Lexicon PCM80 PITCH Owner's Manual

PCM 80

Pitch FX

Algorithm Card

V1.1
User Guide

Unpacking and Inspection

After unpacking the Pitch FX Algorithm Card, save all packing materials in case you ever need to ship the card.
Thoroughly inspect the card and packing materials for signs of damage. Report any shipment damage to the
carrier at once; report equipment malfunction to your dealer.

Precautions

This is a read only card.
Use only with the Lexicon PCM 80, software version 1.10 or higher.
To avoid damage to the card, do not expose to rain or moisture, extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, or extreme shock.
In the event the card is dropped, damaged, or exposed to liquids, do not insert it into the PCM 80.

Copyright 1997
All Rights Reserved.

Lexicon Part # 070-11674 Rev 1

Lexicon Inc.
3 Oak Park
Bedford MA 01730-1441
Telephone [phone]
Fax [phone]
www.lexicon.com

Introduction

1. Pitch FX Card Operation

Handling the Algorithm Card............................................................... 1-1

Loading the Pitch FX Algorithms ........................................................ 1-3

Loading the Pitch FX Presets ............................................................. 1-4

2. The Pitch FX Algorithms and Parameters

Overview............................................................................................. 2-1

The Quad>Hall Algorithm ................................................................... 2-2

The Dual-Chmb Algorithm .................................................................. 2-4

The Dual-Plt Algorithm........................................................................ 2-6

The Dual-Inv Algorithm ....................................................................... 2-8

The Stereo-Chmb Algorithm ............................................................. 2-10

The VSO-Chmb Algorithm ................................................................ 2-11

Parameter Descriptions .................................................................... 2-13

Tips for Setting Parameters .............................................................. 2-14

3. Using the Submixer

Sends ........................................................................................... 3-2

Returns......................................................................................... 3-2

Routing ......................................................................................... 3-3

Useful Configurations ................................................................... 3-3

Rvb and Pitch FX Block Controls........................................................ 3-9

Contents

4. The Presets

Program Bank X0 Vocal & Instrument ................................................ 4-2

Program Bank X1 Music & Sound Design .......................................... 4-6

Thank you for your purchase of the PCM 80 Pitch FX Algorithm Card. Six
algorithms, each combined with uncompromised Lexicon reverb, provide a wide
range of useful pitch shift effects, ranging from pitch correction to unique special
effects.

A Quad>Hall algorithm provides a 4-voice pitch shifter, combined with the PCM
80 Concert Hall reverb. The other pitch shift algorithms use the PCM 80 Dual FX
structure for unparalleled flexibility and ease of use. 100 new presets provide
exciting examples of the effects that can be created from each algorithm.

Introduction

The five Dual FX-type algorithms: Dual-Chmb, Dual-Plt, Dual-Inv, Stereo-Chmb
and VSO-Chmb, each contain two independent effect blocks — one of three
stereo reverbs and one of three different stereo pitch shift blocks. Each algorithm
also has the full set of modulation and patch features introduced in the PCM 80.

Configuration and routing control is provided by a dedicated Submixer incorpo­rated into each algorithm. Any combination of reverb and effects blocks can be
arranged in any configuration simply by changing the Submixer’s controls. As
the Submixer has continuously variable controls, you can alter the configura­tions on the fly — changing, for example, from reverb-into-effects to effects-into­reverb.

The Submixer appears as a new row on the PCM 80 parameter matrix. Three
basic Submixer controls are provided: Sends, Returns, and Routing. Any
configuration can be achieved by simply adjusting these three parameters.

Sends control the eight levels feeding into the reverb and effect blocks.
Returns control the eight levels feeding from the reverb and effect blocks.
Routing controls the configuration of all inputs and outputs to allow the two

effects blocks to be placed in series, parallel, or reverse series.
The Submixer row also contains controls for each block: Input Level, Input

Width, Output Width, Output Level, High Cut and Low Cut filters, and Wet/Dry
Mix. All of the Submixer parameters are continuously variable and can be
controlled in real-time by any PCM 80 patch source.

The Pitch FX Submixer

Five of the Pitch FX algorithms are made up of combinations of the following 2­voice Effect and Reverb blocks.

Algorithm Pitch FX Reverb

Dual-Chmb Dual Shift Chamber

Dual-Plt Dual Shift Plate
Dual-Inv Dual Shift Inverse

Stereo-Chmb Stereo Shift Chamber

VSO-Chmb VSO Shift Chamber

Rvb and Pitch FX Blocks

Each of these five algorithms has a different combination of FX and Rvb types,
but the basic functionality of each is the same. Controls for each algorithm are
arranged in a PCM 80-type matrix. The audio parameters are identical to those
in the PCM 80. New control parameters are found in the Control row and a new
Submixer row.

