Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Jim Dimenno Ease of Use : 10 Unit is about as plug and play at they come. I use it in the external loop of my Boss GT8. The output of the GT8 goes into the effects return of a Marshall DSL50 half stack. Guitar goes into a Morley bad horsie 2, into the input of the GT8. Very simple setup. I run the HC at about 11 o'clock. Sound Quality : 10 All I can say is NO MORE FIZZ!!!! I rely on the most demanding of tests for a product and that is my own ears. Certainly I read reviews to make an informed decision but when I hear the difference the HC makes in my sound, well I'm sold. The preamps and distortions in the GT8 are now not only usable but dynamic and full. Reliability : 10 It sits comfortably velcro'd to my pedalboard and is built to last. It has a casing much sturdier than most pedals and will never be stepped on. It's non-moving components are sealed in epoxy. It would have to be physically destroyed to get it to fail. Customer Support : 10 Hadley answered every one of my questions promptly. He knows music as he is a musician himself and like many of us, has been through his share of MFX's. I trust his knowledge and his product. Overall Rating : 10 I have been playing for over 35 years. I have seen my share of products that fail to deliver what they claim to do. The HC does what it's creator claims---it removes the fizz!! Isn't that what we all want out of our MFX's? My opinions are mine only. I do not comment on others for I only know how I feel about the product. It works. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Jeff Spencer Ease of Use : 10 This is a product that is a "no brainer" to use. I have the stereo model that is used with my Vox Tonelab SE. Headphones out -> Harmonic Converger -> Samson Stereo Direct Box -> Yamaha AW1600 recorder. Just plug it in, and turn the "Drive Control" to a sweet spot (about 11-12 o'clock on my unit), and go! The manual is a couple of pages, absolutely easy-to-follow fool-proof instructions. Sound Quality : 9 I use a Vox Tonelab SE, and I formerly plugged it directly in to the Yamaha AW1600 recorder for my guitar sounds. I thought my guitar tones were great. I was totally satisfied with my Vox Tonelab. That is, until I got the Harmonic Converger! I now hear on my pre-Harmonic Converger recordings how my tone was not up-to-par. There were fuzzy highs and reckless lows. The HC fixed all that immediately with the twist of one knob. Honestly, I was getting a decent tone before, but compared to what I get now through the HC, I hate my old sound. I didn't really hear the problems with my tone until I heard the difference the Harmonic Converger made on my tone. Now, my tone sounds more professional,tighter, smoother, better sounding, and the tone is fantastic. This unit has made my tone go from OK to Fantastic! I have been re-recording my old guitar tracks, and the difference is nothing short of amazing. As a parenthetical note, I also want to say that I have owned and used all the modeling processors out there, and the Vox Tonelab was the very best I have found. This Harmonic Converger greatly improves the Tonelab (which to me, is a better unit than Line 6, Boss, or any other modeling processor on the market). Vox Tonelab + Radtone Harmonic Converger = Holy Grail of Tone! :-) Reliability : 10 The Radtone Harmonic Converger is one black metal box. It is very solidly built. I have not used it for long, but it seems very solid, sturdy, well built. Customer Support : 10 During the ordering process, I spoke to the owner of Radtone, Hadley Hockensmith, and he was very accommodating to me. He was very helpful with my questions, even though some of them were probably "dumb" questions. He explained everything very well and in a very friendly manner. He hand-built my unit and had it in the mail very quickly. A+ in customer service. Overall Rating : 10 I play fusion and rock music. This one unit has improved my tone immeasurably. I am usually a very critical person in my reviews, but I literally have nothing negative to say about this unit. The only problem I had was that I had a bit of trouble finding out where I could buy one. After about an hour on the internet, I finally found out how to contact Radtone. The Harmonic Converger is not available at the local mega-music center. You have to order it directly from Radtone. If it were stolen, I would pray for the person who stole it, and then order a new one. My parting advice for guitarists is this: If you are using a modeling processor such as Line 6 Pod, Boss GT or GT-Pro, Yamaha DG Stomp, Vox Tonelab or Tonelab SE, you are probably getting good tone. This unit will give you GREAT TONE. Run, don't walk, to your phone, and order one of these. You will not be sorry. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Jerry Ease of Use : 10 This is the stereo version with the trim pot. Very simple to use. Nice instructions included. Sound Quality : 10 What the HC does for my GT-6 is amazing. It takes away all the digital fizz and tightens everything up. Somehow it even gives the GT "life." Right now I'm running it through a Mesa Boogie 50/50 power amp into a Avatar Stereo 4x12. Awesome. I haven't tried it straight into a PA yet, but I will. Aside from the tonal enhancement, it makes making patches easy, it makes life easy. It even improves the clean settings. By the way I'm using it on Super High Gain Settings. I have also dialed in a couple of mild gain settings and its great. Reliability : 10 Tank. Customer Support : 10 Hadley is awesome. Answers all your e-mails with quick and fun wit. Great guy and an amazing guitar player. Overall Rating : 10 My overall rating is very simple. If I'm using a digital processor then I must have an HC. I know these things are almost $300, but well worth the money. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Adam Ease of Use : 10 The RadTone Harmonic Converger is a simple black brick with 3 1/4" inputs for stereo operation and a blend control on the side that is operated by a tool to achieve the best blend for the effect. It is really simple to use, simply choose the blend setting and start editing the patches. I use mine with a POD XT Live. It plugs into the phones jack and then to the effects loop of my amp head. Couldn't be anymore simple. The one thing to remember is that all of your patches will need some reworking, some more than others since the device operates differently for each amp model Sound Quality : 10 This is got to be the greatest thing ever for amp modelers! It really does take the "fizz" out of the sound and makes the POD sound like $20,000 worth of gear at the touch of a button. I know Radley catches a lot of flak on the discussion boards but this device does exactly what Radley says it does and it is NOT an EQ or a filter. If you have a modeler, you should really consider this device. The best way to explain how the Harmonic Converger works is that it eliminates the "square" distortion wavelength and makes it "rounder", depending on the setting of the blend control. So instead of 4-5 really good models, the Harmonic Converger makes the POD have 30 really good amp models. Considering the model packs are $50 per set, and only 1 or 2 are usable, this device is a bargain. Reliability : 10 This device is built about as solid as anything I have ever used. I would throw it around but since its a black metal casing that is stronger than any other chassis I have ever seen, I would say that this device is going to be around for a long time. Customer Support : 10 Radley is a real classy gentleman. He know what he is talking about and will not try to screw you. Honest and punctual, he always returns emails and answers questions directly. I highly recommend doing business with him. Overall Rating : No Opinion I play most anything one can think of so the POD was a good match for me. I'm not real heavy on effects and prefer a good amp and maybe a stomp box to get the "tone". I was rather disappointed at first with the POD but since I bought this little device, I am more than pleased. What surprises me though, is that Line 6 or Boss doesn't offer him a lot of money for the licensing of such a product. To conclude, here are my thoughts. At $290, its not cheap, but you get what you pay for. It really does work, and easily so. Radley is a class act, where as most of his detractors are not. If you have an amp modeler, you really, really should consider buying the Harmonic Converger. