I love how the handheld unit has LEDs like a 1980's portable football game. Lexicon makes solid systems and it is a privilege to be a custodian of such gear.
I have a 480L with the classic cart. Latest firmware (4.1) so you get the randomHall algorithm and a bunch of other extras. I bought it this year from Japan. Was in museum like condition. Paid $4600USD. If you can find one grab one. It's worth the money. Get the classic cart though as that sort of augments the unit with the 224xl algorithms. I thought software was fine before I tried the PCM 80 and then realized I prefer the hardware. After the PCM experience I was hooked so pulled the trigger on the big brother.
@@RoyChartier Yeah, great units. The 80 offers so much and sounds great. I went from the 80 to the 96 to the 480. Those are three that I have. Each have something to offer. The 80 is great value at current prices.
I work with both units, they are absolutely fantastic, the 480L bring more dimension and wideness then the PCM 70, both units have a nice colour in the sound, that´s what i miss on newer stuff like the PCM 96
I like the initial reflections of the PCM and the modulation on the tail of the 480L. The 480 has some really nice chords developing in the tail, and the PCM really sounded smooth handling the strong attack of the acoustic. Really fantastic!
I still love the Lexicon sound today! No surprise that the -70 can't keep up with the 480 really tho, they were in two different times and leagues. Reverb and other effects made huge leaps in the 80's as processing capabilities increased. The depth and feel of the 480 still can hold up today. I never used the PCM70, but I did have access to a 480L in some studios. Today I still have hardware in the form of the PCM-81 and PCM-91, both of which I use live, and in the studio a PCM-96 which still sounds gorgeous. Another staple was the Eventide Harmonizer (I own a later version, the DSP-7000), but it was never really considered a strong "reverb", but had very creative uses as a processor as I'm sure you're quite aware. Thanks for the memory trip!
Lexicon PCM-70 was actually $7300 of today's money when it came out, it wasn't cheap. It is difficult to test it against 480L since 70 is based on the (cult) 224 series while 480 is a thing of its own. People are eventually figuring things out. When I bought PCM-70 I think it was 350 notes few yrs ago, now the price is 1k-1.5k and it will continue to climb because PCM-70 is easy to repair while 224 is a bitch to repair (talking about working hours).
I used both on my new album and just thought a comparison video would be a fun thing to do. ;-) Did so much work on the 480L back in the day and I still regard it as my favorite.
That recording underneath sounds fantastic, even with the youtube compression! I have a fair amount of lexicon kit, 300, PCM81, Nuverb and a Core32 with PC60. The lexicon sound is incredible. I'd love a 480. Maybe some day :) I do have the UAD plugin which I still feel sounds quite nice but it's not the same, especially without the LARC to program while listening
PCM70 might not be the latest but still sound very good. I think it shows almost 40 years of improving computer power and AD/DA didn't change things as much as one would expect.
Thanks for the great video! I just love the Lexicon reverb sound and my sounds has almost always been based on one or more Lexicon units. I have 224XL, 480L, 300, 70, 80, 91 each of them have their own character but I love them all. May I ask why you have specifically chosen PCM70 and 480 for the comparison?
"And now for something completely different"....Classic line...I am searching for my 480L....Gotta love the depth! I have also owned every unit in the wide shot and still have PCM90, TC 2290...Hardware verbs rule!
The 200 is a beautiful machine - it a terrible shame that a lot of them now have developed faults which cannot be repaired due to obsolete chips etc. I ended up getting a PCM 91, which gets close in the cascade algo - but it's still not as smooth and deep as the 200.
A very interesting video, well done! These two vintage units are well out of my budget, but I'm very happy with some of the modern, more affordable options. I recently picked up a Universal Audio Golden Reverberator pedal which does a wonderful job of emulating some classic reverbs including the Lexicon 224. It's not an exhaustive copy of the 224, does just a few variations on 224 algorithms, but it does those few magnificently well, IMO. If you haven't checked out the Golden Reverberator, you really should.