The Presets

Pitch FX Card Banks

Bank X0 Vocal & Instrument

0.0 - 0.9 Vocal Shift

1.0 - 1.9 Vocal Harmony

2.0 - 2.9 Guitar Magic

3.0 - 3.9 Instrument Shift &
Harmony

4.0 - 4.9 Percussion & Tempo

Bank X1 Music & Sound Design

0.0 - 0.9 Sci-Fi FX

1.0 - 1.9 Pitch & Delay

2.0 - 2.9 Pitch Sequences

3.0 - 3.9 Pads & Drones

4.0 - 4.9 Utility Programs:
VSO, Dual Mono,
"Clean Slate" versions
of the algorithms

Note: All of the Pitch FX algorithms
combine pitch shifting and stereo
reverb. Be aware that in many of the
presets the reverb mix or level is
turned down or off. The amount of
reverb for a given application is very
dependent on what else is going on
in the mix. In most of the presets
where the reverb is turned down,
we’ve already set the reverb param­eters to values that will work well with
the pitch effect -– all you need to do
is turn up the appropriate reverb
parameter (Rvb Mix or RvbOutLvl
in row 1 of any edit matrix).

The PCM 80 Pitch FX card contains a built-in library of 100 preset programs that
provide not only a variety of effect configurations, but a whole new assortment
of exciting and useful pitch shift sounds. As in the PCM 80, the presets are
organized into banks of 50, and functionally grouped for a wide range of
applications. Be sure to experiment with all 100 presets to get a feel for the full
range of the Pitch FX capabilities. As in the PCM 80, each preset has one or more
parameters patched to the front panel ADJUST knob, giving you instant control
over the primary aspect of the effect — without going into Edit mode.

Bank X0 contains pitch effects for voice and instruments. Row 0 contains “bread
and butter” vocal effects for correcting intonation of recorded tracks or thickening
up a voice (or voices) by adding from one to four additional doublings. These
presets work well with single voice melodies or multi voice harmonies as input.
The vocal harmony effects in Row 1 allow you to add from one to four voices of
harmony and reverb to a single voice track. Presets 1.7-1.9 allow you to use a
MIDI keyboard to control the tuning of voices in real time. The presets in Row 2
have been optimized for guitar. You’ll find the classic pitch effects for guitars
(stereo detune, vibrato) and some new variations that take advantage of the
combination of pitch shift with reverb. Row 3 contains a collection of useful shift
and harmony effects for melodic and chordal instruments. Presets 3.8 and 3.9
are designed to be used with a foot pedal connected to the rear panel Foot
Controller input. Row 4 is designed for drums and percussion. These presets let
you retune the snare and toms, or even detune the drum reverb and slap delay.
Presets 4.8 and 4.9 provide “scratch” effects on rhythm tracks. (Press Tap twice
to lock in with the beat.)

Bank X1 provides special effects for music and sound design. The presets in
Row 0 let you transform simple sound effects into cosmic events and change
normal speaking voices into cartoon characters or demons from the dark side.
Those in Row 1 use pitch, delay and reverb to create lush echoes in deep spaces
with a variety of monophonic or polyphonic instruments as well as vocals. Row
2 contains musical special effects where a single input note produces pitch
sequences based on a variety of chords and scales. Those in Row 3 are
designed to spice up a synth pad or other sustaining source. Row 4 contains
several useful tools: VSO presets set up for time correction of varispeed
playback material, two dual mono in/stereo out variations that provide pitch
shifting on the left input and reverb on the right and a set of “clean slate” versions
of the algorithms to use when you want to create your own programs from
scratch.

We hope you will find the Pitch FX card easy to use, and a great extension of
the power of your PCM 80. To get the most out of the card, we suggest that you
invest the time to explore this manual. We think you’ll agree that the time spent
investigating will reward you with enjoyment of the full capabilities of the card.

Pitch FX Card Operation

Pitch FX Card
Operation

1

The Pitch FX Algorithm Card is a standard PCMCIA card designed to be used
with the Lexicon PCM 80 (version 1.10 or higher). Care and handling of the card,
as well as some routine precautions are noted here. Please review these before
using the card to avoid damage to the card, as well as abnormal behavior in the
PCM 80. Refer to your PCM 80 User Guide for information on troubleshooting
the PCM 80 itself.

The Pitch FX Algorithm Card is designed for use ONLY with the PCM 80
V1.10 or higher.

The Pitch FX card is a Read Only Memory Card which cannot be overwritten. It
will only load properly into PCM 80s running 1.10 or higher software.

Handle cards with care.

Do not bend the card, or subject it to moisture, extreme temperature, direct
sunlight, or extreme shock.

Insert card completely before attempting card operations.

Incomplete card insertion can cause abnormal behavior.

Do not press EJECT while loading the card.

