DigiTech DHP-55

Not very intuitive in certain aspects. LFOs, Envelopes, etc could be a bit more clarified in how they are routed. My unit had the old 1.04 software and didn't have a straight Whammy preset. I had to set it up from another patch and dig through menues to make sure all envelopes, LFOs, extra shift voice, etc. were turned off. I would be so much more convenient if you could just start with a completely blank patch and build it up with the FX you want until running out of CPU overhead as opposed to having to search for the right combinations assuming it even exists within. For instance it would be nice to set up a patch with EQ > FX Loop > Whammy > EQ.

My unit does not have reverb but Digitech still has 2.02 Eproms for $25 if I choose to go that route. I don't really need the verb and the Whammy sounds exactly like my WH-1 as it is right now so...

The sound quality is excellent. I have been able to dial in killer harmonies with or without dynamic control and the Whammy sound is EXACTly like my WH-1 (This unit was made for Digitech by IVL as stated on the faceplate and rear of the unit) but with digital control and no calibration issues.

I have seen other reviews that say this does not track well compared to the IPS 33B and DHP33. It tracks exactly the same if you set it up properly as discussed in the manual. I read a review with someone ripping on how bad his DHP55 was only to get to the end of the review and find out he was discussing a studio 5000 which he said was a DHP55 on steroids. It is NOT the same assembly language code as used by IVL and therefore a completely unfair and misguided
review based on a box with entirely different software.

My signal path is Raven West PRS style hollowbody guitar to input of DHP send out to ADA MP2, MP2 FX send to return of DHP, output of DHP to input of Korg DL8000R, output of Korg to FX return of ADA, output of ADA to Epiphone Valve Jr.

This allows the DHP to have perfect tracking while at the same time allows the actual sound of the effect to occur after the distortion from my ADA. It is basically in the ADA's FX loop even though the guitar is plugged directly into the DHP. If all the levels are set properly the tone is killer without any extraneous noise or unwanted ditortion.

I don't use hardly anything but the harmonizer in the DHP since my ADA MP2 has all analog tube and solid state preamp, analog compression, analog 9 band graphic EQ, analog wah, analog tremolo, analog (killer)chorus, analog noise gate, analog speaker simulation, all under digital control.

My Korg DL8000R is used for almost all my delay needs and has quite impressive depth and tone.

Pitch Shifting/Whammy = 10 (perfect Morello tone, U2 shimmer, Vai, Floyd, etc.)
Chord Shifter = 8 does a reasonable 12 string impersonation without sounding glitchy
Distortion = ? I use my ADA for this
EQ = 7 a bit noisy if dialed in wrong but I rarely use it.
Analog and Digital Compressor = ? I use my ADA for this
Chorus = ? I use my ADA for this and sometimes the Korg
Tremolo = ? I use my ADA for this
Flanger = 7 Not much variety but does get a great EVH MXR sound it splits duties with the Korg for my flanging needs.
noise gate = ? don't use noise gates
Delay = 8 there is a multi tap, stereo, and sampling delay they are actualy pretty nice sounding but my Korg does all of this exeptionally but the rare times I use it it sounds great.

I am sure I left some stuff out but this rating is based on what the unit is mainly designed for Harmonizing and Whammy.

I have no idea how reliable this will be down the road but I have not had any issues with mine.

For 1/2 the price of a used WH-1 you get the EXACT same IVL algos and sound plus a whole lot more. For that it gets a 10

EASY TO GET A SOUND NO PROBLEM TO EDDIT MANUAL SIMPLIFIED BETTER THAN THE EVENTIDE PHONE BOOK

VHT 2-90 POWER AMP HUGHES & KETTNER ACCESS PREAMP TC/2290 2 4-12 MARSHALL GREENBACK CABINETS CORNISH SS-2 ON THE FLOOR ALONG WITH FULLTONE FAT BOOST STRATS ANG GIBSON GUITARS STYLE PINK FLOYD EASILY ZEP CLAPTON SRV AND MORE DHP WORKS FINE FOR SOME CHORUS AND HARMONY SOME NICE DELAYS TO COMPLIMENT THE 2290

NEVER HAD A PROBLEN

DIDN'T NEED THEM.NO PROBLEMS YET

EXPLAINED ABOVE STYLE I' BEEN PLAYING 35 YEARS ALL KIND OF CLASSIC ROCK IF LOST OR STOLDEN I'D GRT ANOTHERGREAT FOR HARMONY IF YOU DONT OVERUSE

I found this unit moderately easy to use without the manual. The guy who sold it to me showed me how to navigate the edit window with his presets and I figured out how to add new algorithims.

I play a crappy trumpet through this thing and it sounds incredible. Although I am a much better guitarist than a trumpeter, I always get gigs because of the trumpetronics. being able to control sustain, dynamics, etc. and achieve machine-gun staccato effects with wind control makes this setup a ridiculously cool secret weapon.
I go through an old spring reverb unit which compensates somewhat for the extremely digital sound of the DHP-55 and I usually go straight into PA or recording unit. I mostly use customized chromatic harmonies with some filtering, delay, and sometimes flange or distortion. I have tried out the delayed harmonies a bit, but I really need to sit down and figure that out to exploit the arpeggiation possibilities.

I dropped this baby on its head and bent back it widdle rack ear, which caused the face to become permanently pulled away from the unit. Still works fine... I wish I could find a manual for this thing so I could figure out the MIDI assigning capabilities

N/A

Definitely a unique and cool sounding unit if somewhat noisy and complex as far a interface goes. I wish I could translate the harmony commands to MIDI so I could trigger samples with it. And whats up with having no reverb? I guess it's meant to be used with other effects for recording, etc.

