As a musician and music technology enthusiast, I’ve always been fascinated by the impact of iconic studio gear on the sounds we know and love. Few devices have left as indelible a mark on the history of recording as Eventide’s H3000 Ultra-Harmonizer. From Brian Eno to Paul McCartney, Steve Vai to the Beastie Boys, this legendary multi-effects unit has shaped countless classic records across genres.
So, when Eventide announced the release of the H3000 Mk II plug-ins, meticulously recreating the H3000’s timeless sound and visual aesthetic in the digital realm, I knew we were in for something special.
H3000 Factory Mk II: The Enhancements
With over 600 carefully crafted presets and 18 effect blocks, including delays, pitch shifters, filters, and modulators, the H3000 Factory Mk II plug-in encapsulates the vast creative potential of the original hardware.
What sets the H3000 Factory Mk II apart is Eventide’s painstaking attention to detail. They’ve modeled the analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converter sections of the original H3000, ensuring that the plug-in captures every nuance of its distinctive sound. The filter recreations accurately replicate the resonance and self-oscillation behavior that contributed to the H3000’s magical character.
But Eventide didn’t stop at mere emulation. They’ve enhanced the H3000 experience with a streamlined patching workflow, assignable macro soft keys, and full MIDI control, making it easier than ever to dive deep into sound design and tailor the effects to your needs.
Here you can watch an overview and tutorial for the H3000 Factory Mk II:
H3000 Band Delays Mk II: Rhythmic Bliss
For those who can’t get enough of the H3000’s iconic filtered delays, the H3000 Band Delays Mk II plug-in is definitely a keeper. With eight bands of filtered delays and over 100 presets, including lush comb filters and dynamic auto-panning effects, this plug-in delivers unrivaled depth and rhythmic complexity.
The H3000 Band Delays Mk II’s intuitive interface provides concise visual feedback of all delay bands, allowing you to fine-tune your mix with precision. Assignable macro soft keys streamline your workflow, while direct sidechain and noise inputs expand your routing options.
Here you can listen to a selection of the H3000 Band Delays Mk II presets:
A Faithful Recreation with Modern Refinements
What impresses me most about the H3000 Mk II plug-ins is how meticulously Eventide has recreated the essence of the original hardware while tastefully updating it for modern production environments. The plug-ins feature crisp, resizable interfaces that pay homage to the H3000’s iconic design while ensuring seamless integration with today’s DAWs.
While the plug-ins may not include exact 1:1 replicas of all 11 original algorithms, Eventide has faithfully captured the core effects that defined the H3000’s sound. The goal was to distill the hardware’s magic into a focused, flexible, and inspiring set of tools that will spark creativity in a new generation of producers and engineers.
Worth mentioning: Despite Eventide’s efforts to create a clear-looking interface, programming the H3000 is not a walk in the park. I would suggest learning from the presets and keeping the manual handy, as you might need it!
A New Chapter in a Storied Legacy
With the release of the H3000 Mk II plug-ins, Eventide has once again demonstrated its commitment to preserving the brand’s precious heritage ensuring that its influence will continue to shape the music of tomorrow.
If you’re ready to experience the magic of the H3000 for yourself, head over to Eventide’s website and download the free 30-day demo. You can get the H3000 Factory Mk II for $199, and the H3000 Band Delays Mk II for $149. A bundle of the two is available for $249. Eventide Anthology XII owners will get these plugins for free. Crossgrade prices are available.
The plugins are also available from major retailers like PluginBoutique.
Eventide H3000 Mk II Plugins – Are They Worth Your Money?
It’s a tough and highly subjective question. To me, it says a lot that, even today, many of the algorithms behind the effects circulating in the market are somehow “descendants” of the algorithms of the original H3000 hardware (and often not an improvement over those). The new and improved version of the H3000 plugins gives you a faithful taste of this iconic multi-effect, with that “album-ready” quality you would expect.
While they’re certainly not cheap, they provide a lot of value considering the sheer amount of presets and sounds you can get out of them. Whether you already have all these types of sounds covered or not, and how well, is up to you to decide.
