Shifting Pitches. What else is out there?

[pbass6811]

In an effort to reduce my schlep, I've grown to like using pitch shifters. Unfortunately, the two major players, the Digitech Drop and the EHX Pitch Fork are just not that great on bass, at least not for me. I have both, don't like either. I have been relatively impressed with the pitch shifting algorithm that Line 6 uses in it's HX family of stuff. The pitch shifters in the POD Go, the HX Stomp, and the Helix are all quite useable and sound decent. So, I'm using the HX Stomp on my board as, primarily, a pitch shifter to go half-step & full-step down.

I'm putting together another board and I'd like to have the same kind of functionality without buying another HX Stomp. Is there anything else that has a decent shifter and maybe a few other options that isn't $600?

Yes, I know I can just retune. I'm kinda trying to avoid that, that's why I'm asking...

 

[jasonmitsch]

In an effort to reduce my schlep, I've grown to like using pitch shifters. Unfortunately, the two major players, the Digitech Drop and the EHX Pitch Fork are just not that great on bass, at least not for me. I have both, don't like either. I have been relatively impressed with the pitch shifting algorithm that Line 6 uses in it's HX family of stuff. The pitch shifters in the POD Go, the HX Stomp, and the Helix are all quite useable and sound decent. So, I'm using the HX Stomp on my board as, primarily, a pitch shifter to go half-step & full-step down.

I'm putting together another board and I'd like to have the same kind of functionality without buying another HX Stomp. Is there anything else that has a decent shifter and maybe a few other options that isn't $600?

Yes, I know I can just retune. I'm kinda trying to avoid that, that's why I'm asking...

Pitch Glide from the M-Series Legacy effects is decent if you play clean and 1 note at a time. Before the Helix existed I had used PitchGlide in the M5 or M9 to shift down 1/2 step. I never compared it to a Drop or Pitchfork, but it worked for me back in the day. A used M5 can be had for ~$115.

 

[GMC]

Go get an H9...it has the entirety of Eventide's Pitch factor Algorithms.

 

[pbass6811]

Go get an H9...it has the entirety of Eventide's Pitch factor Algorithms.

Holy crap! I’m not sure why that didn’t occur to me? I have an H9. I’ll be giving that a try later today. Thanks!

 

[jasonmitsch]

Holy crap! I’m not sure why that didn’t occur to me? I have an H9. I’ll be giving that a try later today. Thanks!

I love Eventide H9 and Pitchfactor for all that they do, but in my experience I did not like the tone of my bass for static pitch shifting. I actually preferred the M5 and now HX devices. It may be the right flavor for you though.

 

[Jek Porkins]

I love my Digitech Bass Whammy. I have the guitar version too. Annnnd I next to never use them...but when I do I love them. I just can't part with them! Good luck with your search!

 

[pbass6811]

I love Eventide H9 and Pitchfactor for all that they do, but in my experience I did not like the tone of my bass for static pitch shifting. I actually preferred the M5 and now HX devices. It may be the right flavor for you though.

Yeah, I tried the pitch shifting functions on the H9. They were ok, but not as "natural" sounding as my HX devices. So, it looks like, when I start putting the second board together, I'ma hafta get another HX Stomp. It's probably worth it, since I do have the HXS doing a couple of other things besides the shifting. I'd like to use the HXS tuner, but I need to add another button for that, so...

 

[Diegombass]

I use to have a POG2, and I prefer the sound and latency of my Hx Effects' Simple Pitch.

 

[ole Jason]

That's pretty much everything available as far as I'm aware. I think the Helix stuff is the newest. You're probably already aware but all of the final gen pitch shifting pedals from DigiTech (Drop, Bass Whammy, Whammy, etc.) essentially share the same base algorithm. I use the Bass Whammy but at a certain point it does seem to reduce string attack a bit.

Pitch shifting bass is just a hard thing to accomplish due to physics.

 

[sillyfabe]

EHX HOG2 can’t be beat! I’ve also used the Zoom and Line-6 algorithms, I use a Whammy XP-100 Whammy-Wah and even the Boss PS-3 and the HOG2 can handle anything. I run it POST dirt and even synth and it’s a champ.

 

[jasonmitsch]

Yeah, I tried the pitch shifting functions on the H9. They were ok, but not as "natural" sounding as my HX devices. So, it looks like, when I start putting the second board together, I'ma hafta get another HX Stomp. It's probably worth it, since I do have the HXS doing a couple of other things besides the shifting. I'd like to use the HXS tuner, but I need to add another button for that, so...

I wonder if L6 will ever release an M5 sized Helix device. Something like the HXFX with no amp models but all of the effects in an M5 or H9 sized box. I have no idea if that is even possible if you consider processing, price, form, and ease of editing. But one can dream, and that would be your dream device I think. The only problem is then you'd buy 2 or 3 more lol.

 

[Nephilymbass]

In an effort to reduce my schlep, I've grown to like using pitch shifters. Unfortunately, the two major players, the Digitech Drop and the EHX Pitch Fork are just not that great on bass, at least not for me. I have both, don't like either. I have been relatively impressed with the pitch shifting algorithm that Line 6 uses in it's HX family of stuff. The pitch shifters in the POD Go, the HX Stomp, and the Helix are all quite useable and sound decent. So, I'm using the HX Stomp on my board as, primarily, a pitch shifter to go half-step & full-step down.

I'm putting together another board and I'd like to have the same kind of functionality without buying another HX Stomp. Is there anything else that has a decent shifter and maybe a few other options that isn't $600?

Yes, I know I can just retune. I'm kinda trying to avoid that, that's why I'm asking...

Someone correct me if I’m wrong. My experience has been with the hx effects not the stomp. But why not just create a seperate preset for each tuning. Then once you’ve selected the preset switch to stomp mode so you can use the footswitches for your effects that you want to turn on and off. In the hx effects for example I did this with the compressor. It’s always on so I didn’t have to waste a footswitch on an effect I never turn off. Should be able to let you use the pitch effects to change tunings between songs while keeping the ability to use all the foot switches for on/off effects.

 

[Zymba]

I love Eventide H9 and Pitchfactor for all that they do, but in my experience I did not like the tone of my bass for static pitch shifting. I actually preferred the M5 and now HX devices. It may be the right flavor for you though.

Yeah, I A/B'ed the H9 and the M9 when I owned both and determined that the "old" Line 6 tech was better in terms of tracking and preservation of tone. I sold the H9 and have replaced the M9 with a HX Effects.