What I love about this unit is that it doesn't seem to get in the way of the tone (I've never had the opportunity to use one though, so I could be wrong). This is just hands down one of the best effects units ever made, no question. There's something about low bit rate and the algorithms that nothing else has. Honestly they should seriously reissue these things.
Luke was right - that Circular Delay patch is “the most fun you can have with your clothes on”. Somehow you need to find the second one- for the sake of science !!
Exactly what I did a few years back. v3.01 firmware with v2.0 programs in the register bank. Wondering how you mixed the dry/effects signals, though. Using the PMC 70's mix parameter, or as an effects send on your DAW?
The PCM70 has a different character - it's less hifi and more of a "choose your preset and go" type of box rather than the tweaker's paradise of the PCM81
No one beats Lexicon reverbs, even today. When I look into current reverb pedals, I always compare them to the Lexicon. Maybe I'm spoiled on it, but they just don't do it for me. Having three Lexicon units, I have a great reverb base model to start with. Just an interesting fact about the PCM 70, EVH used the delays in it for his solo work. Cathedral was done with that for example. That machine was a staple in his rig for years.
Leon, the "Rich Plate" riff and improvisation at 6:57 is amazing! This is the reason I visit this channel for such riffs 😄Maybe the only other improvisation I liked more was in the "Dr. Neon Green" string demonstration video when you improvised over an F#m backing track ("let's chuck these strings and just here them")! 😊
I had a feeling you'd end up with one - even after that video where you picked up something close (can't remember what it was exactly)... But in the endless pursuit of perfect tone, close just doesn't cut it! Glad you finally made it happen :)
That's some killer delay you played at the start.. Fucking A.. I swear the older stuff was revolutionary in it's ability to make an arena sound so good! I remember this thing being used by many bands and everyone that played guitar drolled over these things ! Very cool. The delays are so cool! So cool. I think you should do an RP digitech 500 effect review because I think it had lexicon delays and reverbs in it.. Very cool! Those swells rocked too sir! Man, I love the chords you use in your ragdoll songs! Just too cool! Those pinch harmonics are killer too! Thanks brother.. Always good stuff here! Love those tones man... That rock and roll sound just gives me goose bumps!
I bought one of these about 5 years ago for £150 it looked like it had been dragged through a hedge backwards. I was curious to see what they go for now (about £1000 ) 😮 I love it so much such a cool unit. This thing does some draw dropping delays. The pan and circular delays are unbelievable, stick them together and they’re out of this world. Also the editing features are so deep you can customise and tailor the presets then save them as separate patches. It can sound warm and full or cold and distant. Get some custom patches, the Angelis De Angelo ones are amazing… Great vid man ✊🏾
Great video, great playing and thank you for clearing up the misconception that you need to buy a V2 unit to get those presets! It’s insane seeing people charging hundreds more for PCM70s with V2 firmware.
Fantastic. Thanks to you and Clifton (and Michael Nielsen), my rack now includes an SPX90, a DEP-5, a PCM81, a Roland SDX-330 (you should try one if you can find one), ADA MP-1, etc!!! Coincidentally, a PCM 70 arrives next week (with v 3.01 software). I’ve done some digging but could I ask, what midi to USB cable/interface you used (as there is some uncertainty on the web) and do you have a link to the sysex file 2.0 presets file dump???? Thanks as ever Leon
@@LeonTodd sorry for asking Leon, do you have a short guide to uploading the SysEx v2 presets? I have the m-audio cable and have the v 2 presets - which transfer software did you use? I can’t seem to get the PC (using windows 10) to talk to the pcm 70!! I think I’ve exhausted all the dated online forum chat!!!!! Yikes!
Great sounding unit, for sure, Leon-congrats on the new addition! May I ask what amp(a) you were using for the demos? Was the PCM 70 in the effects loop of the Fractal? I really liked the Strat reverb sounds, and especially liked the circular delay sounds.
Yeah all fractal. I actually slapped the PCM70 on a send of my interface but it more or less works the same as being in the Axe loop. ODS clean for the clean strat stuff :)
Hi Leon & fellow viewers what is the name of the tune and artist for the riff that Leon is playing around the 3:25 mark. He plays it on alot of his videos?
