HeadRush VX5 | Electric Factory | RRP $479
The HeadRush VX5 is a stellar new offering from HeadRush. Building on HeadRush’s range of AutoTune equipped pedals, the VX5 is equipped with the famous Antares AutoTune, the original and the best tuning effect. From hard tuned, overtly effected vocals to smooth, subtle tuning, the VX5 can do it all, as well as some awesome effects to toggle on and off with the two sturdy, silent switches.
I quickly had sounds happening with the VX5, instantly selecting the Hard Tune preset to really put the effects, and my pipes, through their paces. Setting sounds is easy via the Preset button, with 250 presets available, and easy control over AutoTune parameters with the Speed and Humanize button allowing you to dial in both the speed with which the AutoTune slides between notes and how smoothly (i.e. “human”) it does it.
Read up on all the latest interviews, features and columns here.
Another handy feature is the harmony setting, that allows you to add harmonies to your tuned vocals, again with control over how artificial or human the harmonies sound. Additional effects like Reverb, Distortion, Saturation and more are easily available to layer with your vocals, either dialled to 100% wet for totally effected sounds or layered beneath for a little depth and grit!
HeadRush VX5
The HeadRush VX5 has the handy feature of featuring Guitar In and Thru jacks, the guitar input being available to be used to control the pitch correction, rather than the vocal input. This setting can be toggled on and off!
The VX5 features XLR input and output, with phantom power available for condenser mics, as well as a handy ground lift for the XLR, i.e. if you’re using the VX5 with a guitar amp or other unbalanced sources! The guitar input is an unbalanced connection, while the Thru is also unbalanced. There’s a microphone input Gain knob, 3.5mm headphone connection and USB-B connection for firmware updates (with an included cable!)
The face of the pedal has a perfectly sized 1.8” colour screen that switches views depending on knobs you’re adjusting or depressing, always jumping to clearly display the parameter being adjusted. Below the helpful microphone ‘Peak’ light (that communicates when the incoming Gain is too high on the mic input) is a Preset/Edit knob that sits above the ‘Humanize’ control. Mirrored on the other side are two knobs of equal size, but for controlling overall Volume and the aforementioned ‘Speed’ controls.
Antares AutoTune
Possibly most helpful of all are the three buttons on the centre of the unit that are used to turn ‘Autotune’, ‘Harmony’ or ‘FX’ on or off for the currently selected preset. This way you can quickly jump between overtly effected sounds on the fly, or quickly add them while finding a sound. ‘Preset’ and ‘Key’ controls are also front and centre for adjusting quickly!
The two main footswitches are multi-function, being used to toggled preset up or down in standard mode, and depressing the left button for two seconds allows you to enter ‘A/B Mode’ for toggling effects on and off within a preset, and the right button switches to ‘Talk’ mode when held for two seconds. ‘Talk’ mode enables you to turn off all processing during a break, i.e. to address the crowd.
From a handful of controls, you can quickly both navigate presets as well as adjust them on the fly, allowing you to harness as much or little tuning technology as you wish. The HeadRush VX5 brings world class tuning to the table (or pedalboard, mixing desk etc.!) and makes it easier than ever to process your vocal, along with some nice reverbs and effects if needed. While FOH engineers might be able to nestle your vocal into a mix, they can’t toggle between ear-catching sounds, and that’s where the VX5 comes in; entirely suitable for subtle effects, but mostly suited for overt effects like distortion, hard-tuning and modulation, but also equally handy for solo singer songwriters harmonising with themselves, or for effects aficionados wanting to bring together they’re guitar player and vocals when using the Guitar input to trigger the tuning itself.
Very robustly designed, noticeably solid and built to last, the HeadRush VX5 has so many more features under the hood than the simple, well-laid out design might lend credence to. A handful of buttons and dials can unlock a world of sounds, tones, effects and processing, all easily accessible, adjustable and toggle-able on the fly, either to craft the perfect sound, or to leave the details up to those fleeting moments of inspiration on the stage or in the studio.
The HeadRush VX5 is a home run in the growing range of Antares equipped effects from HeadRush, building on a legacy of world-class processing from both them and Antares, and bringing the sounds to the masses. The HeadRush VX5 puts a unique spin on vocal effects, filled to the brim with additional tools to help you sound your best on the stage or in the studio.
For local HeadRush enquiries, visit ELFA.
