The Sound of a Generation
No single sound exemplifies the ’80s quite like digital reverb, and arguably no single digital reverb unit was as loved as the Lexicon 224. In fact, its enormous unearthly sound still inspires musicians to reach for it — or a clone of it — to this day, proving that the Lexicon 224 is a timeless piece of studio gear. Now, thanks to UA’s astounding efforts, you don’t have to settle for a meager clone: you can get the complete authenticity of an original hardware Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb unit right in your DAW or Apollo interface. UA has modeled the analog and digital paths of a real Lexicon 224, including input transformers, early AD/DA 12-bit gain stepping converters, precise control processor code and algorithms, and more. The result is an impeccable Lexicon-endorsed capture of the 224’s eight era-defining reverb programs, its chorus program, controls, and more, all based on the 224’s final firmware version 4.4 (which is becoming increasingly difficult to find). Topped off by exclusive plugin-only features and presets from famous users and even bug fixes from the original, the UAD Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb Plug-in delivers both classic and cutting-edge vibes.
Note: Do you own Apollo hardware? By purchasing this plug-in, you will receive two licenses: one license allows you to run the plug-in via your computer’s CPU and the other allows you to run it via your Apollo hardware. Please contact your Sweetwater Sales Engineer if you have any questions.
Related Videos: UAD Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb Plug-in
The tool for that sound
Debuting in 1978, the Lexicon 224 became an instant hit and transformed popular music in a way few effects had before or have since. However, the 224 isn’t just some anachronistic tool from a bygone era. Many contemporary subgenres based on sounds of the ‘80s have become popular, and the Lexicon 224 is vital to capturing that aesthetic. However, anyone who values lush, dreamy reverb and chorus, regardless of time or style, should strongly consider adding the UAD Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb to their plug-in library.
Authentic controls, plus new ones
The Lexicon 224’s slider-based controls were among its most esteemed features. They’re present in the UAD emulation, giving you control over Crossover, Depth, Pre-delay, Treble Decay, and more. Its buttons for reverb program changes are also represented, and they’ve been joined by some UA additions, such as Dry/Wet and Solo Mix buttons and a hidden dropdown menu that brings up even more options like Pitch Shift. Sweetwater tip: use the Dry/Wet Mix button if using the plug-in as an insert, but use the Solo Mix button if using it as a traditional aux send.
Authentic … noise?!
It’s true: Universal Audio modeled the Lexicon 224 so thoroughly that this plug-in even has the inherent system noise of the original unit! Fortunately, in typical UA fashion, they also provided a thoughtful System Noise button that allows you to turn it off if you wish. Not only that, but they’ve also added a Bug Fix button which corrects the bugs of the original 224’s “Hall B” and “Chorus” programs. Perhaps most thoughtful are the artist presets from famous 224 users such as Kevin Killen, Chuck Zwicky, and more.
Universal Audio UAD Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb Features:
- Completely authentic Lexicon-endorsed modeling of the entire analog circuit, digital path, and original hardware algorithm
- All the original parameters including unique Lexicon Bass/Mid split decay, Mode Enhancement, Depth, Crossover, and more
- 8 reverb programs and 1 chorus program from the final — and increasingly hard to find — Lexicon v.4.4 firmware
- Exclusive plug-in features like Dry/Wet and Solo Mix buttons and a System Noise defeat/enable button
- Presets from famous Lexicon 224 users such as Kevin Killen (David Bowie, Peter Gabriel), Chuck Zwicky (Prince, Jeff Beck), and more
- Includes a native license that will run with any interface and a UAD-2 license that takes advantage of Universal Audio DSP-accelerated hardware