A bit late to comment but... could you please share the guitar tone sources on the first half of the videos (with delays)? That circular delay preset is beyond marvelous. I mean, which amp and cabinets (or IRs) did you used with that gorgeous PRS? Thank you man!
I have a Mesa boogie studio preamp that I am trying to pair with my lexicon PCM 81 what is the best way to do this to minimize noise and keep my signal quality? The lexicon has stereo ins and stereo outs, balanced where the mason boogie has a one unbalanced out and two unbalanced stereo returns. i’m going be running that signal out to a Moss valve 500 stereo power amp. Please advise
A lot of people like to run stuff like the PCM70 with a line mixer to maintain the analog dry signal path. Like this - ua-cam.com/video/UXoBQcTWcXE/v-deo.html
Great score, congrats! Love the reverb demos especially. If possible could you also do a comparison with Valhalla Vintage (80’s mode should be closest and I think many presets are already based off this unit)
@@LeonTodd Amazing! If you search around Sean Valhalla's forum posts, he has posted a ton of history over the years about the lineage of these algorithms and what they're all based on and how they're connected. I believe the PCM70 reverbs are right in the sweet spot of what Valhalla Vintage is trying to do
😂🤣oh that unit is a doozy! I'd make a terrible UA-cam guy!...I'd get that unit fired up....have so much fun....and forget I was supposed to film and make a video😔 just love watching you shred on gear your genuinely excited for.
Amazing video! Thanks for sharing! It would also be great if you could show some of the presets in firmware 3. I hear a lot about the presets in firmware 2, but the presets in version 3 aren't that much talked about, and I'm curious to see what someone with your wizardry can get out of them.
Oh no...prizes of the PCM70 will rise in a few month due to this video, man LOL .. IMO new reverbs sounds more like white or pink noises, you hear something reverb'ish but its not related to the source sound...the PCM70 sound is just so creamy, thick and dark ....not too much but there to let the source shine...Love it...why aren't you a rock star yet??? you need a hit and you ll fly like a rocket
I know you looked at it from the guitar players point of view (mostly). But things like Rich Plate and titled room where used on Vocals and drums quite a bit. Having worked with a 224 and 480L I can tell you there was something magic about those units the conversion and bit depth having a bunch to do with it. I own a PCM 80 with a duel card and a pcm 91. Lexicon is my go to as an engineer. In a DAW the relab 480 and the UA 224 are quite close to the originals. 😀
Yeah using it on guitar is a pretty narrow lense to view it through. The UA 224 plugin is awesome, one of my faves. Would love to try a real deal 224 one day.
Lynch definitely used the PCM70 on Wicked Sensation on his lead guitar and rhythm guitars too. A song like "For A Million Years" makes this quite obvious. I think Lynch used edited versions of Circular Delays and Pan Delays as well as Rich Plate and the Chorus programs on his clean guitars. Tiled Room was most popular on drums on most sessions through the 80's, 90's and early 2000's. The PCM70 Concert Hall is definitely far better than the PCM81 and 91, but not as good as the 224 or the 480L. The 224 is the holy grail. The man who founded Lexicon, David Griesinger basically developed the 224 and then sold the company. All reverbs after the 224 were derivative of those original 224 algorithms and not nearly as good. The PCM92 is the second best Lexicon processor after the 224.The PCM92 was developed by Michael Carnes who was put to the task of recapturing the Lexicon magic of the 224 and 480L and he got there and then took it even further. The PCM Native plugins sound nothing like the PCM92 rack unit they are based on.
@@LeonTodd Yes. They are Geniuses. What iZotope did to Michael wasn't cool. They should have kept him on and allowed him to develop a new series of effects plugins. These would have been seriously competitive with SoundToys, Valhalla, Eventide and Strymon.
Don't know if this request is too out there, but it'd be awesome to hear a demo of a Johnson millennium JM 150 if you know anyone that'd let you borrow one for a video.
Noooo Clifton is like your royal hustler. Casually sells PCM70's to Australia to try out. This just sounds huge. I'm not a fan of ambient sounds where you drown things in reverb and delay. But you can have as much of effect juice on this one and it just sounds epic, not drowned.
