Lexicon PCM 42 battery replacement?

[67Mopar]

I have a Lexi PCM 42, but it doesn't store the last delay time entry... Is there a battery that needs to be changed in these, so that it will store the delay time setting? I can't seem to find much info on the PCM 42. If so, what battery do I need to look for?

[xtian]

Can't you pop it open and look?

[67Mopar]

Can't you pop it open and look?

Of course, but I don't want to open it if I don't have to.

[teemuk]

[img850]http://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachme ... -pcm42.jpg[/img]

[67Mopar]

[img850]http://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachme ... -pcm42.jpg[/img]

I don't see a 'pancake' battery anywhere on the board, so maybe it's not designed to store the delay setting. Seeing this has me thinking I should consider changing-out the electrolytic caps.

[xtian]

Wow! That puts the B in PCB! Couldn't spot the battery.

[Zippy]

Wow! That puts the B in PCB! Couldn't spot the battery.

Maybe it's on the other side.

Here's an article written by the designer of the PCM 42 with his contact address at the bottom of the page.

http://www.emusician.com/prntarticle.as ... eid=145269

I was hoping to get an easy hit on a Google search of the problem when I found it.

[Structo]

Some devices use a large capacitor to store settings.

[67Mopar]

I just got a response from a seller on ebay... He said that the PCM 42 does not store data.

[Structo]

Well there ya go.

Not a very good design if it can't store settings.

Can it be modified to remember settings?

[67Mopar]

I don't know... It's just about the best sounding digital delay I've ever used. Maybe even better than my 2290. Does tape type echo with ease, with modulated repeats. It even has SOS type setting. It also produces a nice slightly compressed overdrive when I overload the input. I'd love to have a few of these for vocals and keys.

I don't know if there's a mod for that. There's a mod for doing reverse delays, but I don't think I'd ever use it. Apparently these were made back in 1981!

[Leo_Gnardo]

Not a very good design if it can't store settings.

It was early days, over 30 years ago. Lucky back then to get a DDL that actually sounded good - and Lexicon hit the mark. And as 67mopar notes - a quite good limiter built into the input circuit - not a pair of clipper diodes - and Lexicon didn't make a big deal over it (maybe they didn't want the competition to catch up by installing a similar limiter). Back then they let people decide with their ears which gear sounded better. With that limiter sneaked in there, not much chance of digital overload that sounds like dreck.

That's going some, to compare it to the TC2290. The 2290 is a fancier piece of gear, no contest there, with midi control and setting memories not to mention IIRC 5 switching ports so it could be used as a mini effects switcher a la Bradshaw on its own.

Quality of echo is excellent in both.

[Reeltarded]

haha

[67Mopar]

Not a very good design if it can't store settings.

That's going some, to compare it to the TC2290. The 2290 is a fancier piece of gear, no contest there, with midi control and setting memories not to mention IIRC 5 switching ports so it could be used as a mini effects switcher a la Bradshaw on its own.

Quality of echo is excellent in both.

No comparing to the 2290 at all... I just prefer PCM 42 for use with gain tones and vocals. The 2290 is IT for clean delays. I run my TC 2290 into 2 x VOX AC30 amps stereo ftw!