Lexicon's MX200 offered the innovative ability to integrate with a sequencer host just like an effects plug-in. The updated MX400 goes one better — it does all that, but with dual effects-processing engines too.
Regular SOS readers may recall Paul White's review of the Lexicon MX200 multi-effects processor from the November 2005 issue. This MX200 provides access to a range of excellent-quality Lexicon effects — including some very respectable versions of their famous reverb algorithms — at a very attractive price point. However, the key trick up the MX200's sleeve was its USB connectivity and, via the supplied MX-Edit software, its ability to integrate into a suitable sequencer host like an effects plug-in.
Lexicon now have two new models in the MX range; the MX400 and the MX400XL, the latter reviewed here. As with the MX200, the new units can use USB or standard MIDI I/O to send patch and control data to and from a suitable computer, while all the audio data must be passed via the analogue I/O or the included S/PDIF I/O (as Paul's review commented, it's a shame that the audio can't also be passed via USB, as this would have allowed a very neat cabling arrangement). However, the MX400 models can be thought of as the MX200's bigger siblings, as they offer four-channel operation. This can be configured in a number of ways, but the most obvious difference between the 400 and the 200 is that the 400 can operate as a surround processor (LR front and LR rear) or as two independent stereo processors (A and B). As with the MX200, each processor actually features two effects engines, so, for example, while Processor A might be dedicated to a high-quality reverb (using both effects engines), Processor B might be used to chain together a delay (engine one) and a chorus (engine two).
Aside from featuring different types of analogue connectors (the MX400 has balanced/unbalanced TRS jacks, while the MX400XL uses balanced XLRs), the two models offer identical processing options. Given that audio has to pass between the computer and the MX400s via analogue or S/PDIF, to get the most out of one of these units users will probably need an audio interface that features a six-in/six-out configuration. This would allow enough ins and outs to satisfy the MX400 and still allow stereo recording and stereo monitoring.
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