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by melodicmonster Ease of Use : 10 I just purchased the HC Loop model for my GT-8. All you have to do is hook the HC up to the Loop and edit the FX chain so that the loop is AFTER the Preamp. Sound Quality : 10 This little box is AMAZING! If you use high-gain amp models as much as I do, you definitely need this thing. It tightens up the tone of the GT-8, gives a nice presence boost, and gets rid of that annoying fuzziness caused by digital distortion. Heck, even if you don't use the preamps, the HC will make patches with distortion sound full and tight, with no apparent fizz--just remember to keep the HC after the distortion modeler. I found it best to set the blend pot (the only "knob") at maximum effect; once it's there, just leave it as-is when editing patches. Reliability : No Opinion Sorry, but I can't really comment here. It seems built like a good ol' boss pedal. Customer Support : 10 Hadley was incredibly responsive throughout the whole buying process, responding quickly and courteously whenever I had any questions, etc. Overall Rating : 10 I play a lot of heavy metal, so this thing was TOTALLY necessary for my rig. While it works best with high gain, the HC will also add a subtle change to clean preamp models. I run a Tak Matsumoto Les Paul through the GT-8/HC setup into my Intel Mac, and all I get is pure, tonal bliss. The HC isn't really necessary if you aren't running directly into a digital recorder or a PA, but if you have a modeler, what else would you be doing? There's nothing else like it on the market, and no EQ or filter will give you the same results. Just buy the darn thing if you've got a GT-8! Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Mike Sound Quality : 10 This is an update to a previous review. I recently bought a Mesa/Boogie Lonestar Special, and while this is a VERY GOOD amp, when I took it home to A/B it against my normal rig, I was hit with that feeling that every musician hates: I had just wasted my money. The Lonestar stayed in my rig for a total of 6 days. The cleans were amazing, but when distortion was involved, it could not beat out the Boss GT8 -> Harmonic Converger rig. I returned the Mesa amp a week ago. On its own, the GT-8 would have lost. With the Harmonic Converger, it was not even a fair contest. I have already reviewed this product very favorably. I felt the need to re-post only because the good that Hadley has done with this product is only underscored by the fact that it was THE crucial component in making my hybrid rig totally tool a $1850 all-tube amp. My rig is Guitar -> Fulltone Fulldrive 2 -> Boss GT-8 -> Radtone Harmonic Converger -> FX Return of a Fender Hot Rod Deville 2x12. The Harmonic Converger is the key to this rig. I cannot recommend this product enough. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Jerry Ease of Use : 10 This is the stereo version with the trim pot. Very simple to use. Nice instructions included. Sound Quality : 10 What the HC does for my GT-6 is amazing. It takes away all the digital fizz and tightens everything up. Somehow it even gives the GT "life." Right now I'm running it through a Mesa Boogie 50/50 power amp into a Avatar Stereo 4x12. Awesome. I haven't tried it straight into a PA yet, but I will. Aside from the tonal enhancement, it makes making patches easy, it makes life easy. It even improves the clean settings. By the way I'm using it on Super High Gain Settings. I have also dialed in a couple of mild gain settings and its great. Reliability : 10 Tank. Customer Support : 10 Hadley is awesome. Answers all your e-mails with quick and fun wit. Great guy and an amazing guitar player. Overall Rating : 10 My overall rating is very simple. If I'm using a digital processor then I must have an HC. I know these things are almost $300, but well worth the money. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Adam Ease of Use : 10 The RadTone Harmonic Converger is a simple black brick with 3 1/4" inputs for stereo operation and a blend control on the side that is operated by a tool to achieve the best blend for the effect. It is really simple to use, simply choose the blend setting and start editing the patches. I use mine with a POD XT Live. It plugs into the phones jack and then to the effects loop of my amp head. Couldn't be anymore simple. The one thing to remember is that all of your patches will need some reworking, some more than others since the device operates differently for each amp model Sound Quality : 10 This is got to be the greatest thing ever for amp modelers! It really does take the "fizz" out of the sound and makes the POD sound like $20,000 worth of gear at the touch of a button. I know Radley catches a lot of flak on the discussion boards but this device does exactly what Radley says it does and it is NOT an EQ or a filter. If you have a modeler, you should really consider this device. The best way to explain how the Harmonic Converger works is that it eliminates the "square" distortion wavelength and makes it "rounder", depending on the setting of the blend control. So instead of 4-5 really good models, the Harmonic Converger makes the POD have 30 really good amp models. Considering the model packs are $50 per set, and only 1 or 2 are usable, this device is a bargain. Reliability : 10 This device is built about as solid as anything I have ever used. I would throw it around but since its a black metal casing that is stronger than any other chassis I have ever seen, I would say that this device is going to be around for a long time. Customer Support : 10 Radley is a real classy gentleman. He know what he is talking about and will not try to screw you. Honest and punctual, he always returns emails and answers questions directly. I highly recommend doing business with him. Overall Rating : No Opinion I play most anything one can think of so the POD was a good match for me. I'm not real heavy on effects and prefer a good amp and maybe a stomp box to get the "tone". I was rather disappointed at first with the POD but since I bought this little device, I am more than pleased. What surprises me though, is that Line 6 or Boss doesn't offer him a lot of money for the licensing of such a product. To conclude, here are my thoughts. At $275, its not cheap, but you get what you pay for. It really does work, and easily so. Radley is a class act, where as most of his detractors are not. If you have an amp modeler, you really, really should consider buying the Harmonic Converger. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by melodicmonster Ease of Use : 10 I just purchased the HC Loop model for my GT-8. All you have to do is hook the HC up to the Loop and edit the FX chain so that the loop is AFTER the Preamp. Sound Quality : 10 This little box is AMAZING! If you use high-gain amp models as much as I do, you definitely need this thing. It tightens up the tone of the GT-8, gives a nice presence boost, and gets rid of that annoying fuzziness caused by digital distortion. Heck, even if you don't use the preamps, the HC will make patches with distortion sound full and tight, with no apparent fizz--just remember to keep the HC after the distortion modeler. I found it best to set the blend pot (the only "knob") at maximum effect; once it's there, just leave it as-is when editing patches. Reliability : No Opinion Sorry, but I can't really comment here. It seems built like a good ol' boss pedal. Customer Support : 10 Hadley was incredibly responsive throughout the whole buying process, responding quickly and courteously whenever I had any questions, etc. Overall Rating : 10 I play a lot of heavy metal, so this thing was TOTALLY necessary for my rig. While it works best with high gain, the HC will also add a subtle change to clean preamp models. I run a Tak Matsumoto Les Paul through the GT-8/HC setup into my Intel Mac, and all I get is pure, tonal bliss. The HC isn't really necessary if you aren't running directly into a digital recorder or a PA, but if you have a modeler, what else would you be doing? Ther's nothing else like it on the market, and no EQ or filter will give you the same results. Just buy the darn thing if you've got a GT-8! Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by peter hughes Ease of Use : 10 Easiest device on the market. Plug it in, set the tuning to your preference and play. Then leave it alone. No power needed. I bought the Headphones Out Stereo model for $US275 Sound Quality : 10 I now call it Radleys Wonder Box. My rig is Gretsch, Fender, Gibson Guitars > Boss GT-8 > Harmonic Converger > Marshall VS265 130W 2x12" with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers. I have run the HC thru my amp only at this stage. It's everything everyone reports and more. My HC 1) Takes the fizzzzz out well, 2) greatly improves tone especially for all the distorted patches. This varies from patch to patch ranging from slightly better to hugely better. 3) gives an overall warmer, tube amp like tone, 4) takes out that brittle, tone you sometimes get and there's no more tinny break-up at end. Sustained notes just keep ringing with constant true tone. 5) provides much more clarity and brightness overall with a fuller tone. Reduces muddiness and you can really hear every note in a chord. 6) all the controls on the GT-8 instantly become much more responsive and so it's much simpler, easier to dial up the tone you want. 7) a lot of patches that were previously borderline usable or unusable now sound great. It improves your overall sound so much people think you're playing thru a $10,000 Soldano valve amp. I've also run it thru my Zoom GFX8 modeling processor. Is equally effective on that as with the Boss GT-8. Reliability : 10 Radley hand makes these on order to your custom specifications. It looks as solid as a small brick but only time will tell if something goes wrong internally. The 3 jacks and the 1 control screw appear very high quality and rock solid. Needs no separate power and is fully solid state so appears very little can go wrong. Customer Support : 10 Hadley is a patient and considerate man and I have no doubts his after sale service would be 1st class. He answered all my silly questions prior to buying and seemed sincerely pleased I was so happy with his HC. Overall Rating : 10 You'll notice the biggest sound quality improvements on distorted patches and tones but is excellent for clean tones too. I've been playing over 30 years in many bands and used many guitars, amps, pedals and modeling processors. If I lost it somehow I'd have to buy another one. It's now an irreplaceable part of my rig. The HC is unique so now other product can substitute. Considering Radley hand makes these on order the price is reasonable I believe. If you use any type of modeling processor it's far cheaper and better to buy a HC for $275 rather than $3000 or more for a new valve amp. There are no negatives to the HC. All the people here and elsewhere who have criticized Radley's HC are total wankers. Some have even criticized him for not allowing the HC to be opened up so the workings can be inspected (the HC self destructs if you attempt to open it up). This is obviously a totally transparent attempt at intellectual property theft. Radley invented this wonder box himself and has zero responsibility to tell anybody how it works. He has zero responsibility to allow corporate and other intellectual property thieves to open up his wonder box so they can figure out exactly how it works. No-one but Radley needs to know how it works. All the rest of us need to know is that IT DOES WORK. It works like a dream, so go buy one. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Todd Marx Ease of Use : 10 Cool, just plug it in-between the DI and the modeler (Line6 PODXT Live in my case) and you are done. You do have to fiddle with your patches after getting the HC, but this is because your amps will now sound real, and you can back off on certain elements, as well as boost certain elements you couldn't before. Sound Quality : No Opinion This thing makes my PODXT Live sound like I wanted it to in the first place. A replacement for my Mesa Boogie MarkII C+ amp I use for all gigs. I know, I know, "How can that happen... EVER?" I play in a band that covers everything from Drowning Pool to Eminem. We do a lot of Hip Hop as well as today's R&B and I need TONE all the way through the music journey. I bought the PODXT Live for places that didn't' warrent lugging a rack-mounted Amp Rig up stairs or on a really high stage with 10 other musicians. (I also occasionally play with a 10 piece horn band) I go from the PODXT Live's headphone jack > Radtone Harmonic Converger > Direct Box > Main Board Gear? Guitars = Paul Reed Smith Custom 24, PRS Custom 22, Amp in this situation = Line6 PODXT Live modeler. The HC is finally a second choice replacement for my main Boogie rig when I don't want to lug it. It actually works. Reliability : 10 Sucks to have to buy an extra thing to make what I bought for a second rig sound like a real rig. Line6, hire or hire Hadley to make this thing internal to your products. It is nice an sturdy, with high grade components (Jacks, pots) Customer Support : 10 Hadley is very good to work with. Since he puts these things out one at a time, you know he will make it work before it goes out the door. And if it doesn't, judging by our correspondence before the purchase, he will stand behind it. He takes the HC personally, a sign of a true artist in any way. Overall Rating : 10 I was extremely skeptical before buying this thing. It is expensive for a pedal, and what musician has money to throw around to something that doesn't work? The Line6 forum debates go on and on about wether this works or not, but that is because us musicians do not want to fall into the gullible column. We like to think we know gear and what is or makes "good tone" and what doesn't. (Which is all subjective anyway) So I did the research on the net, read the reviews both positive and skeptical, and bought it without hearing any mp3 examples. (I didn't want to hear any shredders who use guitars other then mine convince me that it works, you never know what was eq'ed or tweaked.) The thing that made me go ahead with the purchase was that all the users that DID actually buy the Harmonic Converger never claimed "I've been had", they all raved once they plugged it in. I received it from Hadley, plugged it between my PODXT Live and direct box, and couldn't believe it. All the other HC users were right... with one exception... in my ear's opinion, It wasn't like a "Blanket was lifted from my amp",lke is commonly stated about the HC, it was more like, "NOW this PODXT Live SOUNDS like I'm using a real amp." I couldn't be happier. So skeptics, go ahead and pontificate (How's that for a word?) while I actually get better then great tones from my modeler. But don't come up to me at a show I am using the HC once you have submitted a bad review without buying one... "Whoa, how are you getting such a great tone??" It's for me to know, and for you to buy one. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Joe Ease of Use : 10 Plug it in set it to zero and slowly turn it up until you achieve after the desired effect. Sound Quality : 10 I got the stereo Headphone out version My main axe is a MIM Fender Strat with Lace hot gold pups w/ an extra hot bridge pup and a wilkinson vintage trem and solid steel trem block and I monitor my GT8 with a couple of Crate KXB 15 keyboard amps (decent full range amps, loud enough to hear myself in any situation and super cheap). I always run direct to the PA at gigs or Church via a couple of DI boxes. My signal flow is as follows: Guitar- GT8 set to line/phones - Headphone out - HC - 2 DI Boxes(XLR outs to the PA and 1/4 parallel outs to my amps on stage) My initial impressions are wow! Huge difference. Amp models that were previously useless have come to life, the ???59 Marshalls in particular I’ve always thought to be way to muddy, or the Vox clean previously had very little personality now sounds amazing. The ODs sound way better, still needs a little tweaking I haven’t worked one up using the ‘Full Range’ Preamp yet I’ll try that next. I find I can be little more liberal with the Gain and Preamp EQ and still maintain clarity and balance letting an open chord ring out on a high-gain patch sounds amazing every note rings out. I know its been said a thousand times but its really is like taking the Heavy blanket off your amp. It feels much more connected and alive. Switching the HC back and forth from bypass mode and its plainly obvious. I can see why Radley considered keeping this his little secret but I’m sure glad he decided to share. Reliability : 10 The unit feels indestructible, very solid, it has a finished professional look and takes up a little less space then a Dyna Comp Pedal. Kudos on the meticulous craftsmanship Hadley. Customer Support : 10 Generally responds promptly to emails, and is highly knowledgeable. Overall Rating : 10 If you use a modeler as your primary rig (especially if you run direct to a PA or direct record)do yourself a favor and prick one these up. