The Harley Benton DNAfx GiT is a floorboard multi-effects pedal and amp modeler: one unit that replaces a pedalboard of drives, modulations, delays and reverbs, plus an amp and cab, for practice, recording and live use. It carries 55 classic and modern guitar amp models, 151 effects, 26 cabinet impulse responses, an 80-second looper and a drum machine, and it saves up to 200 preset patches12. Harley Benton announced it in August 2020 as the brand's first multi-effects pedal, with a US launch price of $14034.
Harley Benton claims the amp models "expertly capture the authentic sound, feel, and response of real tube amplifiers through innovative non-linear amp modeling technology"5. The unit is currently listed at $17115.
What it does
The 55 amp models are paired with 26 cabinet IRs drawn from classic and modern speaker cabinets, with support for third-party IR files23. The 151 effects span overdrives and distortions, compressors, noise gates, EQ, modulation, wah, pitch effects, filters, delays and reverbs, and you can run up to 9 effect types at once23. Presets are organized as patches, with room for 200 of them1.
Practice tools are built in: an 80-second phrase looper, a drum machine with 40 patterns and 10 metronome rhythms, and a chromatic LED tuner covering 435 to 445 Hz123.
The controls
The DNAfx GiT is a compact floor unit with two footswitches and a built-in expression pedal for setting effect parameters on the fly1. Editing happens through a set of controls that Guitar World lists as Mode, Value, Master, Play, Save, EXP, Rhythm, Tap and System5, with a tap tempo function for time-based effects1. A large, easy-to-read LED color display shows what you are editing1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mode | Switches between operating modes5 |
| Value | Adjusts the selected parameter5 |
| Master | Sets the output level5 |
| Play | Returns to performance view5 |
| Save | Stores a preset patch5 |
| EXP | Assigns the expression pedal5 |
| Rhythm | Calls up the drum machine and metronome5 |
| Tap | Tap tempo for time-based effects15 |
| System | Global settings5 |
Power and connections
The unit runs on 9V DC at 300mA, and the power supply is included15. There is no battery option: Harley Benton states that battery operation is not supported1.
At 300mA this draws more than most single analog pedals, so it needs its own supply tap or an isolated output rather than a shared daisy chain.
Connections are simple. Guitar input is a 6.3 mm jack, AUX in is a 3.5 mm stereo jack for backing tracks, and the headphone output is a 3.5 mm stereo jack1. The programmable outputs are aimed at easy integration with live or studio setups1. For recording, a Type B USB port handles computer editing, and a Micro USB OTG port supports smartphone and tablet software for direct audio and video recording and live streaming12. Firmware updates are done through dedicated editor software1.
History and versions
The range has since grown to three tiers, with the DNAfx GiT at the bottom, the DNAfx GiT Advanced in the middle and the DNAfx GiT Pro at the top6. The Pro arrived in December 2021 in a durable aluminum housing7, and the Advanced followed in July 2024 at £159/€189/$206, placed between the other two in price8. There is also the pocket-sized DNAfx GiT Mobile II, a headphone amp and multi-effects unit with 14 amp models taken from the Pro, Bluetooth 5.0, a rechargeable battery good for 5 hours and a USB-C interface for recording, charging and firmware updates9.
| Version | What it is | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| DNAfx GiT | Floor multi-effects, two footswitches, 55 amp models | The original, most compact tier12 |
| DNAfx GiT Advanced | Amp modeler and multi-effects, three knobs and six buttons, expression pedal with three footswitches | Mid-priced tier, added in 202468 |
| DNAfx GiT Pro | Larger floor pedal, four footswitches, five knobs, MIDI, XLR, FX loop | Top tier, most connectivity1011 |
What reviewers said
Guitar World's review found the build held up: "it's impressively well-made and thoughtfully constructed", with a robust housing and robust footswitches5. The housing is ABS on top and aluminum on the bottom, at 1 kg1. MusicRadar's review of the Advanced, which sits above this unit in the range, called that model "super easy to use"6, and its Pro review found "generally a decent showing of digital effects here for the price point" and a great introduction to digital effects for players at a lower price point10.
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Questions
Can the DNAfx GiT run on batteries?
No. Harley Benton states plainly that battery operation is not supported. The unit runs on a 9V DC power supply at 300mA, and one is included in the box. If you want a battery-powered option in the same family, the DNAfx GiT Mobile II has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery good for about 5 hours of playing.
How many amp models does the DNAfx GiT have?
It has 55 classic and modern guitar amp models, which Harley Benton describes as non-linear amp modelling designed to capture the sound, feel and response of real tube amplifiers. These are paired with 26 cabinet impulse responses drawn from classic and modern speaker cabinets, with support for third-party IR files.
Does the DNAfx GiT have a looper and drum machine?
Yes. It includes an 80-second phrase looper and a drum machine with 40 drum patterns plus 10 metronome rhythms, aimed at practice routines. The onboard chromatic LED tuner covers 435 to 445 Hz, so the practice tools are all built in.
Can you record to a phone with the DNAfx GiT?
Yes. The unit has a Micro USB OTG port, and the OTG function supports smartphone and tablet software for direct audio and video recording and live streaming. There is also a Type B USB port for connecting to a computer for editing.
What is the difference between the DNAfx GiT and the DNAfx GiT Pro?
The Pro is the larger, more connected tier. It adds four footswitches instead of two, five push-in parameter knobs, MIDI in/out, XLR balanced outputs, a stereo FX loop, an external expression pedal jack and an onboard drum machine, in a bigger aluminium housing. It draws 200mA at 9V DC center negative, against the standard unit's 300mA supply.
Is the DNAfx GiT true bypass?
Guitar World's review lists the bypass as true-bypass. Harley Benton's own product page does not state a bypass type, so the press source is the reference here.
Sources (11)
- DNAfx GiT, Harley Benton
- Harley Benton's DNAfx GiT Multi-FX promises stunning bang-for-buck, MusicRadar, 2020-08-13
- Harley Benton debuts its first multi-effects pedal, the DNAfx GiT, Guitar.com, 2020-08-14
- Harley Benton unveils its first-ever multi-FX pedal, with tons of amp models, built-in IRs and $140 price tag, Guitar World, 2020-08-13
- Harley Benton DNAfx GiT multi-effects pedal review, Guitar World, 2025-05-31
- Harley Benton DNAfx GiT Advanced review, MusicRadar, 2024-08-31
- Harley Benton just stepped up its multi-fx game significantly with the DNAfx GiT Pro, MusicRadar, 2021-12-06
- Could the Harley Benton DNAfx GiT Advanced stake a claim as the best value multi-fx and amp modeller right now?, MusicRadar, 2024-07-16
- DNAfx GiT Mobile II, Harley Benton
- Harley Benton DNAfx GiT Pro review, MusicRadar, 2022-04-05
- DNAfx GiT Pro by Harley Benton, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
