The HeadRush VX5 is a dedicated vocal effects unit in stomp box form, built around the industry-standard Antares Auto-Tune pitch correction. Alongside pitch correction it carries reverb, delay, chorus, compressor, harmony and HeadRush's "Flavor FX", all contained, in the maker's words, in "a sleek and easy-to-use stomp box"1. It sits in the vocal effects corner of the multi-effects world, aimed at singers rather than guitarists, and joins HeadRush's wider line of processors such as the Prime, Core and MX5.
Pitch correction and effects
The headline feature is Auto-Tune. HeadRush says the VX5 makes "the coveted, industry-standard Antares AutoTune pitch correction" available in pedal form, with two dedicated knobs, Retune Speed and Humanize, that "adjust from subtle pitch correction to the classic hard AutoTune effect"1. By fine-tuning those two knobs, the maker says a player can "dial in a variety of different vocal textures", from light correction to the bold, defining vocal styles of artists like Charli XCX, Travis Scott or Post Malone1.
Beyond tuning, the unit covers the standard vocal processing set: reverb, delay, chorus, compressor and harmony, plus HeadRush's Flavor FX1.
Controls and performance modes
The VX5 is built for live use, with two onboard footswitches for hands-free preset navigation1. Two modes shape how it behaves on stage:
- Talk Mode quickly disables all FX for talking to the audience between songs1
- A/B Mode controls individual effects on and off within a preset1
For larger rigs, USB MIDI connectivity can automate preset changes for a show1.
Inputs, outputs and specifications
The VX5 takes a balanced XLR input with a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz (+0.2 dB), and its main XLR output has a dynamic range of 113 dB (A-weighted)1. The guitar thru path is buffered1.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Input | Balanced XLR, 20 Hz to 20 kHz (+0.2 dB) |
| Main output | XLR, dynamic range 113 dB (A-weighted) |
| Guitar thru | Buffered: Yes |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs |
| Dimensions (DWH) | 6.3" x 5.6" x 1.9" |
All specifications from HeadRush's product page1.
Where it fits in the HeadRush range
HeadRush's larger floor units, including the Prime and Flex Prime, also carry Antares Auto-Tune vocal processing, but they are guitar-and-vocal multi-effects processors first. The VX5 is the maker's dedicated vocal box: smaller, lighter at 2.6 lbs, and focused entirely on a singer's signal chain1.
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Questions
Does the HeadRush VX5 use Antares Auto-Tune?
Yes. HeadRush describes the VX5 as a dedicated vocal effects unit that makes the industry-standard Antares Auto-Tune pitch correction available in a stomp box. Dedicated Retune Speed and Humanize knobs adjust the effect from subtle pitch correction to the classic hard Auto-Tune sound, and HeadRush names artists like Charli XCX, Travis Scott and Post Malone as examples of the bold vocal styles it can produce.
What is Talk Mode on the HeadRush VX5?
Talk Mode quickly disables all of the VX5's effects so a singer can speak to the audience between songs with a clean, unprocessed voice. It is one of the unit's performance modes, alongside A/B Mode, which turns individual effects on and off within a preset.
How many presets does the HeadRush VX5 hold?
The VX5 ships with 99 factory presets and stores up to 250 total presets. Presets can be changed hands-free with the two onboard footswitches, or automated over USB MIDI for a show.
Does the HeadRush VX5 have an XLR input?
Yes. The VX5 has a balanced XLR input with a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz (+0.2 dB), and a main XLR output with a dynamic range of 113 dB (A-weighted).
How much does the HeadRush VX5 weigh?
The HeadRush VX5 weighs 2.6 lbs and measures 6.3 x 5.6 x 1.9 inches (DWH).
Sources (1)
- Vocal Processing Pedal with AutoTune® by Antares, HeadRush FX, 2026
