NEED HELP SETTING UP H9000/X8GEN2/LOGIC

[Jshermandds]

Hi,

I have an Apollo X8 Gen 2 interface that I am using with Logic.  Now, I have an H9000.  Can someone please help me understand how to set up and configure the H9000 to be used as an external processor, so that

I can record dry vocals into Logic, and then send those vocals out to H9K for processing and then return them onto new tracks in Logic?  I really appreciate the help.

[joecozzi]

Hello Jshermandds,

There are several ways to approach this…by using analog I/O or ADAT I/O, but because you’re on an Apple system, I’m going to recommend how I use the H9000 – connecting the H9000 to your computer via USB and creating an aggregate device. This gives you 16 channels of I/O on the H9000 (H9K).

1. Connect your x8 and H9000 to your computer via USB. The H9000 will appear in the Audio/MIDI setup as a 16 I/O device.
2. Open up the Audio/MIDI setup and create an aggregate device by clicking on the + sign on the bottom left of the Audio Devices screen. When creating this aggregate device, I always choose the H9000 first because the Apollo has a mismatched set of I/O. It just makes things easier to route to the H9000 when all channels are even. (At least in Pro Tools it does, which is what I generally use). Name it whatever you want.
3. Open up a session and put the Emote plug-in on any track, I usually put it on the Master bus since it’s just a controller. On the H9000 (using Emote), set up an FX Chain with some vocal effects. Make sure to assign the H9K’s hardware inputs to the FX Chain inputs: Set USB 1-2 to the FX Chain input 1-2. Similarly, set the FX Chain outputs 1-2 to the hardware USB 1-2 outputs.
4. Make sure there is no USB Audio mismatch error on the H9000, if there is, it may indicate the H9K is not running on the same sample rate as your session. If you encounter this problem, make sure the H9000 and x8 preferences are set to the correct sample rate. Also, you may need to toggle the H9000 sample rate at the top of the Audio Device setup of your aggregate device from a different rate to the correct rate. This will cause the H9K to resync to your session and the warning will go away.
5. In your session, create an AUX track. Send signal to and from the H9K. I know in Pro Tools you can use an Insert to automatically send signal back and forth. I’m positive Logic has a similar routing tool or external device plug-in. Set the output of that Aux track to your Master bus so you can hear the results.
6. From your vocal track, Send signal to that Aux track when you want to process your vocals with the H9000. Keep in mind that most of the time, you’ll want to run the H9000 effects in Kill Dry, so you don’t double up on the dry signal, but experiment for fun.
7. I create four Aux tracks, one for each H9K FX Chain, so you can always have your favorite effects ready to go. FX Chain 2 would use USB 3-4, FX Chain 3 would use USB 5-6, FX Chain 4 would use SUB 7-8. You could even open up more Aux channels if you use effects with 4 or more outputs. This assumes all effects run in stereo. You could, for example, run 16 mono I/O with individual algorithms running in parallel, but I don’t want to confuse you.

Start there and let me know if you have any questions.

[tbskoglund]

You can find further setup information for Apollo and H9000 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0zxHeCo_5M&t=499s

[Jshermandds]

Question:

 

What are people doing to use this piece of gear?  Everything else that I have used and owned is so simply “plug and play” until I added the H9k to my rig.

Is it better to get a “USB C to USB B” cable to connect my H9k to the Lightening port of the MacBook Pro (why does Eventide use this USB B type and if so, where can I get the best cable?  Does it need to be “Audio Grade” or just a regular USB B to USB C?  The Apple store employees looked at me like I was out of my mind when I asked for a USB B cable.)  I am using the 2025 MacBook Pro which is equipped with Lightening 5 ports.

 

or

 

is it better to connect the H9k to the Apollo X8 gen2 via Optic cables (instead of connecting to the MacBook with USB).

 

somebody please advise.  Thank you so much.  I have spent way too much time trying to get this connected and running and zero time being able to create.  I appreciate the help.

 

[joecozzi]

Jshermandds wrote:

Is it better to get a “USB C to USB B” cable to connect my H9k to the Lightening port of the MacBook Pro (why does Eventide use this USB B type and if so, where can I get the best cable?

This is the kind of cable I use. The H9000 was simply designed in time where USB-C had not become the standard yet and USB B is readily available.

Jshermandds wrote:

Does it need to be “Audio Grade” or just a regular USB B to USB C?

No, I went to my local computer store (Best Buy) and bought it. But you can also find them on Amazon.

Jshermandds wrote:

is it better to connect the H9k to the Apollo X8 gen2 via Optic cables (instead of connecting to the MacBook with USB).

It’s probably the easiest way to connect it, but you’re limited to 48 KHz performance. If that’s okay, then sure, you get 8 I/O from the ADAT ports. You can also get DB25 to TRS or XLR cables to connect using the 8 channels of analog I/O, but it all depends if you want to use up channels on your Apollo.

[Jshermandds]

Thank you very much for the thorough and rapid replies!

 

placed my Amazon order and will write back if I have  issues.  Really appreciate the help.

any other starter tips come to mind.  I realize that I have a learning curve and time to put in.

 

[joecozzi]

As a new user, here are a few things to remember:

• Always remember you must connect the hardware I/O of the H9000 to the FX Chain I/O in order to pass audio through. For example, if you’ll be sending signal to the H9000 via ADAT, you must connect ADAT 1-2 to FX Chain input 1-2 and then connect FX Chain output 1-2 to ADAT 1-2 again. Of course, they don’t have to be matching pairs, though it makes things easier.
• There are a few ways to approach using FX Chains.
  – You can create traditional serial or parallel effect paths.
  – You can put up to four effects in parallel that are going to the same set of I/O and mute or unmute them as you’re going to use them. For example, maybe you want to keep your favorite vocal effects on one chain and automate which effect get’s used.
  – Don’t think that an FX Chain must always be routed to a stereo pair of I/O. If you wanted to, you could put four effects in parallel in each FX Chain but route each algorithm I/O to it’s own stereo pair, which means you can have up to eight stereo effects busses or 16 mono busses. Keep in mind the limit is determined by how you’re routing signal, so if you’re using ADAT, the most you could have is four stereo busses or 8 mono busses.
• When exploring parallel effect paths, understand your splitting the signal to two or more effects, so any dry signal is getting duplicated. Be mindful of using KILL DRY where appropriate, especially when running effects on an auxiliary buss.
• Remember, you can use the H9000 as a digital patchbay. The converters are exceptional! Even though you may be routing audio to and from the H9000 via ADAT, you can connect preamps, synths, and other devices to the analog inputs (XLR and/or DB25) and route that signal anywhere using Direct I/O.
• Once you setup a Session, most likely you’ll use it for several projects, so I like to use a Master Session as a starting point that I can duplicate when I start a new project.
• As you start finding your favorite algorithms, save common FX Chains for easy recall later. In a similar manner, I use Scenes to instantly switch between my favorite vocal, guitar, drum, and synth effects. I like to use the H9000 for inspiration and scenes make it easy to switch to my go-to effects quickly.

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