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HeadRush MX5^®

The most powerful compact guitar FX and amp modeling processor.

Discover the features

HeadRush MX5^®

Super-compact yet loaded with all the power of HeadRush, MX5® is an incredibly easy to use and realistic-sounding guitar FX and amp modeler that’s ideal for the desktop, the studio and the stage. Featuring a finely-tuned multi-core processor and 4” high-resolution touch display, the HeadRush MX5 makes tone building easy, letting you touch, swipe and drag-and-drop to instantly create and edit your perfect tone in an unprecedentedly realistic and intuitive way.

MX5 Features

Custom-designed DSP system with powerful multi-core processing
High-resolution 4” touch display with guitarist-centric interface
Versatile library of realistic & responsive amplifier, cabinet, mic and FX models
Gapless preset switching with reverb/delay tail spillover
Load virtually unlimited custom impulse response files
Hands-free edit mode for quick on-the-fly live editing

Looper with save and load loop features
Built-in expression pedal with toe-switch and adjustable tension
Stereo FX loop for external FX or 4-cable connectivity with guitar/bass amps
1/8” (3.5mm) aux input, 1/8” (3.5mm) headphones output; MIDI input and output
Record and re-amp via USB (up to 24-bit/96kHz)

Meet MX5

Amazing 4-inch Touch Display

Center stage on the HeadRush MX5 is an ultra-responsive 4-inch touch display (Exclusive Patent Pending Technology) and a guitarist-centric, intuitive user interface – literally touch, swipe and drag-and-drop to instantly create rigs with lightning speed and precision.

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.

Desk Friendly & Road Ready!

Perfectly Portable and Flexible

Equally suited to home recording or live performance situations, the HeadRush 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!

A Universe of Incredibly Realistic Models

The HeadRush MX5 packs a big punch of tone with an immense library of 52 amplifier models, 15 cabinets with 10 microphone emulations, 300 impulse responses, and more than 74 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.

Unlimited Tonal Expansion with Third Party IR Support

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 with Reverb/Delay Tail Spillover

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.

Easy-to-use Stomp, Rig and Hybrid Footswitch Modes

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.

Convenient Hands-Free Edit Mode

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!

Toggle Multiple FX with Just 1 Footswitch

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.

Fully-Assignable Expression Pedal for Maximum Control

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.

Best-In-Class Looper with Save & Load Functionality

The HeadRush MX5 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.

Instant Apply Global EQ to Sound Great in Any Room

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 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.

Quickly Organize Your Rigs for Performances

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.

Record and Reamp via the Built-in USB Audio Interface

HeadRush MX5’s USB connection opens up a world of feature-rich, intuitive recording and reamping to a computer. When the HeadRush MX5 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.

All the connections you need

The HeadRush 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 HeadRush MX5 unites your existing equipment while opening up a world of new sonic possibilities.

Media Gallery

The HeadRush MX5® delivers the most versatile, realistic-sounding and responsive amplifier, cabinet, microphone and FX models ever found in a road-ready floorboard guitar FX processor.

MX5 Tutorials

This is a playlist of tutorial videos that cover the HeadRush MX5.

In this series:
Hardware Overview
Getting Started
Hardware Assign
Creating A Rig
Creating Scenes
Pedal Modes
Setlist Mode
Global Settings
Stereo FX Loop
Downloading and Installing IRs

MX5 in action with Memory Lame

Models

FX Overview

AMPLIFIER (52)

59 TWEED BASS
59 TWEED DELUXE
59 DELUXE GAIN MOD
59 TWEED PRINCE
64 BLACK LUX NORM
64 BLACK LUX VIB
64 BLACK VIB
65 BLACK MINI
65 BLACK PRINCE
65 BLACK PRINCE REV
65 BLACK SR
67 BLACK DUO
67 BLACK SHIMMER
66 AC Hi BOOST
66 AC HI BOOST MOD
66 FLIP BASS
69 BLUE LINE BASS
69 BLUE LINE SCOOP
65 J45
67 PLEXIGLAS VARI
68 PLEXI EL84 MOD
69 PLEXIGLAS 100W
68 PLEXIGLAS 50W
82 LEAD 800 100W
82 LEAD 800 50W
82 LEAD 800 BASS MOD
82 LEAD 800 BRIGHT
82 LEAD 800 TS MOD
83 400R
84 J-120H
85 M-2 LEAD
85 M-2 LEAD CAP MOD
92 TREADPLATE MODERN
92 TREADPLATE RAW
92 TREADPLATE VINTAGE
93 MS30
99 PV51 II CLEAN
99 PV51 II CRUNCH
99 PV51 II LEAD
97 RB-01B GREEN
97 RB-01B BLUE
97 RB-01B RED
89 SL-100 CLEAN
89 SL-100 CRUNCH
89 SL-100 DRIVE
89 SL-100 EXT RANGE
Tangerine 30 Channel 1
Tangerine 30 Channel 2
11 EPB II HI-LEAD
11 EPB II LO-LEAD
11 EPB II CRUNCH
11 EPB II CLEAN

