Eventide Pitch Factor

Reviews | Eventide Pitch Factor
98
B
uilt into the same sturdy
enclosure as the rest of the
Eventide pedal range, the
Pitch Factor is a stereo
capable FX box utilising Eventide’s high
end effect algorithms, coupled with
MIDI (for program changes, clock/tempo
sync and control of many front panel
parameters) and USB (for software
upgrades) with a simple, clear and
uncluttered interface.
The Pitch Factor can operate at line
or amp level and it’s a breeze to use
plus the display is large enough to read
from a distance, very handy for on stage.
The general feeling here is high quality
throughout. A quick tour round the
interface shows there is plenty of hands
on and foot control available, with 11
dials in total, plus three tough-metal
stomp switches for active/bypass, tap
tempo and bank/preset selection.
Further to this, the middle footswitch
labelled fl ex/learn adds control over key
parameters depending on the mode
selected. Most of the main parameters
within each effect can also be
expression or switch controlled by foot
using the expression pedal and aux
switch inputs. This enables you to keep
both hands on your instrument while
tweaking/switching the effects and saves
your back too! This is a very versatile
box indeed.
Tweak happy
There’s a huge number of tweakable
parameters onboard, ranging from wet/
dry mix, pitch for left and right
channels, keys/scales/modes and effect
depth, to fuzz/octave blend for the
octaver, fi lter cutoff and resonance,
delay times, feedback, wave shapes,
arpeggiator modes/patterns, beat
divisions and speeds, reverb depth for
the synthonizer – the list goes on, but
it’s truly a great pleasure getting lost in
the sounds this box can provide – you’ll
soon be transforming a mundane single
note into an ethereal and trippy
soundscape or simply beef up and twist
monophonic sounds with some of the
best harmony/octave/rhythmic based
effects available in a stompbox.
Importantly, the note-tracking is spot
on with no glitching or delay between
instrument and effect and the effects
are as smooth as you like, with none of
that awful wobble you sometimes get
with inferior pitch-shifting effects.
All the effect modes are very
impressive sonically but it’s the octaver/
synth and harmodulateor/arpeggiator
modes that really do it for me. In
particular, the octaver is one of the best
I’ve heard and also doubles as a mean
bass guitar synth with a great fuzz built
in too. I recommend any bassists/
guitarists check this box out for this
feature alone!
Rest assured, there is something to
inspire everyone here and there’s much
more than meets the ear (and the eye)
crammed into this box. Eventide have
done it once again!
WHAT IS IT?
The third addition to
Eventide’s Stomp Box
range, specialising in
pitch-based and rhythmic
effects
CONTACT
Who: Source Distribution
Tel: [phone]
Web: eventide.com
HIGHLIGHTS
1 Sturdy build
2 Lots of control available
by hand or foot
3 High quality sonics and
effects throughout
SPECS
10 effect types: Diatonic,
Quadravox, Harmodulator,
Micropitch, H910/H949,
PitchFlex, Octaver, Crystals,
Harpeggitator, and
Synthonizer
Modes: True Bypass mode
Controls and switches:
Amp/line level switch, 3x
stomp-switches (bypass,
fl ex/learn, tap tempo/bank
select)
Ins and Outs: Input 1 and 2
– ¼ inch mono jacks,
Output 1 and 2 – ¼ inch
mono jacks Expression
Pedal: ¼ inch mono phone
jack Aux Switch: ¼ inch
stereo phone jack USB, MIDI
In and MIDI Out/Thru
(Combined)
Dimensions
190 x 122 x 54mm
Weight
1kg
Eventide Pitch
Factor | £459
Having been thoroughly impressed with Eventide’s
pedals to date, Dan ‘JD73’ Goldman pitches up
VERDICT
BUILD
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
VALUE
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
EASE OF USE
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
VERSATILITY
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
RESULTS
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
Eventide’s expertise with
pitch-based effects shines through
here. It’s pricey but it’s worth it.
ON THE DVD
FMU224.rev_eventide 98 4/2/10 1:55:47 pm