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Maskcompulsion Ease of Use : 9 I own the Deluxe Combo HC. It’s a combination of a Stereo HC and a Loop HC, which could all be used at the same time (no sharing of parts or jacks). In my opinion it’s a plug ‘n’ play unit but just to some extent. The search for THE setting could take a little time. A different setting affects the tone in a different way. It??s a bit hard to decide between these tones but in the end you`ll you get the best sound you have ever heard of the GT-8. It’s very important to re-design the patches where you use your HC because the real "wonder" happens when you create a patch "around" the HC. Sound Quality : 10 A huge step forward. With this box in your chain you can nearly get any sound you want. This device seems to be extremely effective especially for high gain & metal tones (also for cleans but the effect is not that drastic) if you compare it to the high gain patches). It changes the timbre of the whole sound. The sound gets more punch, is more direct and warmer. Like lifting the curtain of the speaker. I don`t want to imagine playing without this device. I use kind of standard setup (amps poweramp stage + guitar speaker). Due to my experience with the HC i can say that it’s also extremely effective with a standard rig (no FRFR). Every comment, which claims that the HC is only effective with FRFR rigs, doesn`t correspond to the truth. But that`s very subjective... Reliability : 10 Seems to be very solid and trustworthy. Due to the fact that it is passive and filled with epoxy you don’t have to worry much about sensitive components and other problems which can occur. Just a little black metal box with a secret inside... Customer Support : 10 It was a pleasure doing business with him. A very patient and honest pro. Overall Rating : 10 Nothing more to say... Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Ahmad Ease of Use : 10 My H/C is the Combo Deluxe model (mono & stereo combined and you can use them both at the same time). I am using it mainly with the GT-8 (mono) & some times I use the stereo if I am using patches with two amps. The reason I choose the deluxe model is in case in future I can use it with other amp modeler like XTL or if I am jaming with others. This device is simple as plug & play. Once you set it you forget it. Sound Quality : 10 Superb. It is like transforming the gt8 from a toy to the real thing. It changes the sound dramatically from digital to musical. You start to sound like what you hear in records. Now I can concentrate in making music more. I have no experience on signal processing or effects but I trust my ears & the sound blow me away. Reliability : 10 I don't do gigs, only using it in recording to pc. But I believe you can rely on using it anywhere. Although it is a home made device, it's like a professional company made device. Customer Support : 10 Hadley is a very friendly gentleman. He was very patient with me & all my annoying questions. Can't get better dealing with him. Overall Rating : 10 I thought it was pricy, but let's face the result. I can not go back now playing without the H/C. It is passive, small sized, well designed & it does wonders to the sound. What more you ask for. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by jmillion Ease of Use : 9 I'm writing this review as a person who has tested both the POD Buffer by Red Iron and the Harmonic Converger. Both are good for many things, but for general Fizz & color the HC wins. For the record, I use the XTL (cab & mic modeling disabled) into the HC into a Mesa 2:90 powering my 4x12. I give it a '9' for ease of use because it's not merely plug 'n' play. You have to figure out how much of the HC you want added to your tone... it's not just a high frequency filter/EQ, either. It changes every patch. Sound Quality : 10 It is quite seriously what my POD has needed for years. It simultaneously 'beefs' up the tone as it helps it cut through. I can't imagine using my XTL without it. Reliability : 10 I trust this little device. Since it's passive, not much can go wrong. It's like a little brick and the adjustment control is actually semi-internal... you need a clever little tool (supplied) to turn it. Nothing to break off or bend. Treat it like a very nice pedal and you'll be fine. I've only gigged with it once and it was flawless. I anticipate no issues, and I believe Hadley will fix anything that goes wrong with it. Customer Support : 10 Hadley is a gentleman... honest as the day is long. A real pro. He takes a lot of heat on some of the boards from skeptics and never loses his cool. He gets an 11 on support. Overall Rating : 9 Overall, it's a 9 because I can see how it would not be for everyone and it's a little pricey. That being said, I can't do without mine. If it were stolen, I'd have to replace it... Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Shane Ease of Use : 10 It can't get any easier, just plug and play. Sound Quality : 10 The Loop HC sounds great. I only had to knock 2db off the highs on my GT-8's global EQ and all of my patches sound 100% better. Here is a link of me and the HC doing my best Eruption cover. There is also a cover of Satch Boogie without the HC. http://bandmix.com/profile101372.html Reliability : 10 Seems to be holding up and is built very sturdy. Customer Support : 10 Hadley was very easy to communicate with. Overall Rating : 9 Overall I give it a 9. If it were half the price it would be a 10. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Allen Bessanson Ease of Use : 10 It's very simple to use. From the Effects Send of my GT-8 to the Input of the HC and from the HC Output back to Effects Return. Adjust the small Pot about midway and go! I have redesigned many Patches to optimize the new clarity the HC brings to the table, but it's not necessary to do this to hear the tone improvement. Sound Quality : 9 I own the Loop model of the HC with a Boss GT-8 modeling multi-effects unit. My guitars are a Strat w/Lace Hot Golds and a Godin XTSA with Godin-labelled pups. I run this stuff into a Roland KC-350 Keyboard amp or a Vox AC-15CC. Lately I've been using the Vox as I just got it a few weeks ago. As others state, the HC is not marketed as an effect device. It is designed to 'open-up' the tone of modeling multi-effects units. It makes the GT-8 Preamp models sound more present and clear, removing muddiness and the dreaded 'fizz' that plagues digital preamps and effects like those found in the GT-8, especially Hi Gain Preamp models/patches. After I got my Vox amp I eventually ran the GT-8 w/HC in-the-loop into it just to check-out the sound. I disabled the GT-8 preamps, changed the Output to Combo and wow! The HC improves the Distortion Pedal models of the GT-8 as well. So for the time being I'm just running the GT-8 as a stompbox modeler without using preamps. Reliability : No Opinion It is rock solid. Nothing to break really. Customer Support : 10 Radley has been very responsive to E-Mails and has a Forum on Bossgtcentral.com Overall Rating : 10 I've been a Guitarist on-and-off for 28 years, playing musical categories as-needed for gigs. Now I minister in church on a Worship Team and I have to cover multiple styles in one 25 minute stretch every Sunday. Modeling gear enables me to do this, and the Harmonic Converger helps my gear sound it's best. I would replace it without question, there is no substitute for what it does. