Built on the heritage of the LORAIN® brand name, the Large Vortex® power platform, with 200 amp power conversion units (PCUs) is a modular power system providing up to 10,000 amps of power for -48 volt systems. The components of a Vortex® power system include the power bay.

Welcome to the Vortex Database with it's new improved look (yes, it was really bad before). There's much new I'm afraid, and you no longer have the option to submit your own patches online. As hardly anyone did that anyway, and half of them were mine anyway I guess that's not such a loss to you, but the patches that were submitted are still available here.

*NEWSFLASH*vortex and jamman for sale from reputable guy in UK, great prices.(01/09/14)

*NEW*
Replacement volume pots for Vortex, they often go scratchy
50k log taper dual pot
A50K
ebay link, more info

Replacement Rotary Encoder for the Vortex, this isthe most common Vortex fault, with symptoms such as some of the Registers not being selectable by the knob, or the Value knob not working right. It's the same component for each of the 16 position Vortex knobs (also for JamMan). It's not an exact replacement, but it doesthe job. It seems that Lexicongot a load made up to spec, and now the only way to obtain an exact replacement would be to order 1000 of them.
It's not easy to remove the old encoder without damaging the delicate circuit board.Best way is to remove it with clippers, so that you can de-solder and take out the feetone by one. There's a copper lining to the holes in the circuit board which makesan essential connection, that may be removed along with a foot.
To use the original knob you'll have to file a flat area on the spindle.
Spec: Absolute encoder, 4 bit grey code
Get encoder from Digikey, UK
Get Encoder from Digikey, USA
Abeltronics (UK) possibly still have some exact replacement encoders, may be able to put you in touch with a repair guy.

*ESSENTIAL* Now at reduced priceof only £6, a whole CD of music made with the Vortex as the only FX processor, using the Digital Echoplex to create multi-tracked compositions in real time. Go to http://www.andybutler.com/livelooping.htm for details and to hear music from the album. Hint...album sales help to keep this site alive.

Lexicon are a company who specialise in digital reverberation simulators, as used in the top recording studios. At one time they decided to produce a range of cheaper processors which consisted of the Alex, Reflex, JamMan and Vortex. These are all long discontinued.

The Alex is a simple to use basic reverb, excellent quality and very popular.

The Reflex is a glorified Alex with Midi control.

The JamMan is an echo/looper.

The Vortex is a totally unique FX unit.

The Vortex was the first of those four units to be discontinued , essentially because no-one understood what it did. They can still be bought, often at a substantial discount. In the UK the going rate is about £150 for an 'as new' unit, in US they're even cheaper. As the RRP was £400 this is a prettygood bargain.
The Vortex is a digital sound processor capable of phase, flange, chorus, tremolo, pan and vibrato effects with an analogue type sound. It is also a 2sec echo/looper or a dual 1sec echo. It can combine these effects in a number of ways.
But.... setting up any two of these sounds you can blend seemlessly from one to another by a process known as morphing, and you can do this with footpedal control. It's this that really sets the Vortex apart, for instance it's possible to set up a 2s loop of sound, then split it into to seperate 1s loops (panned L&R) and then to recombine them into a rearranged 2s loop. Not even the top of the range lexicon stuff with let you do this.

Unfortunately it requires extensive use of the manual just to set up basic sounds, and the morphing feature can produce unexpected results (OK maybe not such a bad thing).
These pages are dedicated to making it easier for Vortex users at all levels, from those who just want to dial up a sound, to those who aim to completely understand every function. Also those who experiment at random are particularly welcome to submit their findings.