Lexicon - LXP 1/LXP 5 - Rotary Encoders, Input/Output pots

[ResonantMind]

Took a LXP-5 to my local repair shop and said they'd need the exact rotary encoders to fix the unit and can't get parts.

So, what's the solution? Seems like a lot of people have this problem with these particular units so is there no way to organize a group-buy for a replacement kit of pots/encoders that can be special ordered? Or do we just throw these units in the garbage and have them end up in uncovered landfills in India/China.

[partnering]

If the unit is like my lxp1 it has midi and there is software that controls like old midi capable keyboards and effects with gui. If you really need a knob to turn or if you can live without the knob send the changes over midi from daw.

[ResonantMind]

Originally Posted by partnering

If the unit is like my lxp1 it has midi and there is software that controls like old midi capable keyboards and effects with gui. If you really need a knob to turn or if you can live without the knob send the changes over midi from daw.

So the MIDI bypasses the encoder when plugged in?

[partnering]

you can change the parameters in real time thru midi like a remote control i believe.

[Jim Williams]

Midi and the discontinued Lexicon MRC will control it even with shot encoders.

The encoders were made by CTS, the pot company. They are obsolete, but if enough of you want them, they could be made again.

[loujudson]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Midi and the discontinued Lexicon MRC will control it even with shot encoders.

The encoders were made by CTS, the pot company. They are obsolete, but if enough of you want them, they could be made again.

Glad you responded, Jim. If anyone knows it would be you! You modded my LXP-1 way back when and it remained my favorite effects unit until it became unreliable for live use. I should dig it out and give it a try again.

I relied heavily for quite some time on the LXP-1 and a ReFlex both controlled by one MRC. Very elegant low cost effects at the time.
Now I use a pair of TC effects in my live rig... nice but nowhere near as sweet.
L

[ResonantMind]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Midi and the discontinued Lexicon MRC will control it even with shot encoders.

The encoders were made by CTS, the pot company. They are obsolete, but if enough of you want them, they could be made again.

How many is enough? After doing some research, seems like a lot of people have these units and after 10-15 years most have gone faulty. I think manufacturing a limited number of replacement kits and putting them on the market would be a good thing. I would buy it.

*edit*

Also, what mods do you perform on this Jim?

[ResonantMind]

bUMP

maybe a replacement can be found here? http://ca.mouser.com/Passive-Compone...FRRSgwodZw6DTQ

[ResonantMind]

One last bump on this one, hoping to get some info to save my little guy.

[partnering]

i've seen some lxp5 midi editor programs online. some synthpage has links and some guy's page had a link to a zipped program file of some sorts. might be able to control it via midi. I know a program called sound quest can supposedly control a ton of midi gear.

[rockmanrock]

Knurled shafts but these will do the job with new knobs I think:

16 Position Way Rotary Encoder Switch CTS 288-S0084 | eBay

You could grind a flat on the shafts to get the original knobs on.

[effitall]

I've looked the encoders up before. As Jim stated..They're a CTS part. CTS still has documentation for that series on their website (at least they did).

My suggestion...

Look at the part number on the Lexicon encoder...Search for it on the CTS site (you might have to just search the series which should be the first 2-3 numbers) and get the specs. The find a replacement that will physically fit the front panel. I doubt you'll find an exact replacement, so if you can match up the shaft and the faceplate...You can just jump some wires to the PCB where the old one mounted.

As for the pots...

I decided I wanted to use mine as "wet" boxes and not bother with the mix. I jump the board to be 100% wet and never looked back. Just watch your levels on the sends to it and you'll be fine.

I know that technically it doesn't "repair" the unit...But it does make the unit usable. The problem is that the parts you need are unobtainium.

