H3000 (1986) - First intelligent/diatonic pitch shifting. Used the 16-bit TMS320 DSP chip. DSP4000 (1994) - User-programmable algorithms with a large toolkit of DSP functions DSP4000B, DSP4000B+ - Series of processors with algorithms written for broadcast and film production, by sound designer Jay Rose. DSP4500 (1998) - Similar to DSP4000 with the addition of sampling DSP7000 (2001) - Pitch shifter / effects processor with four times more processing power than the DSP4000 series DSP7500 (2001) - Similar to DSP7000 with the addition of sampling Orville (2001) - Pitch shifter / effects processor with twice the processing power of the DSP7000 / DSP7500 processors and up to 8 channels Eclipse (2002) Clockworks Legacy (2003) - Software plug-in versions of classic Eventide effects and DSP BD500 (2004) - 40-second version of Eventide's fourth-generation broadcast profanity delay Anthology TDM Bundle (2005) H8000FW (2005) - Successor to Orville with increased processing power I figured this might help, to put things into perspective. 1986 was a long time ago, when Eventide began developing algorithms using various sound designers. A lot has happened since then, with technology advancements seemingly exponential. Between the above, you can’t draw direct parallels anywhere with each unit somewhat unique. The pedal had some big shoes to fill, but they selected a handful of features and brought them to the instrument level crowd in pedal format. Of course, you know the difference, especially as a desk side companion as outboard gear. Personally I like the AxeFX for its line level capabilities. I can create my own distortion, have amps and speakers. But it can also serve as an outboard processor with a nice collection of modules with convenient access with their on screen UI. It does a few things that Harmonizer cannot, making it extra appealing. It even has a sampler, full MIDI implementation and control. It’s 2020, so I am interested in not heating up the room with 500W of tube amplifiers, AxeFX is calling out to me every day. The pedals don’t register, but I’m sure there’s someone out there with one guitar and one amplifier looking for that one effects chain. In 2020 these are both cool options. I still favor Italo’s sound designs, although there are others. His new products are interesting as well, for people like me who don’t want to waste another minute of time tweaking something in, I can pull up one of his patches and quick mix it, press record. Done! This is my 4th attempt at commenting.

Thanks for helping me realize that there is no reason after 7 years, for my uses, to start shopping for a replacement for my old H9’s. I’ve no real dissatisfaction with them but given their age one starts to wonder what’s new these days is terms of competition. To me the H9 is still relevant as ever and continues to keep me happy delivering high quality sound and unparalleled flexibility in a small package.

I owned both. I loved them both. I sold both. But, I keep coming back to that Eventide sound just because I primarily use it for synths. Right now, I have the Space. That doesn't mean I hate the Digit. To be fair, I sold mine before all the significant updates were implemented (it's now a full-on synth in a pedal like the Zoia?!?!?!?!) and would love to have one again. I miss the sequencer-style matrix for the delay time. It kinda gave me an intuitive interface that I was familiar with. But, after an update (2.x, methinks), it was replaced. I hope the creator of the Digit makes that an option.

I think the new pedals like HX Stomp, Poly Digit, Empress Zola are all interesting. I've discovered I don't like tinkering more than playing so I like the algorithm format of the H9. H9s have been out quite awhile so while the tech is getting long in the tooth, their reliability on actual pedalboards has been established. Digit looks fun though.

Here's one for you Leon. How about using the h9 and digit to recreate all the classic guitar god rack effects of the 80s/90s Eddie's pitch and spread, zakks chorus, landaus schmo, Luke's circular delay Etc. The spx90, sde3000, pcm70 etc. Would make for some awesome videos.

I, too, used the tape delay algo on the h9. Then was like "I guess I like tape delay?" And bought a volante... Now I can use the h9 for everything else!

This demo was well done to say the least. I have had the H9 for about 4 years and I love it but it seems that the Poly is the future for someone who wants to really create something new

Great video. Nice and concise. My Digit should be delivered this week. I’m hoping to load some of my own IR’s from my vintage gear into it and then give them to Loki if he wants them. Thanks for doing these videos. Stay well 👍😎

I've only seen a 1/4 of the video thus far and am blown away at how good the Poly Digit sounds @4:02 compared to the H9. The Digit just sounds smoother and finer than the H9 here; like it's operating at a higher sampling rate. The H9 just sounds dated in comparison

I don't know about other people, but reverb IRs trick my brain into believing I'm in a physical space (even when looking at a video of the player in a totally different kind of space) in a way that algorithmic reverbs never have. I think when more guitar players wake up to this, 90% will never go back. Apart from that, I just think the Digit is a completely new paradigm. I think a few people are going to take a while to understand exactly what it is. They're going to think it's a tinkerer's toy. Whereas it's actually a vast virtual pedalboard - allowing you to construct super high quality, multiple discreet lines of effects that would cost thousands of dollars in stompboxes and wouldn't be possible with traditional multi-fx which force you into a very limited combination of units.

I hope you’re doing well Leon. So I set up my H9 Max in an effects loop via outputs 3-4 and inputs 3-4 on my Beebo and it’s amazing. I use the wet/dry stereo module, a stereo dry, and then the H9 is in parallel with my beebo effects. I have the kill dry turned on the H9 as well. The amount of sounds you can get out of this combination are truest endless. So much fun!!!

Excellent reviews, as usual, Leon!! So detailed and such great comparisons between the two. You gave a great sense of what each does, in such a short amount of time. I can imagine how hard it is to do something like this, while attempting to be succinct and concise. Well done!! Having said all that, i really still want the FM3, and am still waiting for my invitation email to purchase one. Thanks again!!

