Lexicon VORTEX, User Manual

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English
13
TAP and Echo Rhythms
Tempo and Rhythm
Vortex has two independent delay lines
(ECHO1 and ECHO 2), which are configured
in a variety of ways to create rhythmic effects.
The configuration and extent of control over
these echoes is one of the things that gives
Vortex effects their exciting rhythmic pat-
terns, and their dimensional quality. The
other unique component in creating Vortex's
echo effects is
you.
Other effects processors require you to
slave your tempo to their preset delay times,
or to calculate and set an absolute tempo in
milliseconds, then use that number to calcu-
late delay times for appropriate rhythms,
then to enter those delay times into the box.
Changing tempo requires repeating the en-
tire process.
Vortex will slave echo rhythms to any
tempo you want. Setting tempo is as easy as
tapping your foot, and you can change tempo
as often as you like — even on the fly.
In Vortex, tempo is set simply by pressing
TAP twice. Because every effect in the box is
synchronized to the current tempo, all effects
are always rhythmically compatible. You can
tap with a footswitch, or with the front panel
PEDAL/TAP button. (If you have a footpedal
connected to Vortex, you must select one of
the ECHO
÷
parameters in order for the but-
ton to function as TAP. See Pedal Control. )
The ECHO 1
÷
and ECHO 2
÷
controls
allow you to easily set up extraordinary
polyrhythms within any effect. These rhyth-
mic divisions are automatically stored with
the effect .
Tapping in a Tempo
Setting the tempo for Vortex couldn't be
easier — simply press TAP twice in rhythm to
establish the tempo you want. The front
panel LED will light on your first press of TAP
to indicate a tap interval is being calculated.
Your second TAP defines the tap interval
and turns off the LED. Now, any effect you
select will be synchronized to your tempo. To
select a new tempo at any time, just TAP
twice. Vortex will update the tempo through-
out the box on receipt of the second TAP. (If
a second TAP is not received within approxi-
mately 30 seconds, Vortex will remain at the
current tempo and turn the LED off.)
This simple method of setting tempo really
frees you to experiment. Try running through
the presets and simply tapping different in-
tervals. Some effects will sound markedly
different with the tempo altered. — Try listen-
ing to an effect, then TAP in a whole note
interval and listen again. TAP in 3 beats, then
4 beats, to get an idea of the changes that
can be made to a single effect.