Electro-Harmonix EHX SYNTH 9 Synthesizer Machine Pedal Guitar Effect

Description

The polyphonic SYNTH9 Synthesizer Machine transforms your guitar or bass with 9 presets that were precisely tuned to emulate the most sought after, vintage synthesizer sounds ever! From searing lead synths to spacey synth pads and deep, funky, synth bass grooves, it’s all accessible.
The SYNTH9 is also super easy to use with DRY volume, SYNTH volume, CTRL1 and CTRL2 knobs that provide precise control over each preset’s parameters.
If you dig the kind of classic synth sounds made famous on recordings by groups like ELP, EVH, Kraftwerk, Joy Division, P-Funk, Peter Gabriel and more, we think you’ll love the SYNTH9.
TIPS ON GETTING OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE FROM THE SYNTH9
1. The SYNTH9 is generally best used as the first pedal in an effects chain. Place modulation, delay, and reverb effects after the SYNTH9. The unit will not perform well if placed in the effects loop of a guitar amp.
2. For optimal playability, set the guitar’s pickup selector to the bridge pickup and turn the volume knob all the way up (“10”).
3. Avoid placing a distortion or overdrive in front of the SYNTH9, which could muddy up the input signal and cause the tracking to be unstable. If you want to add overdrive or distortion, place it after the SYNTH9.
4. The SYNTH9 has a built in compressor that is active on the synth sounds at all times. We recommend you do not insert another compressor into your signal chain while the SYNTH9 is in effect mode.
Quick Specs
- Transforms the tone of your guitar or bass into that of a vintage synthesizer - 9 presets that were created to emulate many of the most popular synthesizer sounds ever - Works on guitar or bass without modifications, special pickups or MIDI implementation - The SYNTH9’s usable tracking range extends up to about the 23rd fret on the high-E string of a standard guitar and down to the open A-string on a bass guitar - Use the SYNTH9 with a B9 or C9 Organ Machine as well as the KEY9 Electric Piano Machine and MEL9 Tape Replay Machine to create your own mega-keyboard setup - EHX 9.6DC-200 PSU included - Dimensions in inches: 4.0 (w) x 4.75 (l) x 2.25 (h) - Dimensions in mm: 102 (w) x 121 (l) x 89 (h)
- Buffered bypass
- Current draw: 100mA
CONTROLS AND I/O JACKS
DRY VOL KNOB - The DRY VOL knob controls the volume of the untreated instrument signal present at the SYNTH OUTPUT jack.
SYNTH VOL KNOB - For all presets except MINI MOOD, the SYNTH VOL knob controls the overall volume of the selected preset at the SYNTH OUTPUT jack. In MINI MOOD, SYNTH VOL controls the volume of the non-portamento synthesizer; CTRL 1 controls the volume of the portamento synthesizer.
CTRL 1 & CTRL 2 KNOBS - See the preset descriptions on the following pages for details. PRESET KNOB Turn the white numbered knob to select a preset sound
INPUT JACK - Plug your instrument or the output of another effects pedal into this ¼” jack. See Tips 1 & 2 on the following page for more on connecting your SYNTH9.
DRY OUTPUT JACK - The DRY OUTPUT jack outputs the signal present at the INPUT jack through a buffer circuit. In either EFFECT or BYPASS mode, the dry signal is always present at the DRY OUTPUT jack.
SYNTH OUTPUT JACK - The SYNTH OUTPUT jack outputs the mix set by the DRY and SYNTH volume controls. In BYPASS mode, SYNTH OUTPUT outputs the buffered bypass signal.
BYPASS FOOTSWITCH - Press the BYPASS footswitch to toggle the SYNTH OUTPUT jack between buffered BYPASS and EFFECT mode. The status LED lights when you are in EFFECT mode.
PRESET DESCRIPTIONS
1. OBX – An emulation of the meaty sounding Oberheim® OB-X. CTRL 1 is a tone control. Use CTRL 2 to select between 4 octaves.
2. PROFIT V – The Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 provides inspiration for our versatile PROFIT V preset. CTRL 1 adjusts the sweep time of a downward filter envelope. CTRL 2 selects between 8 intervals of either octaves or 5ths.
3. VIBE SYNTH – A polyphonic synthesizer with decaying harmonic content and vibrato. CTRL 1 sets the power and sweep range of harmonics. CTRL 2 adjusts both vibrato rate and depth simultaneously. As you turn CTRL 2 clockwise the vibrato rate and amount increases.
4. MINI MOOD – A big sounding Moog® inspired synthesizer that blends a portamento synth with a non-portamento synth. (Portamento is when notes glide from one to another.) Turn the SYNTH VOL knob to set the volume of the non-portamento synthesizer. Use CTRL 1 to adjust the output volume of the portamento notes. CTRL 2 sets portamento time. This preset works best when you play monophonically, one note at a time, where every note is picked. To play faster licks, try turning down CTRL 1.
5. EHX MINI – An emulation of the classic Electro-Harmonix Mini Synth. CTRL 1 sets filter envelope sweep time and direction. When CTRL 1 is set to a point within its counter-clockwise range, it sets the attack time for the filter sweep; when set clockwise beyond “noon” it controls the decay time of the filter sweep. CTRL 2 selects between 4 octaves.
6. SOLO SYNTH – A fuzz-synth preset where a synth oscillator and a fuzz square wave guitar are combined to create one single extreme synth tone! CTRL 1 is a tone control. CTRL 2 selects between 4 octaves.
7. MOOD BASS – The Mini Moog® and Taurus pedals served as inspiration for this preset. MOOD BASS works best when played monophonically. CTRL 1 adjusts the sweep time of a downward filter sweep. CTRL 2 chooses between 3 octaves.
8. STRING SYNTH – Our emulation of an ARP® string synth. CTRL 1 is a tone control. CTRL 2 sets filter sweep attack time.
9. POLY VI – Inspired by the Korg® Polysix. CTRL 1 is a tone control. CTRL 2 sets modulation depth.