Dang, dunno if you been putting in some practice time or that Lexicon has magical powers but your playing sounds extra good here! Totes gnar-gnar
Some of your uber-chops rubbed off on it I think!
Second that, everything just sounds huge and awesome here.
👍🏼
Thanks Cliff for supplying a brother in need of lush greasy Lexicon tones 🙌
I remember being at a professional studio once and they had a PCM 70 and the tile room reverb just sounded amazing
Tiled Room is just instant character on a guitar solo! Love that rich plate on the heavies too
Classic stuff. Thanks for keeping brother Leon supplied, Clifton! Best, D
Supplied and inspired!
Thank you Clifton for selling this to him sir!
oh my god your last pass with the circular delays was incredible. shivers
DAMN YOU brought me back in time. I was just a kid in the 90s when I wanted to emulate the lethal shredders of the 80s.
Glorious tones for a glorious player! What a sound! Rich, greasy, and full just like I love ‘em 😍
Far and beyond Leon. As always, fantastic content! Thank you!
Much appreciated
What I love about this unit is that it doesn't seem to get in the way of the tone (I've never had the opportunity to use one though, so I could be wrong). This is just hands down one of the best effects units ever made, no question. There's something about low bit rate and the algorithms that nothing else has. Honestly they should seriously reissue these things.
Luke was right - that Circular Delay patch is “the most fun you can have with your clothes on”.
Somehow you need to find the second one- for the sake of science !!
Hahaha perfect. Yeah I actually found myself looking for another one!
On top of the great playing, you have quite possibly the best Stank Face in the game. Cheers!
hahaha thankyou!
Exactly what I did a few years back. v3.01 firmware with v2.0 programs in the register bank. Wondering how you mixed the dry/effects signals, though. Using the PMC 70's mix parameter, or as an effects send on your DAW?
Hi Leon.. Is there one reason you ll pick this rather than the pcm 80/81?
The PCM70 has a different character - it's less hifi and more of a "choose your preset and go" type of box rather than the tweaker's paradise of the PCM81
No one beats Lexicon reverbs, even today. When I look into current reverb pedals, I always compare them to the Lexicon. Maybe I'm spoiled on it, but they just don't do it for me. Having three Lexicon units, I have a great reverb base model to start with.
Just an interesting fact about the PCM 70, EVH used the delays in it for his solo work. Cathedral was done with that for example. That machine was a staple in his rig for years.
Leon, the "Rich Plate" riff and improvisation at 6:57 is amazing! This is the reason I visit this channel for such riffs 😄Maybe the only other improvisation I liked more was in the "Dr. Neon Green" string demonstration video when you improvised over an F#m backing track ("let's chuck these strings and just here them")! 😊
7:14 on is a Ragdoll tune called Break You :)
I had a feeling you'd end up with one - even after that video where you picked up something close (can't remember what it was exactly)... But in the endless pursuit of perfect tone, close just doesn't cut it! Glad you finally made it happen :)
Yeah PCM81 now this. Had to do it
That's some killer delay you played at the start.. Fucking A..
I swear the older stuff was revolutionary in it's ability to make an arena sound so good!
I remember this thing being used by many bands and everyone that played guitar drolled over these things ! Very cool. The delays are so cool! So cool.
I think you should do an RP digitech 500 effect review because I think it had lexicon delays and reverbs in it.. Very cool!
Those swells rocked too sir!
Man, I love the chords you use in your ragdoll songs! Just too cool! Those pinch harmonics are killer too!
Thanks brother.. Always good stuff here! Love those tones man... That rock and roll sound just gives me goose bumps!
Apparently they were 3 grand back when they launched!
@@LeonTodd Wow. I knew they were expensive, but didn't realize they were that much. Yikes..
I bought one of these about 5 years ago for £150 it looked like it had been dragged through a hedge backwards. I was curious to see what they go for now (about £1000 ) 😮 I love it so much such a cool unit.
This thing does some draw dropping delays. The pan and circular delays are unbelievable, stick them together and they’re out of this world.
Also the editing features are so deep you can customise and tailor the presets then save them as separate patches.
It can sound warm and full or cold and distant.
Get some custom patches, the Angelis De Angelo ones are amazing…
Great vid man ✊🏾
Classic unit. You got a great price on it!
