The original H9 had one persistent problem: doing almost anything required the companion app. Eventide’s H9 Gen 2, shipping June 24 at $599, fixes that while loading the H90’s complete 74-algorithm library into a compact, single-engine format.
What Changed From the Original
The first H9 launched in 2013 and earned its reputation as one of the best-sounding compact multi-effects pedals available. The sound was never the issue. The interface was. Adjusting parameters, browsing presets, and tweaking settings meant pulling out a phone and navigating the Eventide Control app. Onstage, that workflow broke down.
The Gen 2 replaces that limitation with physical controls. A 2.5-inch OLED display shows algorithm name, preset title, and parameter values at a glance. Three Quick Knobs provide instant access to each algorithm’s primary parameters. Four menu buttons and a navigation encoder handle preset browsing and deep editing without a phone. The app still works over USB-C for studio sessions, but it is no longer mandatory.
Russell Wedelich, Eventide’s President and CTO, put it simply: “We couldn’t leave the H9 behind. So, borrowing from H90, we preserved all the cherished Eventide FX.”
H90 Sound Quality, One Engine
The processor inside the H9 Gen 2 is the same ARM chip found in the H90. The distinction: the H90 runs two of these chips simultaneously, stacking algorithms in series or parallel. The Gen 2 runs one, handling a single algorithm at a time.
That single-core design is what keeps the price at $599, a $300 savings over the H90’s current $899 street price. The tradeoff is straightforward. If you need a delay and reverb running simultaneously within one pedal, the H90 is still the only choice. If you switch between individual effects per song or song section, the Gen 2 delivers identical audio quality for significantly less.
Both pedals share the same 74 algorithms: delays, reverbs, harmonizers, modulation, distortion, granular processors, vocal effects, and synth tools. More than 1,000 factory presets ship preloaded. Eventide’s SIFT technology enables high-fidelity polyphonic pitch shifting, a significant upgrade over the original H9’s pitch capabilities.
Three Performance Modes
The Gen 2 organizes its workflow into three distinct modes:
Select scrolls through presets one at a time using the encoder, with the OLED display providing visual feedback on every parameter.
Bank groups presets into banks and assigns the two footswitches to bank navigation and preset selection, matching the H90’s stage workflow.
Perform turns the footswitches into programmable macro controllers via HotKnob and HotSwitch assignments. A single press can morph multiple parameters at once, transforming preset transitions into dynamic, expressive performance gestures.
Effects spillover ensures reverb and delay tails sustain naturally between preset changes. A built-in chromatic tuner rounds out the feature set.
I/O and Routing
Rear panel connectivity includes stereo inputs and outputs supporting both instrument and line-level signals. A USB-C port handles app communication and firmware updates. Side-mounted 5-pin MIDI ports integrate with switchers and loop controllers. An auxiliary input accepts expression pedals or external footswitches for expanded control.
Routing options span wet/dry and pre/post configurations, making four-cable method setups practical. Existing H9 presets transfer directly to the Gen 2 via backward compatibility.
Eventide’s Current Harmonizer Lineup
| Pedal | Price | Engines | Algorithms | Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H9 Gen 2 | $599 | 1 | 74 | Compact, redesigned controls |
| H90 | $899 | 2 | 74 | Dual simultaneous algorithms |
The Gen 2 replaces the discontinued H9 Max in the lineup. Upgraders from the original H9 gain 25 additional algorithms, dramatically improved physical controls, better converters, and SIFT polyphonic pitch shifting.
The purchasing decision between the Gen 2 and the H90 depends on one question: do you regularly stack two Eventide algorithms at the same time? Session players and ambient guitarists who layer delay into reverb within a single unit will still want the H90. Players who use one premium effect at a time, switching per song or section, save $300 without any loss in sound quality.
Quick Specs
- Processor: ARM (same chip as H90)
- Algorithms: 74 (full H90 + H9 Max libraries)
- Presets: 1,000+
- Display: 2.5-inch OLED
- Controls: 3 Quick Knobs, encoder, 4 menu buttons, 2 footswitches with HotKnob/HotSwitch
- I/O: Stereo in/out (instrument/line level), USB-C, 5-pin MIDI, aux input
- Features: SIFT polyphonic pitch, spillover, built-in tuner, flexible routing
- Price: $599
- Ships: June 24, 2026
Pre-orders are live now at Eventide and authorized dealers including Sweetwater and Reverb.