In 1971, the audio industry was revolutionized with Lexicon's launch of the first commercially available digital audio product, the Delta-T 101 Digital Time Delay. During the three ensuing decades, Lexicon digital signal processing would become the world-recognized standard for quality and versatility in time-domain digital effects.

Lexicon's innovative reverberation and effects algorithms, developed by some of the foremost researchers and engineers in the industry, continued with the ground-breaking Model 224 Digital Effects System. Its successor, the flagship 480L, has been a hallmark in the audio production industry for more than fifteen years - an unprecedented length of time in the rapidly changing world of professional audio. Lexicon processors have stood the test of time.

Lexicon continues its tradition of innovation and quality in world-class digital audio processing with the introduction of the 960L Multi-channel Digital Effects System. This Is The Future.

Multi-channel sound is home ground for Lexicon. For almost as long as it has been a leader in professional digital audio technology, Lexicon has also been at the forefront of consumer audio - its line of digital controllers and processors have become the envy of the consumer electronics industry. With products like the award-winning DC-2 and MC-1 Digital Surround Sound Controllers, Lexicon established itself as the leader in the home entertainment industry.

No wonder, then, that Lexicon is the foremost leader in surround effects systems for the new age of surround-sound digital audio production: with the 960L Multichannel Digital Effects System.

A look inside the 960L's 4-unit rack-mounting mainframe will show you Lexicon's platform for the new millennium. Everything about the 960L says "future expansion." The 960L you buy today is capable of being upgraded for years to come, adding new functions and features as they become available or desired. The heart of the 960L is an upgradable DSP powerhouse with eight analog and digital inputs and outputs as standard. For users who work in all-digital environments, a "digital-only" I/O version (960L/D) is also available. The analog audio interface is fully-balanced with 24-bit, 96 kHz conversion, and there's AES/EBU digital I/O plus MIDI and word-clock in/out/thru. Plenty of room has been left to add interfacing options - for both additional I/O and control.

A multiple D/A converter approach ensures that the noise floor is in line with the enviable performance of the DSP section. And it is here that the true capabilities of the 960L are hidden. A single DSP card carries a combination of the latest incarnation of Lexicon's proprietary LSI Lexichips™ and other industry standard DSP devices. These allow the 960L to be configured as a five-in/five-out plus two-in/five-out, 44.1/48 kHz surround reverb system or Ð four completely independent stereo machines or - a single 88.2/96 kHz system. When an optional, second DSP Reverb card is added to the system, the "DSP horsepower" doubles; this second card provides the potential of eight stereo or four surround reverbs at 48 kHz, or four stereo and two surrounds at 96 kHz. Since each reverb card can be configured separately, various combinations of reverb configurations are available, such as four stereos and 2 surrounds at 48 kHz or two stereos and one surround at 96kHz. With the second DSP card added, a total of sixteen independent inputs are available. Because the I/O is "mappable," the engineer has the ability to mix and match inputs and outputs in numerous configurations. Any DSP card input (as well as DSP output) may be routed to any physical output. For example, eight channels may be dedicated to one reverb DSP card while the other eight channels dedicated to the second. In fact, the 960L could be set-up as a 16 in X 16 out digital-only processor. Perhaps the most important and powerful capability of two DSP cards is the ability to cascade from one to the other. All inputs can be extensively panned and mixed Ð eliminating the absolute need to upgrade or invest in a new multi-channel console with dedicated surround panning. A CD-ROM drive allows for software upgrades to be added as easily as slipping in a disc.

The concept behind the smooth new surround and stereo algorithms of the 960L lies at the very heart of the machine: in Lexicon's unique Three-Dimensional Perceptual Modeling - or 3DPMª. This new approach to reverberation sets the 960L distinctly apart from conventional physical modeling techniques. The smoothest sounding surround-sound reverb must not only work effectively in a sophisticated 5.1 audio environment, but also in stereo and even mono, without artifacts.

The secret: rather than simply model physical spaces, you model instead what the ear and brain hear, and expect to hear, about them because in many cases, the modeling of real spaces compromises the quality of the listening experience. Reverberation energy within the first 300 milliseconds contains crucial auditory information. Proper utilization of psychoacoustic mechanisms during this time period are vital to creating spaciousness and depth without compromising the intelligibility and clarity of the sound source. The 960L's carefullycrafted 3DPM algorithms take these important factors into account and consistently out-perform traditional physical modeling techniques. For the first time the 960L's virtual surround spaces can sound even better than the real thing.

Thanks to a virtually complete de-correlation of reverb elements, the 960L's unique algorithms ensure those natural-sounding surround reverbs work equally well in stereo and mono - where, let's face it, much of your recordings will still be heard for years to come.

What's outside the mainframe is equally as impressive as what's inside - because the 960L is controlled by the LARC2 - a completely new remote with a vast array of new features.

At the center of the LARC2are two elements: eight touch-sensitive motorized faders and a superb high-resolution color LCD display. Between these are eight soft keys associated with the display, a numeric keypad, cursor control, illuminated function keys, and a compact joystick. Above the bright screen are three LEDs for each channel which give you a quick and clear level indication.



The high-resolution LCD display is easy to read, colorful and large enough to display machine status plus all the parameters for a preset, making it simple to cursor to the specific parameter you need to change. While the shorthand labels above the faders will be familiar to existing 480L LARC users, the parameter is fully described when selected and there is a full description at the top of the display.

The 960L's basic set of controls enable you to access all the main features of setup quickly and easily. For rapid work when time is of the essence, and even if you've never used the unit before, an additional set of controls will appear on a "V-Page"; this allows you access to all of the key aspects of a program. You can assign favorite parameters to a "V-Page" for instant access - independently for each preset - with their names displayed over the faders. The Edit Page gives the user the ability to wring out the finest detail of Lexicon's multi-faceted algorithmic possibilities. The eight faders also offer a "Fine" or vernier mode where they are set to the central position and you can use the whole length of a fader to make subtle value additions or subtractions to a parameter.



While the joystick is easy to use as a means of setting inputs to virtual source positions, it is fully assignable and can, for example, be used as a surround panner. Move a source smoothly and evenly around in a virtual room and you will immediately appreciate both the power and the subtlety of Lexicon's 3DPM system.