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Randall d Ease of Use : 9 This device is easy to use. Plug it in and enjoy it. The only thing to remember is that it will color your tone somewhat, so you will probably need to re-tweak your patches to optimize your tone. I also wish it had labels for the ins and outs, and switch settings, and an owners manual would be nice. Sound Quality : 10 The ability of this device to make your modeler sound more like a real amp is uncanny! As I stated above, you do need to do some tweaking to get the most out of your tone, and I will concede that some people might not like it's effect (although I find it hard to imagine), but it is well worth the effort. Suffice it to say, that I will never use a modeler without a Harmonic Converger again. The guy who plays next to me with his Mesa Dual Rectifier, and Marshall 4-12 with Greenbacks says that mine is the first modeler he has heard that sounds like a real amp (I amplify it with a JBL EONG2). (He says he can't stand Line 6 products, and since he says that, they must all be junk, and I should feel compelled to trash all of their products one by one on this site, right Rimshot?) Take your advice from people who might know something, which means they have tried the device. Customer Support : 10 Hadley is one of the nicest and knowledgable people I have ever had the privilege of talking to. He talked to me for over an hour on his dime. He is the guitar player for Neil Diamond and is also a session player. He cares about great tone and has a passion for helping people achieve it. Overall Rating : 10 Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by mamm7215 Ease of Use : 10 This unit is very easy to use. It's designed to go into an effect loop of your amp/modeler, just make sure you chain it AFTER all pre-amp gains and distortion effects, or it won't work. Sound Quality : 9 No noise at all and removes ALL fizz from my GT-8. Gives a TRUE tube sound, very nice. I'm giving it a 9 as it does have it's own slight coloration, it's not totally transparent, which I like but some may not. FWIW, it's a minute trade off for the improved sound quality you get from it. Reliability : 10 built like a small brick Customer Support : 10 Excellent support over several e-mails to Hadley (maker) Overall Rating : 9 I play original alt-rock, have been for about 20 yrs. If it were lost or stolen, I'd get another one right away. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by ang Ease of Use : 10 i have the hc gt8 loop version. mine is the newer hc with a knob instead of a 3 way switch. set the knob and set the proper fx chain and your set Sound Quality : 10 i’ve never owned a huge stack amp so i have no reference to compare to but it sounded great. it sounds bigger and less plastic. everything in the gt8 i found useless now sounded 1000x better, such as certain mics and preamps etc. the mp3 samples aren't a good way to really hear and feel the way the hc works. you have to listen for yourself. Reliability : 10 i really cant use the gt8 without the hc. will use it for jamming and recording always Customer Support : 10 dealing with the creator was hassle free. very helpful and informative. i got replies every time i had a question. i also received the item in no time at all. Overall Rating : 10 i love the hc. it makes my gt8 much more fun to play with, feels like a got a new fx machine. the tones sounds and feels so much more like a real tube amp. i love it. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by DaveG62 Ease of Use : 10 Very easy to use. I have the loop model so you just plug it in the loop in and loop out, make sure the loop is after the OD-Preamp, and forget about it. The only thing I can say is the input and output should be marked somehow. I think I had it plugged in backwards at first, but I could definitely tell when it was plugged in correctly. Not that hard to figure out. Sound Quality : 10 Dead quiet. Does something to the sound that an only be described as removing a blanket or cover from yor speaker. Improves the distortion and overdrive settings tremendously. Reliability : 10 Built like a tank. Do not foresee any problems with this unit. Customer Support : 10 Bought directly from Hadley. great guy to deal with. Had to wait for the unit to be built, but well worth the wait. Expect to wait a few weeks because these are built to order. Overall Rating : 10 Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Matt Boynton Ease of Use : 10 There's not much to this box. I have the Loop version so it has a 1/4" input, a 1/4" output and a "Tone" pot. The 1 page manual is simple and straightforward though I knew how to use the device before I purchased it. It's that simple. I'm running it through the FX Loop of my Boss GT-8. I bought the Loop version so I could have it in a patch or not though to be blunt, I leave in the signal chain 95% of the time. The only patches I don't use it on are very specific super clean patches (emulating the sound of plugging directly into a mixing console). Once it's plugged in, just turn the "Drive" knob until you find the brightness or darkness you're looking for. Sound Quality : 10 I'm using the Harmonic Converger with my GT-8 multi effects processor/modeler and a stock Ibanez PGM-301 guitar. I connect the GT-8's Digital Out to the SPDIF in of my M-Audio Audiophile 2496 audio card. I listen to the GT-8 with either a pair of M-Audio Studio Pro 3 active monitors and occasionally a pair of Sony MDR-7502 headphones. The Harmonic Converger is a passive device and adds no perceptible noise to the signal and I run it on the brightest setting. This innocuous little box made me love my GT-8. The difference it makes in the quality of the GT-8's sound is nothing short of amazing. Not only does it completely remove the infamous "fizz" (high frequency anomalies in the 5-6 kHz range) that are present in current amp modelers, it also makes the GT-8 sound and feel almost exactly like a real tube amp. I've owned a few different tube amps over the years (Peavey, Fender, Marshall and Mesa Boogie) so I know what I like and this little box helps me get what I want in my tone. The Harmonic Converger adds an upper midrange fullness that a tube amp achieves as it's pushed to its limits. The low end gets tighter and the overall sound becomes responsive. It really makes the GT-8's amp models come to life and seem almost like the real thing (98% close enough for ya? :) ) I don't go out of my way to recreate sound of any of my favorite artists but the Harmonic Converger does allow me to faithfully recreate the sound of my favorite tube amps such as a hot rodded Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Fender Twins and Vox AC-30s. This device does one thing only and it does incredibly well. Reliability : No Opinion There are very few parts that an really fail (the jacks and the potentiometer) but you would have to beat on it with a hammer to break those parts. Based upon the device's simplicity and the fact that it is hand built by its creator, I would have no reason to feel 101% confident that this device would operate without fail (well, as much as you can depend on any electronic device. If I was gigging, I would like to get a back up just because it's an integral part of my sound. I could not play without it. All that being said, I only record at home (no gigging) so I don't subject the device to any abuse whatsoever. As matter of fact, I may have to get a small, well padded shrine to place it in because it deserves it. :) For this reason, I cannot give an opinion on it's real world gigging worthiness. Customer Support : 10 I emailed the creator of this amazing device,Hadley Hockensmith, a few times before I purchased it. He replied to my e-mails promptly and answered all of my questions in a professional manner. Hadley is a regular poster on the Boss GT Central forums (under the user name "Radley") and due to the popularity of his device, there are even forums dedicated to this device on that site. Hadley is constantly improving the Harmonic Converger so I expect it to keep evolving and improving. I might upgrade it I felt the differences (in a newer unit) were worth but I am very content with the version I have. It's very difficult to improve upon perfection. :) Overall Rating : 10 I play primarily rock/metal instrumental music and this device enables me to achieve the tones I must have. I do enjoy playing any style of music that grabs my fancy and so far this little silver box has made it possible for me to get the sounds I need to inspire me to play different styles. I've been playing for 23 and have owned more guitars and gear than I care to mention. I also sold music equipment for 12 yrs. for a major chain in the North East during which I had the opportunity to play with a vast amount of guitars and gear. If this device were lost, I would beg Hadley to get me a replacement ASAP. If it were stolen, I would hunt the perpetrator down myself and administer a severe beat down. If I use a modeler, I must have this box. Period. I have found nothing else that does what it does. The Harmonic Converger makes playing (using the GT-8) sheer joy now. It has everything I need to get the tones I crave. I can't think of any way to improve it. If you want to hear what it sounds like, visit the Boss GT Central boards. I started a thread there that has sound clips that compare tones with and without it. Other folks have also posted comparative clips as well. The bottom line is if you own a GT-8 and are less-than-pleased with the amp sims, BUY THIS BOX! It's worth every penny. