Few names in results processing carry fairly the identical weight as Eventide. From the corporate’s legendary rackmount Harmonizers to its trendy stompboxes, Eventide has constructed a popularity for results that go effectively past standard delay, modulation and pitch shifting. The unique H9 distilled a substantial quantity of that know-how right into a compact pedal, and now the Eventide H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 takes the idea considerably additional.

Relatively than merely refreshing the unique H9, Eventide has successfully introduced a lot of the processing energy and algorithm library related to the H90 into the smaller H9 format. The result’s an especially highly effective multi-effects processor with 74+ algorithms, greater than 1,000 presets, trendy ARM processing, complete connectivity and a considerably redesigned consumer interface.

For guitarists who need Eventide’s big ambient textures, pristine pitch shifting and experimental results with out dedicating a big part of their pedalboard to a multi-effects unit, the H9 Gen 2 makes a compelling case.

Construct and Interface

At 5.25 x 5 x 2.7 inches and weighing roughly 0.6kg, the H9 Gen 2 stays remarkably compact contemplating how a lot processing is packed inside. Its bodily footprint makes it notably engaging for gamers constructing subtle pedalboards the place house is at a premium.

One of many greatest enhancements over the unique H9 is the interface. The Gen 2 contains a bigger 2.5-inch show, three Fast Knobs and devoted button pads, making it significantly simpler to navigate and edit sounds instantly from the pedal. Importantly, full parameter modifying is out there from the {hardware} itself, so connecting a pc or exterior system is not needed merely to make significant adjustments to a preset.

The workflow is organised round Choose, Carry out, Presets and Parameters modes. Choose handles playlist and financial institution navigation, whereas Carry out mode permits the footswitches to be configured for real-time management. Presets gives entry to the manufacturing facility and consumer libraries, and Parameters will get you into the deeper modifying facet of the pedal.

HotKnob and HotSwitch performance provides one other stage of efficiency management, permitting a number of parameter adjustments to develop into one thing you possibly can really work together with throughout a efficiency reasonably than merely programming beforehand. Mixed with the 2 programmable footswitches, the H9 feels surprisingly hands-on for a processor able to this diploma of complexity.

Algorithms and Results

That is the place the H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 actually earns its title. There are 74+ algorithms, incorporating the entire H90 and H9 Max algorithm libraries, alongside greater than 1,000 presets straight out of the field. The out there results cowl delay, reverb, modulation, pitch shifting, distortion, synth sounds, granular processing, looping, vocal processing and multi-effects.

The sheer selection is spectacular, however Eventide’s energy has all the time been the character and depth of its algorithms reasonably than merely what number of results it might probably placed on a specification sheet.

Traditional Eventide territory is of course effectively represented. Blackhole gives the large, virtually otherworldly ambient reverb textures which have develop into synonymous with the corporate, whereas MicroPitch gives the sort of delicate pitch widening that may flip a comparatively easy guitar sound into one thing a lot bigger and extra three-dimensional.

There are many standard sounds out there, however the H9 turns into particularly attention-grabbing once you begin transferring past standard pedalboard territory. Algorithms resembling Wormhole, Prism Shift, PolySynth, PolyFlex, Quadravox, Resonator, Head Area, TriceraChorus and SpaceTime give gamers huge scope for creating sounds that might in any other case require a number of particular person pedals — and, in some instances, could be extraordinarily tough to recreate with standard stompboxes in any respect.

SpaceTime is a very good demonstration of this method, combining modulation, two delays and reverb inside a single algorithm, with collection and parallel routing prospects for the delay and reverb sections.

Pitch Shifting and Harmonizer Sounds

Given the Harmonizer title, pitch processing stays one of many H9 Gen 2’s greatest points of interest.

Eventide employs its SIFT — Spectral Instantaneous Frequency Monitoring — know-how for high-fidelity polyphonic pitch processing, powering algorithms together with PolySynth, Polyphony, PolyFlex and Prism Shift.

For guitarists, the essential half is how musical this know-how makes complicated pitch results really feel. Whether or not you are creating easy concord components, octave textures, huge stereo sounds or way more excessive pitch-based results, there’s a readability and class to Eventide’s processing that makes these sounds helpful reasonably than merely novel.

This additionally opens up some fascinating prospects for gamers who use prolonged chords or extra harmonically difficult components. Polyphonic processing means you are not restricted to considering purely by way of single-note lead guitar when experimenting with pitch results.

On the different excessive, combining pitch processing with delay, modulation, synth or reverb results permits the H9 to maneuver a guitar distant from its unique id. For ambient, progressive and experimental gamers particularly, there’s an unlimited quantity to discover.

Delays, Reverbs and Modulation

Whereas the extra uncommon Harmonizer results understandably seize consideration, the H9 Gen 2 is equally succesful when dealing with the bread-and-butter sounds required from a contemporary pedalboard.

The delays vary from clear and exact repeats by means of vintage-inspired and closely processed textures, whereas Eventide’s reverbs can transfer from sensible room and plate sounds into huge atmospheric areas. SP2016 Reverb and Blackhole sit comfortably alongside extra adventurous choices resembling Wormhole.

