Lexicon 224 Review - Reviews - Music Tech Magazine

UA turns its modelling expertise to one of the finest digital reverbs ever built. Mark Cousins spaces out.

Manufacturer: Universal Audio
Website: http://www.uaudio.com

UA Lexicon 224 sampler

Following on from the successful EMT 140 Classic Plate and EMT 250 Classic Electronic Reverb modelled plug-ins, Universal Audio has now turned its attention to the prestigious Lexicon 224. The plug-in promises a sound painstakingly modelled from the performance of the original unit – complete with all the characteristic converter noise and, most importantly, the original algorithms. However, with some strong competition from Lexicon itself (with its PCM Native Reverb and LXP Native Reverb plug-ins), how does the sound of the UAD-powered 224 stack up against existing software reverbs?

Lex appeal

One of the great charms of the original Lexicon 224 was the distinctive remote control, and in this case, Universal Audio has provided an almost life-size virtual re-creation of the original unit.

Eschewing complex parameter lists that often serve more to confuse than clarify, the Lexicon 224 provides quick and easy access to the principal reverb controls as well as eight algorithm selection switches towards the top of the interface. As with the original unit, therefore, the Lexicon 224 feels like a ‘hands-on’ reverb, inviting you to tweak its parameters with immediately tangible results. Interestingly, there isn’t a global reverb time parameter, with the length of reverb instead being controlled simply between two bands – Bass and Mid.

The 224’s sound is unmistakably Lexicon, and you can see why so many of the records made in the early 80s quickly became drenched in its super-lush reverb. The output of the 224 sits in a mix perfectly: slightly dark but never boomy, warm and sumptuous throughout the entirety of its reverb tail, and always flattering any sound that passes through its signal path. Directly comparing the 224 against Lexicon’s own PCM Native proved interesting, with the current Lexicon appearing more lifelike, although possibly at the expense of some of the 224’s character. Both have their place, but we quickly found ourselves being drawn to the sonic charms of the 224.

Big ’verb

Delving a little deeper into the Lexicon 224 reveals even more of UA’s attention to detail. Most notable, of course, is the converter noise, which can be deactivated using the Sys Noise button on the interface. The initial presets all include the System Noise feature, and it undoubtedly helps in adding that ‘fluffy blanket’ of noise so often missing from today’s recordings – yes, a little noise can be a good thing! Turning off the noise, though, reveals just how good the original algorithms were in the 224, especially in the latter end of the reverb tail, which would otherwise be masked by quantization effects and the aforementioned digital grunge.

Lexicon of love?

Although there are plenty of good digital reverbs available, there’s no denying the joy of mixing with a Lexicon. Maybe it’s part nostalgia, but because the sound of Lexicon is so ingrained in recording history it’s hard not to be won over by the deep, wide blanket of reverb the 224 can add to your mix. Convolution reverbs, of course, can provide a good snapshot of the 224’s sound (a search on the ’net should reveal some usable 224 IRs), but all of them miss out on the tangible ‘tweakability’ of a genuine 224 – either in hardware or software form.

Although a fair investment, the 224 is still considerably cheaper than Lexicon’s own PCM Native Reverb. It is a significant addition to the growing appeal of the UAD system, bringing it a real world-class reverb. MTM

10/10 Verdict - A truly luxuriant feast of digital reverb. Universal Audio’s 224 plug-in elegantly captures the charm and sonic depths of the original Lexicon hardware.

WHY BUY

+ Authentic ‘Lexicon’ sound
+ Big, sumptuous reverb
+ Easy-to-use control set

WALK ON BY

- Easy to over-use!

Score: 10/10

This review first appeared in Music Tech Magazine issue 100
Filed under Reviews, Software, Software Effects

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Universal Audio Lexicon 224 Review