CABINET (15)

1X8 CUSTOM
1X12 BLACK PANEL LUX
1X12 TWEED LUX
1X15 OPEN BACK
2X12 AC BLUE
2X12 BLACK PANEL DUO
2X12 B30
2X12 SILVER CONE
4X10 TWEED BASS
4X10 BLACK SR
4X12 CLASSIC 30W
4X12 65W
4X12 GREEN 25W
4X12 GREEN 20W
8X10 BLUE LINE

MICROPHONE (10)

DYN 7
DYN 57
DYN 409
DYN 421
COND 67
COND 87
COND 414
RIBBON 121
DYN 20
DYN 12

DISTORTION (17)

WHITE BOOST
GREEN JRC-OD
DC DISTORT
BLACK OP
TRI FUZZ
8-BIT CRUSH
ANXIETY OD
ANXIETY OD V2
D1 Distortion
K DRIVE
MX Dist
Round Fuzz
B DIST 7000
OCT FUZZ
D250 DRIVE
S1 DRIVE
GLORIOUS DRIVE

DYNAMICS/EQ (11)

GRAY COMP
DYN111 COMP
GRAPHIC EQ
PARA EQ
BASS EQ
GATE
AUTOSWELL
NOISE FILTER
SIDE COMP
HOLD
10 FREQ EQ

MODULATION (22)

MULTICHORUS
CHORUS
FLANGER
VIBRATO
AIR FILTER
AIR FLANGER
AIR VIBRATO
VIBE PHASER
ORANGE PHASER
TRON PHASER
STONE PHASER
ROTARY
TREMOLO
OCTAVES
SMART HARM
TRON FILTER
RING MOD
DROP TUNE
Acoustic Sim
Detune
Octaves Up
ENV FILTER

REVERB/DELAY (13)

STEREO DOUBLER
AIR REVERB
ELEVEN REVERB
SPRING REVERB
TAPE ECHO
BBD DELAY
DYN DELAY
SHIMMER
AIR DELAY
REVERSE DELAY
PITCH DELAY
AMBI VERB
RESO DELAY

EXPRESSION (11)

VOLUME
SHINE WAH
BLACK WAH
MORE WAH
PANNER
WHAM
HARM
CHORD WHAM
FEEDBACK
TIME WARP
WHITE BASS WAH

AMPLIFIER (52)

59 TWEED BASS

Based on
Fender® ’59 Bassman

59 TWEED DELUXE

Based on
Fender® Tweed Deluxe

59 DELUXE GAIN MOD

Based on
Fender® Tweed Deluxe (Gain Mod)

59 TWEED PRINCE

Based on
Fender® ’59 Princeton

64 BLACK LUX NORM

Based on
Fender® Deluxe Reverb (Normal)

64 BLACK LUX VIB

Based on
Fender® Deluxe Reverb (Vibrato)

64 BLACK VIB

Based on
Fender® Vibroverb

65 BLACK MINI

Based on
Fender® Champ 6w

65 BLACK PRINCE

Based on
Fender® Princeton

65 BLACK PRINCE REV

Based on
Fender® Princeton Reverb

65 BLACK SR

Based on
Fender® Super Reverb "Blackface"

67 BLACK DUO

Based on
Fender® Twin Reverb "Blackface"

67 BLACK SHIMMER

Based on
Fender® Dual Showman

66 AC Hi BOOST

Based on
Vox® AC30 Top Boost

66 AC HI BOOST MOD

Based on
Vox® AC30 Top Boost (Mod)

66 FLIP BASS

Based on
Ampeg® Portaflex B15-N

69 BLUE LINE BASS

Based on
Ampeg® SVT 300w

69 BLUE LINE SCOOP

Based on
Ampeg® SVT 300w (Scooped)

65 J45

Based on
Marshall® JTM45

67 PLEXIGLAS VARI

Based on
Marshall® Super Lead Plexi (Variac Mod)

68 PLEXI EL84 MOD

Based on
Marshall® Super Lead Plexi (EL34 tubes mod)

69 PLEXIGLAS 100W

Based on
Marshall® Super Lead Plexi 100W

68 PLEXIGLAS 50W

Based on
Marshall® Super Lead Plexi 50W

82 LEAD 800 100W

Based on
Marshall® JCM800 (Normal)

82 LEAD 800 50W

Based on
Marshall® JCM800 50w

82 LEAD 800 BASS MOD

Based on
Marshall® JCM800 (Bass Mod)

82 LEAD 800 BRIGHT

Based on
Marshall® JCM800 (Bright)