[wellwisher]

I love my LXP5 and have two units; both with faulty rotary switches. These pots are sealed but you can still get them open. I have extended the life of mine by periodically prying open the switches enough to spray some cleaner in there. I used canned air to blow any debris out after I spray the cleaner. After I put it back together I rotate the knobs for about 5 minutes and they work fine. Usually they become unresponsive if the unit has set for a long period of time, say weeks for example, and I rotate the knobs for a minute or two and they start working again. I am going to clean one of the unit's switches tonight and will post again with the results. -Roy

[wellwisher]

Well, I just finished opening up the rotary switches on my LXP 5 and cleaning them. This time it did not help. I even tried increasing the pressure of the contacts against the contact surface, but to no avail. It looks like they were really designed for only so much use. They say 50,000 contacts; well who knows. I did purchase some of the rotary switches from the e bay seller listed in rockmanrock's post. I know they have the wrong shaft type, but they seem to be the same as the ones in the LXP5 otherwise. I'll post when I receive them and have them installed if they will fit. Until then, happy hunting. A word of caution, if you do decide to try and clean the switches in your unit, be very careful not to stick anything inside the switch to pry it open as you will probably bend the contact points; they are very delicate. You might be able to spray some cleaner in there without doing too much work. Just pry back the tabs, open the switch a crack and spray. Then rotate the knob for a few minutes. It did get me an extra year or so out of mine.

[partnering]

I've seen some lxp5 midi editors. if you need to control the unit from computer.
One here is a win95 app that did appear to run on my winxp machine.
It has somewhat of a graphic interface.

Lexicon - Synth Zone

[wellwisher]

OK, as promised, a report on the rotary encoders that I got from eBay through the above link. 16 Position Way Rotary Encoder Switch CTS 288-S0084 | eBay

I removed the old encoders easily with a soldering iron and a tool for sucking up the melted solder. (don't know what it is called but it worked well) A vacuum cleaner might work too, and I didn't try using copper wick. These switches are an exact fit and the unit is now running like new. The only problem with these switches are the shafts. The originals are flat on one side and these are for a different type of knob. However, I managed to route out the original knobs to fit these shafts. I'll be getting a few spares of these. The above listing has ended but I think the seller will be listing some more in the future. From my online research it looks like CTS does indeed still manufacture these switches and with the flat-on-one-side shafts too. The old part numbers appear to be obsolete. My original switches were stamped ROC (Republic of China) which is on Taiwan. The current CTS switches are not made in Taiwan. Now that I know these eBay switches will work, I will contact CTS and ask for the same thing but with flat on one side shafts. I'll let you know what I come up with. GREAT to have my LXP5 back! -Roy

[ResonantMind]

Originally Posted by wellwisher

OK, as promised, a report on the rotary encoders that I got from eBay through the above link. 16 Position Way Rotary Encoder Switch CTS 288-S0084 | eBay

I removed the old encoders easily with a soldering iron and a tool for sucking up the melted solder. (don't know what it is called but it worked well) A vacuum cleaner might work too, and I didn't try using copper wick. These switches are an exact fit and the unit is now running like new. The only problem with these switches are the shafts. The originals are flat on one side and these are for a different type of knob. However, I managed to route out the original knobs to fit these shafts. I'll be getting a few spares of these. The above listing has ended but I think the seller will be listing some more in the future. From my online research it looks like CTS does indeed still manufacture these switches and with the flat-on-one-side shafts too. The old part numbers appear to be obsolete. My original switches were stamped ROC (Republic of China) which is on Taiwan. The current CTS switches are not made in Taiwan. Now that I know these eBay switches will work, I will contact CTS and ask for the same thing but with flat on one side shafts. I'll let you know what I come up with. GREAT to have my LXP5 back! -Roy

Thank you! Should have subscribed to this tread as I missed these posts till now!

I think every LXP5 will be having these problems by now, so it seems from what I've read.

[Jim Williams]

I talked to CTS at Namm. They still make 4 quadrant encoders, but you must make up the part # from their codes. Minimums are 500 pieces. Unless they still have old stock, that is what will be needed. They had no memory of the Lexicon parts.

