HeadRush MX5 Compact Guitar FX and Amp Modeling Processor

For the gigging guitarist, MX5’s radiant high-resolution display has you covered, providing critical feedback exactly where, and when, you need it - especially when tweaking tones via the expression pedal in 'Hands-Free Mode’. Everything about the HeadRush MX5 is designed to make it simple, fast and intuitive to jump right in and create your perfect tone in seconds.

Equally suited to home recording or live performance situations, the MX5 is incredibly portable at just 3.5 lbs. (1.6 kg) and can fit in most backpacks or instrument cases. It’s never been this easy to bring the best classic vintage and modern gear to rehearsals, performances, or recording sessions near or far, without breaking the bank—or your back!

The HeadRush MX5 packs a big punch of tone with an immense library of 46 amplifier models, 15 cabinets with 10 microphone emulations, 300 impulse responses, and 63 premium FX! All HeadRush models are flawless simulations of the most sought-after vintage and modern gear with unrivalled accuracy and authentic dynamic response. There’s even an expertly curated selection of premium HeadRush FX that can’t be found anywhere else. This library will continue to be expanded with regular firmware updates that add new models and features based on user requests and feedback.

Out the box, the HeadRush MX5 includes over 300 precision-captured impulse responses, meticulously crafted in IoSR Studios with some of the world’s most revered guitar cabs. Loading your own third-party IRs is a snap; simply hook up the MX5 to your Mac or PC via USB and drag-and-drop your choice IRs. Plus, with virtually unlimited storage for IRs with 1024 and 2048 sample lengths, MX5’s tone sculpting possibilities are virtually limitless.

Gapless preset-switching is an exclusive HeadRush feature, ensuring any reverb or delay-tails will continue to ring out, even after changing your preset or rig. The result? No break in your sound, and your rig changes sound fluid and seamless.

Controlling your sound has never been easier courtesy of MX5’s 3 built-in footswitches that toggle 3 models or scenes, change rigs, or access your setlists. Quickly switch between the footswitch modes by holding footswitch 1 to select your desired mode. You can also select setlists, enter hands-free mode, and lock the touch display from this menu.

Need to add a little more gain at the last minute? No problem! Using the hands-free edit mode, you can adjust any parameter mid-song without having to stop playing and/or bend over. Simply select the model that you want to adjust, select the parameter, and then use the built-in expression pedal to fine-tune your settings.

The powerful Scenes feature enables you to turn multiple models on or off in each rig, as well as select different model presets using only one footswitch. When you press the footswitch assigned to that scene, all models included in that scene will turn on or off, or change to a different preset depending on how you assign them. This powerful feature is an incredibly efficient way to create quick access for different tones in the same rig.

The expression pedal has two powerful modes, Classic Mode and Advanced Mode, alongside a toe switch to switch between two banks — Expression Pedal A or B. In Classic mode, if you assign a wah pedal to Expression Pedal A and a volume pedal to Expression Pedal B, only one of them will be active at any time; when you are controlling the wah pedal, the volume pedal will be bypassed, and vice versa. With the Advanced setting you can assign up to four parameters to each expression pedal (A and B). Moving the pedal will adjust all of its assigned parameters simultaneously. Using the toe switch will select the other expression pedal and leave the current pedal’s parameters active and at their maximum values.

The MX5 also has an advanced built-in looper that you can use to layer parts during performances, or use as a songwriting tool when inspiration strikes. You can load .WAV and .MP3 audio files into the Looper to play along with backing tracks; you can also save your new loops as .WAV files and export them to your Mac/PC via USB Transfer Mode for sharing with the world. Each loop has a maximum length of 5 minutes, and can hold up to a whopping 20 minutes of layered audio at a time.

The HeadRush MX5’s Global EQ feature is perfect for tailoring your sound to any space; whether it’s a venue or rehearsal space, fine tune your presets to ensure you sound great and complement the acoustic characteristics of any environment. Dial back the Low and Low mids when you are in boomier venues, or push up the high end in soundproofed rehearsal spaces - whatever your space demands, MX5 delivers, letting you quickly apply some corrective equalization to your main ¼” outputs and all of your presets without permanently altering them.

You can use the convenient Setlists feature to quickly organize and re-order your rigs for an upcoming performance. A setlist is a saved collection of rigs, which you can save and recall at a later time - perfect if you only need some of your rigs for a performance.

The MX5’s USB connection opens up a world of feature-rich, intuitive recording and reamping to a computer. When it is connected to your computer, you can select and use the HeadRush MX5 as a 24-bit 96 kHz audio interface! When choosing the Reamp option you can add the tone coloration of an amp to a pre-recorded audio signal—in this case, sending audio from your DAW through the HeadRush MX5 and then recording it back into your DAW. This time saving feature is perfect for changing the sound of a pre-recorded killer guitar take without having to manually play the same part again.

The MX5 integrates seamlessly into your current rig with all the connections you need to handle any performance situation. Combining a ¼-inch guitar input, (2) ¼-inch TRS outputs switchable between amp or line level, a 1/8-inch output for headphones, 5-Pin MIDI in/out via 2 1/8"-to-MIDI adapters, plus an onboard ¼-inch stereo FX loop to integrate external pedals at any point in the signal chain, effortless integration into your existing setup is a snap! The HeadRush MX5 even features a ¼-inch TRS input to connect an external expression pedal. The MX5 unites your existing equipment while opening up a world of new sonic possibilities.