82 LEAD 800 TS MOD

Based on
Marshall® JCM800 (TS Mod)

83 400R

Based on Gallien-Krueger® 800RB

84 J-120H

Based on Roland® Jazz Chorus 120 (Head)

85 M-2 LEAD

Based on
Mesa/Boogie® Mark IIc+ (Drive)

85 M-2 LEAD CAP MOD

Based on
Mesa/Boogie® Mark IIc+ (Coupling Cap Mod)

92 TREADPLATE MODERN

Based on
Mesa/Boogie® Dual Rectifier (Modern)

92 TREADPLATE RAW

Based on
Mesa/Boogie® Dual Rectifier (Raw)

92 TREADPLATE VINTAGE

Based on
Mesa/Boogie® Dual Rectifier (Vintage)

93 MS30

Based on
Matchless® DC30

99 PV51 II CLEAN

Based on
Peavey® 5150 II (Clean)

99 PV51 II CRUNCH

Based on
Peavey® 5150 II (Crunch)

99 PV51 II LEAD

Based on
Peavey® 5150 II (Lead)

97 RB-01B GREEN

Based on
Bogner® Ecstasy 101B (Green Channel)

97 RB-01B BLUE

Based on
Bogner® Ecstasy 101B (Blue Channel)

97 RB-01B RED

Based on
Bogner® Ecstasy 101B (Red Channel)

89 SL-100 CLEAN

Based on
Soldano® SLO-100 (Clean)

89 SL-100 CRUNCH

Based on
Soldano® SLO-100 (Crunch)

89 SL-100 DRIVE

Based on
Soldano® SLO-100 (Drive)

89 SL-100 EXT RANGE

Based on
Soldano® SLO-100 (Extreme)

Tangerine 30 Channel 1

Based on
Orange® AD30HTC ® Clean Channel

Tangerine 30 Channel 2

Based on
Orange® AD30HTC ® Dirty Channel

11 EPB II HI-LEAD

Based on
2011 ENGL® Powerball II

11 EPB II LO-LEAD

Based on
2011 ENGL® Powerball II

11 EPB II CRUNCH

Based on
2011 ENGL® Powerball II

11 EPB II CLEAN

Based on
2011 ENGL® Powerball II

CABINET (15)

1X8 CUSTOM

Based on
Fender® Champ

1X12 BLACK PANEL LUX

Based on
Fender® Deluxe Reverb “Blackface” (Jensen P12N)

1X12 TWEED LUX

Based on
Fender® Tweed Deluxe (Jensen P12Q)

1X15 OPEN BACK

Based on
Ampeg® Reverberocket (Jensen C15N)

2X12 AC BLUE

Based on
Vox® AC30 (Celestion Alnico Blue)

2X12 BLACK PANEL DUO

Based on
Fender® Twin Reverb “Blackface” (Jensen C12N)

2X12 B30

Based on
Bogner® (Celestion V30)

2X12 SILVER CONE

Based on
Roland® JC-120

4X10 TWEED BASS

Based on
Fender® ’59 Bassman (Jensen P10Q)

4X10 BLACK SR

Based on
Fender® Super Reverb “Blackface” (CTS Alnico)

4X12 CLASSIC 30W

Based on
Marshall® 1960AV (Celestion V30)

4X12 65W

Based on
Marshall® (Celestion G12-65)

4X12 GREEN 25W

Based on
Marshall® 1960A (Celestion G12-H “Greenback”)

4X12 GREEN 20W

Based on
Marshall® (Celestion G12- M)

8X10 BLUE LINE

Based on
Ampeg® SVT “Blueline” (Towel Bar)

MICROPHONE (10)

DYN 7

Based on
Shure® SM7

DYN 57

Based on
Shure® SM57

DYN 409

Based on
Sennheiser® MD409

DYN 421

Based on
Sennheiser® MD421

COND 67

Based on
Neumann® U67

COND 87

Based on
Neumann® U87

COND 414

Based on
AKG® C414 XLS

RIBBON 121

Based on
Royer® 121

DYN 20

Based on
Electro-Voice® RE20

DYN 12

Based on
AKG® D112

DISTORTION (17)

WHITE BOOST

Based on
Xotic® RC Booster

GREEN JRC-OD

Based on
Ibanez® TS808

DC DISTORT

Based on
Avid® Custom Distortion (Eleven Rack)

