Lexicon VORTEX Assembly instructions

All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 1994, Lexicon Inc.
INPUT
A
B
VALUE
A/BSTORE VALUE REGISTER/PRESET
OVLLVL
CLEAR
PEDAL/TAP
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
DEJA VU
CHOIR
SHIMMER
SWEEP
SHADOW
CYCLOID
BLEEN
FRACTAL
DUO
MAZE
MOSAIC
AEROSOL
CENTRIFUGE
ORBITS
ATMOSPHERE
REFLEXION
FEEDBACK 1
FEEDBACK 2
RATE 1
DEPTH 1
RESONANCE 1
RATE 2
DEPTH 2
RESONANCE 2
ECHO 2
ECHO 1
ENVELOPE
MORPH A/B
ECHO FX LVL
MOD FX LVL
OUTPUT
MIX
TM
UDIO A ORPHING MROCESSOR P
Basic Operation
TAP and Echo Rhythms 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.
Vortex has two independent delay
lines which are configured in a va-
riety of ways to create rhythmic
effects. The ECHO 1÷and ECHO
2÷controls allow you to set inde-
pendentrhythms,whichwillalways
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),theparametervalue4corre-
spondstoquarter-noteechoes,the
parameter value 8 corresponds to
eighth-note echoes...64 to sixty-
fourth-note echoes.
Tap intervals can be as long as 28 seconds,
allowing long phrases of music, rather than
single beats, to determine tempo. Whenever
Vortexis turned on,thetap interval willreturnto
the default value. (1=a quarter-note at 65 bpm)
Tap Interval
(Number of Beats between TAPs)
1
2
3
Rhythmic Divisions
ECHO Value
12345 678
•••
6
1
1
1
2
2
3
4
6
53 7
7
65
5:4 7:4
3 5 6 7
5:4 7:4
35 6 7
5:4 7:4
* If you have a footpedal connected to Vortex,
youmust select oneofthe ECHO÷parameters
in order for the button to function as TAP —
footswitch TAP function is always active.
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
TAPtwiceinrhythmtoestablishthe
tempo you want. The front panel
LED will light on your first press of
TAP to indicate a tap interval is
beingcalculated.YoursecondTAP
definesthetapintervalandturnsoff
theLED.Now,anyeffectyouselect
willbesynchronizedto yourtempo.
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.
Editing Effects Storing Effects
Vortex presets cannot be erased or
overwritten by parameter changes;
the original version will always be
restored when loaded. If you make
changes to a preset and want to
save the changes as a custom ef-
fect, or if you want to match certain
effects as A/B pairs, you must store
your new versions into registers.
You can store any effect you want
intoanyregisterspace.To storethe
currently running effect:
1. Press STORE.
2. If you were in preset mode, the
register LED will go on, indicat-
ingthatVortexhasautomatically
switched to register mode — se-
lecting whatever register is indi-
cated bythepositionoftheREG-
ISTER/PRESET knob and the
A/B button.
3. Releasing STORE will store the
currently running effect into the
registerindicatedonthedisplay,
overwritingtheeffect previously
stored there. The display will
flash briefly to indicate the store
operation was successful.
4. Store operations are executed
on release of the STORE but-
ton. If you want to store to a
different register, or to a differ-
ent register bank, than the one
displayed, turn the REGISTER/
PRESET knob to the register
numberyouwant,andcheckthe
setting of the A/B button before
releasing STORE.
Each Vortex effect consists of mul-
tiple modulation and delay func-
tions, and each has its own distinc-
tive sonic signature. All 32 effects
share a common set of 16 param-
eters which allow you to access
dimensional, rhythmic, and dy-
namic aspects of each effect.
FEEDBACK 1
FEEDBACK 2
RATE 1
DEPTH 1
RESONANCE 1
RATE 2
DEPTH 2
RESONANCE 2
ENVELOPE
MORPH A/B
ECHO FX LVL
MOD FX LVL
OUTPUT
MIX
ECHO 2
ECHO 1
PEDAL/TAP
Select a parameter.
