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Re: Vortex vs. MPX-100

Scott A. Martin wrote:
> 
> Fellow loopists-
>   Vortex - There's a ton of stuff available to read
>   online, and I've read most of it.  The problem is that
>   I don't have access to a source of sound samples of
>   various presets, which would be great for a unit like
>   this.  Can anyone recommend one or more albums where
>   Vortextualized instruments (pref. guitar) are
>   prominent?  Andre, I'm planning to pick up your CD
>   soon, so I was hoping we could start there. =)

Sure, I'd be happy to recommend my CD.  :-{}

I'm sure you'll get plenty of posts to this effect, but just in case you
don't know: The Vortex is no longer made.  Lexicon discontinued it about
three years ago.  Used ones crop up on Harmony Central and eBay from
time to time...

Some (guitar-oriented) CDs I'd recommend that feature Vortexing:

Jon Durant -- "Silent Extinction Beyond The Zero" (this is a pretty
serious guitar-loop album, with some great Vortexed moments)

David Torn -- the two mid-'90s CMP solo albums ("Tripping Over God" and
"What Means Solid, Traveller?").  There's a lot of different processing
on both, but there are a couple of moments (particularly on the latter
album) that I've managed to stumble across whilst tweaking my Vortex
(tho I lost the settings almost as quickly!)  Now that I think about it,
I'm pretty sure I hear one on "Polytown" as well.  I think DT himself
should clear this up for us...

Should you find a Vortex available, keep in mind that it's a somewhat
narrow-focus box; the only "effects" it does are pitch-modulation
(chorus, et al) and delay, although within those two parameters there's
some *unbelievable* room for variation and experimentation (much more so
than any other effects processor I've personally used).  

Can't compare it to the MPX-100 since I've never tried that one.  As far
as the Vortex goes, there's no reverb, no MIDI, no EQ.  Think of it as a
bizarre cross between an Eventide Ultra-Harmonizer and a DeltaLab
Effectron -- slick digital meets analog-esque funkiness.

--Andre
http://www.altruistmusic.com