Love the video and love the attitude, man! You get 'em! I still haven't heard a single one of the naysayers and know-it-alls produce a song or an album that sounds half as good as yours do! 🔥
There are many times on my other YT channel where I really want to tell people where to stick it!!! It's funny how posting a video somehow causes some people to assume that you require their expert advice, isn't it? LOL. Love the channel. And to me, yes, the 480L is still the best. I wish I owned the real thing!
I had access to a 480L and liked it mostly because it reminds me of the records I love and I owned a PCM70 but I kind of got bored of it. I like the h3000d/se more, I think. It still feels "special."
480L is the finest reverb Hall. I recently have been using a plugin Quantum 2772 Evolution. Pretty decent emulation of a wholly different reverb unit so not going the same places as a Lexicon of course. Might be another flavor for the studio. Thanks for the comparison between these two classics.
@@EspenKraft I am not familiar with the original Quantum reverb. I read where the Fairlight CMI's room reverb simulation was the inspiration for the Quantum2772 Evolution from Savant Audio Labs. Do you have more info about the Quantum Reverb?
I have just come across some of them throughout the years, in various studios here in Europe. I don't have any technical or historic knowledge of them other than what we can find online. I just noticed they had a sound of their own that was really nice.
in your comparison the 480L sounds Epic 👌 and much better than the little brother. when it comes to the pcm70, am i the only one that prefers the dp4 and the quadraverb more than the pcm70 🤭
The first example was a proof of quite a difference between early reflections where the 480L was extremely articulate and over all brighter regarding that area. I have no clue if this is an adjustment issue as I don't own any of those. hehe ;) Maybe the 480L is driving the sound a bit "hotter"/higher mix? The result being that the PCM70 sounded more laid back (lower mix).
Nice video! Although all higher priced Lexicons sound great, they offer different reverb algorithms and sonic characters. You may sort it into several sounding groups: 1.) Lexicon 200, 224, PCM-70, PCM-80, PCM-81 2.) Lexicon 480, 300, PCM-90, PCM-91 3.) Lexicon 960, PCM-96, PCM-92 So the Lexicon PCM-90/91 are closer to the Lexicon 480 than a PCM-70, that is closer to the Lexicon 224. If you compare PCM-70 to 224 the difference would be much smaller.
Here I wanted to compare the PCM70 to the 480L. If the 70 is closer to the 224 is totallt irrelevant. If that was the focus I would have done just that. ;-) Cheers
@@EspenKraft I know, I just thought, if you compare a cheaper reverb device with a very expensive reverb device, it makes sense for many musicians if roughly the same or similar algorithms are used in the both devices. One can therefore say that e.g. a PCM-70 is a very good alternative to an expensive Lexicon 224 or a PCM-91 is a very good alternative to a 480L. The 480L and PCM-91 have both the "Random Hall" algorithm, while the PCM-70 has the same Plate algorithm as the 224. Comparing a PCM-70 to a 480L is a little bit like comparing apples to oranges. But if you only meant that from the point of view of a cheaper Lexicon reverb device against an expensive Lexicon reverb device, the comparison is of course fine. :)
I did use the Concert Hall algorithm on both wich has roughly the same parameters and sound roughly the same as well. With the music in mind. Sometimes, no quite often, there are way too much "pixel peeping" going on. People more interested in the gear itself than the music. The gear is just a tool. Comparing the Conert Hall algo of the 480L and PCM70 is NOT comparing apples to oranges, far from it. They are both apples or both oranges.
Both sounded really good but usually the more expensive reverb gels better and also sounds more realistic. I have the pcm 70 and in most cases prefer it over the 91.
Hello Espen, first of all, I would like to congratulate you for the very good work you are doing on your channel, thus providing a very large number of answers to questions asked. However, and with all due respect, your comparison between the PCM 70 and the 480 L bothers me a bit. Indeed, on the one hand the decay of the PCM 70 is much shorter than the 480 L and on the other hand, we hear the sound of the PCM much more to the right in the pan unlike the 480 L which is balanced this who listens makes any comparison difficult. Long live your channel. Musically. Jlouis
Thanks! I made it very clear at 01:40 that this is not a lab test and anyone complaining about levels etc not being matched up exactly the same on both units would be told where to stick it. ;-)
Of course the bigger version is ‘better’ lol it’s about ten times the cost of a pcm70 Anyway it’s what you do with the machines not what’s ‘better’ or ‘worse’ They both have unique capabilities and sound it’s like comparing apples to oranges
The 480L is an incredible machine. Just for a laugh I looked up prices on the second hand market. Ah, um no thanks. I think I'll go with UA's recreation for a twentieth of the price.
