Lexicon Music - Page 4 - Recent Questions, Troubleshooting & Support

The software is by Stienberg and is called "Cubase" that is delivered with the Lexicon. The Omega doesn't really have any software to speak of except for the drivers. Browse the software disk looking for the section containing the drivers. When you install it, it will create a Lexicon folder with the root of your C drive and in it will be an Omega folder. In that is a driver folder and a folder of help files. In the Driver folder folder you will find the installer file "Omega Setup". Launch that program to install the drivers. Please note I have one of these and it can be frustrating to get things working. Make sure in the PC in the control panel "sounds and devices" that under the tabs that the Omega is the device to send and receive and for voice. Once you have done the install, the Omega should be in the list of available devices to select as default.

The power amp is the final stage - the last output from the mixer goes to the power amps.
Its a routing problem - some mixers only allow certain routing and this could be affecting your FX routes.
All the FX - internal or outboard come before power.
Check the manual Check the aux send and returns Check if you need need stereo plugs for the send and return of FX.
Get back if still stuck.

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.

Do you have the correct power supply? MANY try to use a replacement power adapter that puts out DC rather than AC and that will not work.

Easy answer: You DON'T set the polarity because this particular device takes a 9 VAC at 2.1 amp adapter. (Not a DC one like so called universal ones)
It sounds like you have one of those universal adapters which probably would not deliver the 2.1 amps required even if the lexicon took DC. Note that stuff might light up, but the unit will not work using a DC adapter..

You had better get an official power supply for this unit as what you have will NOT work, period!

I did a quick search to try and find a link to a supplier, but they are RARE !!! Every one I found would require you changing the plug to match the Lexicon.

You should just order the correct one from Lexicon.

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.

One can burn up equipment if you have powered parts of it from different sources...such as connecting things together that get their power from different receptacles. Ground bounce and fault currents of defective equipment can burn up things. You will probably have to send your unit back to the factory for repair.

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.

An insidious problem is if the throughput of your computer is being used up by things like anti-virus, anti spyware. Turn OFF ALL of these throughput hogs when doing audio operations. Also turn off wireless communication and ANY other active USB throughput hogs.

These hogs will usually cause sharp noises thaat are essentially discontinuities of the audio waveform.

IF the noise you are getting is a "hiss" type noise, that is different. That is USUALLY caused by the user failing to set the gains and levels properly. Some electronic noise is from the statistical background noise likited by the laws of physics, It is important to record and set the level well above these noise floor points.

Balancing gain is important. Set the amplitude of the line out to be near line level and lower the gain of following amplifiers. This is just good practice.

Anyway, decide which of these two noise sources might be what you are seeing.

The third noise MIGHT be from ground loop noise... for that power ALL, and I do mean all interconnected equipment from teh same power receptacle/source AND used balanced lines such as XLR or TRS wherever possible.

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.

Sorry but... Very simply, you CANNOT use a condenser mic with the Alpha since it does not supply the required Phantom power for the mic. You must step up to another interface to use condenser mics. You can use dynamic mics with the Alpha or other audio sources. I use a Roland/Cakewalk UA25E interface with condenser mics and also the Lexicon Omega which does have Phantom power for the mics..