"Number nine... number nine... number nine..." - The Beatles, "Revolution 9"
It's not easy being a trendsetter. It's not easy to follow one, either. It takes a lot to take that leap and try to be that next big thing. Sometimes it's purely by accident, other times you're specifically swinging for the stands. Either way, it takes a lot to make that jump and stick the landing. It takes a lot to be the first to get it right.
In a way, that's the story for Eventide and their H9 Harmonizer multi-effect pedal. Once, something new, today, a tried-and-true, trusted favorite of many a globally-touring guitarist and a seemingly endlessly dissected and personalized weapon-of-choice for musicians. The classic white block, its oh-so inviting black roller control button, its scrolling analog display, it's all so iconic over a decade on.
How do you move on from a modern day classic like the H9 Harmonizer? Expectedly, it might take you a little bit, but over ten years on and the path might be clearer than you'd imagine.
This is the Eventide H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 Multi-Effect.
A Generational Run
Introducing the Eventide H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 Multi-Effect
A leading innovator in audio technology since the dawn of digital effects, Eventide is Little Ferry, New Jersey's resident audio effect authority. Since their earliest days developing audio tech for broadcasting, they've been pushing the envelope for practical but artistic effects. Over a decade ago, they debuted their flagship multi-effect, the H9 Harmonizer. This sleek, clean, compact multi-effect device packed enormous effect functionality for performing artists, studio engineers, and everyone and anyone who could stand to stuff a library's worth of effects in their back pocket.
Not for nothing, but the H9 was an innovator in its time. It seems all so mundane these days, the H9's multi-effect experience, but in its time, the H9 was truly something big. The massive preset library, the compact, clean design, the extensive external controls, the H9 became a pedalboard standard for gigging musicians for a reason. This kind of expressive digital effect banking and sleek, modern control can surely be looked at in retrospect as a "square one" for many, many digital devices that followed. There's plenty of names in multi-effects that owe at least a little to the H9's original design, we think is fair to say.
Over a decade later, and there's clearly more options to choose from in the H9-style of multi-effect pedal. With this, Eventide releases their first proper follow-up to the H9, the H9 Harmonizer Gen 2. Following in recent years the upgraded, double-barreled H90, the Gen 2 marks the brand's first proper one-to-one evolution on the H9. The H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 is the direct sequel to the H9 – and for that, fans of the original have a reason to pay attention. Let's talk about that.
Generation H
Eventide H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 Multi-Effect Design and Workflow
So, with the H9 Gen 2, we're starting with some familiar design tenets. The H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 starts at square one with a physical form reminiscent of the original H9, which is a great place to start. A smooth, compact shape with two footswitches and a clear display screen presents a seamless, familiar Eventide H9 design. If you're a fan of the original H9's uncluttered, uncomplicated physical form, you've got a treat waiting for you in Gen 2.
From here, we start to get some changes to the formula. For one, three front-facing clickable dials, a set of four push-buttons, and a master scroll dials introduce a fundamentally different control scheme from the original H9's "Hot" buttons and master scroller wheel. We mourn the boldness and simplicity of the H9's big, round scroller wheel*, but must admit that this change is a welcomed one. A master preset scroller dial and three dedicated parameter control dials per preset slot bring the H9 Gen 2 thoroughly into the modern day with a faster, more hands-on control experience. Couple these intuitive changes with its preset library navigation and we're off to the races.
And for it we invite a moment of silence
The Endless ScrollIn familiar H9 fashion, the H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 features a scrolling bank of ninety-nine factory preset slots. These slots are navigated through the Gen 2's improved control tools, including its master navigation dial and second footswitch. Use your second footswitch to scroll remotely in either direction through the preset bank or your larger front-facing dial to speed through the library's entries. The H9 Gen 2's improved display screen compounds on this ease of use with bigger, brighter text that communicates not only the name and number of the selected preset, but the Eventide algorithm from which the preset originates. This aids in early navigation as there's less guesswork to be done as to what style of effect you're about to embark upon.
The H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 starts factory-loaded with the full H9 Max and H90 library of effect algorithms. Covering plenty of bases including delays, modulations, pitch shifters, reverbs, distortions, and more, existing fans of the H9 or H90 have plenty to jump back into with the Gen 2. What's more, if you are a fan of Eventide's H9 Harmonizer already, you'll be delighted to know that the Gen 2 adds a big upgrade by needing no external mobile app integration to fully control. Where over a decade ago, the first H9's integration with external mobile apps was perhaps expected for the breadth of function the pedal offered, and maybe even welcomed, Eventide's choice to put full control over the H9 Gen 2 within the bounds of the pedal itself is refreshing.
Livin' H9
Eventide H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 Multi-Effect Presets and Tones
With the H9 Harmonizer Gen 2, Eventide paints with a vast palette. The H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 delivers on the excitement its predecessors have generated with fan-favorite effect algorithms like those from their Tricerachorus and Blackhole chorus and reverbs. Though of course, the story doesn't stop there. The H9 Max and H90's full effect libraries can be found throughout the H9 Gen 2 with plenty of angles and opportunities for customization, personalization, and playability. Driven by the quick tonal shaping enabled by its new control dials, the H9 Gen 2 shapes sounds and creates a personalized bank of effects quickly. There's more great sounds factory-loaded in the H9 Gen 2 than you could shake a stick at, but let's run down a few of our favorites and how they can paint a picture of the magic happening under the hood.
