Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

[man-in-moon]

I have been trying to make some presets for a few weeks now. I have several delays that sound good when my amp is clean. But I can not find any that sound good with my high gain sounds. I am using it in the parallel loop like eventide suggested. No matter what setting I use the delay sound is very weak and sterile sounding.
It sounds more digital and sterile than the delays I used in ampkit. I did not expect it to sound like an analog delay but it is almost unusable. It almost sounds more like a fizzy digital reverb than delay. Does anyone that has this pedal have any suggestions I can try?

 

[LLL]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

An amp FX loop resides between the preamp and the poweramp.

The best sounding delay (regardless the unit) used in conjunction with a distorted amp is that which is added after the amp's powertubes.

In other words, either at the console/DAW, or in a slaving configuration.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

What amp are you using?

I know that some of the Mesa guys don't like their parallel loop and convert them to series. Typically with a parallel loop, you set the effect to maximum and dial in the amount of efx you want with the loop's blend control.

The Mesa amps have a unique system...the channel master acts as the efx send level and the OUTPUT MASTER acts as the efx return level. You need to make sure that your loop is not sending a signal that is too hot; that will distort the effect. Too little signal and you'll have noise. Some delays have input and output levels too, so it can be tricky to balance things out.

I'd suggest giving Eventide a call, and your amp maker, and see if they have any suggestions.

Good luck.

Bill

 

[man-in-moon]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

The amp is a Randall RM50 combo. I tried using it in the series loop. But There is a decent volume drop. I have adjusted the input and output of the pedal like the manual says but still nothing. I have got it to where the first repeat is normal. The ones after that just sound like fading crap. If I could get them to clean up that would help. They do not even sound like notes just fizzy fuzzy echos with no definition.
If I can not get it sounding better I plan on contacting eventide tomorrow. It does sound fine in front of my amp but running it through the loops adds an airyness that I like. Hopefully I will get it situated soon. If not I would have been better off staying with my tc triple delay. It worked great.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

Sounds like it could be a problem with the pedal itself.

Good luck.

Bill

 

[Jumpback]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

Eventide fix this bug yet, thinking about buying this H9?

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

To run in most amps' FX loops, an effect should be set to line level. It's important to adjust the levels while on a high gain amp setting, not a low-gain clean one. Once correctly adjusted, there should be no volume drop.

It may be that there was a defect or other problem with this OP's specific unit. But the H9 in general is well suited for use in effects loops.

 

[Securb]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

I use mine in the loop and in front of amps and have had no issues. I don't think this was a bug per say

 

[Mincer]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

I always thought this pedal was for cleaner sounds anyway. You don't tend to hear it a lot with distortion. If you get it up and running, I'd be interested in the sounds you come up with.

 

[LLL]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

Keep in mind the H9 is only instrument level... the Factor pedals (Pitchfactor, for ex) allow you to switch between line level and instrument level.

This was a serious consideration of mine when I was looking to get a modern-day equivalent to the old Eventide Harmonizers; had to do the research.

I needed line level for studio considerations; went with the Pitchfactor instead of the H9.

 

[LLL]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

I always thought this pedal was for cleaner sounds anyway. You don't tend to hear it a lot with distortion.

The pitch shift module sound (or to be precise, the Eventide pitch shift sound) is ubiquitous... especially late 70s - 80s rock/metal.

Usually only a few cents + / - and sometimes two units (one set few cents +, one set few cents -).

End result is a big wide doubling effect. A favorite studio trick.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

Yeah, I never understood why it was instrument level only.

 

[devastone]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

I had a RM50 head, great amp, but the fx loop on those is very hot! If the H9 is instrument level only as LLL mentioned, you are overloading it. Same as putting a Boss pedal in that effects loop, it won't work, it will even overload the buffers when the pedal is off. I had to use an Ebtech Line Level shifter with my RM50, even for Digitech Hardwire pedals that are supposed to be able to handle line level signals.

http://www.ebtechaudio.com/llsdes.html

 

[LLL]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

Eventide sez:

https://www.eventideaudio.com/community/forum/stompboxes/h9-instrument-line-levels

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

Eventide sez:

https://www.eventideaudio.com/community/forum/stompboxes/h9-instrument-line-levels

I think they're referring to +4dBm studio line levels. I've had no problems using mine in between a guitar preamp and power amp.

EDIT: Then again, I haven't tried it at raging volume levels.

 

[Sirion]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

Sort of off-topic, but: Does Eventide really suggest to use a parallel loop? Wouldn't this result in potential phase problems, since it is a digital unit, and hence has a bit of natural delay in it?

 

[Jumpback]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

I got it going through my 5150 fx loop and it's great with clean and crunch tones, I really just wanted to make sure I would have a good reverb/Delay with both channels and Pretty happy with it!!
Not to mention all the other cool sounds this thing makes

 

[Mincer]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

I was thinking of getting one of these or a Space pedal for..well, space..sounds.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

I was thinking of getting one of these or a Space pedal for..well, space..sounds.

Some very cool space sounds in the H9.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Eventide H9 does not sound good in effects loop with distortion.

Some very cool space sounds in the H9.

I think it uses the same algorithms.