Few pieces of studio gear can be called legendary without exaggeration. The Eventide H3000 is one of them. This week on Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody dive headfirst into the history, the design, and the future of what many call the ultimate harmonizer and multi-effects processor.
First, they rewind the tape: a little history on the H3000 and why it became such a game-changer in the late ’80s and ’90s. From iconic pitch-shifting to lush reverb, chorus, flange, and delay, the H3000 wasn’t just another rack unit—it was a revolution. Major producers and artists adopted it quickly, making its sound part of the DNA of countless hit records.
Chris and Jody then shift focus to the interface: the quirky yet innovative design, the way engineers learned to navigate presets and parameters, and how those workflows shaped creative decision-making. They’ll share how the H3000 stacks up against modern plugins and what makes it still inspiring to this day.
Of course, the conversation wouldn’t be complete without a look toward the future. Eventide continues to update its legacy through plugin recreations and digital hardware. How faithful are these emulations? Do they capture the soul of the original box—or do they introduce hidden features in studio gear that go beyond the hardware?
You’ll also hear how Chris and Jody personally use H3000-style effects in their mixes, plus their take on whether you should invest in hardware, software, or a hybrid approach for your home studio gear setup. Along the way, expect humor, anecdotes, and their signature balance of expertise and entertainment.
If you’ve ever wondered why the H3000 is still considered the “crown jewel” of rack FX—or how to incorporate that magic into your own productions—this episode is for you.
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Gear we used:
Jody’s Mic & Voice Chain: Telefunken C12 – Groove Tubes Vipre – Apollo – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA Studer A800
Jody’s Channel Strip: iZotope RX Spectral DeNoise – iZotope RX Mouth DeClick – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA 1176E
Chris’ Mic & Voice Chain: Slate ML1 – Apollo – UA – Slate VMR (FG12, FG73, API Eq, SSL 4kE) – iZotope RX Voice – DeNoise
Chris’ Channel Strip: Eventide Precision Time Align – iZotope RX Spectral DeNoise – iZotope RX Mouth DeClick – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA 1176E
Master: Oek Sound Soothe 2 – iZotope Ozone Imager – iZotope Ozone Maximize.
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If you want to collaborate, sponsor a podcast, donate, or want us to review your product – contact us at: collaborate@insidetherecordingstudio.com