No fair game, the 480L wins by far. But the best part about of the video is that great guitar track with this nice pad and arp, that could have been straight out of a miami vice episode.
That 480L sounds lush but I cannot justify spending £4500 on a second hand unit, I got a Big Sky reverb which also sounds amazing to me and I know it's not quite the same thing, how do the plug-ins sound compared to the 480L ?
There are many fun reverb patches in among the preset reverb algos in the H3000. That was not what I used it for, except for maybe in videos on my channel.
Yes, I have many different versions of both Cubase and Nuendo and I show them frequently in different videos. I have versions from 1986 as well as 2022. And anything in between.
I love how the handheld unit has LEDs like a 1980's portable football game. Lexicon makes solid systems and it is a privilege to be a custodian of such gear.
Both sound great to me. Both classic old sounds that we've all grown up with.
I have a 480L with the classic cart. Latest firmware (4.1) so you get the randomHall algorithm and a bunch of other extras. I bought it this year from Japan. Was in museum like condition. Paid $4600USD. If you can find one grab one. It's worth the money. Get the classic cart though as that sort of augments the unit with the 224xl algorithms. I thought software was fine before I tried the PCM 80 and then realized I prefer the hardware. After the PCM experience I was hooked so pulled the trigger on the big brother.
Really nothing like the PCMs (and naturally their 2 & 3u siblings).
@@RoyChartier Yeah, great units. The 80 offers so much and sounds great. I went from the 80 to the 96 to the 480. Those are three that I have. Each have something to offer. The 80 is great value at current prices.
My thought was "any good reverb will do" and then you played the samples. Wow. I know nothing about reverb. Those both sound incredible to my ears.
I had the exact same idea, but holy cow, does that 480L sound amazing!
It’s Lexicon friends, except always the best magic u can get ;)
Gosh that guitar sounds so lush. The 480L reigns supreme.
I work with both units, they are absolutely fantastic, the 480L bring more dimension and wideness then the PCM 70, both units have a nice colour in the sound, that´s what i miss on newer stuff like the PCM 96
The 96 sounded sterile to me so I sold it and bought a PCM 90…. Much better sounding unit..
I like the initial reflections of the PCM and the modulation on the tail of the 480L. The 480 has some really nice chords developing in the tail, and the PCM really sounded smooth handling the strong attack of the acoustic. Really fantastic!
Right. Need both 🤘
Love the Falco album behind you. Love that album, such a sad loss for the music industry when Falco passed
“…where to stick it!”, lol! Love it, Espen. That was worth the click all by itself. 💙👍
Awesome! Cheers :)
I still love the Lexicon sound today! No surprise that the -70 can't keep up with the 480 really tho, they were in two different times and leagues. Reverb and other effects made huge leaps in the 80's as processing capabilities increased. The depth and feel of the 480 still can hold up today. I never used the PCM70, but I did have access to a 480L in some studios. Today I still have hardware in the form of the PCM-81 and PCM-91, both of which I use live, and in the studio a PCM-96 which still sounds gorgeous. Another staple was the Eventide Harmonizer (I own a later version, the DSP-7000), but it was never really considered a strong "reverb", but had very creative uses as a processor as I'm sure you're quite aware. Thanks for the memory trip!
I have several videos here witht my favorite Eventide, the H3000. Cheers :)
I have owned every reverb unit in the wider camera shot. This comparison is great! Man I should have never let go of my 480L… great demo.
Cheers!