I bought this unit second hand, and it did not come with a manual. I've had the unit about 2 months, now. I have own several other Digitech units, including the TSR24 which is from the same series as the DHP55, so I figured it would be pretty easy to get going. I was wrong. It wasn't a nightmare, but without the manual (I have one on order now), it took a little while to create certain sounds and/or controller assignments that I wanted to. I bought this unit to replace my IPS33b, which is still going, but I needed some fresh sounds. I found alot of the preset patches were somewhat erratic regarding output volume, and have only found a few that I am using, relatively unmodified. After about 2-3 weeks I had created some pretty interesting sounds/tones/textures that (IMO) were better than most of the factory presets. One of the tricky parts is that there are menus of parameters within other menus of parameters. Also, to modify some parameters, you need to locate the proper parameter and then adjust. Some are not where you would expect them to be. Many effects have their own seperate mixers, which affects how the effects work with each other. There are also over a hundred algorithms (or so I've read) to work with, but without the manual, I can't go into more detail. Suffice it to say that this is a fairly complex unit to get used to at first. It has alot of "Synth-like" parameters. But if you spend the time tweaking, you will be rewarded with some very cool, usable sounds that don't sound like everybody else.

I'm using this unit in the loop of a Marshall JMP1 Preamp, through a BBE 462 and a Rocktron Intellifex (for delays, reverbs, Hush and some detuning) into a Marshall 9200 Power amp and Marshall cabs. I play modified Fender strats, with bridge humbuckers and Floyd Rose Trems.

This unit can get very noisey, but setting the gate just right takes care of *most* of that. I don't use the internal distortion, which sounds aweful to me. The harmonies, synth & string type sounds, and delays (up to 6 seconds on some algorithms) are all very good sounding. Not lexicon or Eventide, but still very good. The unit has reverb which sounds okay for live use, but I prefer the Intellifex (Black face, Ver.1) for it's reverbs. It has tremolo, which I find a little weak.

I use this processor to get spacey, ambient sounds, which I have not heard out of any processor before (and I've heard and used **alot**) Use of continuous controller(s) makes this unit far more interesting, and personal. One really cool thing that Digitech has done with this unit (like the IPS33b) is allow a regular foot (volume pedal) to control *some* parameters, Instead of just midi Continuous controllers. With midi, you can control any parameter. With the non midi CC you can control most of the important/fun ones, but not all, like you can in the IPS3b.

Overall most time/pitch based effects are smooth sounding, and not grainy. One last thing. When you switch presets (manually or with midi) the units volume jumps a bit while the new preset loads. It is very quick, but definitely noticable. I hate that. If there is a way to avoid that, I will repost the method later, but I have not figured how, as of yet. If the unit did not allow me to create such cool sounds, I would probably yank it out of my rack, but it does make some juicy tones, so I'm learning to live with that one (IMO Major) annoying aspect. without that, I would give the unit an 8, maybe 8.5, but a 7 because of it.

The unit seems very reliable. It is about 7 years old now, and doesn't show any sign of dying (knock on wood). I've only had it about 2 months, so it's hard for me to really give an accurate response, other than it's age and condition. Using this method, I give it high marks, but it is of limited experience/use

I emailed customer support regarding how to get the non-midi continuous controller functioning. Within about a day I had my answer. The tech suggested I get a full manual. They don't have this manual available for download (C'mon guys... how much space would it take on your website??) So I sent the $5.00 (also a little annoying considering the money i've spent on digitech stuff... but whatever), expecting to get a manual in about 2 weeks or so. It's been over 3 weeks, and still no manual. Hopefully it'll get here soon! Anyone who gets this unit really should get the manual, I have a feeling.

I play mostly hard rock with some psychedelic overtones with my band Left of Heaven. ( http://www.leftofheaven.com ) On my own, I am a little more musically experimental, and love creating really spacey, floating, ambient "soundscapes". I use it in both situations, and the unit holds up well with my musical split personality.

I've been playing almost 20 years, and have used TONS of different effects processors, pedals, amps, guitars, etc... My basement is filled with alot of them, in addition to building a healthy PA setup and basic/smaller home studio setup with the processors that have been in my rack at one time or another. So I know gear pretty well.

This unit does some very unique and cool sound bending. It can be used as a basic all-in-one FX processor, but seems to find it's niche' as a "more" processor. I use the Intellifex for alot of the basics, and crank this puppy up when I want to write the soundtrack to the end of the world (c;

If it were stolen, I would try to locate another, but these seem fairly difficult to locate... but with Ebay, anything/everything shows up eventually. I searched a long time to find a processor that had what this unit has. Personality. In other words, it lets me sound like me, and get some of the sounds I hear in my head out through a bunch of 4X12's. This is one unit you could give 10 different musicians, and the results would vary greatly, whereas some other effects and/or units are less "deep", for lack of a better term. This piece, and some of digitechs other more complicated units have been grossly overlooked, due to their apparent initial complexity and learning curve. Guitarists in particular are an instant gratification type of crowd. Anything this complex would/did get passed by, by most. Too bad. Overall this unit is capable of some very intense (as well as subtle) effects and colors. Definitely worth checking out if your looking for something beyond the typical FX box, and you are patient (c:

very easy to use, I find that true with all digitech products.

yes the harmonys are processed sounding, but compare the price to something like a eventide. Has a very good chorus. I havnt tried hooking a cotinues controller to it yet.

had it 2 years no problems

if you want a decent harmanizer for under a $100, there are not many choices, its a good unit for the price. I use it live and in the studio.

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