Ears on: Eventide H9 Harmonizer Stompbox, iOS control app
updated 01:00 pm EST, Sat February 2, 2013
Stompbox settings manageable from iPad
The Macworld expo follows on the heels of the musician-focused NAMM show, so we were not surprised to hear a few guitars wailing in the Moscone Center this week. Eventide is one of the companies that stuck around California to show off its latest gear, the H9 Harmonizer Stompbox and its companion app for iOS devices.
Eventide is already well known among guitarists; its standalone Stompboxes have been used by amateur and professional artists for years. The H9 provides many of the same features as the standalone hardware, but adds Bluetooth connectivity for interaction with iPhones and iPads.
Although the H9's full range of settings can be manually adjusted using a few buttons and a knob, however the H9 Control app provides a much easier way to quickly tweak parameters such as delay, modulation and reverb effects. Users can also manage preset groups or add new algorithms via in-app purchase. As an added bonus, the same capabilities will be offered through PC and OS X apps.
The H9 is clearly a full-featured effects module, complete with an integrated tuner, tap tempo, MIDI input/output, and auxiliary switch input. It is in a more compact package than its peers, while offering a higher degree of flexibility and upgradeability. Eventide isn't the first to adapt an effects pedal for use with iOS devices, but we can confirm that the H9 maintains the same level of audio quality that can be found in the company's other products.
The H9 Harmonizer is expected to ship in March for $499.