I still have and use a PCM80 which you can't go wrong with owning any of them
Wow 480L ! You've got the Holy Grail !!! 🎉🙂👌
Lexicon PCM-70 was actually $7300 of today's money when it came out, it wasn't cheap. It is difficult to test it against 480L since 70 is based on the (cult) 224 series while 480 is a thing of its own. People are eventually figuring things out. When I bought PCM-70 I think it was 350 notes few yrs ago, now the price is 1k-1.5k and it will continue to climb because PCM-70 is easy to repair while 224 is a bitch to repair (talking about working hours).
I used both on my new album and just thought a comparison video would be a fun thing to do. ;-) Did so much work on the 480L back in the day and I still regard it as my favorite.
That recording underneath sounds fantastic, even with the youtube compression! I have a fair amount of lexicon kit, 300, PCM81, Nuverb and a Core32 with PC60. The lexicon sound is incredible. I'd love a 480. Maybe some day :) I do have the UAD plugin which I still feel sounds quite nice but it's not the same, especially without the LARC to program while listening
PCM70 might not be the latest but still sound very good. I think it shows almost 40 years of improving computer power and AD/DA didn't change things as much as one would expect.
Thanks for the great video! I just love the Lexicon reverb sound and my sounds has almost always been based on one or more Lexicon units. I have 224XL, 480L, 300, 70, 80, 91 each of them have their own character but I love them all.
May I ask why you have specifically chosen PCM70 and 480 for the comparison?
Because I had them during the recording and mixing of my new album and video series. Thought it'd be a fun thing to do.
you really have covered all the bases.
"And now for something completely different"....Classic line...I am searching for my 480L....Gotta love the depth! I have also owned every unit in the wide shot and still have PCM90, TC 2290...Hardware verbs rule!
Awesome! I had a PCM70 once, and loved it. I use a 1984 200 now, it’s also way better than the 70. 😎
The 200 is a beautiful machine - it a terrible shame that a lot of them now have developed faults which cannot be repaired due to obsolete chips etc.
I ended up getting a PCM 91, which gets close in the cascade algo - but it's still not as smooth and deep as the 200.
@@alanhaynes418 My 200 recently received a major overhaul, and currently works like new, so maybe it will keep going a few more years. 🤞😎
A very interesting video, well done!
These two vintage units are well out of my budget, but I'm very happy with some of the modern, more affordable options. I recently picked up a Universal Audio Golden Reverberator pedal which does a wonderful job of emulating some classic reverbs including the Lexicon 224. It's not an exhaustive copy of the 224, does just a few variations on 224 algorithms, but it does those few magnificently well, IMO. If you haven't checked out the Golden Reverberator, you really should.
I'm aware of it, but I don't know anyone that has one so I haven't been able to try it.
@@EspenKraft I hope you get to try one out some time, I think you'd like it. If I wasn't so very far away, I'd loan mine to you. 🙂
Cheers!
Love the video and love the attitude, man! You get 'em! I still haven't heard a single one of the naysayers and know-it-alls produce a song or an album that sounds half as good as yours do! 🔥
The music is and should always be the focus. Unfortunately way too many focus on the gear instead. ;) Cheers
There are many times on my other YT channel where I really want to tell people where to stick it!!! It's funny how posting a video somehow causes some people to assume that you require their expert advice, isn't it? LOL. Love the channel. And to me, yes, the 480L is still the best. I wish I owned the real thing!
Thanks!
I had access to a 480L and liked it mostly because it reminds me of the records I love and I owned a PCM70 but I kind of got bored of it. I like the h3000d/se more, I think. It still feels "special."
I feel like the pcm has a bit more high end than the 480, still I prefer the 480 to me it sounds more ambient more detailed. Very good video.
For my ears I prefer the 480L it has some magic i believe !
480L is the finest reverb Hall. I recently have been using a plugin Quantum 2772 Evolution. Pretty decent emulation of a wholly different reverb unit so not going the same places as a Lexicon of course. Might be another flavor for the studio. Thanks for the comparison between these two classics.
The orignal Quantum reverbs had a sound of their own and they definitely has their place. Cheers :)
@@EspenKraft I am not familiar with the original Quantum reverb. I read where the Fairlight CMI's room reverb simulation was the inspiration for the Quantum2772 Evolution from Savant Audio Labs. Do you have more info about the Quantum Reverb?
