effect Type, select Save Bank.

3. In the file dialog that appears, select a name and location for the file. (You might want to create a special folder for your MP-100 effects.)

4. Click Save.

Loading Effects

Load effects from disk into the MP-100 as follows:

1. Pull down the File menu.

2. To load a single Program, select Load Effect.

3. To load a complete Program Bank, select Load Bank.

4. In the file dialog that appears, find and click on the file you want to load.

Effect settings are saved with your Song. If you want to use your edited effects in other Songs, you can save and load them separately.

Editing Effects

You can create your own programs or edit any of the programs with the editor. To open the MP-100 interface, click the Edit button on the MP-100 Rack Xpander. Skip the following section on MMIO applications, and read about the MP-100 features and controls under

The Interface.

Using MP-100 within an MMIO Application

Routing an Audio Channel through the MP-100

Like traditional effects devices, the MP-100 can be used in two ways: as auxiliary effects or as line effects.

Using the MP-100MP-100 User Guide

Most effects processors are used as the aux send and returns to send specific channels to the effects devices, then back to the board where the end result is mixed with the dry outputs of the board. Typically, the Mix ratio is kept at 100% wet, since the signal is mixed with the board outputs. Most of the multi-channel applications available today (such as Cubase VST, Logic Audio, Cakewalk Pro Audio) simulate this functionality with virtual aux sends and returns.

Effects devices can also be used as line effects by placing them in series with the signal chain. Steinberg WaveLab is capable of doing this through its VST plug-in architecture, which does not require additional routing. MMIO programs that do not support VST plug-ins must route audio to the MP-100, where it is mixed into the entire signal. Typically, the Mix ratio for reverb in this situation should be set at 50%, to have a mixture of direct and reverberated signal.

Routing MMIO audio to and from the MP-100 is done in the Effects tab of LexPanel.exe. To route audio:

1. Boot LexPanel.exe by double-clicking on the Lexicon Studio icon at the bottom right corner of your

task bar.

2. Click the Effects tab to view all MMIO routing and control options for the MP-100.

3. Click Monitor to make all routing selections available.

4. Using the To and From pulldown menu for the MP-100, route your audio according to which MMIO

channel and interface outputs you would like to use.

auxilliary effects

. On a typical console, this is achieved by using

Using the MP-100

Lexicon

The LexPanel with the MP-100 Interface

Making Settings for the MP-100

The MMIO programs for the MP-100 are virtually identical to those available when using MP-100 with ASIO applications such as Cubase VST. The only differences are in the Mix values. As most MMIO applications will use the MP-100 as a line effect, the Mix values have been saved at 50% wet. If you are using an MMIO program that supports VST plug-ins (such as Steinberg WaveLab or Emagic Logic Audio), remember to change the Mix values in the programs you are using to 100% wet.

The Interface

Using the MP-100MP-100 User Guide

The MP-100 interface provides a straightforward control surface for access to all programs and parameters. Each of the controls is briefly described in the following illustration.

Bank Press the arrowed button to scroll to another program Bank. Click in the display area to display a list of all of the MP-100 Banks.

? Press to activate on-screen help messages for all controls.

Program Press the arrowed button to scroll to another Program. Click in the display area to display a list of all of the MP-100 Programs.

Parameters Click on any displayed parameter to highlight it. Adjustments to the selected parameter can be made by scrolling in the display area, by turning the front panel knob, or with the INC and DEC controls.

Store Press to name and store User programs.

X Deletes displayed User program.

Adjust Knob Turn this knob to change the highlighted parameter value.

INC/DEC Allows fine tuning of the selected parameter by incrementing/decrementing the value by single units.

BYP Engages Bypass. (LED on).

TAP LED will light when the selected program has tempo controlled parameters. Tap twice in rhythm to set the tempo.

Using the MP-100

Lexicon

If you have a large monitor, note you can expand the interface to a larger size by clicking and dragging on the right side of the panel.

Click and drag on the right side of the MP-100 panel to display the extended view.

➔ ➔

Loading Effects

The MP-100 comes with 240 factory programs organized into Banks, and a User Bank where you can store edited versions of the factory programs. Click on the Bank display to view a list of all of the available Banks. Use the scroll bar to view more of the list.

Using the MP-100MP-100 User Guide

Click on the Program display to view all of the programs available within the selected Bank. Programs are automatically loaded when selected.

Editing Effects

Whenever a new program is loaded, three or four edit parameters will appear in the main display area of the interface: Mix, Effects Level (Effects Balance in the Dual programs) and a parameter unique to the selected program (Decay Time in our illustration). These parameters will always appear in the same order for any selected program. Click on any displayed parameter to highlight it and select it for editing. Select another parameter by clicking on it or by using the left and right keyboard arrowed keys to select it.

Change the value of the selected parameter with the displayed knob,with the INC and DEC buttons, by clicking and dragging the cursor to the desired value, or by using the keyboard up and down arrowed keys.

Click on a parameter to select it for editing.

Use the knob to quickly change the value of the selected parameter over its entire range.

Use the Incremement/Decrement buttons to fine tune parameter settings.

Using the MP-100

Lexicon

Tempo Functions

The MP-100 Tap Tempo feature allows you to set the delay times and modulation rates of tempobased programs to the beat of the music. Whenever a tempo-based program is selected, a TAP button will appear on the interface, and the adjustable parameter will appear in the rightmost position on the main edit display. A light on the displayed TAP button will flash at the selected tempo rate.

To change the tempo, you can adjust the displayed parameter in BPM, or tap in a tempo by clicking twice on the Tap button in time with the music — the MP-100 will figure out the time for you.

When a tempo-based program is selected, tap in a tempo, or select the tempo parameter and set it in BPM with the knob.

Your new tempo will be saved and recalled as part of the program when you store it.

Bypass

Pressing the Bypass button (at the right edge of the interface) will cause the MP-100 to pass only dry, unprocessed audio.

Using the MP-100MP-100 User Guide

Saving Effects

To save any program, click on the disk symbol next to the Program display. A dialog naming box will appear with a default name consisting of the Bank and Program (separated by a comma). You can use this name, or type in a name of your own choosing.

When you have finished entering the name, click OK. The new program will be stored in the first available space in the User Bank.

NOTE: Programs in the User Bank can be overwritten. If you try to save a program with a name which has already been assigned to a User program, an alert dialog will appear to make sure that you want to replace the older program with the one you are saving.

Press the X button, next to the Store button to delete any currently selected User program.

Press the disk icon to store a program.

Press X to delete any selected User program.

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