The H9 from Eventide has become a ubiquitous part of many a live and studio setup with performers and producers of all disciplines. And at nearly 10 years old, it’s time for an update… new blood… a true successor… out with the old and in with the new etc. Behold the H90 Harmonizer!
Ok, we’ll roll back a bit on the hyperbole and technically this isn’t a replacement for the trusty H9, just a bigger, better alternative.
With technological advancements over the past decade, it is little wonder that a company like Eventide would want to exploit such gains in creating the next generation of its Harmonizer multi-effects pedal.
On first look, the improvements over the H9 are obvious; a bigger screen; more controls and foot switches; greater I/O and routing flexibility. And that’s just to the naked eye. These improvements are only possible due to the tech that lies within the unit.
The H90 is built around the latest ARM-based architecture that is derived from Eventide’s flagship H9000 rack FX unit.
On further inspection, you’ll notice that this box is running not one, but two algorithms simultaneously. Better still, the very flexible routing options and generous I/O, this multi-effects unit will thrive in any situation you wish to throw at it.
The H90’s signal can be routed in series or parallel and a Dual mode for processing two stereo signals at once. With a guitar setup, you can simply run it in a basic effects pedal chain, or use the four-cable method. You can also route your own effects either as two mono inserts or one stereo insert and even output to multiple amps. With Dual mode, the H90 can operate as a pre/post preamp, or be deployed as dual effects inserts in your DAW.
The revitalised innards mean that we’re treated to 10 new effect algorithms: Polyphony, Prism Shift, Bouquet Delay, Head Space, WeedWacker, Even-Vibe, Wormhole, Instant Flanger, Instant Phaser, and SP2016 Reverb.
The unit is very much set up for live performance with plenty of controls adorning the rugged metal chassis to aid you in sculpting new sounds. In Perform mode you can map up to six parameters across the three assignable knobs, while the Perfrom hot knob allows you to manipulate expression mappings by hand.
The H90 is available now for $899 and if you want to know more, you can check out the Eventide website.