Lexicon® 224 Digital Reverb Plug-In

The World's Finest Emulation of the Classic Lexicon Reverb that Started it All.

From the moment it was unleashed on the audio industry in 1978, the original Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb — with its tactile, slider-based controller and famously lush reverb tail — almost single-handedly defined the sound of an entire era. It served as a major player in the sound of highly influential classics such as Talking Heads' Remain In Light, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's The Message, Vangelis' incredible Blade Runner soundtrack, U2's Unforgettable Fire, and Peter Gabriel's So. With such a refined legacy, it's no surprise that the Lexicon 224 remains one of the most popular digital reverb units of all time.

Features

• Lexicon-endorsed plug-in, using the very algorithms from the original hardware
• Models entire analog circuit and digital path for total authenticity
• 8 reverb programs and one chorus program from final Lexicon v.4.4 firmware
• Features Artist Presets from famous Lexicon 224 users
• Requires a UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Card available from authorized dealers worldwide

The result of using the very same algorithms and control processor code from the original hardware, the UAD-2 Lexicon 224 precisely captures all eight reverb programs and the chorus program — based on the Lexicon 224's final and hard-to-find firmware version 4.4. In UA's exhaustive modeling tradition, the Lexicon 224 plug-in also incorporates the original unit's input transformers and early AD/DA 12-bit gain stepping converters — nailing the entire analog and digital circuit paths right down to the last detail. 

Additionally, the Lexicon 224 emulation for UAD-2 features direct input and presets from famous Lexicon 224 users, including Chuck Zwicky (Prince, Jeff Beck), Eli Janney (Jet, Ryan Adams), David Isaac (Eric Clapton, Luther Vandross), E.T. Thorngren (Talking Heads, Bob Marley), and Kevin Killen (U2, Peter Gabriel).

History
Developed by renowned physicist/engineer Dr. David Griesinger, the Lexicon 224 is the most ubiquitous and best-selling studio digital reverb ever made. The original 224 was a landmark achievement in digital reverb and served as the very product to put Lexicon on the studio map — and a remote control on every console. The 224's Concert Hall A program is considered to be one of the finest reverbs ever made, and its plate programs practically defined the 80's drum sound.

Parameters
Every tunable parameter from the original is present in the Lexicon 224 plug-in, and exposed as dedicated controls — inviting easy experimentation and sonic exploration. All seven algorithms/nine programs are available under the Program selection. Lexicon’s distinctive Bass/Mid “split decay” adjustments and Crossover control set the highly tunable reverb image, along with the Treble Decay for rolling off high frequencies. Depth sets the apparent distance between source and reverb, while Predelay produces a short delay between the sound source and the onset of reverberation. Diffusion affects how quickly the echo density in the reverb builds up over time.

For total authenticity, the UAD-2 only System Noise control enables or disables the inherent dynamic system noise of the original Lexicon 224 hardware. Specifically, disabling System Noise enables a more modern (i.e., cleaner) sound, removing the modeled gain stepping, parameter zippering, and quiescent noise. The unique Lexicon 224 Mode Enhancement and Decay Optimization controls improve reverb clarity. For insert use, the UAD-2 only Dry/Wet and Solo parameters control the effect mix within the plug-in.

Clicking the “OPEN” text to the right of the display panel exposes several hidden controls, including Input/Ouput gain and Pitch Shift, and even a selectable “Bug Fix” mode which enables/disables historical bugs fixes from the Hall B and Chorus programs.

Taken together, the Lexicon 224 emulation for UAD-2 is the world’s most exhaustive and authentic model of a true studio classic.

Lexicon® 224 Digital Reverb Plug-In

Features:

• Lexicon-endorsed, using the very algorithms from the orginal harware
• Models entire analog circuit and digital path for total authenticity
• Eight reverb programs and one chorus program from final Lexicon v.4.4 firmware
• Features Artist Presets from famous Lexicon 224 users
• All of the original parameters maintained including unique Lexicon Bass/Mid split decay and Mode Enhancement
• Plug-in only features such as Dry/Wet Mix and System Noise defeat/enable
• Requires a UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Card available from authorized dealers worldwide

See the UAD Instance Chart here

Product Parameters:

• Final and complete v4.4 firmware with the following programs:
• 1: Small Concert Hall B
• 2: Vocal Plate
• 3: Large Concert Hall B
• 4: Acoustic Chamber
• 5: Percussion Plate A
• 6: Small Concert Hall A
• 7: Room A
• 8: Constant Density Plate A
• Chorus A (shift + click any program button)
• Bass — reverb decay of 0.6 to 70 seconds below crossover frequency
• Mid — reverb decay of 0.6 to 70 seconds above crossover frequency
• Crossover — sets crossover point between Bass and Mid between 100 Hz and 10.9 kHz
  
• Treble Decay — sets the high frequency decay cutoff between 100 Hz and 10.9 kHz
  
• Depth — sets the effective distance between source and reverb with a range of 0 - 71
  
• Predelay — sets delay before onset of reverberation between 0 and 255 ms (actual range determined by selected program)
  
• Reverb Diffusion — sets diffusion amount between 1 and 63
  
• Mode Enhancement — Off/On improves the naturalness of the sound of the 224 reverb programs preventing modes from ringing in the reverb tail
  
• Enhance cycle — sets Mode Enhance range between 1 and 16 (smaller values give a more dramatic effect)
  
• Pitch Shift cycle — secondary Mode Enhance parameter, range between 1 and 16
  
• Decay Optimization — Off/On reduces the coloration in the decay of the 224 reverb programs
  
• Optimize cycle — sets the decay Optimize range between 1 and 16 (smaller values give a more dramatic effect)
  
• Immediate — enables parameter persistence when switching programs
  
• System Noise — Off/On toggles noise components such as AD/DA conversion and gain stepping, parameter zippering and quiescent noise
  
• Rear Outs — switches “A and C” 224 hardware outputs to “B and D” 224 hardware outputs
  
• Dry/Wet Mix — continuously blends between dry signal and effected signal in 1% or 0.1% increments
  
• Wet Solo — overrides Dry/Wet mix control and solos effected signal
  
• Open/Close — allows access to Lexicon 224 hidden parameters:
  • Input Gain — adjustable input gain from -12 to +12 dB
  • Output Level — adjustable output level ∞ to +12 dB
  • Link — links left/right Gain and Level controls for continuously matched left/right balance
  • Display Hold — allows user to switch between 1.5 seconds and infinite LED numerical display hold for last changed parameter
  • Bug Fixes — Clicking “UA” logo allows the user to enable/disable bugs in the original Lexicon code found in the Hall B and Chorus programs
  • Power — enables/disables entire 224 plug-in
• Numerical Value Display — three character numeric LED displays current parameter values for most 224 parameters
  
• LED value display — indicates parameter type associated with Numerical Value Display when applicable
  
• Left/Right LED Metering — six segment LED metering with -24, -18, -12, -6, 0 dB range
  
• Overflow LED — displays processor overflow that may occur with heavy input or certain parameter settings
   

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  Grammy-Winning Engineer Darrell Thorp

  Marsha Vdovin hears how UA hardware and UAD Powered Plug-Ins are instrumental in his high profile engineering projects. Read more

  

  Rik Simpson

  Rik Simpson has engineered, produced, or mixed hit artist such as Jay Z, PJ Harvey, and Portisthead, but his latest project was producing Coldplay's latest album, Mylo Xyloto. Read more

UA 2011 Product Catalog.pdf

UAD Manual.pdf

UAD-2 Included Plug-Ins Chart.pdf