Lexicon VORTEX Quick start Guide

Basic Operation

LVL	OVL	INPUT

TM

AUDIO MORPHING PROCESSOR

PEDAL/TAP

ECHO 2

ECHO 1 ENVELOPE MORPH A/B

ECHO FX LVL

MOD FX LVL OUTPUT MIX

FEEDBACK 1	STORE	A/B	VALUE	REGISTER/PRESET		9	DEJA VU
FEEDBACK 2				DUO	8	10	CHOIR
RATE 1		A		MAZE	7	11	SHIMMER
DEPTH 1	CLEAR	B		MOSAIC	6	12	SWEEP
RESONANCE 1				AEROSOL	5	13	SHADOW
RATE 2		VALUE		CENTRIFUGE	4	14	CYCLOID
DEPTH 2				ORBITS	3	15	BLEEN
RESONANCE 2				ATMOSPHERE	2	16	FRACTAL
				REFLEXION	1

Presets and Registers

Vortex is loaded with 32 permanent presets, arranged in two banks, and numbered 1A-16A and 1B-

16B. Vortex also has 32 memory locations, called registers, where you can store your own effects.

Each preset and register has an A and a B version. In the presets, A and B versions are matched into specific effect pairs. You can set up your own pairing system in the registers.

Vortex has 32 presets and 32 registers for storing your customized effects. Pressing the REGISTER/PRESET button ...

	REGISTER/PRESET		9	DEJA VU
	DUO	8
			10	CHOIR
	MAZE	7	11	SHIMMER
	MOSAIC	6	12	SWEEP
	AEROSOL	5	13	SHADOW
	CENTRIFUGE	4	14	CYCLOID
	ORBITS	3	15	BLEEN
	ATMOSPHERE	2	16	FRACTAL
	REFLEXION	1

LED indicates register selection.

The front panel A/B button determines which version of an effect will be loaded. When this button is pressed with an effect running, it will initiate a dynamic transition, or morph from one effect to the other.

	The setting of A/B determines whether the A or B
	versions of presets and registers will be loaded.
...determines whether presets	A/B
(REFLEXION ... FRACTAL),	A
	B
or registers (1 ... 16) will be
	VALUE
selected by the knob.
	LEDs indicate A/B selection.

Editing Effects

Each Vortex effect consists of multiple modulation and delay functions, and each has its own distinctive sonic signature. All 32 effects share a common set of 16 parameters which allow you to access dimensional, rhythmic, and dynamic aspects of each effect.

To adjust a parameter, select it with the PARAMETER knob, then turn the VALUE knob. The first turn of

VALUE will display the current parameter setting and light the

VALUE LED. Subsequent adjustments will increment or decrement parameter values along their entire range (1-64).

Select a parameter.

		Use the VALUE knob to adjust the
PEDAL/TAP	FEEDBACK 1	selected parameter.
ECHO 2	FEEDBACK 2
ECHO 1	RATE 1
ENVELOPE	DEPTH 1	A/B	VALUE
MORPH A/B	RESONANCE 1
ECHO FX LVL	RATE 2	A
MOD FX LVL	DEPTH 2
OUTPUT	RESONANCE 2	B
MIX
		VALUE
Parameter values (1-64) will be
displayed when VALUE is turned.		The VALUE LED lights whenever
		parameter values are displayed.

The decimal point indicates changes have been made since the last store operation.

Storing Effects

	Vortex presets cannot be erased or	ISTER/PRESET knob and the
	overwritten by parameter changes;	A/B button.
	the original version will always be	3. Releasing STORE will store the
	restored when loaded. If you make
		currently running effect into the
	changes to a preset and want to
		register indicated on the display,
	save the changes as a custom ef-
		overwriting the effect previously
	fect, or if you want to match certain
		stored there. The display will
	effects as A/B pairs, you must store
		flash briefly to indicate the store
	your new versions into registers.
		operation was successful.
	You can store any effect you want	4. Store operations are executed
	into any register space. To store the	on release of the STORE but-
	currently running effect:	ton. If you want to store to a
	1. Press STORE.	different register, or to a differ-
		ent register bank, than the one
	2. If you were in preset mode, the
		displayed, turn the REGISTER/
	register LED will go on, indicat-
		PRESET knob to the register
	ing that Vortex has automatically
		number you want, and check the
	switched to register mode — se-
		setting of the A/B button before
	lecting whatever register is indi-
		releasing STORE.
	cated by the position of the REG-

TAP and Echo Rhythms

Vortex allows you to set the tempo for all effects, simply by pressing TAP twice. You can tap with a footswitch, or with the front panel

TAP button.*

To set tempo in Vortex, just press

TAP twice in rhythm to establish the tempo you want. The front panel LED will light on your first press of TAP to indicate a tap interval is being calculated. Your second TAP defines the tap interval and turns off the LED. Now, any effect you select will be synchronized to your tempo.

