PCM42 - Lexicon's EPIC Digital Delay Processor

[@GaryInThailand]

I'm Gary Hall, project leader of the Lexicon PCM42 original development, and I approve this message! 😆

[@hiwattmarshall]

Thank you Gary, your comment might be my favourite on the channel 🙏🤟🏻 You, and your team literally built the coolest piece of gear I’ve ever known, THANK YOU ❤ -hw

[@JHSynth]

Been thinking about getting the 4ms DLD for a while, this video makes me want to get it now.

[@Hyperslob]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@yashnu]

Hi Gary, I am trying to retrace Christopher Moore's steps. Do you know how much involvement he had in the original Prime Time 93 (released in 1978) when he was at Lexicon (from 1973 to 1977 at least) if at all?

[@GaryInThailand]

@@yashnu When I joined Lexicon in late 1977, Chris had recently left the company. The PrimeTime development had started a few months before and I imagine that he had some input into the feature set definition. But I don't think it was close to his heart, since his first product at Ursa Major was the Space Station SST-282 with quite a different architecture and feature set.

[@DrakDeth]

i found your video about setting up studio monitors a while ago in part of my deep research of what monitors to get and how to deal with my less than ideal studio, just a result in a search, but just didn't realize you were a skinny puppy producer til i was looking up skinny puppy live videos to get hype for their farewell tour. now i'm going through and watching all your production videos. amazing stuff, thank you.

[@Projacked1]

I finally , finally know where that special distortion sound comes from in your mixing.... Definitely something special.

[@ApexDubb]

Came back to rewatch this video. Merry Christmas Ken, I hope you’re doing well🤘🏻

[@hiwattmarshall]

Merry Christmas to you too @ApexDub 🤟🏻❄️ Keep rockin my friend, I hope life is good 🙏 ❤️hiwatt

[@SynaMax]

Excellent stuff as always, hiwatt! I fell in love with these Lexicon digital delays after seeing Ogre using the PCM41 on the "Ain't It Dead Yet?" concert video.

[@danielconrad764]

Great video! General consensus among guitarists is that the PCM 42 blasts the PCM 41 out of the water for at least three reasons: (1) the 42 had the display screen so you can dial in exact millisecond delay (key if you are running two in series or parallel), (2) the 42 has way longer delay trails than 41 and (3) the limiter adds amazing colour to the tone when you hotrod the front end, as you noted.

[@hiwattmarshall]

I'm so excited you shared this @danielconrad764 , I appreciate it very much 🤟🏻🙏🏻 Such awesome insight, and I LOVE that guitarists agree!!! The PCM42 will always have a space in my rack haha!!! Have a great weekend @danielconrad764 , thanks again! -hw

[@Pete_Logic]

All hail the aural ooze machine!! I can’t believe how familiar this sound is! I’ve said for years that I “play hardware & effects” to my friends and here you are once again preaching the sonic gospel! Have a great weekend Holy HiWatt!!

[@PinkZeller]

Thanks man, bought this a couple years ago and back then there was no good video on this! 🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽

[@TheAmazingSnarf]

thanks for sharing *yet another* box of magic today, Ken! i have two different rack effect units from 1991-92 that i still use whenever i get up to something that requires that special, lo-fi grit that just can't seem to come from my more modern boxes. something very special about the rackmount gear from that period. now, if i could only keep them out of the shop for their internal battery replacements... =)

[@StanleyPat1968]

Thx for your ideas - very inspiring - greets from Switzerland

[@stanislavzalevskyi3968]

Amazing and inspiring as always! Big thanks for your tutorials, Ken!

[@Black_Agent_Seattle]

YES YES YES!!! Thanks for this one! I don't have the 42 as prices for them are way out of control, but i do have the PCM41, and the SDD-1000 and love them to death! The feedback on my 41 doesn't self oscillate though, i wish it did. The feedback on the SDD-1000 does however, and it glorious! Keep the output at a manageable level, and it will just go and go and go. Play with the delay time factor knob, and instant Ain't It Dead Yet sounds. I did this at a show we played last night, and it sounds just... wicked. And you are right, nothing beats grabbing those knobs and just working those delays for what they're worth.

[@adamt5]

Greetings from Richmond! It's been a while since Myspace and really appreciating these production vids! I remember Mr. Key mentioning this unit in early SP interviews. I feel the same about my Boss SE-70 effects processor haha which I believe they may have used on TG and things. I haven't messed with this one but it's always amazing how much can be done with delay and enough imagination. Thanks

[@sunnyschramm9650]

its amazing - so sad its not available for such a long time now. all people in my creative music-bubble wants one :D do somebody know if the virtual knobs / parameter can be all CC controlled in the plugin-version?

