The Visual Sound H20 Chorus & Echo Pedal is a two-in-one effects pedal from Visual Sound, announced in January 2014 as a new and improved version of the company's much loved H20 Chorus & Echo Pedal. It pairs an analog Liquid Chorus with an echo, or delay, section in a single enclosure, and became available in late March 20141. It belongs to Visual Sound's V2 Series, and players comparing it with related units can also read about the Visual Sound H2O Liquid Chorus & Echo, the Visual Sound V3 Series H2O Liquid Chorus & Echo, the Visual Sound V2 Liquid Chorus, the Visual Sound Liquid Chorus and the Visual Sound H2O. For the wider field, see the site's page on Chorus Pedals and Delay Pedals.
The updated H20 and the V2 Series
Visual Sound announced the pedal in January 2014 as a market leader in the guitar effects pedal arena releasing a new and improved version of its much loved H20 Chorus & Echo Pedal1. The H20 is a V2 Series pedal, and Visual Sound backs up the H20, and all V2 and V3 Series pedals, with a lifetime Lifetime Warranty1.
Chorus and echo in one box
The H20's chorus side is what Visual Sound calls an extremely versatile analog Liquid Chorus1. The company describes the range of sounds it covers in these words:
"Light, lush, Leslie, or pulsating out-of-this-world effects are all within reach."
The pedal's modes and routing work like this:
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Stereo Chorus | Chorus mode with stereo operation1 |
| Vibrato | Vibrato mode on the same circuit1 |
| Blend | The player's own blend of chorus and vibrato1 |
| Echo channel | A separate echo, or delay, section alongside the chorus1 |
| Separate Input and Output per channel | Each channel can be routed independently1 |
| Pure Tone buffer on/off | A switchable buffer in the signal path1 |
The H20 is a dual pedal: the chorus and echo channels each have their own separate Input and Output, so a player can run them independently rather than through one shared jack pair1.
Bypass and the Forever Footswitch
The H20 has what Visual Sound describes as reliable and silent True Bypass, built around the company's proprietary custom designed Forever Footswitch, which the maker rates for 10 million hits1. True bypass means the pedal's circuit is removed from the signal path when the effect is switched off, and the switchable Pure Tone buffer gives the player the option of buffering the signal when it is wanted1.
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Questions
Is the Visual Sound H20 true bypass?
Yes. Visual Sound describes the H20 as having reliable and silent True Bypass, built around the company's proprietary custom designed Forever Footswitch, which the maker rates for 10 million hits. That means the pedal's circuit is taken out of the signal path when the effect is off, and the footswitch is built to survive a very long working life of stage use.
Is the Visual Sound H20 analog or digital?
Visual Sound describes the H20's chorus side as an extremely versatile analog Liquid Chorus, paired with an echo, or delay, section. The company announced the pedal as combining analog Liquid Chorus and Echo in one enclosure, so the chorus effect at the heart of the pedal is analog by the maker's description.
Does the Visual Sound H20 work in stereo?
Yes. The H20 offers a Stereo Chorus mode, and each of its two channels has its own separate Input and Output. That gives a player the routing options of two pedals in one box: the chorus and echo sides can be connected independently rather than sharing a single input and output pair.
Can the H20 do vibrato as well as chorus?
Yes. Visual Sound says the user has full control to create Stereo Chorus, Vibrato, or their own blend of the two. The company adds that light, lush, Leslie, or pulsating out-of-this-world effects are all within reach on the chorus side, so the same circuit covers both straight chorus and vibrato sounds.
What does the Pure Tone buffer do on the H20?
The H20 includes a Pure Tone buffer that can be switched on or off. A buffer is a circuit that keeps the guitar's signal strong as it travels down long cable runs and through chains of pedals. Being switchable means a player can leave it out of the signal path if their setup already has buffering elsewhere.
Does Visual Sound cover the H20 with a warranty?
Yes. Visual Sound backs up the H20, and all V2 Series and V3 Series pedals, with a lifetime Lifetime Warranty, according to the company's announcement of the pedal.
Sources (1)
- Visual Sound Unveils H20 Chorus & Echo Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2014-01-24