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Rico Ease of Use : 10 I have the gt8 loop version and it is a piece of cake to plugin, couldn't be simpler really, just plug it into the gt8 loop insert, then place it just after the preamp in the FX chain, and thats it, it's ready to blow your mind. Sound Quality : 10 I love the sound this allows me to get from my GT8, the horrible tizzy sound disappears completely, but that is only a part of the story, it brings a clarity to the sound and a solid bottom end, it also adds a Tubey quality, I really can't speak highly enough of the HC, I absolutely love it, I could never use the gt8 without it, I am probably going to buy a second one just for backup when I'm on the road, the one thing anyone thinking of one of these should be aware of, is that your patches may need tweaking to bring the best out of the HC, with the HC it is possible to make settings that you would never set without it, so whilst it's great just with the factory patches already in the Gt8, if you start to create from scratch new patches with the HC plugged in, then a whole new world of beautiful tone emerges, it just sounds great. Reliability : No Opinion So far so good, It's built like a tank, very solid, you can tell it's been built well and care has gone into it, Customer Support : No Opinion I haven't needed any support, but I can say that my dealings with the maker of the HC, makes me confident that if I had a problem, he would do his best to help, I have no worries in that area. Overall Rating : 10 Brilliant, absolutely brilliant, I am so pleased with it, I would buy it again in a shot, my GT8 sounds fantastic with this plugged into it, there is nothing that I have come across that does what this does, no EQing or anything else I have tried made the the GT8 sound right, and I tried very hard, but the Gt8 HC combination is stunning, it sounds right, I am very very happy with it, Highly recommended. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Db Ease of Use : 10 Piece of cake!! I have the effects loop model so it just goes in the chain. Make sure its in the right place tho. Sound Quality : 10 I use it thru a Yamaha PA head and two large Carvin speakers - thats it, and it works great. Oh yeah...I have it plugged into a Boss GT-8 Reliability : 10 This thing would survive probably just about anything. Built like other stuff should be. I don't see what could possibly go wrong with it, but maybe inside it could smoke. Probably if you hooked it up wrong. Customer Support : 10 Great response time....I only needed to know exactly how to patch it in to my system and where in the effects chain it should be, which is very important, otherwise you have no effect from the unit. Could be why some people say it doesn't do anything for the sound. It doesn't, if you don't have it in the right spot!!!! But WOW when you do, you'll know it!!!! Overall Rating : 10 I've been playing music for years, but guitar for only a couple so I'm no great tone monster. But this thing nails what would probably take me years and booko bucks to acquire, so I'm a happy camper. makes me a better player already as I'm more inspired when you hear the sounds that your,,,playing and they sound right. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Dev Ease of Use : 9 Nothing to using this, just plug it into your gt-x box and make sure you put it after all od/dist effects, as well as the preamp, and you have yourself an awesome tool. Sound Quality : 10 I'm currently running a yamaha rg-x through a keyboard amp, and it's the best my guitar has ever sounded. The Harmonic Converger is no hype, it's the real deal. The sound clips really do not do it justice, you have to hear it for yourself. It gives my gt-8 a whole new life. Reliability : 8 Built as tough as nails, I just got it but i'm not one bit worried about it breaking. Customer Support : 9 Hadley is a great guy, very polite to do business with, and he made and shipped my HC to me right away, no drawn out waits. I'd recommend him to anyone. Overall Rating : 10 This little box is well worth the money you pay for it, if you have a modeler and don't like that digital hiss your getting out of it, this is just what the doctor ordered. I was going to buy a tube amp to run my gt-8 through but i've decided that i'm going to buy a PA instead, just because the tonal possibilities a modeler run through a HC is more than enough for anyone. Give it a try. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Mr. Scary Ease of Use : 10 Uhhh. Just plug it in and go! It really is that simple... Sound Quality : 10 This is where the magic happens. This unit seems to make digital modelers come to life with more realistic tones. I play exclusively through a PA. Since this direct connect sound solution, the Harmonic Converger really shows its weight. The tone becomes more "alive" and less "brittle". It allows you to reconstruct your patches and have the flexibility/sweet spot which seems A LOT bigger than before integrating the unit. Customer Support : 10 I had the honor of communicating with the inventor during MANY emails and MANY phone calls. He has always been a good listener and very receptive of my feedback. What more could you ask?! Overall Rating : 10 I don't think I can do without it. I am completely dependent on this unit now. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Greg Miller Ease of Use : 10 Plug it in, set the switch to Normal, and play your guitar. Sound Quality : 10 Distinctions between related models of amps became greater. Vox AC30TB and Matchless DC30 models showed a new level of detail and variation from one another. The Fender models all managed to still sound Fender, but with satisfying flavors befitting their ancestral roots. You get the idea? Amp models that were driving me nuts before now sounded great. I’m a long-time lover of the Mesa Mark IIC+, but had abandoned the model because of certain bad habits when the gain was cranked. The HC cured those habits and that model came to life in a new way that just floors me every time I dial it in. Pickup positions on my guitar (see below) that I hadn’t used in a long time suddenly became useful again. And I could really dial in the tone I wanted. I could get really anal and play and take notes and play some more. The note-taking feature in Line6 Edit proved to be most helpful. I ended up changing all my patches dramatically and put my tone in a new dimension. How does it change the sound? Man, I wish I could describe it. You really do have to hear it. The MP3s didn’t impress me a bit. Owning one impresses me a whole bunch. Let me try to sum this up. The HC somehow manages to kill the digital fizz inherent in these modelers while also adding a very tubular brightness to the tone. The midrange and bottom are tighter and more focused. All I can liken it to is trying out different amps. You try this one, it sounds just okay. That one sounds flat. That one over there sounds like it has a blanket over it. And then you plug into this one and instantly get happy and try to figure out how to buy one without selling off a child or having to move into the doghouse out back. That?s the best I can do. Reliability : No Opinion This box is very small but quite heavy. It feels like a solid block of silver. Bypass will take away any residual pain from spending $250 by reminding you of your life before the HC. There are no moving parts (other than the Drive pot, of course) and nothing else to plug in. It’s totally passive, no batteries or phantom power needed. I doubt if anything non-nuclear could hurt it. Customer Support : 10 Radley is incredible - responsive, knowledgeable, and honest. It doesn't get any better. Overall Rating : 10 I play Christian praise & worship in a very dynamic worship band. Our church has a killer sound system and a great worship leader who knows good tone when he hears it. He already has a Harmonic Converger for permanent use in the church - after hearing mine. It was a quick decision... I've been playing for almost 35 years and done tons of gigging, touring, and recording all over the country. I own too much stuff to list - I can offer more details about my gear privately as it relates to my testing of the Harmonic Converger. I will also offer the full review as a PDF to interested parties. This format does not accommodate all I wrote. Suffice to say, if it was lost or stolen, I'd call Radley before I reported it to my insurance company to get another one built and shipped. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by donbarzini Ease of Use : 10 Out of the modeler into the HC, out of the HC into your amplification. Sound Quality : 10 What can I say, the moment I tried it out with my PodXT, I was pleased. It tamed the dreaded fizz and brought life back into the sound, nice and tight. I recently purchased an Atomic 112 amp and I use the HC in between the modeler and the amp. I tried the Atomic without the HC and it sounded good, with the HC, it sounds fantastic! I just purchased a Vox Tonelab and the HC does wonders for that modeler also, especially the high frequency fizz that I experienced with it. Reliability : 10 The HC is very sturdy, it is built like a rock. I'd hate to get hit in the head with it! Customer Support : No Opinion The owner of Radtones is very, very pleasant. I enjoy speaking with him and he is very determined to satisfy your needs. Overall Rating : 10 I play mostly 80's higher gain rock. Without the HC, the dreaded fizz and separation of the frequencies just makes the playing experience unpleasant, it is one of those devices that you leave on all the time and like Donnie Brasco says, "fuhget about it". I am a tone freak and I only use modeling devices, this product was worth every penny because it takes the modeler to a new realm, actually, it makes the modeler sound like it should in the first place. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by DoubleV Ease of Use : 10 There's nothing to it. You simply insert in in between your modeling device and mixer (if recording direct) or amp (if playing live). It's a passive device so it requires no power to use. Sound Quality : 9 This thing definitely changes the sound of a modeling device for the better. It cuts down on the amount of 'fizz' and also tightens up the sound. It's this tightening that makes the sound much more realistic. The higher the setting, the more the de-fizzing it does. I usually use a very mild setting and get great results. A little goes a long way IMO. Note I have only used this for direct recording with my PODxt. I'm gonna give this a solid 9 (and not a 10) for it's sound only because I heard the newer ones have been refined. Reliability : 10 Mine has been built to last. If it did break however, it cannot be fixed due to the epoxy cream-filling that is used in it's construction. Customer Support : 10 Solid 10 without doubt. Overall Rating : 10 No other device on the market today can do what this thing does. If you use a guitar modeling device and are sick of the fizzy, unfocused sound they give you, get one these magic boxes! Keep in mind ,however, that this device is not gonna perform miracles if you don't know how to get a good tone to begin with. This thing is the icing....not the cake. Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by demo Ease of Use : 10 Sound Quality : 10 I'm just using this unit just after my PodXT. Guitar > PodXT > Harmonic Converger > {mixing desk, soundcard, whatever} It makes me happy with the sound from the pod. I'll try to sidestep the whole 'fizz' issue, but I felt the sound form the pod had some high pitched noise with the high gain models and they easily sounded a little thin. While it's possible to turn down the presence and treble (or use the post-eq) this usually left me with a blanket-over-the-amp sound. The HC has made it a lot easier for my to find the tones I want. As previously stated, I have mostly just left it at one position and started tuning from there. Reliability : 10 I haven't had any problems with it yet, and don't expect to. The unit feels very sturdy, and Hadley said the box is filled with black epoxy too, so this thing could probably be used to hammer in nails. It survived being sent all the way to Norway. Anything surviving that many postal-workers is rock solid. The whole unit is also passive, so there are not many things I feel can go wrong with it. Overall Rating : 10 I'm just a hobby guitarist, and haven't been playing for that many years. Musically I'm somewhere in the grunge era, and I'm quite partial to the gritty guitar sound of that period. I'm playing though a podXT directly to PA. The reason for going to PA and not via a regular cabinet is that I want the same tone as I have at home (where using a cab is not an option). If felt something missing in my tone, and this unit fixed it :) That is my favorite feature here; it just works. Removes the high frequency noise without putting a blanket over the sound. I feel I can push the presence to get a more... urgent and energetic sound, without being annoying. I'm not aware of any similar units. If stolen/broken/lost I'd try to get a new one as soon as possible! Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by GORILLA Ease of Use : 10 Hello. I'm Kenny Lee A.K.A. GORILLA and I believe I have Hadley's very first Harmonic Converger box made for the public. How easy is it to get a good sound out of it? Just plug in your guitar, it's really that simple! Sound Quality : 10 What setup (i.e. what guitars and amps) are you using this with? I use the (Rad Box) with my Pod XT Pro, Gibson Flying V's & my BC Rich Bich. Is it noisy? On what settings? No. It helps to eliminate the dreaded 'fizz' from the high gain amps of the Line 6 Pod XT Pro. Are the effects weak or do they always sound great? Lets put it this way. If my (Rad Box) was to break tonight.........I'd sell my Pod XT Pro tomorrow! Are certain effects (distortion, chorus, ...) very good? Very bad? I use the Harmonic Converger setting all the time. The Bold tone is good. But for Metal I really do not find a use for that setting. The Harmonic Converger setting is where it's at! Reliability : 10 Can you depend on it? HELL yes!!! Just plug and play. No batteries or wall warts to worry about. Would you use it on a gig without a backup? Yep. I'd just do like I do in my studio. I hide it in back of my rack. Guys ask...."Why doesn't my Pod sound like yours?" And if I do not know them personally, I say...."maybe you just need to tweak yours more" ...he...he...he.... Customer Support : 10 If you've dealt with the company, how helpful/friendly were they? When I first read Hadleys post. I didn't even know what he looked like. I think I might of even made a smart a$s comment about his (Rad Box). : ) But, I asked him to call me and he did, and from that call on. I knew he was 1000% a down to Earth guy, who had something I wanted to get a hold of! Overall Rating : 10 What style of music do you play? Is this a good match? I play Death Metal. It's great for the 'fizzies' the Pod XT Pro's high gain amps put out. How long have you been playing? What other gear do you own? 20 years. Marshalls, Krank Rev. Series 1 head. Pro Tools system, tube mic pre. what do you love about it? It's simple...easy to use...and does what Hadley said it would do! What do you hate? It's my secret weapon! I hate telling people about it!!! I will tell them if they straight out ask me. But, if they don't....I don't say nothing. What is your favorite feature? NO BATTERIES OR WALL WARTS!! Does it help you make music, or does it get in the way? Well, like I mentioned earlier. If I did not have this box.....I wouldn't have a Pod XT Pro! Anything else you'd like to share? It's a great lil' box. Whenever I plug into my Pod XT Pro, you can bet your a$s my (Rad Box) is directly behind the Pod! Product: RadTone Harmonic Converger Submitted by Buddy Ease of Use : 10 Sound Quality : 10 The Harmonic Converger is designed to improve the sound of modelers. I use it with a POD XT. Here is the setup I use it with: Guitar >> Xotic RC Boost >> Xotic AC Boost >> Voodo Lab Sparkle Drive >> Keely modded BD-2 >> Barber Tone Press >> Pod XT >> Line 6 MM-4 >> Roland Giga Delay >> Harmonic Converger >> amp or console. If I remember correctly Hadley suggests using the unit right after the modeler but I just slapped it on the end of the pedalboard. I'm redoing the board so I'll put it where it should go then. As a side note, I use the MM-4 and Giga Delay so that mod and delay effects are global. This applies more to live playing than to sessions. Here's what the unit does. It makes the modeler sound more real and takes care of what is known as fizz. I'll try to explain. Have you ever plugged into an overdrive or distortion unit and then gone straight into the console? Sounds wrong