Setting Up Pre/Post Routing Options for H9 - Eventide Audio

Setting Up Pre/Post Routing Options for H9

Pre/Post routing mode allows you to change where your Eventide stompbox sits in your signal chain. For example, using an overdrive algorithm like CrushStation before your amp with another algorithm like Spring Reverb set to run in the effects loop of your amp. Before this feature, this routing would require multiple H9s. Now you just need two extra cables. Here’s how.

Software Updates

First you must update your H9 stompbox and your H9 Control software to the latest versions.

Update H9 Control

Download and install the latest version of H9 Control for PC, Mac or iOS (version 2.4.0 or later).

  1. Visit the downloads section of the H9 Control page.
  2. For Mac or PC it will download an installation file. Once that’s downloaded, double-click the installation file and follow the instructions. For iOS you will be taken to the Apple App Store. Click the Update/Download button which will download and install the app.

Update Your H9

  1. Being certain you have updated H9 Control, connect to your H9 via H9 Control via Bluetooth or USB cable.
  2. Open up H9 Control.
  3. Click the Pedal icon at the bottom of the screen.
  4. Click the Stompbox Software button.
  5. Select the latest update available (H9_5.2.0[1] as of the writing of this document).
  6. Click the Install Software button
  7. Do not disconnect or power down during the update. The update may take up to 15 minutes. Follow instructions on the H9 Control screen.

Routing Configuration

Warning: Set up your H9 for Pre/Post routing mode (“Changing routing modes” below) before making cable connections. Otherwise, you risk feedback or clipping of your signal.

Setting Up Pre/Post

Pre/Post routing can be set on the H9 itself or by using H9 Control.

Pre/Post Routing via H9 Control

1. Changing routing modes

  1. Make sure your H9 is connected to H9 Control.
  2. Click on the Pedal icon.
  3. Click General Settings.
  4. Click Routing.
  5. Click Pre/Post.

Now the H9 knows to operate in Pre/Post mode and routings can be determined by preset.

2. Cable Connections

With your H9 set up for Pre/Post routing, you’re ready to connect it either to another stompbox or to your amp’s effects loop. The easiest way to understand this is that any preset you save with “Pre” routing will go in through Input 1 and out through Output 1. Any preset saved with “Post” routing will go in through Input 2 and out through Output 2. The other input/output will pass the signal through unchanged. There are many different ways to connect pedals with these options. We’ll look at the example mentioned earlier.

CrushStation Before Amp  / Spring Reverb in Your Effects Loop  
  1. Plug your guitar into Input 1 of the H9.
  2. Connect H9’s Output 1 to your amp’s input.  
  3. Connect the amp’s effects loop Send to Input 2 of the H9.
  4. Connect H9’s Output 2 to the amp’s effects loop Return.
  5. Select and save “Pre” routing for your CrushStation preset (instructions below).
  6. Select and save “Post” routing for your Spring Reverb preset (instructions below).
  7. Save to your pedal.

Now when you load your CrushStation preset, the signal chain will look like:

Guitar -> H9 Input 1 -> CrushStation -> H9 Output 1 -> Amp -> Loop Send -> H9 Input 2 -> H9 Output 2 -> Loop Return

Note that Input 2 and Output 2 will be unaffected.

Then, when you load your Spring Reverb preset the signal chain will look like:

Guitar -> H9 Input 1 -> H9 Output 1 -> Amp -> Loop Send -> H9 Input 2 -> Spring Reverb -> H9 Output 2 -> Loop Return

Note that Input 1 and Output 1 will be unaffected.

Note:  When hooking up your gear in this manner, you may encounter a ground loop which could introduce a low frequency hum in your signal. This is not a fault of the H9 or your other gear, it is a grounding issue. Please see the EventideAudio.com website for a discussion and tips on ground loops.

3. Changing the Routing of a Preset

  1. Click the Presets icon at the bottom of the screen
  2. Select a preset to modify
  3. In the upper right hand of the screen click the MORE icon. (If you are using an iPhone you will need to click the area at the top of the screen where the preset name is for the menu to appear.)
  4. Under routing, click Pre or Post.
  5. If you like the way a preset sounds with the modified routing, you must save it as a User Preset. It’s best to rename your preset so you remember that this is the version with the routing you’ve chosen.

Pre/Post Routing Mode without H9 Control

Pre/Post mode can also be setup using only your H9 pedal, providing the pedal has been updated via H9 Control.

Warning: Set up your H9 for Pre/Post routing mode (Changing routing modes) before making your cable connections. Otherwise, you risk feedback or clipping of your signal.

1. Changing routing modes

  1. Press and hold the HOTKNOB button and Right Footswitch simultaneously for a few seconds to enter the System Mode.
  2. Turn the black Encoder knob until UTILITY (UTILS) is displayed.
  3. Momentarily press the HOTKNOB button.
  4. Turn the wheel until ROUTING is displayed.  
  5. Momentarily press the HOTKNOB Button.
  6. Turn the wheel to select PRE.PST
  7. Press and hold the HOTKNOB button and Right Footswitch simultaneously for a few seconds to exit System Mode.

Now the H9 knows to operate in Pre/Post mode. Once the H9 is operating in this mode, routings are determined by each preset.

2. Cable Connections

Please see the “2. Cable Connections” section under “Pre/Post Routing via H9 Control.”

3. Changing the Routing of a Preset

  1. Select and activate the preset you wish to change.
  2. With your hand, press and hold the left footswitch (Active) to enter the routing and level parameters for the preset.
  3. While holding down the left footswitch, click the black encoder knob until the display shows Pre or Post.
  4. Turn the encoder knob to change the preset from Pre to Post or Post to Pre.
  5. Release the footswitch. The preset will return to the previous Active or Bypassed state.
  6. Remember to save the preset or the change will be lost.