Sorry for the delayed response. Rough week …
There sure is. It’s all in what you want to accomplish, and how you want to engage an effect in live performance. In general terms, the advantage lies in the ability to latch a FREEZE effect, and play “dry” over the top of it. (The 2nd feature being … the HotSwitch effectively alternates between two-presets-in-one.)
The “hidden” advantages are found in how FREEZE / INF is implemented in a particular algorithm. Each Reverb algo (as well as some of the H9 Special offerings) routes the frozen signal in slightly different manner. So your “dry” could also have delay, reverb, modulation … with FREEZE as the switched option.
- INF causes the reverb to persist indefinitely while continuously layering in the input signal.
- FREEZE kicks the reverb into infinite decay mode while locking out the reverb input. The dry signal is routed in parallel with the ‘frozen’ reverb section.
- Each algorithm imparts its own flavor to the FREEZE function, allowing the parallel dry signal to be effected with another reverberated sound, delay, modulation, etc.
- INF and FREEZE are accessed by Parameter Knobs and therefore can be controlled via HotSwtich, Expression Pedal, or MIDI.
Details on the specific action of the INF and FREEZE function for each of the 9 algorithms:
- Hall: INF and FREEZE on all 3 Decay knobs. Use the Decay Knob to select INF or Freeze for the entire (full bandwidth) reverb. This allows you to solo over the reverb with a dry parallel signal. Use the Xnob or Ynob to freeze individual either low or high frequency bands of the reverb and solo over the frozen reverb band with a reverberated parallel signal.
- Plate: INF and FREEZE on the Decay knob. This allows for a Plate slap sound over the frozen reverb.
- DualVerb: INF and FREEZE on both Decay knobs (Xnob for B-decay). Also, during FREEZE the A/B mixer on FxMix is post for the frozen reverb (it is usually a pre-reverb input mixer). This allows for a myriad of options between freezing one reverb, or both, and mixing between the two.
- Reverse: INF and FREEZE on the Size knob, which affect the forward reverb. This allows for reverse reverb climbs with feedback delay all in parallel with the frozen reverb section.
- ModEchoVerb: FREEZE added to the Decay knob. The signal is rerouted during FREEZE to allow for parallel modulation and/or delay over the frozen section. We also added a Reverb OFF option to the Decay knob, so you can have delay and/or modulation alone.
- BlackHole: INF and FREEZE on the FxMix knob.
- TremoloVerb: INF and FREEZE on the Decay knob. We also made the EQ post reverb so the EQ will now affect the frozen sound (the manual says it’s supposed to be anyway, but it wasn’t).
- DynaVerb: INF and FREEZE on the Decay knob, so you can duck, expand, or gate an infinite reverb with your input signal.
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Shimmer: PITCH FREEZE and PTCH+VRB FRZ on the FxMix knob. PITCH FREEZE locks out the pitch shifters, but feeds the reverb, allowing you to freeze the Shimmer pitch climb at opportune times. PTCH+VRB FREEZE freezes everything, pitch and reverb for dry soloing on top of the frozen reverb.
In the H9, you can create a SuperEgo+ / Freeze effect, plus other effects in parallel. So, you can select:
- Your switching preference [momentary ‘sampling’ of the FREEZE, or latched LAYER overdubs]
- The direction of the switch [FREEZE as the default, or FREEZE as the switched option]
- How “dry” your “dry signal” will be [pure dry signal, or dry w/FX, plus the FREEZE overlay]
I’ll follow up with a couple of practical examples. But – looking back at that algorithm implementation list – the creative choices jump out at you. Virtually a multi-effect, with FREEZE options at every turn.