I have just come across some of them throughout the years, in various studios here in Europe. I don't have any technical or historic knowledge of them other than what we can find online. I just noticed they had a sound of their own that was really nice.
@pbaudinat Have you heard the latest update of Qunatum 2772 ? Much closer ! Curious to hear how you find it
Man. That 480L is just doing it for me. I really like the PCM70 too but that 480L has some magic doesn't it? Whew!
Would have loved to compare to a 224 or 224X (not the 224XL)
They both sound great but the 480l just has that magical air tone and sounds cleaner and Natural even with extreme settings
Schexy! 80s FTW! ;)
Can't go wrong with these. ;-)
I'm looking for the LARC for the 300 I wish I could find it. The 480 larc looks good.
Back when I had my music studio, I loved the PCM70. But it was noisy as hell. So sad I don't own one anymore. But hey, the 480L is even better.
in your comparison the 480L sounds Epic 👌 and much better than the little brother.
when it comes to the pcm70, am i the only one that prefers the dp4 and the quadraverb more than the pcm70 🤭
Love your track Espen !
Cheers!
Width, character and vibe! The 480 is STILL King! Long live the King! x ;)
The first example was a proof of quite a difference between early reflections where the 480L was extremely articulate and over all brighter regarding that area. I have no clue if this is an adjustment issue as I don't own any of those. hehe ;) Maybe the 480L is driving the sound a bit "hotter"/higher mix?
The result being that the PCM70 sounded more laid back (lower mix).
Would love to see a comparison between the 480L and a Bricasti since Bricasti was started by disgruntled Lexicon engineers…
Nice video!
Although all higher priced Lexicons sound great, they offer different reverb algorithms and sonic characters.
You may sort it into several sounding groups:
1.) Lexicon 200, 224, PCM-70, PCM-80, PCM-81
2.) Lexicon 480, 300, PCM-90, PCM-91
3.) Lexicon 960, PCM-96, PCM-92
So the Lexicon PCM-90/91 are closer to the Lexicon 480 than a PCM-70, that is closer to the Lexicon 224.
If you compare PCM-70 to 224 the difference would be much smaller.
Here I wanted to compare the PCM70 to the 480L. If the 70 is closer to the 224 is totallt irrelevant. If that was the focus I would have done just that. ;-) Cheers
@@EspenKraft I know, I just thought, if you compare a cheaper reverb device with a very expensive reverb device, it makes sense for many musicians if roughly the same or similar algorithms are used in the both devices. One can therefore say that e.g. a PCM-70 is a very good alternative to an expensive Lexicon 224 or a PCM-91 is a very good alternative to a 480L. The 480L and PCM-91 have both the "Random Hall" algorithm, while the PCM-70 has the same Plate algorithm as the 224.
Comparing a PCM-70 to a 480L is a little bit like comparing apples to oranges.
But if you only meant that from the point of view of a cheaper Lexicon reverb device against an expensive Lexicon reverb device, the comparison is of course fine. :)
I did use the Concert Hall algorithm on both wich has roughly the same parameters and sound roughly the same as well. With the music in mind. Sometimes, no quite often, there are way too much "pixel peeping" going on. People more interested in the gear itself than the music. The gear is just a tool. Comparing the Conert Hall algo of the 480L and PCM70 is NOT comparing apples to oranges, far from it. They are both apples or both oranges.
Both sounded really good but usually the more expensive reverb gels better and also sounds more realistic. I have the pcm 70 and in most cases prefer it over the 91.
The presets in 480 has more size/decay, it can be adjusted ❤ I love my pcm 70
I was. rooting for the PCM to be better since it's a fraction of the size and price. But, oof. That. 480L still wins.
Actually love both but prefer th4 PCM70 more modern tone
In my opinion the “king” is still the PCM81 especially with the dual fx card
Mine should be arriving today
Really like the I miss you track! Where did the female vocals come from?
Think I prefer the 480L but it’s close and hard to tell
Thanks! The vocals are off a vocal library and I've pitched and manipulated them heavily. Cheers
@@EspenKraft works well mate, well done there. 👍
The tails are so much more interesting on the 480
Sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing. I see you have a Six. What would be best way to route the 480L to the Six?
