• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Pitchfactor vs H9?

nostatic

nostatic

Jun 18, 2004
13,870
16,971
central coast
nostatic.com
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: FEA Labs
#1
Have dabbled with these briefly in the past, but wondering if there is any argument for buying a Pitchfactor over an H9 other than having dedicated knobs - which is a factor that actually *does* matter to me. I typically prefer to have physical knobs rather than virtual knobs but maybe long-term the iphone/ipad app for the H9 deals with that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Matt Dean
#2
I've owned both. The footswitches would be another consideration; with three switches and the ability to do an aux switch and an expression pedal at the same time, you potentially get a lot more live/manual flexibility that way.

Having said that, the smaller size and ability to do all the other algorithms won out for me and I'm definitely happy to be using the H9s now. Physical knobs are nice, but it's actually not too bad to use the H9's XYZ buttons and the big dial to do the same thing. And then of course you have the app.
 
#5
I've owned both; still have the H9 Max. Actually, I've owned three of the "factor" pedal; all replaced with an H9 Max. IMHO, I don't know of any reason to go with the "factor" pedals these days. There are so many sounds in the H9; sounds you need that you didn't know you needed. :jawdrop:

I've never programed the H9 directly on the unit. I've used either my iPhone, iPad or computer; both with bluetooth or usb. Eventide's software is awesome. It integrate very nicely with the H9.

Because I tend to be very anal with effects, I've put LOTS of hours into the H9. You can get good sounds right away but for me, the special sounds come after a lot of trial and error.

On some gigs, my H9 will be my only effect. On other gigs, I'll combine the H9 with either other individual effects or a multi effect unit using the H9 for effects my "bread and butter" pedals can't deliver.
 
#9
Swimming Bird said:
PF has the H9 software editor and it seems pretty well implemented. Biggest difference is whether you only want PF algorithms.
Click to expand...
Are you able to switch between algorithms using MIDI, or do you need to switch them on the editor? I know you can only use one algorithm at a time, and pitch-shifting is the main reason I want one, but having the ability to switch algorithms on the fly without needing a phone/computer would bump it much higher on my priority list.
 
#10
Johnny Mac said:
Are you able to switch between algorithms using MIDI, or do you need to switch them on the editor? I know you can only use one algorithm at a time, and pitch-shifting is the main reason I want one, but having the ability to switch algorithms on the fly without needing a phone/computer would bump it much higher on my priority list.
Click to expand...

Yes, the PF and H9 have essentially the same MIDI implementation. Preset switching, expression, etc.
 
#11
The H9 is one heckuva machine. If you think you'll be opposed to using the app, I think you'll find its rather intuitive since the layout is exactly the same as the factor pedals, plus a few more options. It really doesn't take much to get a good sound out of it considering all of the presets already on board...just find the one you like the most on any given algorithm and tweak it, assigning the XYZ knobs to the parameters you use the most and then save. You can definitely scroll through pretty quickly as long as you arent jumping 30+ presets too often too.

CryingBass said:
So music gear these days has basically required us all to be programmers?
Click to expand...

Lol. The "programming" is turning virtual knobs that would otherwise be physically turned on the factor pedals. No knowledge of Java or C++ required.
 
  • Like
Reactions: petey293 and Adamixoye
#12
Adamixoye said:
Yes, the PF and H9 have essentially the same MIDI implementation. Preset switching, expression, etc.
Click to expand...
But does the H9 allow you to store presets across multiple algorithms? Like, can I store PF presets and Space presets, and switch back and forth using just MIDI, or do I have to pick one algorithm to use on the pedal and can only store presets for that algorithm until I switch to a different one?
 
#13
Johnny Mac said:
But does the H9 allow you to store presets across multiple algorithms? Like, can I store PF presets and Space presets, and switch back and forth using just MIDI, or do I have to pick one algorithm to use on the pedal and can only store presets for that algorithm until I switch to a different one?
Click to expand...

The way you're describing this is a little different from how Eventide describes it; the H9 actually has 40+ algorithms (10 each Pitch, Mod, and Time, 12 for Space, and a handful of H9 exclusives). But to answer what I think you're asking, no, you're not limited to one class of algorithms at a time. You can have preset 1 be a PF algorithm and preset 2 be a Space algorithm and switch back and forth between them instantaneously via the footswitches or MIDI.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Johnny Mac
#14
Adamixoye said:
The way you're describing this is a little different from how Eventide describes it; the H9 actually has 40+ algorithms (10 each Pitch, Mod, and Time, 12 for Space, and a handful of H9 exclusives). But to answer what I think you're asking, no, you're not limited to one class of algorithms at a time. You can have preset 1 be a PF algorithm and preset 2 be a Space algorithm and switch back and forth between them instantaneously via the footswitches or MIDI.
Click to expand...
Thanks! This is what I was looking for, and now I'm seriously reconsidering some of my planned future purchases.
 
#15
I just started using the pre/post routing on the PF and am delighted. I've just got two banks going where L switch is post and R switch is pre - arp, octave, trem, chorus. Changing my overall sound rapidly with the PF at the front and end of the chain is super fun, like having two of them.

What can you do with the H9 switches?
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back