#3 - 12 StringerOne of the biggest advancements moving throughout the H9 Gen 2's programming is its massively upgraded polyphonic voice tone and tracking. Eventide puts their twelve-string guitar simulation up at the front of the line to show this off. Perfect for simulating Byrds-style folksy chime, '80s synth pop jangle, or anything in between, Eventide's twelve-string polyphony plays seamlessly for a fully impressive showcase of their new polyphonic tracking power.
#59 - E Minor BalladPower is on no short supply with the Gen 2. Proving its mettle as an instrument of its own in many ways, the H9 Gen 2's abilities in pitch-shifting and harmonizing shine with preset #59, a self-playing pitch-shift harmonizer that creates flurries of harmonized note trails with a single pluck. Produce an entire composition of expressive, closely tracked note passages with minimal inputs.
#84 - GlitchyThe H9 Gen 2 supplements its legacy libraries of effects with new ventures into effect styles that have boomed in popularity since the original's debut over a decade ago. Enter just one of the H9 Gen 2's many glitch-forward factory preset effects. With #84, Eventide presets one of the best preset glitch effects you can find in a multi-effect pedal today. Streamlined controls for swapping between different glitch modes including bit-crush, stutter, playback warp, or combinations of the three, Eventide creates an instantly inspiring glitch effect that is surely worth the trip if you're a fan and have the opportunity to try it in person.
Something surely to not leave out of a conversation surrounding the Gen 2's presets, especially in reflection of its trendsetting "Gen 1" older brother, is that Eventide does not rest on its laurels when it comes to interesting presets. Back in the day, when the original H9 debuted, it was admittedly more novel to lay out presets for things like a U2-style multi-tap delay or a Sun Studios-style slapback. You'll still find such things throughout the H9 Gen 2, but it is noteworthy that over a decade later, Eventide keeps up with the kinds of musical styles players latch onto and not call it a day at their tried-and-true spring reverb or Leslie speaker emulations. Factory presets shouting out the cutting-edge modern stylings of artists like Mk.Gee and Angine de Poitrine prove as much.
Revolution H9
Eventide H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 Multi-Effect Further Functions
The Eventide H9 Harmonizer family is known for their massive brains chock-full of lush digital effects, but also for their ultra-modern connectivity and control functions. There's plenty that makes the H9 Gen 2 stand out in terms of connection and control, but let's talk about just a few of these impressive things.
- Stereo Routing – Like its "Gen 1" version, the H9 Harmonizer features full stereo routing capability with individual in and out connections. Motherboard rig enthusiasts rejoice: Eventide's ready to hit your listeners on both sides of their heads.
- Vocal Effects – Another upgrade from "Gen 1," the H9 Gen 2 features a robust, new vocal effect suite accessible via their Eventide Mixing Link cable, sold separately. Now, Eventide's effects can be brought straight to vocal performance with all the expression and weirdness that implies.
- Effect Spillover – Breaking from usual digital multi-effect tradition, the H9 Gen 2 features an impressive buffered bypass-style "effect spillover" function where switching effects allows for trailing and fade-out, making impactful work of a dramatic delay or reverb.
- Bluetooth Control – While the H9 Gen 2 no longer requires external app control to fully function, Eventide offers the option with Bluetooth connection and control via Mac or iPad apps. Those looking to get truly granular with it have the choice with app control still an option.
- MIDI and Expression Control – Five-pin MIDI In/Out/Thru and two ¼" expression control connections break out the H9 Gen 2 to any number of external controllers or MIDI-enabled rigs. Was there ever any chance the H9 Gen 2 would be landlocked, expression and MIDI-less? We can't say so, but it's always worth mentioning.
- Included Power Supply – It's no small feat making all this multi-effect magic happen. The Eventide H9 Gen 2 comes with its 9-12V DC 1A power supply included.
Eventide H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 Multi-Effect Final Thoughts
Man, that's a lot to say about a little black box of chips and components.
Sure is, but with over ten years of wind-up to this homerun swing, Eventide makes it all worth it. The clean, unencumbered design of their H9 Harmonizer is carried over into this second-gen version while staying totally inspiring at every turn. Its thoroughly upgraded, intuitively controlled, and creatively streamlined interface makes it easier than ever to jump into the deep end and revel in the classic Eventide musicality of it all.
Scrolling through the pedal's factory presets alone with its new, player-friendly navigation gives you, simultaneously, the full picture of the power behind the H9 Gen 2, but only a glimpse of what it's capable of. Ten years gives you a good while to brainstorm improvements. Maybe the most striking part is, where it mattered, the original H9 design didn't leave that long of a list. The H9 Gen 2's impressive leaps in polyphonic pitch-shifting, vocal effect shaping, and modern musical stylings, go hand-in-hand with the more practical, tangible, quality-of-life enhancements needed to bring it to the boards of players today and down the line.
With the H9 Gen 2, Eventide buckles up for another long, long run of appearing on pedalboards and in studio rigs around the world. Let's check back in another decade or so for Gen 3. How 'bout it?