BLACK OP

Based on
ProCo® Rat

TRI FUZZ

Based on
EHX® Big Muff Pi

8-BIT CRUSH

Based on
OTO® Biscuit

ANXIETY OD

Based on
Fulltone® OCD

ANXIETY OD V2

Based on
Fulltone® OCD

D1 Distortion

Based on
Boss® DS-1

K DRIVE

Based on
Klon® Centaur

MX Dist

Based on
MXR® Distortion

Round Fuzz

Based on
Dunlop® Fuzz Face

Glorious Drive

Based on
JHS® Morning Glory

B DIST 7000

Based on
Darkglass® Microtubes B7K Ultra V2 Bass Preamp

OCT FUZZ

Based on
Dunlop® JH-OC1 Octavio

D250 DRIVE

Based on
DOD® Overdrive Preamp 250

S1 DRIVE

Based on
Boss® SD-1 Super Overdrive

DYNAMICS/EQ (11)

GRAY COMP

Based on
Ross® Compressor

DYN111 COMP

Based on
Avid® Dynamic III Comp (Plug-in)

GRAPHIC EQ

Based on
Avid® Custom Graphic EQ (Eleven Rack)

PARA EQ

Based on
Avid® Custom Parametric EQ (Eleven Rack)

BASS EQ

Based on
Avid® Custom EQ (Eleven Rack)

GATE

Based on
Rocktron® Hush The Pedal (Based on)

AUTO SWELL

Based on
Digitech® Crescendo (Based on)

NOISE FILTER

Based on
Noise Filter (Headrush® Original)

SIDE COMP

Based on
Side Comp (HeadRush® Original)

HOLD

Based on Electro-Harmonix® Freeze

10 FREQ EQ

Based on
MXR® M108 Ten Band EQ

MODULATION (22)

MULTICHORUS

Based on
Avid® AIR Multichorus (Plug-in)

CHORUS

Based on
Boss® CE-1 (Chorus Mode)

FLANGER

Based on
TC Electronic® Thunderstorm

VIBRATO

Based on
Boss® CE-1 (Vibrato Mode)

AIR FILTER

Based on
Pro Tools® AIR Filter (Plug- in)

AIR FLANGER

Based on
Pro Tools® AIR Flanger (Plug-in)

AIR VIBRATO

Based on
Pro Tools® AIR Vibrato (Plug-in)

VIBE PHASER

Based on
Uni-Vibe®

ORANGE PHASER

Based on
MXR® Phase 90

TRON PHASER

Based on
Mu-Tron® Phasor II

STONE PHASER

Based on
EHX ®Small Stone

ROTARY

Based on
Avid® Rotary Module (Plug- in)

TREMOLO

Based on
Boss® TR-2

OCTAVES

Based on
Boss® OC-2

SMART HARM

Based on
Smart Harmonizer (Headrush Original)

TRON FILTER

Based on
Mu-Tron® III Envelope Filter

RING MOD

Based on
Moog® Ring Modulator

DROP TUNE

Based on
Digitech® Drop

Acoustic Sim

Based on
Boss® Acoustic Simulator

Detune

Based on
Detune (HeadRush® Original)

OCTAVES UP

Based on
OCTAVES UP (HeadRush® Original)

ENV FILTER

Based on DOD® FX25 Envelope Filter

REVERB/DELAY (13)

STEREO DOUBLER

Based on
Stereo Doubler (HeadRush® Original)

AIR REVERB

Based on
Pro Tools® AIR Reverb (Plug-in)

ELEVEN REVERB

Based on
Avid® Reverb One (Eleven Rack)

SPRING REVERB

Based on
Fender® Spring Reverb

TAPE ECHO

Based on
Maestro® Echoplex EP-3

BBD DELAY

Based on
EHX® Deluxe Memory Man

DYN DELAY

Based on
Pro Tools® AIR Dynamic Delay (Plug-in)

SHIMMER

Based on
Shimmer Reverb (Headrush® Original)

AIR DELAY

Based on
Pro Tools® AIR Delay (Plug-in)

REVERSE DELAY

Based on
Boss® DD-5

PITCH DELAY

Based on
Boss® PS-3

AMBI VERB

Based on
AMBI VERB (Headrush® Original)

RESO DELAY

Based on RESO DELAY (HeadRush® Original)

EXPRESSION (11)

VOLUME

Based on
Ernie Ball® Volume Pedal

SHINE WAH

Based on
Vox® V486

BLACK WAH

Based on
MXR® Cry Baby

MORE WAH

Based on
Morley® Wah

PANNER

Based on
Avid® Panner (Eleven Rack)

WHAM

Based on
Digitech® Whammy (Classic)

HARM

Based on
Digitech® Whammy (Harmonizer)

CHORD WHAM

Based on
Digitech® Whammy (Poliphonic)

FEEDBACK

Based on
Feedbacker (Headrush® Original)

TIME WARP

Based on
Digitech® Space Station (Warp Mode)

WHITE BASS WAH

Based on
Dunlop® Cry Baby 105Q Bass Wah”

The list of models is for reference only. All registered trademarks are property of their respective owners and are used for reference purposes only and reflect no affiliation or endorsement from the owners with or to HEADRUSH.

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