If the card is inserted before the PCM 80 is powered on, wait for the
completion of Power On Diagnostics and the loading of the first program
before attempting to use or remove the card.

Card algorithms will be loaded automatically into the PCM 80 on power on.
Removing the card before the completion of the normal PCM 80 power on cycle
may cause abnormal behavior.

Handling the
Algorithm Card

Care and Handling

Card Insertion

Operational Behavior

Once the algorithms have been loaded from the card, you can either remove the
card, or leave it in the PCMCIA card slot.

While the PCM 80 is running an extension card algorithm, it will not load
a second algorithm card.

Recognition of a second algorithm card requires returning to the PCM 80's
internal memory by loading a preset or register from one of the internal
algorithms before loading the new algorithm card.

1-1

PCM 80 Pitch FX User Guide

Lexicon

MIDI SysEx register dumps require that the algorithm card used to create
the effect(s) be loaded.

Be aware that, if you create a bank of registers with effects created from more
than one algorithm card, you will need to perform separate SysEx dumps for
each card used.

The algorithm used to create an effect must be loaded into the PCM 80 for a
SysEx dump to occur. If you do not have the appropriate algorithm card loaded
into the transmitting PCM 80, the data for the effect is not transmitted and the
following message is displayed:

Can't dump effect
Need algorithm card

If you do not have the appropriate algorithm card loaded into the receiving PCM
80 when a valid SysEx for an effect created from a card algorithm is received,
the following message is displayed:

Effect unchanged
Need algorithm card

A placeholder is transmitted for any register which cannot be dumped due to the
absence of an algorithm card. This placeholder contains the program name and
algorithm number, but no effect parameter data. This allows an editor to identify
registers which were not sent, and the algorithm card which must be loaded to
complete the dump. The PCM 80 will always ignore the placeholder, and will
display the following message when a placeholder is received:

Effect unchanged
No data in dump

Note that registers made from algorithm cards can be freely copied between the
PCM 80's internal register bank (R) and RAM card banks (C0, C1, etc.) without
loading the algorithm card.

1-2

Pitch FX Card Operation

In order to run the Pitch FX algorithms, the software must be loaded into the PCM
80’s “extension” memory. To do this:

If the PCM 80 is turned off:

1. Insert the Pitch FX algorithm card into the PCMCIA card slot.

2. Power up the PCM 80. The software will be loaded automatically.

If the PCM 80 is already running:

1. Insert the Pitch FX algorithm card into the PCMCIA card slot.

2. Press Control and use SELECT and Up and Down to go to Control 2.1.
The following message should appear:

Card Load: PitchFX 1.1

2.1 (Press LOAD)

3. Press Load/✱. The following message will appear briefly to indicate the
load was completed:

Extensions now

Loading the
Pitch FX Algorithms

available

If the PCM 80 is running an algorithm from a different extension card:

Loading a different algorithm card requires returning to the PCM 80's internal
memory by loading a preset or register from one of the internal banks.
Otherwise, the following error message will be displayed when you press

Load/✱:

Cannot load while
running extension

To load a different algorithm card :

1. Press Program Banks and select an internal preset bank (P0 - P3).

2. Turn SELECT to display any preset in any of these banks, then press
Load/✱.

3. The new algorithm card can now be loaded as described above.

Once extension card soft­ware is loaded, you can re­move the card from the slot.
The algorithms will remain in
the PCM 80 until the unit is
turned off, or a new algorithm
card is loaded. This makes
the PCMCIA card slot avail­able for loading and storing
registers on RAM cards.

1-3

PCM 80 Pitch FX User Guide

Loading the

Pitch FX Presets

Lexicon

Once the software is loaded, the PCM 80 will have access to the additional
program banks available on the algorithm card. These extension memory banks
are labeled with an X.

1. Press Program Banks repeatedly until the X banks are displayed. These
will follow all of the PCM 80's internal Program banks.

2. Use SELECT, Up and Down and Load/✱ to view and load the Pitch FX
presets.

You can edit these presets and save the changed version into the PCM 80’s
internal registers, or you can save them into RAM card register banks. If the Pitch
FX algorithms are loaded, recalling programs created with the algorithms is as
simple as selecting and loading any PCM 80 program.

If the Pitch FX algorithms are not loaded when you attempt to load a program
created with them, the display will indicate that the selected register requires
extension memory (in this case, the Pitch FX card).

Extension
R 1.1 PitchFixFX

Complete descriptions of all of the Pitch FX presets are given in Chapter 3.

1-4

The Algorithms and Parameters

2

The Algorithms and
Parameters

Digital pitch shifting requires temporal compression or expansion of audio data
and the addition or removal of small audio segments to compensate.

Raising pitch is accomplished by compressing the audio data — making it run
faster. As this shortens the audio segment, a copy of a section of the audio being
processed is added to fill out the remaining time. To lower the pitch, the signal
is expanded, requiring the removal of a section of the audio. These operations
are performed repeatedly at high speed, at intervals which vary according to the
type of audio signal being processed.