By seeing the albums in the back I was thinking you should call your room " The hall of the gear King" 😁 - and, playing getting better every video!
Hahaha it definitely feels like a deep mountain cave in here
Great video, great playing and thank you for clearing up the misconception that you need to buy a V2 unit to get those presets! It’s insane seeing people charging hundreds more for PCM70s with V2 firmware.
Wow! Especially like the Quattro Delays!
Fantastic. Thanks to you and Clifton (and Michael Nielsen), my rack now includes an SPX90, a DEP-5, a PCM81, a Roland SDX-330 (you should try one if you can find one), ADA MP-1, etc!!! Coincidentally, a PCM 70 arrives next week (with v 3.01 software). I’ve done some digging but could I ask, what midi to USB cable/interface you used (as there is some uncertainty on the web) and do you have a link to the sysex file 2.0 presets file dump???? Thanks as ever Leon
Congrats! that's all the good stuff :D
I've got the M-Audio one.
@@LeonTodd sorry for asking Leon, do you have a short guide to uploading the SysEx v2 presets? I have the m-audio cable and have the v 2 presets - which transfer software did you use? I can’t seem to get the PC (using windows 10) to talk to the pcm 70!! I think I’ve exhausted all the dated online forum chat!!!!! Yikes!
Killer share Leon
Great sounding unit, for sure, Leon-congrats on the new addition! May I ask what amp(a) you were using for the demos? Was the PCM 70 in the effects loop of the Fractal? I really liked the Strat reverb sounds, and especially liked the circular delay sounds.
Yeah all fractal. I actually slapped the PCM70 on a send of my interface but it more or less works the same as being in the Axe loop. ODS clean for the clean strat stuff :)
All the reasons Lexicon is legendary on display here. They must have found themselves some alien wizards to engineer this stuff back then.
Hi Leon & fellow viewers what is the name of the tune and artist for the riff that Leon is playing around the 3:25 mark. He plays it on alot of his videos?
Ragdoll Heaven Above
Sounds amazing!!
What a great sounding unit!
Classic tones all over it
A bit late to comment but... could you please share the guitar tone sources on the first half of the videos (with delays)? That circular delay preset is beyond marvelous. I mean, which amp and cabinets (or IRs) did you used with that gorgeous PRS? Thank you man!
I'm using my Axe-Fx for the amp/cab sounds. Everything else from the PCM
Fantastic stuff Leon 👍🏻👍🏻
Glad you enjoyed it mate
Epic sounds and playing!
Clifton Wright is a seriously under rated guitar wizard. That guy can shred with the best of them.
I have a Mesa boogie studio preamp that I am trying to pair with my lexicon PCM 81 what is the best way to do this to minimize noise and keep my signal quality? The lexicon has stereo ins and stereo outs, balanced where the mason boogie has a one unbalanced out and two unbalanced stereo returns. i’m going be running that signal out to a Moss valve 500 stereo power amp. Please advise
A lot of people like to run stuff like the PCM70 with a line mixer to maintain the analog dry signal path. Like this - ua-cam.com/video/UXoBQcTWcXE/v-deo.html
Great score, congrats! Love the reverb demos especially. If possible could you also do a comparison with Valhalla Vintage (80’s mode should be closest and I think many presets are already based off this unit)
I love Valhalla stuff! Sounds like a fun video idea.
@@LeonTodd Amazing! If you search around Sean Valhalla's forum posts, he has posted a ton of history over the years about the lineage of these algorithms and what they're all based on and how they're connected. I believe the PCM70 reverbs are right in the sweet spot of what Valhalla Vintage is trying to do
@@eds4754 yeah Sean's research and postings have been so informative and inspiring! What a dude.
😂🤣oh that unit is a doozy! I'd make a terrible UA-cam guy!...I'd get that unit fired up....have so much fun....and forget I was supposed to film and make a video😔 just love watching you shred on gear your genuinely excited for.
Amazing video! Thanks for sharing! It would also be great if you could show some of the presets in firmware 3. I hear a lot about the presets in firmware 2, but the presets in version 3 aren't that much talked about, and I'm curious to see what someone with your wizardry can get out of them.
Definitely! Inverse room is awesome fun.