A
B
VALUE
A/B VALUE
Use the VALUE knob to adjust the
selected parameter.
The VALUE LED lights whenever
parameter values are displayed.
Parameter values (1-64) will be
displayedwhenVALUEisturned.
The decimal point indicates changes have
been made since the last store operation.
Toadjusta parameter,selectitwith
the PARAMETER knob, then turn
the VALUE knob. The first turn of
VALUE will display the current pa-
rameter setting and light the
VALUE LED. Subsequent adjust-
ments will increment or decrement
parameter values along their entire
range (1-64).
A
B
VALUE
A/B
Presets and Registers
Vortexisloadedwith32permanent
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
specificeffectpairs.You cansetup
your own pairing system in the reg-
isters.
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.
Vortex has 32 presets and 32 registers for
storing your customized effects. Pressing
the REGISTER/PRESET button ...
LED indicates
register selection.
REGISTER/PRESET
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
DEJA VU
CHOIR
SHIMMER
SWEEP
SHADOW
CYCLOID
BLEEN
FRACTAL
DUO
MAZE
MOSAIC
AEROSOL
CENTRIFUGE
ORBITS
ATMOSPHERE
REFLEXION
...determines whether presets
(REFLEXION ... FRACTAL),
or registers (1 ... 16) will be
selected by the knob.
LEDs indicate A/B selection.
The setting of A/B determines whether the A or B
versions of presets and registers will be loaded.

3 Oak Part, Bedford, MA 01730 • Tel: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
Basic Operation
FOOTSWITCHES POWER OUTPUTS INPUTS
9V~, 1A,
50-60Hz
LEXICON, INC.
WALTHAM MA 02154
MADE IN U.S.A.
P/N 021-09504
SERIAL #
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.
:TIP
:RING
:SLEEVE
BYPASS
STEP
TAP
A/B
L
(HI-Z PHONES)
L R
(MONO) R (MONO)
USE LEXICON
MSA AC ADAPTER
VORTEX
A
B
COM
A/B
A/B RELAY
SPECIFICATION
< 100V, < 100mA
STEREO
PLUG
ONLY
FOOTPEDAL
Other Features
Vortex offers many other features
you'll want to explore:
•All Vortex effects are dynami-
cally sensitive.
•Vortex has a CLEAR function
which allows registers to be
skipped in any effect sequence
you create.You can also set up
chains which use cleared regis-
ters as loop points.
•One footswitch is provided with
Vortex for control of either TAP
and A/B functions, or register
STEP and BYPASS. A second
footswitch can be connected to
control the remaining footswitch
functions.
•Vortexissuppliedwithanelectri-
cally isolated analog switch that
allows remote control of a guitar
amplifier lead/rhythm channel
selection.Simplyconnectastan-
dard 1/4" guitar cable between
the Vortex rear panel A/B relay
switch and the A/B switching in-
put on your amp. Both the front
panel A/B button, and the
footswitch A/B control will acti-
vate this switch, allowing you to
simultaneously switch effects
and amplifier settings.
Vortex gives you the ability to con-
tinuously transform one effect into
another.This feature, which we call
Audio Morphing,™allows you to
transform closely related, or wildly
dissimilar effects —and to set the
timeperiod over which the transfor-
mation occurs.
Morphs are performed between
register pairs. To set up a morph,
store an effect into any A register,
then store another effect into the
corresponding B register.
Morphing is accomplished auto-
matically when you press the A/B
switch. The MORPH A/B param-
eter allows you to set the time it
takesforoneeffecttotransforminto
another when A/B is pressed. The
combinedmorphratessetforAand
B determine the total length of time
amorphwilltake.Thetotalduration
of the morph can be varied from 10
seconds to .01 second. (1=slowest
rate; 64=fastest rate) Morph rates,
likeotherparameters,arestoredas
part of the effect.