At each point where audio is added or removed, the audio signal must be
rejoined, or spliced. If added or removed segments were perfectly correlated
with the remaining audio, splicing would be seamless. In reality, these splice
points are the source of audible artifacts which can be minimized, but not
completely eliminated.

Much of the art of pitch shifting, therefore, is in determining the appropriate
intervals for sampling and the optimal points for splicing. As the PCM 80 Pitch
FX card gives you significant control over these operations, you may find it
helpful to keep in mind some of the other factors which can affect pitch shift
quality:

• Amount of pitch shifting

Large shift intervals require more splicing. As each splice can be the source of an
artifact, increasing their number increases the likelihood of audible artifacts.

• Pitch-complexity of the input material

Pure tones have simple waveforms which can be correlated easily for smooth
splicing. Pitch shifting of simple tones such as those generated by a solo voice or a
monophonic instrument generally produces fewer artifacts than pitch shifting of wide
bandwidth material such as piano chords, full orchestra, etc.

• Low frequency content of the input material

Pitch shifting low frequency material requires the addition or removal of larger
segments of audio than high frequency material. The increased size of these
segments can introduce delays which are heard as artifacts.

• Transient content of the input material

When large amounts of pitch shifting are applied to complex input material with
dense percussive transients (drums, strummed mandolin, complex speech, etc.)
some of the transients may lose definition or be shifted slightly in time.

Overview

The PCM 80 Pitch FX algorithms are designed to provide high quality pitch
shifting and easy access to controls that can enhance the quality of the effects
on any input material. The following descriptions provide the information you will
need to select the most appropriate algorithm for your specific needs, as well as
tips on adjusting the parameters.

2-1

PCM 80 Pitch FX User Guide

Lexicon

The PCM 80 Pitch FX Card contains 6 Pitch Shift algorithms: Quad>Hall, Dual­Chmb, Dual-Plt, Dual-Inv, Stereo-Chmb and VSO-Chmb. Each of these

offers a unique type of pitch shifting, combined with an uncompromised Lexicon
reverb.

The following pages contain diagrams for each algorithm, along with a complete
parameter matrix. Descriptions of all of the pitch parameters follow the algorithm
drawings. The control and submixer parameters which allow configuration and
routing of the effect blocks are described in the next chapter. Refer to the PCM
80 User Guide for detailed descriptions of all other effect parameters.

The Quad>Hall

Algorithm

The Quad>Hall algorithm, is a 4-voice pitch shifter in series with the PCM 80
Concert Hall reverb. As in the PCM 80 multi-voice algorithms, each voice has its
own delay, level, feedback, cross-feedback and panning controls. The maxi­mum delay time for each voice is 1.250 seconds.

In this algorithm, the reverb effect is fixed in position following the pitch shifters,
with a final Mix control allowing control over the amount of reverb in the
processed sound. Quad>Hall is designed for creating pitch effects, and is an
obvious choice for creating sequences of notes or chords, melody fragments, or
small amounts of pitch shift for doubling (or quintupling) effects.

2-2

Concert Hall

The PCM 80 Concert Hall provides very clean reverberation. It is designed to
remain behind the direct sound — adding ambience, but leaving the source
unchanged. This effect has a relatively low initial echo density which builds up
gradually over time.

The Algorithms and Parameters

2-3

PCM 80 Pitch FX User Guide

Lexicon

The remaining five Pitch FX algorithms: Dual-Chmb, Dual-Plt, Dual-Inv,
Stereo-Chmb and VSO-Chmb are created from 3 Reverb blocks and 3 Pitch

Shift Effect blocks. The individual reverb and effect blocks are described below,
followed by the diagrams and matrixes and parameter descriptions for the
algorithms. Descriptions of the Dual FX controls common to all of these
algorithms is presented in Chapter 3.

The Dual-Chmb

Algorithm

This algorithm includes a dual pitch shifter combined with the PCM 80 Chamber
reverb using the Dual FX structure. The pitch shifter has two voices. Each voice
has independent controls for pitch, level, delay, pan, feedback and cross­feedback. The pitch of each voice is adjustable up or down over a 3 octave range
with a resolution of 1 cent. Maximum delay time for each voice is 1.250 seconds.

Dual Shifter

Chamber

2-4

The Chamber reverb produces an even, relatively dimensionless reverbera­tion, with little change in color as the sound decays. The initial diffusion is similar
to the Concert Hall algorithm, but the sense of space and size is much less
obvious. This characteristic, along with the low color in the decay tail, makes
Chamber useful on a wide range of material. It is especially useful on spoken
voice, giving a noticeable increase in loudness with very low coloration.

The Algorithms and Parameters

2-5