The Electro-Harmonix Tri Parallel Mixer is an effects loop mixer and switcher: a compact pedal that holds three separate FX loops and lets you run them in parallel rather than in series. Electro-Harmonix describes it as "a powerful effects creation and mixing hub with three separate FX loops," and says running loops in parallel "create[s] sounds that are not possible by connecting effects in series."1 In a series chain, each pedal processes the output of the one before it; in parallel, each loop hears the dry guitar, and the mixer blends the results. That opens up combinations like three delays at different blend levels, or a clean blend under a heavy fuzz, without stacking pedals in one line.
How the three loops work
Each of the three channels has its own footswitch, and guitar.com's Daniel Ong noted that "the three loops are engaged by three footswitches, respectively."2 Double tapping any footswitch puts the whole unit into bypass mode.1 There are also two modes governing how the footswitches behave together: AND and XOR, as Ong explained in his 2019 write-up.2
Each channel carries a full set of controls. Per channel you get:
- SEND knob: sets the level outputted to the SEND jack1
- EQ knob: affects the tonal characteristic of the signal inputted to the RTN jack1
- Phase switch: inverts the phase of the signal sent out of the SEND jack1
On top of the per-channel controls sit two master knobs:
- MASTER VOLUME: sets the master output level of the mixer1
- DRY VOL: sets how much dry signal is sent to the output1
The phase switch matters because parallel blending is phase sensitive: if one pedal inverts the signal, it can cancel against the others when mixed. Being able to flip the send phase per channel is what makes the parallel concept usable with a wide range of pedals.
The Tri Parallel Mixer is buffered bypass, not true bypass, and it draws 45mA from a 9.6VDC supply. Budget a dedicated power output for it rather than sharing a daisy chain.1
Size, power and price
Guitar World's take on the unit when it was unveiled in July 2019 was that "The Tri Parallel Mixer is surprisingly compact considering the level of functionality it provides."3 The dimensions back that up: 5.75 x 4.75 x 2.5 inches, small enough for a crowded board despite carrying three loops.1
Power comes from a 9.6VDC-200mA adapter, which Electro-Harmonix includes; MusicRadar's Michael Astley-Brown likewise noted the pedal ships "including an EHX 9V power supply."14 Current draw is 45mA.1
On price, Guitar World reported $138.70 at the July 2019 unveiling,3 while Electro-Harmonix's own product page lists $159.70 USD as of 26 October 2026.1 Guitar.com's Ed Oleszko, in a 2026 review of a related EHX pedal, also cited the Tri Parallel Mixer's price as $159.70 / £129.99.5
What reviewers said
The Tri Parallel Mixer drew attention from the start: guitar.com counted it among the pedals that "garnered significant interest" at Summer NAMM 2019, alongside the brand's other new releases.6 Reviewers' reactions to the concept were measured rather than glowing. gearnews.com's Lyubomir Dobrev wrote:
"I think this box can turn out to be a nifty little problem solver and could find its place inside an experimental performer's rig"
Dobrev's overall view was that it could be a nifty problem solver for an experimental performer's rig, but that usefulness and price made it less of an impulse purchase.7 The consistent thread across the coverage is that the Tri Parallel Mixer does something most switchers do not, running loops in parallel with per-channel EQ and phase, and that it suits players with specific routing problems more than players building a conventional board.
For players weighing it against other routing tools, it sits in the switching category alongside other loop and mixer pedals; see Switching Pedals. It also pairs naturally with Electro-Harmonix's own multi-effect units such as the Electro-Harmonix Epitome or the Oceans Abyss Advanced Reverb Laboratory, which can be placed in one of its loops alongside other pedals.
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Questions
Is the Electro-Harmonix Tri Parallel Mixer true bypass?
No. Electro-Harmonix lists the Tri Parallel Mixer as buffered bypass, not true bypass. That means the signal passes through a buffer circuit when the unit is in bypass mode, which helps drive long cable runs but differs from pedals that connect the input straight to the output. The maker's product page is the source for this specification.
What power supply does the Tri Parallel Mixer use?
The Tri Parallel Mixer runs on a 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter, and Electro-Harmonix includes one in the box. MusicRadar's 2019 news item also noted the pedal ships with an EHX 9V power supply. There is no battery option mentioned, so plan your board's power around the included adapter.
How much current does the Tri Parallel Mixer draw?
Electro-Harmonix specifies a current draw of 45mA for the Tri Parallel Mixer. That is modest by multi-loop standards, but it is above what many standard daisy-chain outputs comfortably share, so it is worth checking against your power supply's per-output budget before adding it to a pedalboard.
What does the phase switch do on the Tri Parallel Mixer?
The phase switch inverts the phase of the signal sent out of the SEND jack. Because each loop runs in parallel, a pedal that flips phase in one loop can cancel against the others, so being able to flip the send phase per channel lets you keep the combined output full rather than thin.
Is the Tri Parallel Mixer analog or digital?
Electro-Harmonix lists the Tri Parallel Mixer as analog, with analog and digital control. In practice that means the audio path is analog while some switching and control functions are handled digitally, a common arrangement for loop switchers that keeps the guitar signal itself out of the digital domain.
Can you run three effects at once with the Tri Parallel Mixer?
Yes. The whole point of the Tri Parallel Mixer is to run up to three FX loops in parallel, each with its own footswitch, send, return, EQ and phase controls. Electro-Harmonix says this creates sounds that are not possible by connecting effects in series, since each pedal hears the dry guitar rather than the output of the one before it.
Sources (7)
- Tri Parallel Mixer, Electro-Harmonix
- EHX’s Tri Parallel Mixer gives you mastery over FX loops, guitar.com, 2019-07-04
- Electro-Harmonix Unveils New Tri Parallel Mixer, Guitar World, 2019-07-03
- Electro-Harmonix wants to combine your pedals in new ways with the Tri Parallel Mixer, MusicRadar, 2019-07-03
- Electro-Harmonix POG3 review, guitar.com
- Six of the best pedals from Summer NAMM 2019, Guitar.com, 2019-07-22
- Electro-Harmonix Tri Parallel Mixer: 3-channel true-bypass mixer & looper, gearnews.com, 2019-07-03
