Lexicon Harmony FX Card for the PCM 80
January 16, 1997
When Lexicon designed the PCM 80 Digital Effects Processor and the PCM 90 Digital Reverberator they provided the ability to plug in new audio software via PC cards called "FX Cards." Many new algorithms are available in these new FX Card software upgrades . Combined, they provide literally hundreds of presets designed by Lexicon's premiere engineering staff and music and sound design professionals. These plug-in FX Cards are like getting a brand new product at a fraction of the cost.
The newest offering for the PCM 80 is the Harmony FX Card featuring four new algorithms: Auto Harmony, Pitch Correct, MIDI Chords and Auto Chords. Each algorithm combines one of four intelligent pitch shifters with a PCM 80 Chamber reverb. Intelligent pitch shifters detect the pitch of incoming audio and then produce pitch effects based on the detected pitch. These algorithms are designed to work with monophonic (one note at a time) sources; a single vocalist, flute, guitar, melody, etc. In all algorithms, the reverb follows the pitch shifter in series. The new Harmony FX Card makes the PCM 80 Digital Effects Processor the ultimate production tool.
The four new algorithms include the following: Auto Harmony, a four voice diatonic pitch shifter and chamber reverb. Use this algorithm to produce harmonies that track the melody with parallel motion while staying in the same
key. Pitch Correct provides a simple yet powerful set of tools for correcting off-pitch melody tracks. This function goes way beyond pitch quantization. The Pitch Detect display shows the pitch of the input source in real time (display in chromatic note and +/- cents). Patch the Correction parameter to a switch or the ADJUST knob, or use a MIDI keyboard to control the correction. MIDI Chords allows you to harmonize with the audio source by playing the desired chords on a MIDI keyboard. Simply play the desired chord (with up to four voices) and the input audio will be shifted to the notes you play. Auto Chords allow you to specify a different chord and voice leading (each with up to four different pitches) to be played when any of the 12 notes in the chromatic scale are detected. This provides a wide degree of flexibility in that there are no limits to the types of scale(s) that can be harmonized, and the harmonies need not be in parallel with the input pitch.
The PCM 80 is a true stereo effects unit, with digital and balanced analog interfaces, extremely high-performance 18-bit conversion, and a 24-bit internal digital bus. Digital and analog inputs can be mixed together. Based around two effects processor chips, the PCM 80 excels at complex stereo effects. The introduction of "Dynamic Patching" in the PCM 80 allows a changing control value to influence a complex matrix of effects parameters, for a level of effects sophistication never before possible, while the PC-Card slot enables FX cards containing new sounds and algorithms to be installed. The PCM 80 ships with 200 stunning presets that cover a wide range of applications, including music performance and production and a range of effects specially created for video post-production and dance remixing. For more information on the growing range of PC Cards for the PCM 80, contact Lexicon, 3 Oak Park, Bedford, MA 01730-1441. Tel: 617/280 0300; Fax: 617/280 0490.
Visit their web site at www.lexicon.com. |
