Lexicon Alpha Personal Recording Studio - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

It sounds like you have NOT connected via the recording software.
It is like the normal Windows software audio has hijacked the audio system even though it is external.

Go into your recording software and look for an option to select the Lexicon device. You did not tell us what recording software you are using.

This is not an uncommon problem with these external audio recording devices.

you have too much latency in your setup. Try using ASIO as your audio engine in your recording program. Also, shut down all unnecessary programs running on your computer to get better performance.

check the "buffer" setting - set to the lowest number possible. You can't eliminate the "latency" but you can reduce it a lot. Also 0 try to monitor what you are recording with "live" sound (input instead of output) - also, you may need to download a different driver for your audio card, try ASIO4ALL

Are you trying to use the mic input on the back or plugging it into the instrument input on the front? If you use a low impedance mic with a quarter inch instrument input cord, you would need a transformer adapter to make the mic work on high impedance. Even if you put it on line in, you would still have to convert it. Only the XLR socket on the back will work on a low impedance mic.

The Alpha MUST tie to a computer to do the recording. Audio lines COULD go from the keyboard to the inputs of the Alpha to the Alpha to be recorded on the computer.

Make sure you are using BALANCED cables either XLR or TRS. Make sure ALL interconnected equipment is powered from the same receptacle. Make sure the level to the Lexicon is line level as using excessive gain at its input will admit noise.

There is no activation code. You will need software that handles I/O sound device other than the built in audio of the PC. This device is sometimes delivered with either Sonar home edition or CuBase.

Sorry, but the Lexicon Alpha does NOT have Phantom power and you can't use a condenser mic with it without a Phantom power injector or preamp.
If you mean you have a Phantom power injector then it should be working. Do you have seperate mics for the two channels of the stereo? If you have only one mic, then only one side will record unless you set for mono recording and then dump the recording into stereo voa Cubase. I would recommend you get a small mixer... even a 4 channel one to use ahead of the Lexicon so you can mix and PAN your mics the way you want them. The recording and trying to control the panning in Cubase can be frustrating... The Lexicon really doesn't have anything built in to PAN the mic to the center when stereo recording. Small mixers are inexpensive and often you can find them used or in pawn shops for cheap.

The green light is NOT a tempo light and will not be in sync with applied audio. If you need a tempo indicator, turn on a click track in your computer or use a metronome.

Sorry, but the Alpha does NOT have Phantom power which IS required for a condenser mic.

You will either have to get a mic preamp that supplies phantom power or go to a dynamic type mic if you stay with the Lexicon Alppha.

First, I could NOT find an MXL99 microphone... IF you have an MXL990 microphone, you can STOP trying to have the Alpha read it because it won't !!! The MXL990 is a condenser mic and requires that Phantom power be supplied to it and the Alpha does NOT have Phantom power.
I have found a common problem on the audio interface inout is having to GO INTO the windows Sounds and Devices and verifying that under the VOICE tab, checking that the inout device is listed AND then checking the volume is turned up in that window... It seems like you have to verify everything and tweek a dozen places to get everything right to work. Having to look under the "VOICE" tab is not a good description of where the Alpha input control should be... so anyway, check that as well as it is not MUTED in that window. With Adobe Audition, make sure you set under the options, the "metering" to monitor the input recording level.

I suspect the problem is with the software setup in your PC. Verify all the options and also verify that the AUDIO system is assigned as stereo and assigned to the Lexicon for both in and out... Also check any "PAN" control settings. There is a possibilty that the Alpha has a dead channel...

Try putting a stereo signal into the 1/4 inch jacks and see if both record... if NOT then take it for repair under warranty... I had a Lexicon Omega that had a problem myself... warranty repair...

You will use microphone with balanced XLR connector into the XLR mic input. Note, the ALpha does NOT have phantom power so you cannot use condenser mics.

A guitar can be plugged into the hi-z instrument 1/4 inch jack on the left front of the unit.

To use the line 1/4 inch inputs you will use BALANCED TRS 1/4 inch cables from your source.for these channels. The level on these needs to be line level.

The line outs are for sending audio out to an amp. There appears to be RCA outputs you can use as well.

I am not sure what you mean by making your "amp record"... An amp PLAYS the audio, usually into a speaker.

If you are trying to play a guitar through your amp AND record, then you will connect your guitar to the Alpha, the amp input will have a cable from say Line 1 OUTPUT and when recording wou will have the echo feature on so your guitar is passed through to the amp.

Well, did you run the vocals through a mixer and send to BOTH channels of the Lexicon Alpha? If you connect the mic to only one channel you will only get one channel UNLESS you process the .wav file and PAN the vocal channel into both channels when outputing to your MP3.

The probable cause is a ground loop. You haven't said what you are plugging in. These inputs are BALANCED lines and you MUST use TRS cables driven by TRS outputs of the thing you are driving it with. ALL interconnected equipment MUST be powered by the same receptacle or power source.
IF the thing you are driving it with does not have balanced outputs, then procure a DI (Direct Input) box and use an XLR cablle between the DI and the Alpha and set the DI on ground lift.

You should be using XLR to XLR cable from the ART to the Alpha. You need to have recording software and the driver for the Alpha correctely loaded. Verify that in the PC when you go to the control panel in Windows and click on the "Sounds and Devices Icon that clicking on the VOICE tab that the Alpha is listed as the default audio for both in and out.

Make sure that when opening the control panel and "Sounds and Devices in Windows that both the inpout and output show the Lexicon and NOT the normal audio of the computer. ALso make sure the volume slider in that section is shown as being full up.

You should be at SP2, but that MAY NOT be the problem. One thing to check is if you are supposed to have the device connected when you install the software... in SOME cases doing it with or without connection will affect the outcome. Also make sure ALL virus/spyware/popup blockers are disabled during install.

Before using this device, make sure that going to the control panel and looking at the "Sounds and Devices" shows that the Lexicon is the inout and output device for all the tabs within that window.

yes, it is possible. the first thing u shoul do is go to edit/preferences within audacity and make sure the alpha is selected as the recording source. if that isnt the problem, then contact lexicon directly. if they arent helping you very well, ask if "jamie cohen" is still supervising- he is the best with computer issues, if he still is a tech support supervisor there.

Make sure you have NO antivirus/antispyware/antiadware or other resource hogging background programs running while processing the audio. These programs hog resources to the point that the buffering within the audio devices is overrun causing gaps.