To select a new tempo at any time, just TAP twice. Vortex will update the tempo throughout the box on receipt of the second TAP.

Vortex has two independent delay lines which are configured in a variety of ways to create rhythmic effects. The ECHO 1 and ECHO

2 controls allow you to set independent rhythms, which will always be related to the tap interval, for each of Vortex's two delay lines.

For example, if you tap in a whole note interval (4 beats between taps), the parameter value 4 corresponds to quarter-note echoes, the parameter value 8 corresponds to eighth-note echoes...64 to sixty- fourth-note echoes.

* If you have a footpedal connected to Vortex, you must select one of the ECHO parameters in order for the button to function as TAP — footswitch TAP function is always active.

											ECHO					Value
						1 2 3 4 5													6 7 8						• • •
										Rhythmic Divisions
		1
		2								3					5				6		7
	1
TAPs)										3					5				6		7
	1		1
IntervalTap betweenBeatsof			2
															5:4						7:4
	2
										3					5				6		7
(Number
	3
															5:4						7:4
	4
										3					5				6		7
	6
															5:4						7:4

Tap intervals can be as long as 28 seconds, allowing long phrases of music, rather than single beats, to determine tempo. Whenever Vortex is turned on, the tap interval will return to the default value. (1=a quarter-note at 65 bpm)

The ability to set different rhythmic divisions for Vortex's two echoes allows you to set up some very interesting patterns. For example:

1.Load preset 8. DUO B.

2.Tap in a whole note interval (4 beats between taps).

3.Turn the Parameter knob to

ECHO 1 , and set the VALUE knob to 16. This will give ECHO 1 a sixteenth-note rhythm.

4.Select ECHO 2 , and set its VALUE to 8, giving ECHO 2 an eighth-note rhythm.

Now, you can tap any interval, and ECHO 1 will always have a rhythm which is twice as fast as that of ECHO 2.

Copyright 1994, Lexicon Inc.

All Rights Reserved.

Basic Operation

	A/B	FOOTSWITCHES		FOOTPEDAL
A/B RELAY
SPECIFICATION
< 100V, < 100mA
:TIP	A	BYPASS	TAP	STEREO
:RING	B	STEP	A/B	PLUG
:SLEEVE	COM			ONLY

THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART

15 OF THE FCC RULES.

OPERATION IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING TWO CONDITIONS:

(1) THIS DEVICE MAY NOT CAUSE HARMFUL INTERFERENCE, AND

(2)THIS DEVICE MUST ACCEPT ANY INTERFERENCE RECEIVED<

INCLUDING INTERFERENCE THAT MAY CAUSE UNDESIRED OPERATION.

POWER	OUTPUTS			INPUTS
	VORTEX
	LEXICON, INC.
	WALTHAM MA 02154
	MADE IN U.S.A.
9V~, 1A,	P/N 021-09504
	L	R	L	R
50-60Hz	(HI-Z PHONES)	(MONO)		(MONO)
USE LEXICON	SERIAL #

MSA AC ADAPTER

Audio Morphing™

	Vortex gives you the ability to con-	Morphing is accomplished auto-	When you morph between two ver-		Preset 3 ORBITS
	tinuously transform one effect into	matically when you press the A/B	sions of the same effect, all of the		A and B in this preset are variations on a
	another. This feature, which we call	switch. The MORPH A/B param-	parameter values move smoothly		single effect, B having slow orbital paths,
	Audio Morphing,™ allows you to	eter allows you to set the time it	from one version to the other.When		and A having faster orbits. This is a good
	transform closely related, or wildly	takes for one effect to transform into	you morph between two different		example of using morphing to produce
					subtle changes in the overall sound of an
	dissimilar effects — and to set the	another when A/B is pressed. The	effects, the entire structure of the
					effect.
	time period over which the transfor-	combined morph rates set for A and	effect transforms to the other effect.
					Preset 15 BLEEN
	mation occurs.	B determine the total length of time	Everything changes —	rates, lev-
		a morph will take. The total duration	els, audio routing, routing of the		A and B are completely different from
	Morphs are performed between				one another. A is based on envelope
		of the morph can be varied from 10	LFOs and envelope, etc. Try listen-
	register pairs. To set up a morph,				detune, while B is based on "ring modu-
		seconds to .01 second. (1=slowest	ing to some of the preset effect
	store an effect into any A register,				lated" echo feedback. The sound is com-
		rate; 64=fastest rate) Morph rates,	pairs to get an idea	of what	pletely transformed as the effect morphs
	then store another effect into the
		like other parameters, are stored as	morphing can do with different ef-		from A to B.
	corresponding B register.
		part of the effect.	fect combinations.