You should watch my series "A Song Is Born", I go through it all in episodes 6, 7 and 8.
Hello Espen, first of all, I would like to congratulate you for the very good work you are doing on your channel, thus providing a very large number of answers to questions asked.
However, and with all due respect, your comparison between the PCM 70 and the 480 L bothers me a bit.
Indeed, on the one hand the decay of the PCM 70 is much shorter than the 480 L and on the other hand, we hear the sound of the PCM much more to the right in the pan unlike the 480 L which is balanced this who listens makes any comparison difficult.
Long live your channel.
Musically.
Jlouis
Thanks! I made it very clear at 01:40 that this is not a lab test and anyone complaining about levels etc not being matched up exactly the same on both units would be told where to stick it. ;-)
480!
Of course the bigger version is ‘better’ lol it’s about ten times the cost of a pcm70
Anyway it’s what you do with the machines not what’s ‘better’ or ‘worse’
They both have unique capabilities and sound it’s like comparing apples to oranges
They both sounded nice but I wish you'd played the dry version as well.
Not all wishes come true. ;-)
The crossover frequency should be set to 0.2
The 480L is an incredible machine. Just for a laugh I looked up prices on the second hand market. Ah, um no thanks. I think I'll go with UA's recreation for a twentieth of the price.
Very nice track 5:22, what's the name?
Thanks! Just a demo I made for another video. Re-used it here.
PCM sounds more 80s to me on vocals, but not as natural on the instrument tracks.
I really think PCM80 get closer to 480L than PCM70
thoughts on the pcm90?
It's good.
I'll be happy to own any of them , but the 480 is just superior , it´s the perfect turd polisher , just makes everything sound great
No fair game, the 480L wins by far. But the best part about of the video is that great guitar track with this nice pad and arp, that could have been straight out of a miami vice episode.
Happy you like it. Part of my brand new album. ;-)
That 480L sounds lush but I cannot justify spending £4500 on a second hand unit, I got a Big Sky reverb which also sounds amazing to me and I know it's not quite the same thing, how do the plug-ins sound compared to the 480L ?
The BigSky is quite different from this. The best 480L in software is the Valhalla VintageVerb.
@@EspenKraft There is 2 emulation the UAD 480L and the Relab LX480L complete. I own the UAD 224 and the LX480L both sounds phenomenal.
Mmmm.... well that's the worst I've heard those legendary units sound, sorry. Your pre delay & HF cut settings killed it for me. 🙁
The worst and yet still better than a lot of other reverb modules... No sense in grasping at minute details when it's still a monster of a reverb.
Any good reverb patch you'd recommend from the H3000?
There are many fun reverb patches in among the preset reverb algos in the H3000. That was not what I used it for, except for maybe in videos on my channel.
Snare needs an AMS.
I have a 300 and a mpx1 and mpx500
This is a daft comparison really. One was a more budget conscious model while the other was a very high end expensive one. Both completely different.
I've been known to compare dwarfs to basketball players.
@@EspenKraft
It’s jumpers for goalposts dude
480
I actually really hated the beginning of the 480L the early sounded harsh.
Good, let it all out. Hate is a strong emotion.
@@EspenKraft the tail was still much better on The 480L. Would you increase the diffusion to change the sound of the early?
Different sounds behave differently to parameter change on a reverb so I can't say unless I'm working on a sound. What I'd change.
You really can't compare the two. Nice demo though.
Of course you can. Cheers
" vintage " Nuendo ?
I have about 100 videos on here where I use it and talk about it. ;-)
@@EspenKraft Must have missed those but seeing it full screen in this video brought back some funny memories
Yes, I have many different versions of both Cubase and Nuendo and I show them frequently in different videos. I have versions from 1986 as well as 2022. And anything in between.
@@EspenKraft awesome ! I am also old enough to have used cubase and notator on atari ST but I now unfortunately only have the latest version
Check out my video about the Pro-16, for the Commodore 64, from 1986. Then we're talking the mother of all Cubase versions. ;-)