IS there any point in using a digital chorus effect?
 

Well, Ive been trying out my lexicon 550 with a Prophet 5. The reverbs and delays are nice enough......apparently chorus and flange are supposed to be pretty damn good too. But I have to say.....that whenever I use the chorus on the Prophet 5...it sounds pretty shite to me. It has a dry, grainy muddiness......nothing like the silky smooth, warm 'n' wet Roland Juno 60 chorus. Well I guess this must be the difference between analog effects and digital ones. I'm actually very disapointed with the chorus on the lexicon....I dont think I'll be able to find much use for it. What do you guys typically use chorus for? What kind sounds (synth or otherwise).

*BTW.....in my opinion the Virus chorus sounds 'sweeter' and a little wetter than the lexicon. Just my opinion of course...

What do you guys think...

DS

Re: IS there any point in using a digital chorus effect?
 

I think you are trying to get another free t-shirt!!!! :wink:

i like to use chorus on punchy weird drum hits to make them sound wider and larger i also like to use it on pads and sometimes on short synth lines.

I don't use chorus very much but Roland JP80x0 has a good chorus and stereo delay. At least with supersaw algorithm the chorus sounds beautiful. I know the juno106 chorus which is the best one I have hear but it's very noisy. What becomes to digital chorus, TC Electronic has some great algorithms. I had an M-One and I liked the chorus very much and so did SOS review too. however I don't need chorus that much so I used the M-One mainly for the reverb & delay.

I think with the MPX series of FX units, they mainly concentrate on their reverbs/delays. I would say they put the other FX there just so the units can be a bit more versatile, but perhaps they made a compromise with the other FX (chorus).

Ah right.....

So Lexicon gear is known more for their reverbs and delays than anything else?

The Lexicon MPX550 is my first serious foray into outboard effects (I did use a Quadraverb at one point).

Is the 550 a legitimate studio piece....or is it a real bedroom effects unit?

DS

It is project studio kit, but I have also seen the MPX-550 in smaller studios racks. It is quite a good unit, but definately doesnt reside in the racks of pro studios.

You would more likely find Lexicon PCM-80/90 or of course the 480L in the bigger studios.

Still...this is not to say that it is not a good product. I would happily use a MPX-550 in my studio, and wish I hadnt wasted my money on the MPX-110

Yep! They're literally the industry standard for 'verbs.

What does 'project studio kit' actually mean?

is the MPX550 regarded as being a decent hobbyist/bedroom musician piece of gear?

I think it is btw.....

DS

budget studios....
a professional studio would use high end stuff like the tc 5.1 reverb unit or the eventide units.
500 dollars in compere to 3000-5000 dollar units... you see the difference? 8O :D i accualy think its poinless to spend so much money on effect units... its not like your entire production will sound like gold or like crap just because the reverb didnt emulate a perfect plate :)

Project studio........it's hard to put a definition on this. I dont think my Virus is project studio kit, but I reckon the Novation A-station is.

I think my Mackie 1402VLZ is project studio kit, but my Studer 169 definately isnt.

All of my mics are project studio kit.......I dont wanna say that price is a factor, but in more cases than not I think it is. Also quality comes into it.

Dont let that sway you though DS....the MPX-550 is a decent FX unit. I would not rule out buying one at some point myself.

I sold my Lexicon MPX500 as it simply didn't cut the mustard!

What did you not like about it?

DS

DS, try and get a used Boss CE-300 Superchorus off eBay. I got mine for $60, and it was the best money I ever spent on gear. It adds that beautiful Roland Glow to everything. It stomps lexicon digital chorus, it stomps the virus chorus, the ion/micron chorus, and the EH Small Clone. It is dripping with character, and it makes everything sound lush and vintage. You can also turn up the input level and overdrive it for a great lead tone. I love running my Minimoog Voyager through it for overdriven leads. Virus pads come out sounding like the 70's. $60!!!

My old Boss stereo chorus guitar pedal has a better sound than most of these new ones to my ears. Smooth and clean, warm and enveloping