[ResonantMind]

500 / 3 rotary encoders (LXP has 3) = 167 LXP-5s.

Considering many people have 2 of the same or one LXP-5 and one LXP-1. (I plan on getting an LXP-1 in addition to my 5)

167 / 2 per user = 83 users.

It's not a totally unrealistic number, there's still lots of these out there in use, lots go up on ebay.

How much for 500 of them Jim?

[rockmanrock]

I'd be interested in some spares, if they're not too pricey. I used the Ebay ones on a Microverb too. Lexicon Alex, Reflex, Jam Man etc use these as well.

[dandeurloo]

Jim did they say how much they would be at that quantity? I have mine here that you modded and I would hate to see it go down with out parts around.

[ResonantMind]

What kind of mods does Jim do to the LXP series?

[subspace]

I've got two LXP-5s and an LXP-1, but I use an MRC for editing them. The encoders went bad ages ago but I used the Lexicon diagnostic routine to find working positions and left them set there. Here's the diagnostic:

The following diag lets you identify "good" settings for your knobs that will let you use your MRC and not have the LXP-5 change stuff on you.
1) Unplug the unit from the wall 2) Plug it back while holding the Learn button in. 3) Release the Learn button (no lights will be on at this point). 4) Turn the Preset knob to "Edit B" 5) Press and Release the Learn button (the LED will be RED now). 6) Set all three rotary switches (Preset, ????, Adjust) to the same * *position. I started from Bypass, Min, Min. 7) If the LED is green, this is a good setting for the LXP-5. * *If the LED is red, this combo of positions is hosed. 8) Move all three rotary switches to the next position and observe the * *color of the LED. Green = Good. Red = Bad. 9) Repeat step 8 until you have checked all 16 positions. Remember, for * *the test to work, all three switches must in the same position.

[nebus]

Originally Posted by wellwisher

OK, as promised, a report on the rotary encoders that I got from eBay through the above link. 16 Position Way Rotary Encoder Switch CTS 288-S0084 | eBay

I removed the old encoders easily with a soldering iron and a tool for sucking up the melted solder. (don't know what it is called but it worked well) A vacuum cleaner might work too, and I didn't try using copper wick. These switches are an exact fit and the unit is now running like new. The only problem with these switches are the shafts. The originals are flat on one side and these are for a different type of knob. However, I managed to route out the original knobs to fit these shafts. I'll be getting a few spares of these. The above listing has ended but I think the seller will be listing some more in the future. From my online research it looks like CTS does indeed still manufacture these switches and with the flat-on-one-side shafts too. The old part numbers appear to be obsolete. My original switches were stamped ROC (Republic of China) which is on Taiwan. The current CTS switches are not made in Taiwan. Now that I know these eBay switches will work, I will contact CTS and ask for the same thing but with flat on one side shafts. I'll let you know what I come up with. GREAT to have my LXP5 back! -Roy

Thanks for the link. just ordered some for my LXP1 - should keep it going for another few years

I'd also love to hear from people who've had Jim hotrod their LXP1s - how did they find it after? Perhaps a description of the sonic differences after the mod?

[tinn]

Originally Posted by ResonantMind

Took a LXP-5 to my local repair shop and said they'd need the exact rotary encoders to fix the unit and can't get parts.

So, what's the solution? Seems like a lot of people have this problem with these particular units so is there no way to organize a group-buy for a replacement kit of pots/encoders that can be special ordered? Or do we just throw these units in the garbage and have them end up in uncovered landfills in India/China.

My solution:
The original 288 switch is an inverted GRAY-CODE encoder.
This ist rare. You can use a standard GRAY CODE encoder and
modify the circuit slightly.
connect the common pin to the +5V rail instead of ground
and replace the 4 pull up resistors with pull down resistors.

Cheers, tinn

additional info I made for replacing the original switch, check the different pinout of the Data Pins,
the new switches are smaller and connected by 5 short wires
switches are available from Grayhill or ELMA.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/iyviev