Sounds excellent.
What the part you go into at 7:14? Really like that and have heard you play it before.
Ragdoll - Break You :)
*YOU MUST do a comparison with the strymon timeline and the reverb unit, then with those new pedals with the moving sliders*
I’m really loving the Quattro Delays setting. Is there another Lexicon PCM that does that ? Or is the PCM80 the only one that does it ?
I'm sure you could just pop these values into an 80/81 and get close
Please do a comparison with PCM81
Noice!! I have one rack space left in my rack and it’s reserved for a PCM70. Hard to come by though in good condition :(
That's a wise choice!
tested the L XP 15 V2? It's a remarkable machine that I really like!
Can it change/load your presets fast enough in a live situation?
It's pretty show
Yeah, that was my thoughts! Thanks for answer, Leon - and great playing👍🎸😉
Oh no...prizes of the PCM70 will rise in a few month due to this video, man LOL .. IMO new reverbs sounds more like white or pink noises, you hear something reverb'ish but its not related to the source sound...the PCM70 sound is just so creamy, thick and dark ....not too much but there to let the source shine...Love it...why aren't you a rock star yet??? you need a hit and you ll fly like a rocket
Can you do a guitar tutorial video off the track you played at 7:13. I'm pretty sure that's "Break You". Great riffage!
Yeah!
3:16 honestly, that riff is sooo cool. Is that yours ?
Yes indeed, Ragdoll - Heaven Above.
@@LeonTodd awesome !!
But how can I get the circular delays on my PCM 80!?
Get these - www.reddit.com/r/ak85presets/comments/fqfivs/lexicon_pcm80_pcm81_circular_pan_delays_v20/
So great, I have the 81, killer
I know you looked at it from the guitar players point of view (mostly). But things like Rich Plate and titled room where used on Vocals and drums quite a bit. Having worked with a 224 and 480L I can tell you there was something magic about those units the conversion and bit depth having a bunch to do with it. I own a PCM 80 with a duel card and a pcm 91. Lexicon is my go to as an engineer. In a DAW the relab 480 and the UA 224 are quite close to the originals. 😀
Yeah using it on guitar is a pretty narrow lense to view it through. The UA 224 plugin is awesome, one of my faves. Would love to try a real deal 224 one day.
Lynch definitely used the PCM70 on Wicked Sensation on his lead guitar and rhythm guitars too. A song like "For A Million Years" makes this quite obvious. I think Lynch used edited versions of Circular Delays and Pan Delays as well as Rich Plate and the Chorus programs on his clean guitars. Tiled Room was most popular on drums on most sessions through the 80's, 90's and early 2000's. The PCM70 Concert Hall is definitely far better than the PCM81 and 91, but not as good as the 224 or the 480L. The 224 is the holy grail. The man who founded Lexicon, David Griesinger basically developed the 224 and then sold the company. All reverbs after the 224 were derivative of those original 224 algorithms and not nearly as good. The PCM92 is the second best Lexicon processor after the 224.The PCM92 was developed by Michael Carnes who was put to the task of recapturing the Lexicon magic of the 224 and 480L and he got there and then took it even further. The PCM Native plugins sound nothing like the PCM92 rack unit they are based on.
Reading the gearspace thread with Michael and Casey from Bricasti was an eye opener regarding the history of all this stuff!
@@LeonTodd Yes. They are Geniuses. What iZotope did to Michael wasn't cool. They should have kept him on and allowed him to develop a new series of effects plugins. These would have been seriously competitive with SoundToys, Valhalla, Eventide and Strymon.
So Leon, is the Lexicon 480L next?
:D
Don't know if this request is too out there, but it'd be awesome to hear a demo of a Johnson millennium JM 150 if you know anyone that'd let you borrow one for a video.
Oh yeah! That's on my list of cool old gear to try
Can you compare the reverbs of the pcm70 to the pcm81?
Soon
Noooo Clifton is like your royal hustler. Casually sells PCM70's to Australia to try out. This just sounds huge. I'm not a fan of ambient sounds where you drown things in reverb and delay. But you can have as much of effect juice on this one and it just sounds epic, not drowned.
It makes everything better hey
I would buy one if it made me play like clifton
I'd buy a dozen