The plug-in 480L is fronted by the LARC controller in software form, although with the addition of a few tweaks to make it even easier to operate.

The mainframe, of course, packed an enormous amount of DSP muscle for the time, as well as hosting those all-important algorithms! The LARC was undoubtedly a big part of the 480L’s appeal, making the reverb tangibly ‘hands on’ and easy to edit, whereas other reverbs necessitated paging through tiny parameter-packed LED screens. Technically speaking, the unit came in two parts: the distinctive LARC controller that perched on top of your console, and a 3U mainframe, stored away in an adjacent machine room, which did all the hard work. LARC-ing aboutīefore we dive into the plug-in, it’s worth revisiting how the 480L worked and what made it so unique. The UAD Lexicon 480L is significant, therefore, both in the fact that it’s endorsed by Lexicon, but also as we’ve had to wait so long for its arrival. Lexicon itself has released various plug-in reverbs (most notably the Lexicon PCM Native Reverb series, which borrows its algorithms from the PCM96), but has so far avoided revisiting its 480L legacy. The precursor to the 480L – the Lexicon 224 – was previously modelled by Universal Audio (under full endorsement from Lexicon) and remains a firm favourite in my studio. Given the pedigree of the 480L, it’s no surprise to find a number of plug-in versions claiming to be ‘inspired’ by its sound, although none to this date have been officially endorsed by Lexicon.

Even though technically superior iterations came along – notably the 960L – the sound of the 480L became synonymous with wide and expansive reverb, making it arguably the pinnacle of Lexicon’s achievements. The 480L’s reputation was rightly deserved as, even to this day, it remains one of the finest-sounding algorithmic reverbs ever produced, with a highly recognisable sound heard on countless records.

Lexicon 480l reverb