SoundFNR Origin

SOUNDS FROM THE NEXT ROOM

LEXICON

Vortex database.

The Vortex database will be moving soon to www.andybutler.com, I'll keep it here for a while, but be sure to visit the new site which already features some of my music, featuring my Vortexed guitar running through a couple of Gibson Echoplexes. Lexicon are a company who specialise in digital reverberation simulators, as used in the top recording studios. At one time they decided to produce a range of cheaper processors which consisted of the Alex, Reflex, JamMan and Vortex.
The Alex is a simple to use basic reverb, excellent quality and very popular.
The Reflex is a glorified Alex with Midi control.
The JamMan is an echo/looper, now discontinued.
The Vortex is none of the above.

Actually the Vortex was discontinued before the JamMan, essentially because no-one understood what it did. They can still be bought, often at a substantial discount, although I have a feeling the price is going to go up as rarity increases.
The Vortex is a digital sound processor capable of phase, flange, chorus, tremelo, pan and vibrato effects with an analogue type sound. It is also a 2sec echo/looper or a dual 1sec echo. It can combine these effects in a number of ways.
But.... setting up any two of these sounds you can blend seemlessly from one to another by a process known as morphing, and you can do this with footpedal control.

Unfortunately it requires extensive use of the manual just to set up basic sounds, and the morphing feature can produce unexpected results (OK maybe not such a bad thing).
These pages are dedicated to making it easier for Vortex users at all levels, from those who just want to dial up a sound, to those who aim to completely understand every function. Also those who experiment at random are particularly welcome to submit their findings.

Vortex Sounds
These are mp3s for download, (right click link and 'save as'). Recorded at 160kbps for better than standard mp3 quality. The Vortex is the only FX unit used, and there's no overdubing or editing. The set up was guitar(with on board distortion) DI-ed through a TLA valve EQ into a mixer, sending out to the Vortex, and then straight to Hard Disk.
'Orbits' preset 155Kb
A leslie simulation, Lexicon seemed particularly pleased by the way the 'rotation' slows down as you hit the footswitch.
Sustaining Morph 257Kb
A stereo echo type patch which I configured so that using the footpedal I could sustain a chord, turning it into a synth-like swirl.
Odd aggressive rhythm 178Kb
The same patch as above, but a very different effect. All the noise comes from one chord struck once.
Various processing 725Kb
The Vortex modulators can produce sounds barely related to the input, in this case there is also a stereo echo of the clean signal. In the middle of this example I morph to to a combination where these 2 distinct elements intermingle.
Create texture and transform 708Kb
Here I use the pedal as a swell so I can create a texture using the onboard distortion from my guitar. Then I morph the texture into a loop of two alternating timbres. The excuse for the little guitar 'solo' over the top off this is that it shows you can have stereo processing (in this case quite subtle) while the loop is going in the background. Luckily I decided to fade out after it starts.
Swells, polyechoes, and more1393Kb
More use of the footpedal as a swell. Using related echo times in a ratio of 3:4 each note or chord becomes a rhythm. Complex interlocking patterns giving the impression of a longer delay time than is actually being used. The 7/8 figure which appears at 0:40 is a morphic rearrangement of what was going through the two echoes.
2 Panned Loops 479Kb
Here I use the mixer to send sound first to the right input of the Vortex, then the left (then both). This creates 2 loops of different lengh (ratio 2:3) which are panned independently. One of the loops has a more processed sound.

Vortex Links
LOOPERS DELIGHT
This is where I discovered the Vortex.
Search for Vortex Sales and info
NEW! Thanks to "atom" for this link, takes you to search engines and Ebay and so on, and it types in "Vortex" for you.
Todd Madson
Guitarist Todd has excerpts from Lexicon's application notes for the Vortex. Go to his section on looping.
Harmony Central
A vast muso resource with a section on effects pedals. Includes Vortex reviews.
LEXICON
They have a policy of giving support for discontinued items.
Phil Rees Music Tech
Makers of MIDI interconnection accessories, interfaces and MIDI control boxes.

If you'd like to swap reciprocal links then email me with details.

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For questions/suggestions/contributions please contact : Andy Butler
email info@andybutler.com