Pedal Control

Any one of 14 parameters can be assigned to pedal control — and pedal assignment can be stored as part of an effect. A and B effects can each have different pedal assignments. To make use of the many features available through pedal control, simply connect a pedal via the rear panel FOOTPEDAL connector. Each time an effect is loaded,

Vortex checks this connection. When a pedal is connected, the PEDAL function of the PEDAL/TAP button is activated.

Now, PEDAL/TAP functions as a TAP button only when ECHO 1 or ECHO 2 is selected. (Footswitch

TAP function is unaffected.) When the Parameter knob is turned to any other position, pressing this button assigns the selected parameter to pedal control.

1.Plug a pedal into Vortex, and load a new effect (so that Vortex will recognize pedal connection.)

2.Turn the Parameter knob to select any assignable parameter

— for example, MIX.

3.Press PEDAL/TAP. The LED will light to indicate that the pedal has been assigned to that parameter.

4.When the pedal is moved beyond the displayed value of MIX, the pedal will acquire control over the parameter's full range.

When a pedal is plugged into Vortex, the PEDAL/TAP button

The PEDAL/TAP button performs TAP functions

assigns any one of 14 parameters* to pedal control.

when ECHO 1 or ECHO 2

is selected.

The LED will light when you assign a parameter and

PEDAL /TAP

FEEDBACK 1

PEDAL/ TAP

FEEDBACK 1

ECHO 2

FEEDBACK 2

ECHO 2

FEEDBACK 2

whenever an assigned parameter is selected with the

ECHO 1

RATE 1

ECHO 1

RATE 1

ENVELOPE

DEPTH 1

ENVELOPE

DEPTH 1

knob, until the assignment is changed or removed.

MORPH A/B

RESONANCE 1

MORPH A/B

RESONANCE 1

ECHO FX LVL

RATE 2

ECHO FX LVL

RATE 2

MOD FX LVL

DEPTH 2

MOD FX LVL

DEPTH 2

OUTPUT

RESONANCE 2

OUTPUT

RESONANCE 2

MIX

MIX

If you unplug the pedal, load a new effect to make sure that Vortex recognizes the disconnection.

Morphing with a Pedal

When you assign the MORPH A/B parameter, the pedal immediately acquires control over the morph, and the morph jumps to the current pedal position. (Toe up=1=effect B; toe down=64=effect A.)

A/B still selects the A or B effect, and the A and B LEDs indicate which effect is available for editing. Edits can be made via the front panel to either A or B effect parameters, but the pedal determines which effect is being heard.

When you deassign the pedal, Vortex will immediately switch to whichever effect, A or B, is indicated by the front panel LEDs.

If either the A or B effect has been stored with the pedal assigned to MORPH A/B, (and a pedal is connected) pedal control is immediate when the effect is loaded.

Once a parameter is assigned to a pedal, pedal control of the parameter is always active, even if you move the Parameter knob to select another parameter for editing.

While an assigned parameter is selected, value changes made with the pedal will be displayed. When pedal motion stops, the display will return to display of the register or preset number.

When the Parameter knob is turned to another position, the Pedal LED will turn off, and the value of the new parameter will be displayed. The new parameter can be edited with VALUE; the pedal will continue to control its assigned parameter.

To remove a pedal assignment, select the assigned parameter and press PEDAL/TAP, or select another parameter for assignment and press PEDAL/TAP. When a pedal is deassigned, the parameter returns to its original value (as set prior to pedal assignment.)

Other Features

	Vortex offers many other features		• One footswitch is provided with	• Vortex is supplied with an electri-
	you'll want to explore:		Vortex for control of either TAP	cally isolated analog switch that
	•	All Vortex effects are dynami-	and A/B functions, or register	allows remote control of a guitar
			STEP and BYPASS. A second	amplifier lead/rhythm channel
		cally sensitive.
			footswitch can be connected to	selection. Simply connect a stan-
	•	Vortex has a CLEAR function
			control the remaining footswitch	dard 1/4" guitar cable between
		which allows registers to be
			functions.	the Vortex rear panel A/B relay
		skipped in any effect sequence
		you create.You can also set up
			Contact Lexicon, or your local dealer for more
		chains which use cleared regis-
			information on this, or any Lexicon product.
		ters as loop points.

switch and the A/B switching input on your amp. Both the front panel A/B button, and the footswitch A/B control will activate this switch, allowing you to simultaneously switch effects and amplifier settings.

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