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Official Eventide Stompbox (H9/Factor Series) Club!!!

Please tell me about the differences that you think matter. I have two H9s, and many years logged on them, so I’d be curious to know. I know the difference in specs, but I have not figured out if any would matter to me.
  • New algos (Polyphony replaces my Digitech Drop, Prism Shift is fun, SP2016 sounds pretty good on guitar, haven't explored the others yet)
  • Significantly improved interface (after a small learning curve at this point I really have no need for either the desktop or iOS app)
  • Smaller size compared to 2 H9s
  • Routing options
That's where I would start, there's some other good stuff too but those are the biggest ones for me.
 
I know they market it that way. But did someone here compare the tracking of the H9 and H90? Is it really a big difference?
I haven't A/B-ed identical algorithms. The tracking on Polyphony is better than, say, Pitchflex.
 
Did you compare the same algos side by side?

only the ones I use - the H90 seems a little airier or more open tone wise - which is saying something because the H9 is pretty bloody awesome.

The 90 seems a little snappier locking in on pitch shifting also. Overall - since I have a switcher (es-8). If I had two H9’s, I’d probably stay with those as I have plenty of routing options and a super easy way to control both H9’s through midi.

Having only 1 H9, it made more sense to upgrade rather than buying a second H9. The new algos are great but not worth the price of the 90 if you are already using 2 H9’s and a switcher.

one h9 or no switcher and the upgrade decision gets easier and easier for the added functionality, less space on the board, new algos, routing options and easier UI on the device.
 
I agree that if I didn’t already have the two H9s and a Micro POG I might see things differently. For me it’s a question of replacing stuff that already works for me. Perhaps down the line.

the pitch shift on the Helix works well—I have a HX Stomp and the Helix software. But, it eats a ton of the processing power of the unit, which means you can’t run more complicated chains. In general, I like Eventide best for pitch effects.
 
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I'll just reiterate that while I had (still have, actually) two H9s, for me space is at a premium and one H90 replaced those two + the Digitech Drop. I had been waiting for something along the lines of the Polyphony algorithm literally for more than a decade. Basically it needed to do the Drop thing but with more options and MIDI control for presets. This does that and more.

So for me those two things made it a no-brainer that I was dying to do. YMMV.
 
The 2 synths on the H90 (Hotsawz and Synthonizer) don't track especially great, and anything below a G on the low E string is more often wrong then right (I haven't measured it but latency is noticeable).

All the pitch algorithms are amazing tho and sound great even if some of them aren't really applicable in real life playing. I use an expression pedal and a external aux 3 button switch (i got saturnworks which are great), and mapping the expression pedal to say wet/dry mix is a good way of taming the effect.

Be prepared to spend a good amount of time learning the device and making patches - its really deep and takes time to figure out. The presets are a great way to see what is capable but you will want to create your own patches that work with your playing and music, and that takes time as well. I've been playing with the looper alot lately, and its crazy powerful and taking me days to learn all the options on it..

the H90 is really expensive, but its really well made, has great support (I asked a question on their support forum and it was answered right away), and best of all it sounds great - great sound quality, the algorithms sound amazing, it really feels like you are buying a high end piece of studio gear.

The only way i can think of to make it better is if you could route 4-8 channels of audio over the usb-c to a DAW...
 
The 2 synths on the H90 (Hotsawz and Synthonizer) don't track especially great, and anything below a G on the low E string is more often wrong then right (I haven't measured it but latency is noticeable).

All the pitch algorithms are amazing tho and sound great even if some of them aren't really applicable in real life playing. I use an expression pedal and a external aux 3 button switch (i got saturnworks which are great), and mapping the expression pedal to say wet/dry mix is a good way of taming the effect.

Be prepared to spend a good amount of time learning the device and making patches - its really deep and takes time to figure out. The presets are a great way to see what is capable but you will want to create your own patches that work with your playing and music, and that takes time as well. I've been playing with the looper alot lately, and its crazy powerful and taking me days to learn all the options on it..

the H90 is really expensive, but its really well made, has great support (I asked a question on their support forum and it was answered right away), and best of all it sounds great - great sound quality, the algorithms sound amazing, it really feels like you are buying a high end piece of studio gear.

The only way i can think of to make it better is if you could route 4-8 channels of audio over the usb-c to a DAW...

Agree with everything you wrote, including that the Hotsawz and Synthonizer are a bit disappointing. Although I hate having a desktop or laptop comp running, when making music, I love the iOS app for the H9. I would highly recommend it, if not to operate the unit - what I do - , but to understand the effects. I would never have understood the effects if I had to rely on the unit. And I don't know if I would use the screen on the new H90 a lot, if I can afford it:-)
Why getting on my knees to turn knobs on a floor unit and look at a tiny screen, if I can have an iPad with the app at my eyes height when sitting or standing? The help screens, when on the page of an effect that explain what every parameter does, are also very well written.
 
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Ordered December 15th and got it today. Looking forward to learning this thing...
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Mine arrived last week (I bought used from the classifieds). I haven't mounted it on my pedalboard or anything yet but am very impressed so far. And I loaded it up this morning to import my H9 presets (I've made many over the last 6 years or so) and saw there's a new algorithm already. Nice!

EDIT: is there a bulk option for importing a bunch of H9 presets? I tried exporting a whole list but that doesn't seem to work in H90 Control. I can do it one at a time but that is a little wonky. Will also post on the Eventide forum.
 
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Mine arrived last week (I bought used from the classifieds). I haven't mounted it on my pedalboard or anything yet but am very impressed so far. And I loaded it up this morning to import my H9 presets (I've made many over the last 6 years or so) and saw there's a new algorithm already. Nice!

EDIT: is there a bulk option for importing a bunch of H9 presets? I tried exporting a whole list but that doesn't seem to work in H90 Control. I can do it one at a time but that is a little wonky. Will also post on the Eventide forum.
I haven't tried but importing a list was how I thought it was supposed to work.