■ Overview
1 rack stand unit similar to jamman (an odd looper with amiga ZIP ram If I remember) pretty short too, easy to transport. It uses typical AC-AC Psu from Lexicon. Pretty simple numeric display which is very basic for edit and sometimes, cryptic. Some quite simple in and out unbalanced jacks jack format, but for some, incredibly dumb reasons, there are NO midi I-O. Maybe the biggest issues of the machine. The Vortex is a true-stereo processor, where the left and right inputs are processed independently in most effects
■Sounds
You have a list of effects, you choose 2 of them, the vortex will just morph from the first algorithm to the second. Lexicon morphing is a complete parametric and algorithmic restructuring of two independent effects,not a simple crossfade and you can morph between any two effects you have created. The job can be done triggering a button or controlled with an expression pedal in real-time. The rate at which a FXA morphs to a FXB can be set manually for a max time of 10 seconds.
To morph you have to choose between two banks of 16 presets (+two banks of user modified effects); each effects can be modulation and delay elements, and all share the main rotary encoder of 16 parameters. The FX are mostly echoes, flangers, modulations, choruses, leslie but you can't really edit them deeply (see list below).
■ EFFECTS
REFLEXION: A detuned stereo echo algorithms, where the amount of detuning is controlled by the signal envelope. In the Bank B version, the envelope detuning effect has different settings
ATMOSPHERE: A combination of stereo echo and vibrato. Here also the B version uses a different algorithm, which combines tuned resonators with echoes and modulation. Envelope increases the modulation rate as the input signal increases in level.
ORBITS: This pair of patches provides a kind of rotary leslie
CENTRIFUGE: combined echo + leslie patch, where the signal envelope affects modulation rate and resonance.
AEROSOL: Modulation followed by echo with feedback from two different values, allowing to create complex effects
MOSAIC: it's an echo with panning and modulation effects and back to panning.
MAZE: the mono input is panned into two echo modules routed toward left the two cahnnels.
DUO: Feedback echo in one channel followed by complex vibrato modulation.
DEJA VU: Echo + panning
CHOIR: it features the psychoacustic Haas effect block followed by chorus + echo.
SHIMMER: A cross‑resonance modulator with final tremolo, which in turn feeds two echo blocks panned left and right-
SWEEP: Stereo glide combined with stereo echo produces a dynamic detuning effect with echo.
SHADOW: a kind of tape echo simulation, where envelope decreases both the echo feedback and the echo output level.
CYCLOID: A stereo echo t where the tone of the signals feeding the echo blocks is continually fed different
BLEEN: resonator with amplitude modulation, followed by echo and finally panning.
FRACTAL: Another echo, pan and glide, which creates a special stereo effect.
■ FX parameters
Echo 2
Echo 1
Envelope
Morph A/B
Echo FX Level
Mod FX Level
Output
Mix
Resonance 2
Depth 2
Rate 1
Resonance 1
Depth 1
Rate 1
Feedback 2
Feedback 1