You can't help but notice that effects processors are more powerful than ever. On top of that, just about every one of them sounds terrific. Personally, I have not heard a bad effects unit at all in the last few years, which is saying a lot about today's quality. Having said that, is there any reason to pick one effects box over any of the others?

I want you to think of four of your favorite songs released over the last decade or two. Well, odds are very good that whatever music you came up with, at least three out of the four (or maybe all four) were recorded using a Lexicon reverb! I personally own three effects units, and when it comes time to choose a reverb, I'll almost always go to my Lexicon processor. To my ears, the reverb just sounds a bit more like a real room or hall than the 'verbs produced by my other units (though they're far from bad!). Of course, as we all know, reverb is the most important effect of all in today's (and tomorrow's) recording studios.

Here's some good news: About a decade ago, only the top studios could afford Lexicon quality. Today, the company offers processors that fit every budget from the home project studio to the finest state-of-the-art facilities. In this brief article, I'll be taking a look at the company's current best sellers.

MPX 500 24-Bit Dual Effects Processor. The brand new MPX 500 ($599 list pictured at the top of this page) is a true stereo 24-bit dual-channel processor with balanced analog and S/PDIF digital I/O. Powered by Lexicon's proprietary Lexichip, the MPX 500 has 240 presets with classic, true stereo reverb programs such as Ambience, Plate, Chamber and Inverse, as well as Tremolo, Rotary, Chorus, Flange, Pitch, Detune, 5.5 second Delay and Echo. Dual-channel processing gives you completely independent effects on the left and right channels (you won't believe how useful this is until you've tried it).

Four dedicated front panel knobs allow adjustment of four pages of displayed effect parameters. An easy Learn mode allows MIDI patching of front panel controls. In addition, tempo-controlled delays lock to Tap or MIDI Clock, and Tap tempos can be controlled by audio input, the front panel Tap button, footswitch, external MIDI controller or MIDI Program Change. Other features include a graphics display, a software-selectable MIDI Out/Thru port, pushbutton or footswitch selection of dry or muted audio output and a built-in power supply.

Lexicon MPX1 Multiple Processor FX. With an independent LexiChip delivering world-class reverb, and a separate DSP chip for additional effects, the MPX1 ($1299 list) surely delivers trademark Lexicon sound. But the MPX1 also delivers the power of real-world processing. Its five independent effects blocks deliver true stereo effects like Pitch Shifting, Chorus, EQ, Delay, Modulation and Reverb (a total of 56 effects in all). Plus, Stereo Reverb, Chorus and Delay may all be used simultaneously. With intuitive features like on-board Help and a powerful Library Sort/Search/Show function, you can quickly handle all on-board operations, organize, and quickly access all of your favorite programs. Other features include balanced XLR & 1/4" analog I/O, a coaxial S/PDIF I/O, 200 factory programs and room for 50 user programs.

Lexicon MPX G2 Guitar Effects Processor. The MPX G2 ($1499 list) is the only effects processor that lets you put effects anywhere you want in front of your amp, in its effects loop, or both. Or use it for recording direct, with no amp at all! Analog and digital effects 76 in all, as many as seven at once! You get awesome analog distortion and overdrive, and authentic recreations of vintage stomp boxes: Tube Screamer, Uni Vibe, Octavia, Mu-tron III, Cry Baby, Phase 90, Dyna Comp, Space Echo, and more. Then add stunning studio effects like JamMan (20-second delay looper), Intelligent Pitch Shifting, Tap Delay, Chorus, Flange, Rotary Speaker, Parameteric EQ and Lexicon Reverb and Ambience. The result? Unlimited processing potential.

Built-in features like a "straight wire" analog bypass and an analog noise gate give you pure guitar tone when you want, and let you keep any high-gain amp totally under control. Other goodies include a tuner, a digital noise gate, dedicated analog tone controls and an analog Speaker Simulator, so you can record direct using the MPX G2 as a programmable stand alone analog preamp with effects. The MPX R1 MIDI Remote Controller (see below), running V2.0 software, provides stomp box control of all MPX G2 effects.

Lexicon MPX R1 MIDI Remote Controller. A single cable provides power to the MPX R1 ($500 list) and communication with either the MPX 1 or MPX G2 (with V2.0 software) for complete access to the entire arsenal of effects of either unit, or as an incredible stand-alone MIDI remote controller. Among it's many features are: Dual relays for remote switching of as many as 4 amp channels, MIDI program select and control, programmable 'vintage' expression pedal with Toe Switch, Dedicated footswitches for TAP tempo and MPX 1-MPX G2 A/B switching and All-metal chassis, pedal and switches. The MPX R1 is able to control up to 8 MIDI devices at one time.

Lexicon MPX 100 Dual Channel Processor. The MPX 100 (just $249 list pictured below) is a true stereo dual-channel procesor with 24-bit internal processing, 20-bit A/D-D/A and S/PDIF digital output, all at a price that's almost too good to be true! Powered by a new version of Lexicon's proprietary Lexichip, the MPX 100 has 240 presets with classic, true stereo reverb programs such as Ambience, Plate, Chamber and Inverse, as well as Tremolo, Rotary, Chorus, Flange, Pitch, Detune, 5.7 second Delay and Echo. Dual-channel processing gives you completely independent effects on the left and right channels.

A front panel Adjust knob allows instant manipulation of each effect's critical parameters and an Effects/Balance knob lets you control effect level or the balance of dual effect combinations. An easy Learn mode allows MIDI patching of front panel controls. In addition, tempo-controlled delays lock to Tap or MIDI clock, and Tap tempos can be controlled by audio input, the front panel Tap button, dual footswitch, external MIDI controller or MIDI Program Change. Other features include dual 2-stage headroom indicators, a headphone output, a software-selectable MIDI Out/Thru port, pushbutton or footswitch selection of dry or muted audio output and a 20Hz-20kHz ±1dB frequency response.

Lexicon PCM 81 Digital Effects Processor. The PCM 81 Digital Effects Processor ($2995 list) has everything that made the PCM 80 the top choice for many years among studio effects processors – and more. More effects, more algorithms, longer delay, and full AES/EBU I/O. Each effect has an uncompromised stereo reverb with several voices of additional effects. A full complement of Pitch Shifters provides doubling, quadruple-tracking, chorus, and pitch correction within a range of up to three octaves (up or down) in one cent increments, as well as unique special effects. 300 presets give you instant access to pitch, reverb, ambience, sophisticated modulators, over 21 seconds of delay time, and dynamic spatialization effects for 2-channel or surround applications.

The PCM 81 features two digital signal processors: Lexicon's proprietary Lexichip, to run the reverbs, and a second DSP engine to handle the other effects. With 24-bit internal processing, a stereo signal path, balanced analog I/O, full AES/EBU and S/PDIF digital I/O, the ability to mix analog and digital inputs together, and extensive modulation capabilities, the PCM 81 offers an enormous range of studio quality effects. Pitch FX and Vocal Fix algorithms and presets are built into the PCM 81. Adding Lexicon's Dual FX algorithm card and preset cards for the PCM 80 increases the number of algorithms to over 40 and the number of presets to nearly 800.