Modulation is equally complete. Refrain, vibrato, phaser and flanger sounds can cowl acquainted territory, however the quantity of parameter management out there means these results can rapidly develop into significantly extra adventurous. For instance, the Refrain algorithm provides a number of characters alongside in depth management over modulation depth, velocity and waveform, together with envelope-controlled choices.

That is arguably one of many H9’s best strengths: it might probably exchange standard modulation, delay and reverb pedals, however it hardly ever feels restricted to impersonating them.

Drive and Extra Experimental Results

Eventide hasn’t restricted the H9 to pristine studio-style results both. Distortion algorithms together with WeedWacker, CrushStation, PitchFuzz, Sculpt and Irritate deliver drive and fuzz sounds into the equation. Irritate, for instance, takes inspiration from basic ’70s octave fuzz designs whereas providing controls for fuzz, octave, thickness, mids and tone.

These sounds additional reinforce the H9’s usefulness as a real multi-effects processor reasonably than merely an ambient or pitch-effects specialist.

The synth, granular and multi-effects algorithms take issues even additional. That is the place gamers who get pleasure from sound design might doubtlessly lose a number of hours merely experimenting. There are sounds right here able to turning comparatively easy guitar components into pads, textures, rhythmic results and virtually synthesizer-like voices.

Connectivity and Routing

The H9 Gen 2 is designed to work simply as comfortably in subtle skilled rigs as it’s on a standard pedalboard.

There are two 1/4-inch inputs and two 1/4-inch outputs, permitting stereo operation, alongside devoted connections for expression and auxiliary management. 5-pin MIDI In and MIDI Out/Via are supplied, whereas USB-C handles pc connectivity, management, updates and MIDI.

Instrument and line-level operation additionally makes the H9 helpful past the guitar pedalboard. It could combine into an amplifier results loop, studio surroundings or hybrid setup, whereas versatile routing contains Moist/Dry and Pre/Put up configurations.

One other notably helpful reside characteristic is results spillover between presets. Altering sounds does not essentially imply abruptly chopping off the reverb or delay tail out of your earlier preset, making transitions really feel significantly extra pure throughout a efficiency.

For gamers working MIDI-controlled rigs, in the meantime, the H9 can develop into significantly extra highly effective as soon as included into a bigger switching system.

Eventide Management

Regardless of the improved {hardware} interface, deeper administration may be dealt with by means of the Eventide Management software over USB-C. The software program gives entry to preset administration, routing, MIDI configuration, firmware updates and importing or exporting Person Lists.

The essential distinction with the Gen 2 is that the app looks like an extension of the pedal reasonably than a requirement for working it. You may nonetheless entry and edit the H9’s parameters instantly from the {hardware}.

Compatibility with presets from the unique H9 is one other welcome inclusion, notably for current Eventide customers who’ve spent years constructing their very own library of sounds.

Efficiency

With this a lot processing energy out there, the temptation is to evaluate the H9 purely on the scale of its results library. What makes it extra spectacular, nonetheless, is how simply it might probably fulfil very completely different roles.

It might merely present high-quality delay and reverb on the finish of a standard pedalboard. Equally, it might develop into the centrepiece of a MIDI-controlled rig, dealing with pitch, modulation, atmosphere and extra experimental sounds whereas different pedals deal with drive.

For ambient and progressive guitarists, the H9 turns into one thing nearer to a sound-design instrument. Expression management, HotKnob and HotSwitch assignments can rework static presets into evolving results that reply to the participant.

The mix of contemporary processing, stereo operation and Eventide’s pitch and spatial results additionally makes the pedal notably spectacular by means of a stereo rig. Delays, reverbs, modulation and MicroPitch-style widening results can create an enormous sense of house with out sacrificing the definition of the unique guitar.

And regardless of the large variety of prospects, the revised bodily interface makes the Gen 2 way more approachable than you would possibly count on. There’s inevitably a studying curve if you wish to discover each parameter and routing risk, however primary preset choice and modifying may be completed with out always reaching for a handbook or pc.

Verdict

The Eventide H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 is significantly greater than an up to date model of a longtime pedal. By bringing the entire H90 algorithm lineup into the compact H9 format, Eventide has created an exceptionally highly effective results platform that may function something from a premium delay and reverb unit to the inventive centre of a complete guitar rig.

The pitch results stay a serious spotlight, however focusing solely on the Harmonizer facet would undersell simply how broad the pedal has develop into. Modulation, delays, reverbs, distortion, synth, granular results, looping and sophisticated multi-effects all sit alongside Eventide’s celebrated pitch processing.

The redesigned interface is equally important. Three Fast Knobs, the bigger show and improved working modes make the appreciable processing energy a lot simpler to entry instantly from the pedal, whereas MIDI, expression management, stereo I/O, versatile routing and USB-C connectivity present the combination choices anticipated from a severe trendy results processor.

In case you merely want one refrain or delay sound, the H9 is inevitably much more pedal than needed. However for guitarists who worth deep sound design, high-quality pitch processing, expansive ambient results and the flexibility to create sounds that reach far past a standard pedalboard, the H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 is an awfully succesful inventive software in a remarkably compact package deal.

For extra info, please go to Eventide’s web site.