The Lexicon PCM96 Surround is a rack-mount reverb and effects processor from Lexicon Pro, described by the maker as a "Parallel Stereo and Surround Reverb/Effects Processor w/ Digital I/O"1. It is the surround-capable version of the Lexicon PCM96, a stereo reverb and effects processor, and Lexicon says it builds on that unit's success with more presets, more configuration options, and more inputs and outputs2.
What it does
The PCM96 Surround carries over 2200 factory presets, which Lexicon says include recognizable classics from the company's library of sounds1. For a player, that means access to Lexicon's reverb, delay and modulation sounds in a single rack unit, set up to run in stereo or in surround configurations.
The stereo PCM96 it is based on is described by the maker as a Stereo Reverb/Effects Processor delivering 28 new and legendary Lexicon reverbs, delays and modulation effects, with 32-bit floating point processing and sample rates up to 96 kHz3. Lexicon artist Graham Pattison described the PCM96 as giving "two machine's of famed Lexicon reverbs and effects in a 1u package"4, and the Surround version extends that idea to multichannel systems.
Inputs, outputs and versions
The PCM96 Surround is available in two I/O configurations, and the choice matters for how you wire it into a system1:
| Version | Inputs | Outputs |
|---|---|---|
| XLR AES version | 6 XLR stereo AES inputs | 6 XLR stereo AES outputs |
| DB25 version | 2 DB25 6-channel analog I/O and 1 DB25 6-channel digital I/O | same DB25 connections |
Only the DB25 version carries analog audio. The 6 XLR AES version is a digital-only connection format, so a player without an AES-capable interface or console would need the DB25 configuration for analog sources2.
For comparison, the stereo PCM96 uses two channels of XLR analog I/O, two channels of XLR digital AES/EBU I/O, and includes MIDI3.
MIDI and control
The PCM96 Surround has MIDI in, out and thru1, so it can be controlled from a MIDI controller or sequencer, pass MIDI data through to other gear, and respond to program changes across its large preset library.
PCM96 Surround vs PCM96
| PCM96 Surround | PCM96 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Parallel Stereo and Surround Reverb/Effects Processor w/ Digital I/O1 | Stereo Reverb/Effects Processor3 |
| Factory presets | over 22001 | over 12003 |
| Analog I/O | 2 DB25 6-channel analog (DB25 version)23 | two channels XLR analog3 |
| Digital I/O | 6 XLR AES, or 1 DB25 6-channel digital1 | two channels XLR AES/EBU3 |
| MIDI | in, out and thru1 | MIDI I/O included3 |
Status and software
Lexicon's product page presents the PCM96 Surround as a current product, with retailer purchase links and worldwide distributors listed2. The maker posted software version 3.4 for the unit in March 20192.
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Questions
What is the difference between the Lexicon PCM96 and PCM96 Surround?
The PCM96 Surround builds on the PCM96. Lexicon describes it as offering more presets, more configuration options, and more inputs and outputs than the stereo-only PCM96. The Surround version carries over 2200 factory presets against the PCM96's over 1200, and it is available in surround-oriented I/O configurations, including a six-channel DB25 analog and digital option, while the PCM96 uses two channels of XLR analog and XLR AES/EBU digital I/O.
How many factory presets does the PCM96 Surround have?
Lexicon lists over 2200 factory presets on the PCM96 Surround, including what the company calls recognizable classics from its library of sounds. That is roughly double the over 1200 factory presets listed for the stereo PCM96.
Does the Lexicon PCM96 Surround have MIDI?
Yes. The PCM96 Surround has MIDI in, out and thru. The stereo PCM96 also includes MIDI I/O, so preset and parameter control over MIDI is available on both units.
Is the PCM96 Surround still being made?
Lexicon's own product page presents the PCM96 Surround as a current product, with retailer purchase links and worldwide distributors listed. Lexicon also posted software version 3.4 for the unit in March 2019.
Does the PCM96 Surround have analog inputs?
It depends on the version. Lexicon offers the PCM96 Surround in two configurations: one with 6 XLR stereo AES inputs and outputs, which is digital only, and one with 2 DB25 6-channel analog I/O plus 1 DB25 6-channel digital I/O, which carries analog signals on DB25 connectors.
Sources (4)
- PCM96 Surround (digital), Lexicon Pro
- PCM96 Surround, Lexicon Pro (lexiconpro.com), 2019-03
- PCM96 | Lexicon Pro - Legendary Reverb and Effects | English, Lexicon Pro
- Graham Pattison, Lexicon Pro