Universally, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the ideal way to set up the H9 to receive MIDI PC changes will vary depending on the specific setup you’re using. However, if you follow through the H9’s user guide it will give a great overview of the things would work with your setup.

H9 supports MIDI In, Out, Through. MIDI can be used to:

  1. Toggle BYPASS/ACTIVE
  2. Load Presets
  3. Toggle the Performance Switch functions
  4. Change parameter values
  5. Set tempo from MIDI clock
  6. Use the H9 as a MIDI clock source
  7. Enable Expression Pedal and Auxiliary Switches connected to the H9 to control
    other MIDI devices
  8. Dump (Backup)/Load (Restore) Presets and/or system settings to/from a computer
  9. Control BYPASS/ACTIVE status using MIDI program change

H9 is capable of automatically detecting and selects either USB or DIN5 as MIDI Inputs and Outputs. If USB is connected, DIN5 MIDI activity (including MIDI thru) is ignored.

MIDI PC setup with H9

Setup H9 Harmonizer to receive MIDI PC changes
H9 Harmonizer

In order to set it up, you need to use the system mode. Which is used for settings that affect the overall system such as the Bypass, Aux Switch, MIDI, etc.

Enter System Mode

  • To enter or exit the System Mode you need to press and hold the HOTKNOB button and Right Footswitch simultaneously for a few seconds. Upon entering System Mode, you’re at the top-level menu selection. The Left and Right Footswitch LEDs will flash RED continuously to remind you that you’re in this special mode. The Edited LED is OFF in System Mode.
  • At the top-level, turn the Knob to scroll through the choices: [BLUE], [BYPASS], [AUX SW], [MIDI], [GLOBAL], [TUNER] and [UTILS]. Press the HOTKNOB button to select options.

Before going any further let’s first understand the inner workings of System Mode Navigation to be able to control properly (or jump to the next section if you’re in hurry).

System Mode Navigation

General navigation of the System Mode menus/parameters is as follows:

  1. Push the HOTKNOB button to step down into the menu tree.
  2. Turn the Knob to scroll thru menu items or parameter selections or values.
  3. Press the PRESETS button to step up the menu tree to upper level menu options.

For sub menus with two fields, press the Left or Right Footswitch to select the active field. The Footswitch LED corresponding to the active field will be lit.

Note: While the PRESETS button can always be used to step up the menu tree, for menu items that are only one level deep, pressing the HOTKNOB button a second time will also step up to the top level.

System Menu Tree

As I previously stated, the system mode menu is divided in seven different categories; [BLUE], [BYPASS], [AUX SW], [MIDI], [GLOBAL], [TUNER] and [UTILS]. Which are included in the top level navigation when you enter the system mode.

[MIDI] – MIDI Functions

  • After entering System mode, turn the Knob to select [MIDI], and then press the HOTKNOB button to enter the MIDI functions settings mode.
  • Turn the Knob to scroll through the MIDI functions including MIDI Program maps, MIDI channel, MIDI Data Dumps, etc.

[RCV.MAP] – Create a MIDI Program Change Receive Map

  • MIDI maps are an efficient way to instantly recall any of the H9’s Presets using your favorite MIDI controller (pedal board, sequencer, etc.). Press the HOTKNOB button to select and create a MIDI Program Change Receive Map. This function sets the corresponding Preset that is recalled when a MIDI Program Change message is received. (Referred to as Prg No. from here on.)
  • Note that if a Preset is saved “Bypassed,” when it is loaded by using a MIDI Program Change command the Preset will load but the pedal will be Bypassed.
  • The Left Field displays the Prg No. (0-127) and Right Field displays either the Preset Number (P01-P99) or one of various Bypass options described below, or OFF. The two fields are delimited by a decimal point [127.P99].
  • There are two ways to select the MIDI Prg No: manually or using Learn Mode. To select manually, with the Left Footswitch LED flashing, turn the Knob to select the desired Prg No. from 0 to 127.
  • To use Learn Mode, press the Left Footswitch again. In LEARN mode, the Prg. No. will be automatically set when a MIDI Program Change message is received. Pressing the Left Footswitch exits LEARN mode.
  • Press the Right Footswitch to select the Preset field (indicated by the flashing Right Footswitch LED) and turn the Knob to select the Preset.
  • To map another Prg No. to another Preset, press the Left Footswitch again to select the desired Prg No., then the Right Footswitch to map it to the desired Preset.
  • Default map: Prg No. (1-99) map to the 99 Presets (P01-P99).

As well as using MIDI program change to load a preset, this message can also be programmed to directly control the unit’s BYPASS setting. With the Right Footswitch LED flashing, turn the Knob counter-clockwise to select:

  • [OFF]Unassigned
  • [BYP]BYPass the unit
  • [ACT]Make the unit ACTive, i.e., not bypassed
  • [TOG]TOGgle between bypass and active
  • [TUN]Load the Tuner
  • [NXT]Load the preset following the current one.
  • [LST]Load the preset preceding the current one

Press the PRESETS button once to back-up one level to MIDI menu.
Press the PRESETS button twice to go to top level System menu.

[XMT.MAP] – Create a MIDI Program Change Transmit Map

  • When the Left Footswitch loads a Preset, a MIDI Program Change message can be transmitted from the MIDI Out jack or USB to control an external device – e.g., another Eventide Stompbox, an Eventide Eclipse, an Eventide H8000FW, etc.
  • To Create a MIDI Program Change transmit map, press the HOTKNOB button to access the MIDI transmit map for editing.
  • The Left field displays the Preset number (P1 to P99). The right field displays either OFF or the Prg No. (0-127). Default map: Prg No. 0-99 map to Presets P1 to P99.
  • Press the Left Footswitch to select Preset field (indicated by the flashing Left Footswitch LED), turn the Encoder to select the Preset.
  • Press the Right Footswitch to select Prg No. field (indicated by the flashing Right Footswitch LED), turn the Encoder to select the corresponding number.
  • Note 1: MIDI Program Change Transmit must be enabled in order for the H9 to transmit Program Change messages. MIDI Program Change Transmit is turned ON or OFF in the MIDI menu. Default is OFF.
  • Note 2: When an H9 Preset is recalled with a MIDI program change message, MIDI Program Change messages are not generated unless XMT.PC (see below) is set to ON.

Press the PRESETS button once to back-up one level to MIDI menu.
Press the PRESETS button twice to go to top level System menu.

Reference: H9 User’s Guide