huh. To my ear the Pod XT has an element of that in it's distortion sounds. The Harmonic Converger fixes that! That undesirable element is removed. No added noise nothing .... just removes what bothered me. Reliability : No Opinion It's worked well so far. Customer Support : No Opinion Hadley has been good to me. As it turns out I know him from years ago but we don't hang or see each other or even speak. I read about the Harmonic Converger on the Line 6 Pod forum asked about it and poof discovered it was made by someone I know. I do not have any affiliation with RadTone! Overall Rating : 10 I am a professional musician working in Los Angeles. I play all styles except classical. I'm not an "A" player in town, I'm just happy to still have my thumb in the pie (my advice to young guys: practice everyday and get a real job). In the last few years some of the stuff I do is me the composer and the computer. When I got the unit I put it on the pedalboard. The next time I went to do an episode of a sitcom. The composer kept looking at my pedalboard. I'd play, he'd look. I'd play, he'd look. After a while he asked about the sound. He noticed a difference. Also within the last month I sold a Behringer FCB 100. A guy in his twenty's (looked like it to me) saw the pedalboard and asked about it so I played through my monitors. He had a Pod so I played with and without the unit. He noticed the difference and asked where he could get one. Other User Reviews & Comments: Well, I received my Harmonic Converger yesterday and was able to play around with it for a few hours before I had to get ready to travel for work today. Stunning. The fizz removal is simply unbelievable and the tone on any given patch with the HC on it instantly seems to “come alive” more. More sparkle, jump and musicality. And I LIKE the GT-8’s stock tones, even the fizzy ones. My unit is the HC Loop Model and talk about black-box technology. It’s a black box. That’s it. 2 jacks and a knob for operation and away you go! With this one, the knob goes from OFF (bypass) to MAX effect, with the ability to select the amount of HC effecting as desired. NICE!!! I really like this feature as on some cleaner patches I only use a touch of HC and on a couple of really heavy patches, I turn it on almost full. As I said, it’s amazing what this does for your sound. Even my wife was amazed at how much more alive it makes the distortion sounds. I’m using an old Yamaha pedal switch plugged into subCtrl-1 globally set to Loop on/off and I’ve set all my FxChains in the Users patches to be Loop AFTER the PRE-amp (and all distortion type effects). Simple. All in all, this is a must have if you play a lot of distortion-laden music. I was pleasantly surprised by how nice even slightly over-driven or gained patches sound with just the “teeniest” bit of HC dialed in. -Matt B I spent about an hour last night playing with the HC for the first time, using it in the GT8 loop, A/Bing the HC by turning the loop off/on. First impressions: This thing is unbelievable. The patches are so much more present and real now. At first I thought there was some kind of boost involved, as the patches sound louder with the HC engaged, but I'm thinking that it's not a volume change so much as the tone is more focused, and so it really cuts thru. In his corner of this site, Radley mentions that the HC imparts a special tube-esk "urgency" to the tone - now I understand what he meant by that, and it is a very good way to describe how the tone is improved. I usually don't play really high gain, so I didn't have much of a fizz problem to deal with, but I didn't realize how sterile the patches sounded before. They really pop and come to life when the HC kicks in! Very very cool. It even improves my glassy clean patches. And I'll probably take a tour of the presets, just to see if the HC salvages any of them. I may post additional thoughts once I start tweaking my patches. Just wanted to put something out there, in case anybody is interested. Oh, I have to add that Radley is a class act, very accommodating and helpful, I had many connection-related questions before I ordered and he patiently answered them all for me. Follow-up: I spent another hour or two yesterday tweaking patches with the HC, mostly messing with ridiculously over the top high-gain tones just to see what would happen. HC was in the loop, set just under the middle position. I found that it is borderline miraculous how the HC can take even the most fizzy-fit of a patch and make it sound decent or in some cases even pretty good. After we got home from work, I A/B'd a patch for my wife, to give her an idea of why we spent the $$$ on Hadley's mysterious little black box. The test patch was a cranked OD pedal feeding into a Marshall with bass & middle cranked & gain on 80, then going into a custom 8x15 speaker cab, played thru my PE 60. Without the HC, the patch was total fizz city. She said, "That doesn't sound very good." With the HC engaged, the fizz was gone, the bottom end made sense, and while the gain was over the top it was still usable. She said, "It sounds a lot better with the little black box on. But if it's possible to make it sound that good, why didn't the people who made the *big* black box make it sound that good in the first place?" -Jim I use a GT8 into the front of a Reverend Kingsnake. I have tried the 4 cable hookup and the GT-8 into the effects return & I prefer the "sing" of the amps front end, complete with preamp. I do use the modeling on the GT-8. I have found 2 keys to good sound with the multi: 1. Don't overdo the patches. Less is often more, especially with preamp drive and OD model levels. 2. A Radtone "Harmonic Converger" by Hadley Hockensmith, a fairly expensive little box he makes for the loop of the GT-8 or for between the multi & the amp for other brands, makes ALL the difference. It brings the modeler to life & adds a huge amount of "cut" & touch sensitivity to the sound. It is not exaggerating to say that it makes the GT-8 "feel" 99% like a cranked world class tube amp. I, like most people, kind of scoffed at this device when I heard of it. I thought I was getting great sounds from the GT-8 (I was getting darn good sounds). The quality, realism and especially "feel" of the tones from the GT-8 went off the map. Anyway, my 2 cents, & I am in no way connected to the business side of Radtone, just an amazed user. (I have a powered pedalboard full of good production & boutique pedals that never gets used these days - the GT-8 + Harmonic Converger slays them). -9fingers- I set up my new rig and fired up Hadley’s HC and I am blown away!!!!....the missing chink in the GT-8’s armor has been found.....I don t even know where to begin, the dimension which is the only word I can find at the moment to describe what the lil wonder box adds is unbelievable!!! No more angry bees on the high gain patches....no more bottom end thump.....treble notes chime.....power chords are full of air and on the clean they are contoured like nothing I’ve ever heard come out of the beast before......and that is on stock patches goofing for twenty minutes. More to follow when I’ve had time to go into the chains and start tinkering....alls I can say is this is not the same box I had before!!!!.....well done Hadley!!! -DirteeMonkee I received my Harmonic Converger on Saturday.  I have to say this is the best product that I have ever purchased. I am just amazed by the sound quality. Usually when I get a new effect, it takes me about a day of fooling around with it and finding out what it can do. It is usually a 50-50 shot that is like it or hate it. Your Harmonic Converger, it took me about 5 minutes to say that this is a great product.  It just tightens up all the harmonic tones. Picking dynamics are 100% improved with Harmonic Converger on. I had written some patches that I thought sounded good. When I introduced the Harmonic Converger into the chain, these patches just came to life.  The growl that the Harmonic Converger adds makes the modeler sound like a tube amp. The growl, dynamics & clarity, gives the modeler a very authentic tube sound.  I also think that  the Harmonic Converger improves clean tones. I have never had any amp modelers sound this good. I am very happy with the results.  Hadley, your a genius, and it has been a pleasure doing business with you. Best Regards -Jason Thanks for Visiting! ~Hadley~ http://bandmix.com/profile101372.htmlshapeimage_1_link_0
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