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B-wham vs H9 (finally)

LSMFT6

LSMFT6

We brake for nobody
Supporting Member
Aug 16, 2006
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#1
I've finally had a chance to get (re)aquatinted with both. Long story short, B-wham wins (in Classic mode, even). I haven't tried everything with the H9 yet, mostly just harmonies, and for me the real test is the v4 mode, when I want an instant 5-string. The B-wham does a satisfying job in Classic mode (I can definitely hear the difference between it and Chords especially on this setting) and from what I remember, haven't remade the setting yet, the H9 wasn't nearly as "real" sounding.
 
#2
Awesome. Even being a massive Eventide fan owning the Eclipse, several factor pedals and the H9, I have still always relied on a Whammy (original Bass version, IV and V) for best tracking and pitch shifting duties. So, glad to hear someone finally agrees!

Still need to test the new Bass Whammy further to decide if I upgrade from the V.
For fast accurate runs, the classic mode is fantastic, while for more chordal work the Chord mode is no slouch either.
 
#3
So I assume the algorithm you were using was Pitchflex? As someone who is GASsing for the recently announced Digitech The Drop but also owns a Pitchfactor, I am very curious to know how the two algorithms compare.
 
#4
I just asked a question in the Drop thread about that. If the Drop is "set" for the equivalent of Chords mode, it'll sound more like the Eventide. It it's "set" for Classic, it'll sound better, IMO. The Chords mode isn't bad for the drop-tuning side of the B-wham, but the Classic mode completely slays it in that sense.

I wish I could get Digitech to mod mine so that the harmony side was always on Chords and the drop-tune side was always on Classic.
 
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#5
I'm quite happy 90% of the time on Classic mode. The other 10% would be the rare occasion I actually need the polyphonic capabilities.
Both modes are awesome though and only takes a whole millisecond to flick the switch, so why mod anything?

Also, the Chords mode won't quite sound like the Eventide as the H9 won't be capable of polyphonic according to an older thread.
 
#7
Andy Will said:
I'm quite happy 90% of the time on Classic mode. The other 10% would be the rare occasion I actually need the polyphonic capabilities.
Both modes are awesome though and only takes a whole millisecond to flick the switch, so why mod anything?

Also, the Chords mode won't quite sound like the Eventide as the H9 won't be capable of polyphonic according to an older thread.
Click to expand...

Eventide is actually what I would call quasi-polyphonic IMO. I've explained this in other threads. Basically, they don't claim it's polyphonic but it does the job in most cases. There are intervals where it struggles and warbles a bit. But overall it does a good job.
 
#8
Am only quoting the actual technical capabilities of the H9 as specified by an Eventide representative.
Most octavers (particularly digital) will pull off a certain degree of what you call 'quasi-polyphonic' capabilities however, the polyphonic capabilities of the Whammy V and New Bass Whammy are in another league if that's what you are looking for (have seen multiple posts about your detuning hopes for the new Digitech drop pedal).

I've used Eventide and Digitech gear almost continually since the original Bass Whammy first came out as both have their strengths and weaknesses.

Back on thread anyway....... My main point was predominantly in the tracking speed of the Whammy over the Eventides, for which the Whammy wins for my particular requirements.

Both fantastic companies and gear. So, always happy to see what comes next from them.
 
#9
Andy Will said:
Am only quoting the actual technical capabilities of the H9 as specified by an Eventide representative.
Most octavers (particularly digital) will pull off a certain degree of what you call 'quasi-polyphonic' capabilities however, the polyphonic capabilities of the Whammy V and New Bass Whammy are in another league if that's what you are looking for (have seen multiple posts about your detuning hopes for the new Digitech drop pedal).

I've used Eventide and Digitech gear almost continually since the original Bass Whammy first came out as both have their strengths and weaknesses.

Back on thread anyway....... My main point was predominantly in the tracking speed of the Whammy over the Eventides, for which the Whammy wins for my particular requirements.

Both fantastic companies and gear. So, always happy to see what comes next from them.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. It is interesting that you quote an Eventide representative---I don't remember hearing or seeing that directly. In the Pitchfactor manual, only the Diatonic mode is specifically stated to be monophonic. The other modes are left ambiguous, at least from the point of view of the official documentation. I think the Eventide still blows away most pitchshifters out there for what I referred to as "quasi-polyphonic" work; I was comparing it to the other things out there that I've tried (mostly multi-effects units). Only the Morpheus Droptune is in the same class---it beats the Pitchfactor hands down for certain tasks but not for others. I'm very excited to hear you say that the Whammy V and the Bass Whammy are in a different class. I certainly do hope that the Digitech Drop can replace my Droptune and expand into bass territory.
 
#10
You can find more information in the Eventide forums if you're really interested.

As for the drop pedal. It's probably worth heading to a local pedal store and giving one of the new Whammy's a whirl in Chords mode. It's going to be very similar (if not identical in most modes) to what you'll hear in the new Digitech drop pedal I'm sure, so saves waiting for its release.
 
#14
I went ahead and got the Bass Whammy. So much cheaper than an Eventide I thought I would try it first.

I find analog pedals sound great after the Whammy but I haven't been able to get the Source Audio Manta to play nice yet, seems there is a bit of glitching and the distortions don't open up as much with the Whammy signal. It really screws up the distortion tone, however, analog dirt sounds exactly the same only pitched or harmonized. Perhaps it is the sort of metallic fast delayish tone of the whammy that is causing the issue. A little analog dirt and filtering and the Whammy is a synthy delight!

Has anyone else experienced similar with the Whammy? Is the Eventide pitching better going into digital pedals down the signal chain?
 
#16
After some time with the Whammy, I think the reason it doesnt play with my Manta patches well is the dynamics are squashed by the Whammy. I think the Manta distortions lack of dedicated sensitivity control limits it's interaction with the Whammy. This is my theory.
 
#18
It seems to me that maybe the Whammy isn't affecting your dynamics so much as maybe having the Whammy signal (I'm thinking harmony here) is different dynamically thus eliciting a different response from pedals down the line.
 
#19
Adamixoye said:
It seems to me that maybe the Whammy isn't affecting your dynamics so much as maybe having the Whammy signal (I'm thinking harmony here) is different dynamically thus eliciting a different response from pedals down the line.
Click to expand...


Yep. I run mine H9 (used 99.9% of the time for Whammy-type stuff) -> Manta and have no issues.
 

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