Those Eventide algorithms are second to none if you are solely going for the best sounds possible, IMHO…

Haha, this is what I need. I'm still on the fence on getting the digit. You are a star, Leon. Cheers!

Both units sound really great.

I have always loved the Eventide H9. This Digit sounded pretty good and quite surprised me. Seems if you are a tinkerer (like maybe most AxeFx user are) you could create some really good soundscapes. The H9 has really classic algorithms that we have heard all over the place. The Poly Digit might be good at creating unique soundscapes. How many algorithms can you run at once on the Poly? Does it have a cpu restriction on it?

You have no mercy do you Leon? You ran up the black flag and declared No Quarter for my wallet. This is a fight to the end!

I dont know what Boss is waiting for to release a GX-1000 Core with chain building freedom. You can use like, 24 effects in the GT-K… That would easily crush any device on the market currently, considering price and form factor.

Empress Zoia kills 'em all!! IMO If you like designing your own effects..🤯🔥🎉

Great video. I know the H9 excells in delays and reverbs but I want to know how do the effects (phaser, flanger, chorus, tri-chorus a la Digital Dimension, wah, tremolo) fare compared to pedals? I had the Mobius and I was not pleased with the chorus, the phaser and flanger. The Boss MD-500 had good choruses and dimension D but weak flanger and phaser. Never played an H9 or properly heard a flanger, phaser.

These are two of the four pedals I own; the others are the VOX Ice 9 and the Tech21 Q-Strip ...

I recently switched to a stomp for most of my tones and have been trying to supplement it with other pedals. The price point of the digit and the zoia make it tough to pick standard guitar pedals because these just do so many things so well. I have no idea which of the two will work better with the stomp though. Anyone know?

Well heck just get one of each and use them both

I'd like a Poly, but it seems like it's a work in progress

I have the eventide, and yeah it's a smokin pedal, still waiting on my poly to come in but from what I've heard from your demo I'll like it. So I think they're both rockin units.

Tenho um brother chamado Polidori, ele é dono da Poli corporation (uma baita empresa). Abs

Poly digit looks awesome but think it’s for the generation that can text with 2 thumbs 😂

I love my h9. But I really hate having to use my iPad. I’m considering swapping it out for a beebo.

Leon, if you had to pick one piece of equipment for doing spacey ambient stuff, (Chords of Orion, etc), which would you choose?

The Digit looks like an Etch A Sketch. Sounds amazing, though. Wishlist! I already own an H9.

Eventide creating a pay-to-unlock-features scheme with H9 is a total turn-off... Still have Space on my board, but done with Eventide's money-gouging BS for dated algorythms... That said, I'm liking the active advancement of Beebo, having access to all improvements and new features under a singular purchase price, visual interface, synth modules, routing options, etc... Zoia has more depth, but don't like the interface at all...

H9 has diatonic harmony.

That Poly is too dman cool if you ask me..

What pedalboard with the yellow rails is your FM3 mounted to? I’m trying to figure out how to mount it with 2 expression pedals and a dual switch

Got the Beebo recently, but I am still wondering where to find something like master/mix parameters. Maybe you know where to find?

I think the better question is, is which one do I buy first? 😂 they're both pretty damn awesome! If I HAD TO pick just one it would definitely be the Digit

H9 can run in your fx loop - as long as you don't have a line level fx loop (such as Mesa).

I got a Zoia. Now I want a Bebo.

I've had my eye on the GFI Specular Tempus until I discovered the Beebo. In your opinion, with the Beebo, is it possible to create the latching reverbs/delays to create a "pad" behind acoustic solo guitar (like the GFI can)?

Iove the idea of the POLY DIGIT, butt it sounds pants compared to the H9

No! Tell them how long the Poly takes just to switch on. How updates have stopped. How the midi on this is dreadful. How it works right to left! How un- necessarily complex it is and how you need reading glasses to see the screen. And a stylus for the fiddly setting selection & how long it takes to swap between presets and the dreadful midi implementation. Mine needs different types of dongle for in and out!

That said the Digit is a washy mess the H9 sounds more musical

The one that gets less atmospheric crap is the one for me

Thank you!!!!!!

4 effects in parallel at once. 2verbs+2delays. Can this Poly box do it?? Thnxx ❤

I'm not much of a pedal guy but I love building weird and new algorithms along with recreating classic legacy algs from the 80's. May just have to look into the Poly after the firmwares matured.

where did you get those footswicht poppers? for the Beebo the footswicth on the Beebo is not the standard size as the eventide footswicthes

Get a Terraform instead of the H9 and then get the Digit

Now a need a poly. Damm you LT

Great review…. Will Poly do twin diatonic harmony lines?

Do you like the H9 delays better then the axe fx iii and can you re-create them in the axe fx iii?

I liked the overall sound of the H9 better than the poly...the poly sounded very noisy to me....I'll stick with the H9

Question: I want to run a Beebo in the FX loop of an HX stomp. Will there be enough DSP to run the following signal path: L channel: cab IR -> delay -> reverb IR R channel: cab IR -> delay -> reverb IR ? I want to basically run a stereo cab with stereo delay and reverb off the Beebo.

Can the Beboo do the effect that's in the mobius destroyer algo that does the cool sound a record makes when it's playing but there's no audio? When you play on top of it, you get the megaphone sound.

Bottom line!!!!!!! GEARHEAD STUFFF!!!! Older or newer toys!!!! It's all good. "D"

I hate the idea of eventide paywalling their pedal’s full functionality. For that reason alone I’ll never buy an H9 no matter how good it sounds.

Way too much lag with the Poly Digit and it has no direct through. H9 is way more musical sounding. Sending the Poly Digit back.

h9 just sounds so good. like a pro piece of gear. Digit has a lot of possibilities but is sounds digital.