H3000 & PCM70 side by side?

[HSLand]

I've got an H3000, but I still fancy getting a PCM70 just for icing on the cake. Can I even justify purchasing a PCM70 since I've got an H3000? I feel like that may be spoiling myself a bit much. My studio could use a few other things and I'm thinking of letting the H3000 suffice until I can't find anything else to buy.

Is the PCM70 worth having alongside the H3000, or will the H3000 pretty much take care of everything?

[tubeaudiofan]

Different beasts and some of my favorite mid 1985/87 purchases... still use them!

[seanmccoy]

Originally Posted by HSLand

Is the PCM70 worth having alongside the H3000, or will the H3000 pretty much take care of everything?

Yes. And no. The H3000 is a monster box for delays and modulation, and its short reverbs are nice, but I never have liked its longer verbs. The PCM70 is, as has been mentioned, a different beast altogether, and IMO has far superior reverbs. If a Bricasti or one of the Lexicon "king reverbs" isn't on your shopping list, I'd go for a PCM70.

[HSLand]

Yeah, I can't afford a high end unit like the M7 or a 480. I'll most likely end up getting the PCM70. I'm curious as to how they compare so I guess I'll find that out in the future.

[robertshaw]

If you have an H3000 you don't really need a 70. For starters 70 is a noisy unit. It has some classic reverbs but if you buy an lxp 1 and 5 with MRC you are pretty much there for most of the verb flavors and the chorus for under $250. 70 was a legendary unit in 1986 or whenever it came out but its not that great by todays standards. I have 1 but I will prolly dump it. If you can get one for 400 or whatever it may be worth it otherwise it's not worth what some people are still asking.

[Empty Planet]

Ick. I have to disagree with the idea that a PCM70 can be replaced by Lexi's low-end modern units.

Not even close.

IMHO, of course.

Clean specs, no sex.

To the OP, I think the pairing of those units is a fine one, but you may want to just get the H3000 and sit with it a while. It has lots of verbs, they're just of a very particular flavor. You might want to see if they do it for you, or if you want the silkier lush Lexi thing. Just different flavors, is the upshot.

Good luck with it, either way.



Cheers.

[seanmccoy]

Originally Posted by Empty Planet

Ick. I have to disagree with the idea that a PCM70 can be replaced by Lexi's low-end modern units.

Not even close.

IMHO, of course.

Clean specs, no sex.

Agreed. In ancient days, in addition to the PCM70, I had an LXP-1 and LXP-5 (with the requiste MRC) and an LXP-15 II. The LXP's are decent units, but mine are all gone now while the 70 remains. It has a richness and vibe the lower end units did not.

[robertshaw]

Originally Posted by Empty Planet

Ick. I have to disagree with the idea that a PCM70 can be replaced by Lexi's low-end modern units.

"Lexi's low-end modern units" Lxp 1 and 5 came out 3 years after pcm 70 and was released. that was 23 years ago.... modern? hmmmmm.....

but they have the same algorithms so they are essentially the same in the sound dept, The only software difference is the register manipulation but with midi or mrc you can get 75% the way there.

70 is good but again it's noisy and doesn't have stereo inputs. lxp stuff is much quieter. Firmware is free it cost them nothing to use use the same algorithms in the lxp as as in the 70. One could argue the analog and a/d d/a conversion are not the same but that's a different debate. An since the lxps are cleaner I'm not sure there is a debate

The old lexi mystique is all hype in this century anyway The only advantage of the 70 over the 'low-end' stuff is you think its different it's not much different other than registers. They use the same basic software/firmware.

no one hates cheap lowend gear more than me, but LXP series is not lowend it may be low priced
perhaps you've confused the the two? I personally know the guy who designed the original units and
naturally he told me the story whole scoop behind them and where they cut corners to enter the 'musican' home studio markets pooping up at the time, not that I couldn't just hear the difference myself
I hope you can and there is not much difference in sound quality except one unit is nosier.

[hernanperez2000]

Originally Posted by Empty Planet

Ick. I have to disagree with the idea that a PCM70 can be replaced by Lexi's low-end modern units.

Not even close.

I agree. pcm70 is in another league.

[DarkSky Media]

Originally Posted by seanmccoy

Yes. And no ... The PCM70 is, as has been mentioned, a different beast altogether ...

That about sums it up. Both boxes have their uses. No harm in having both, in fact, if your budget allows!

[Space Station]

Those long h3000 reverbs sound great on those verve albums that john leckie recorded.

[elambo]

Originally Posted by HSLand

Is the PCM70 worth having alongside the H3000, or will the H3000 pretty much take care of everything?

H3000 has great FX but it won't take care of reverb. Not its strong suit. The PCM70 has the opposite characteristics, so side-by-side is my vote.