Audio Morphing™When you morph between two ver-
sions of the same effect, all of the
parameter values move smoothly
fromoneversiontotheother.When
you morph between two different
effects, the entire structure of the
effecttransformstotheothereffect.
Everything changes —rates, lev-
els, audio routing, routing of the
LFOsandenvelope,etc. Try listen-
ing to some of the preset effect
pairs to get an idea of what
morphing can do with different ef-
fect combinations.
Once a parameter is assigned to a
pedal, pedal control of the param-
eter is always active, even if you
move the Parameter knob to select
another parameter for editing.
Whileanassignedparameterisse-
lected, 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.
WhentheParameterknobisturned
to another position, the Pedal LED
willturnoff,andthevalueofthenew
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 an-
otherparameterforassignmentand
press PEDAL/TAP. When a pedal
is deassigned, the parameter re-
turns to its original value (as set
prior to pedal assignment.)
Any one of 14 parameters can be
assigned to pedal control —and
pedal assignment can be stored as
partofaneffect.AandBeffectscan
each have different pedal assign-
ments. To make use of the many
features available through pedal
control, simply connect a pedal via
the rear panel FOOTPEDAL con-
nector.Eachtimeaneffectisloaded,
Vortex checks this connection.
When a pedal is connected, the
PEDALfunctionof 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
theParameterknobisturnedtoany
other position, pressing this button
assigns the selected parameter to
pedal control.
1. Plug a pedal into Vortex, and
loadaneweffect(sothatVortex
willrecognizepedalconnection.)
2. Turn the Parameter knob to se-
lect any assignable parameter
—for example, MIX.
3. PressPEDAL/TAP.TheLEDwill
light to indicate that the pedal
has been assigned to that pa-
rameter.
4. When the pedal is moved be-
yondthedisplayedvalueofMIX,
thepedalwillacquirecontrolover
the parameter's full range.
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.)
The LED will light when you assign a parameter and
whenever an assigned parameter is selected with the
knob, until the assignment is changed or removed.
FEEDBACK 1
FEEDBACK 2
RATE 1
DEPTH 1
RESONANCE 1
RATE 2
DEPTH 2
RESONANCE 2
ENVELOPE
MORPH A/B
ECHO FX LVL
MOD FX LVL
OUTPUT
MIX
ECHO 2
ECHO 1
PEDAL/TAP
FEEDBACK 1
FEEDBACK 2
RATE 1
DEPTH 1
RESONANCE 1
RATE 2
DEPTH 2
RESONANCE 2
ECHO 2
ECHO 1
ENVELOPE
MORPH A/B
ECHO FX LVL
MOD FX LVL
OUTPUT
MIX
PEDAL/TAP
If you unplug the pedal, load a new effect to make sure that Vortex recognizes the disconnection.
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 param-
eters, but the pedal determines
which effect is being heard .
Whenyoudeassignthepedal, Vor-
texwillimmediatelyswitchtowhich-
ever effect, A or B, is indicated by
the front panel LEDs.
IfeithertheAorBeffecthasbeenstored
with the pedal assigned to MORPH A/B,
(andapedal is connected)pedal control
is immediate when the effect is loaded.
When a pedal is plugged into Vortex, the PEDAL/TAP button
assigns any one of 14 parameters* to pedal control. The PEDAL/TAP button performs TAP functions when ECHO 1÷or ECHO 2÷is selected.
Pedal Control
ContactLexicon,oryourlocaldealerformore
information on this, or any Lexicon product.
Preset 3 ORBITS
AandB inthispreset arevariationson a
singleeffect,Bhavingsloworbitalpaths,
andAhavingfasterorbits.Thisisa good
example of using morphing to produce
subtlechangesintheoverallsoundofan
effect.
Preset 15 BLEEN
A and B are completely different from
one another. A is based on envelope
detune, while B is based on "ring modu-
lated"echofeedback.Thesoundiscom-
pletelytransformedastheeffectmorphs
from A to B.