Eventide H8000 vs. Eventide Eclipse?

[edIT]

Looking into the H8000 and the Eclipse. Was wondering how the Eclipse stacks up. 8 channels from the H8000 is definitely a plus but not entirely necessay I could totally liove with 2 channels off the Eclipse. And I don't do surround sound either. Strictly stereo at the moment. So what I'm wondering is, how good are the verbs, delays, distortions, and special FX compared to the H8000? I would also be looking to use the Elclipse or H8000 possibly for some mixing mastering applications. How do the EQ, Compressor, and limiter presets? Better than something like the Waves L1//L2/L3 or worse? Are the EQ presets usuable for anything? Or are they merely there for just for show? So I guess the question is, can the Eventide H8000 or preferably Eclipse be a high performance all in one box or is it really just the reverbs and delays that shine?

[faeflora]

Originally Posted by edIT

Looking into the H8000 and the Eclipse. Was wondering how the Eclipse stacks up. 8 channels from the H8000 is definitely a plus but not entirely necessay I could totally liove with 2 channels off the Eclipse. And I don't do surround sound either. Strictly stereo at the moment. So what I'm wondering is, how good are the verbs, delays, distortions, and special FX compared to the H8000? I would also be looking to use the Elclipse or H8000 possibly for some mixing mastering applications. How do the EQ, Compressor, and limiter presets? Better than something like the Waves L1//L2/L3 or worse? Are the EQ presets usuable for anything? Or are they merely there for just for show? So I guess the question is, can the Eventide H8000 or preferably Eclipse be a high performance all in one box or is it really just the reverbs and delays that shine?

Lots of questions! I've owned an eclipse and I gave it away and bought the mighty H8K.

Q: how good are the verbs, delays, distortions, and special FX compared to the H8000?

A: the eclipse does about 25% of what the H8K can do at 70% of the quality.

Q: I would also be looking to use the Elclipse or H8000 possibly for some mixing mastering applications. How do the EQ, Compressor, and limiter presets? Better than something like the Waves L1//L2/L3 or worse? Are the EQ presets usuable for anything? Or are they merely there for just for show?

A: The Eclipse doesn't really have many mastering algs. I can't think of any actually. The EQ, comp, and limiter on the eclipse are very decent. The comp is very good for a digital comp. Eclipse doesn't do L1/2/3. H8K has good digital limiters that are much mor transparent than L1/2. I haven't used L3. EQ presets? WTF is wrong with you? Don't you have ears?

Basically, the Eclipse is good if you aren't an FX freak. If you are, get the H8K. The algs in the H8K are much better and they can even do "retro" eclipse sounding. If you have the money, time, and patience, get the H8K. Sounds like you don't have patience though if you're using EQ presets so why bother with either? Stay with Waves.

[edIT]

So how does the Eventide H8000 stack up against the Kurzweil KSP8?

[syra]

Originally Posted by faeflora

If you have the money, time, and patience, get the H8K.

Patience is the keyword here...I was dissapointed at first but as time went by I realized just how DEEP this machine is. Now I can't live without it...I actually would like a few more of them but...$$$ ...bouncing will do fine for now

[rwhitney]

I'm thinking of getting an H8000, also. Is it really powerful enough to run 8 different complex algorithms at once? Can anyone give an idea of how much simultaneous processing it can do? Regarding the reverb, I'm a long-time lexicon user-- how do the Eventide's reverbs compare with, say, the Lexicon 480? Are they as smooth an huge? Would they be usable for classical or jazz music as well as pop/rock, etc?

[Ruudman]

The H8k can run several complex algos both in serial and parallel;
the routing possibilities (total matrix) are awsome thumbsup

The verb quality in top notch, it's all about taste. With that kind of DSP control, it's no sweat to add some lfo's or whatever..
Presets are IMO something in between Lex and TC, posh, fairly coloured..
more Boston than Little Ferry - really...


ruudman

[faeflora]

Originally Posted by edIT

So how does the Eventide H8000 stack up against the Kurzweil KSP8?

It doesn't. The KSP8 isn't nearly as powerful as the H8K. I had a mangler and the verbs were very nice. different from the H8k. Both are good.


Buy them all.

[Mastering101]

i have both units. the eclipse and the h8000..you cant even compare the two.
the ad/da converters in the h8000 are so far superior..the eclipse will rule in its price range though..i use the eclipse in a guitar rack... mastering wise on the h8000 there is a whole bank of presets. one of my favorite "mastering lab 2"
which was created by empirical labs or someone who works for them..the compressors in the eventides sound analog to me..as for the reverb I've owned
lex pcm91 tc reverb4000, tc system 6000 now i just use the h8000 i love the reverbs they sound very 3d if you want them to...the new algorithms they have been coming out with including 3 band stereo reverb sound awesome.
some people use many reverb units. i dont like to use too much reverb on my work so the h8000 is great for me.. i was going to try a ksp8 once but bought a mangler first. im glad i did i felt sick after i heard it boxed it up and it went to ebay

[cdog]

Originally Posted by effectsnut

i was going to try a ksp8 once but bought a mangler first. im glad i did i felt sick after i heard it boxed it up and it went to ebay

different strokes... I guess. I LOVE the Kurzweil fx boxes, very different flavoring than the Eventides... for bread and butter phasers, chorus, delays, tremolo, ring mod - I prefer the Kurzweil, and actually, I find their new reverbs to be second to none. The mangler/rumour presets are great for basics and very easy to tweak...

The Eventides are electronic instruments, not mere fx processors... dont use them as such. Spend some time programming and you will find vast unmapped soundscapes...