[@boskjoldborg9820]

Yes you can do that. I hooked up a Akai MPK mini to control the PSP42. But it still does not beat the feeling of turning knobs on my pcm41 :-)

[@joeltaylor2830]

Like a lot of people commenting, I've been looking for one for a while, but the prices now are through the roof (for a good reason, as you demonstrate). I've recently seen the OTO BIM delay. It emulates those early 'good' digital delays and even has a (switchable) limiter section. I'm not sure how it compares in an A/B with a PCM-42, but it appears to be one of the closest alternatives around at the moment.

[@shapeofshadows]

I would love to have one of these. Shame they arent made anymore. I do have a software emulation so I guess thats something.

[@MPHORROCKS]

Is the delay mono/stereo? I'm confused, sorry.

[@adams5989]

Great video. Where do you show the reversed delay / build up effect?

[@urrrccckostan]

Did Jane’s Addiction use one of these on vocals, I’m guessing?

[@dxtrs_mnpltr]

Does anyone know where can I get spare pots (shafts) for the 42?

[@boskjoldborg9820]

Thanks Ken- very informative and inspiring. What is your take on the plugin version sound compared to the real thing?

[@time4anew1]

see the last part about "real knobs"

[@nsjx]

PSP 🤘 excellent tools

[@djGreenALERT]

I think I finally know, thanks to you Ken where that early Prodigy Drum Distortion sound came from. Ohmicide has got me close, but still no cigar!

[@Black_Agent_Seattle]

Ive never tried slamming the input on my 41, i'm gonna have to try this.

[@christopherokeefe5734]

Fucking bad ass man...hell yeah..I never knew what made those bad ass sounds on those Skinny Puppy records.😮

[@lowgradesignal9046]

Sounds like good fun

[@christianoldewolbers7243]

what up Ken!!!!! been a long time since Archetype

[@hiwattmarshall]

Christian!!!! The LEGEND 🤟🏻🔥 What a privilege, thanks for dropping in my friend! I had a great time working with you on that album...your guitar tones are one of a kind 😆💥🙏🏻 Take care, I hope we cross paths again one day ;-) -hw

[@DH-fu7bx]

Hey Ken, I have a question. I'm starting to do some file management 101 and I'm wondering if it would be wise to store my vst libraries/ sample libraries on a second external harddrive. Is this a good idea? With kind regards, D

[@hiwattmarshall]

Absolutely D H, great question 🙏 I’ve got (almost) all my libraries on an external ssd, and backed up in two places…highly recommended! Thanks for sharing here, I appreciate it! Have a great week! -hw

[@0megalul309]

Holy amazeballs

[@privateer0561]

Who fixes them when they break? Chips are unavailable. Steve Morse swore by these but stopped using them because he could not get them fixed.

[@marcusdolby1]

Simple, Beamish Electronics in Cleveland is the place.

[@eancurtis9333]

Awesome

[@maxkatz6366]

how the heck can you be so prescient? i am getting my dirty little mitts on a Yamaha Spx 900 in 24 hours... ( yeah i know it isn't an PCM 42! :D) but your clip definitely is inspiring... I am looking forward to making noise !

[@Black_Agent_Seattle]

I have the SPX-900, wise choice.

[@maxkatz6366]

@@Black_Agent_Seattle thank you! i was hoping to get the SPX 90.. but this came along instead :)

[@societylost4344]

That sounded knarley!

[@SpendCroof]

Wtf. Come down man. What a exciting 🤣🤣🤣

[@martinfay3087]

So, given a PCM42 would be really pricy, even if you could find one, and old enough to by risky in terms of maintenance… is there a modern alternative with at least has a similar limiting behaviour? (To Ken, any of you, and for me to research…)

[@Black_Agent_Seattle]

Nothing that i know of, why companies don't make more of this is beyond me. They're obviously still in high demand. I'd like to see Korg remake the SDD-1000, in it's original form, NOT a pedal, like they did with the 3000. The SDD-1000 is probably the most affordable of the classic digital delays, but it's no PCM41/42. But they still sound great, and sampling!

[@martinfay3087]

It’s curiously missing, if I were in to hardware design I’d be tempted.

[@dustcombo]

OTO BIM. The only things it’s missing are phase inversion and envelope follower for modulation.

[@marcusdolby1]

Beamish Electronics in Cleveland can repair these.

[@ShadovvV]

Jeeezus dude.. don't cream yourself over it.

[@marcusdolby1]

It’s this kind of enthusiasm that sparks success.

[@ChadIattoni]

Cool stuff! Am i the only one bothered by how he talks with his hands though 😅

[@dr.feelicks2051]

Cv mod✌️

[@R_A_V_E_R_X]

Saddened to hear about the authoritarianism happening in your nation. Stay safe, sir.

[@hoover728]

Oh piss off with that freedumb convoy bullshit, it’s just a Trojan horse for white nationalist fascism.

[@time4anew1]

...and if you buy a PCM42 using the links in the description you'll really help the channel! 🤣