good octaver?

quadrogong · #1 01-15-2010, 11:25 AM

trying to emulate a growly minimoog
bassline live, I need to blend signal with the octave, (1 octave down)
something smooth,good quality.

RickenBoogie · #2 01-15-2010, 12:29 PM

Ehx Octave Multiplexer, or MXR Bass Octave Deluxe. I like 'em both, for different reasons, but either one will do what you want.

moggieman · #3 01-15-2010, 01:16 PM

micro pog. tracks perfectly.

OriginalKeyster · #4 01-15-2010, 01:21 PM

I picked up a Behringer cheap for kicks. It's interesting, but I would not use it live. It does not like any more than 1 note at a time or much of anything active.

Green Mind · #5 01-15-2010, 01:24 PM

The Foxrox Octron is another option. Compared to the octave down on my Digitech BSW and Whammy, it's very sythy sounding.

fightthepower · #6 01-15-2010, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OriginalKeyster

I picked up a Behringer cheap for kicks. It's interesting, but I would not use it live. It does not like any more than 1 note at a time or much of anything active.

All analog octavers are monophonic, and many digital octavers are as well. Active lines can be played with them, but they only respond as well as you can play cleanly, so some technique adjustment is often needed to get the most out of an octaver. The EHX POG/HOG/etc are the major exception as they have decent polyphony and will track just about anything you throw at it, but they do not sound as good imo as the other competition-- which is better tonally and/or functionally depends on the application. For the OP's request at least, I think an analog octaver is the best choice hands-down- minimoogs are monophonic(&analog) as well so nothing is lost in that department.

The OC-2 is a nice cheap option for the 'growling minimoog' emulation, and the more expensive MRX BOD can cover 90% of the OC-2 inherent tone, as well as another side that is very close to the EBS Octabass. The Octamizer from what I've heard of it might do the best emulation on its own. There are some other cheap options that sound great as well (ie DOD Octoplus, $25+)... most of these analog octavers will have a somewhat similar tone and response, so you just have varying degrees of closeness between them, and all would probably do the job well.

quadrogong · #7 01-15-2010, 09:59 PM

thanks,sort of what i figured..
I'll probably order one online.

I noticed on while using my bandmate's Boss OC-2 at rehearsal,
it really distorted badly if my preamp was too high on my active bass,
when i inched down the bass and volume controls,it started working efficiently,
so obviously,the active thing is a little rough on these units?

I'll need to inch my volume down a bit on the bass,which is ok..probably a sign that I'm overusing the onboard eq anyway..

ehque · #8 01-15-2010, 10:03 PM

If you want a clean, no-nonsense, ultra-fast tracking polyphonic octaver, then the microPOG is seriously the one for you. Some people don't like its clarity. I'm not selling mine.

fightthepower · #9 01-16-2010, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quadrogong

thanks,sort of what i figured..
I'll probably order one online.

I noticed on while using my bandmate's Boss OC-2 at rehearsal,
it really distorted badly if my preamp was too high on my active bass,
when i inched down the bass and volume controls,it started working efficiently,
so obviously,the active thing is a little rough on these units?

I'll need to inch my volume down a bit on the bass,which is ok..probably a sign that I'm overusing the onboard eq anyway..

The OC-2 does distort easier than some(about the same as the Octoplus iirc); I play a passive bass with an unusually hot output, and if I dig in I can clip it. This usually isn't an issue until I start to get carried away in a jam, but at least it makes me reel it in hehe.. I had the same result with my old active dlx jazz 5, though it didn't clip the OC-2 as easily as my passive P.

sillyfabe · #10 01-16-2010, 01:35 AM

i'm a big fan of the EBS Octabass and i'll blend in a littel bit of tube O/D (like 10%) to give it a lil grit and it sounds great! also sometimes i use my EHX BMS as an octaver by raising the SUB-O and OCTAVE to full, start and stop freq to 0 and trigger in the middle and its not too bad. the Octabass is thicker though

mitchellprice · #11 01-16-2010, 01:39 AM

MXR bass octave deluxe and micro POG are both good pedals. but do different things.

the bass octave deluxe is a much more of a dirty kind of sound. it also has quite a good synthy sound when the dry signal is completly cut out.

the micro POG has a much smoother, cleaner sound.

the MXR is on my pedal board. i think it is just so funky how ever i wouldnt use it to play anything really below C. it starts to get abit too deep then, but it can track well down to #F.

fightthepower · #12 01-16-2010, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitchellprice

the MXR is on my pedal board. i think it is just so funky how ever i wouldnt use it to play anything really below C. it starts to get abit too deep then, but it can track well down to #F.

Yep, I find this to be the case with all analog octavers. While the POG/HOG/etc may have a thinner sound than their analog counterparts, this can actually be a positive thing in some cases, specifically when playing in the low register- ie regular bass lines with suboctave blended in for instance. They don't get as muddy, as easily, and track easier down there. That said, I still think an analog octaver will do the better minimoog+bass guitar signal, even if playing 'regular' bass lines in the low register. ymmv.

René_Julien · #13 01-16-2010, 01:55 AM

EHX Bass Micro Synth

all I heard was "growly minimoog" in the OP so... so for me this would be a no-brainer

kevteop · #14 01-16-2010, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by René_Julien

EHX Bass Micro Synth

all I heard was "growly minimoog" in the OP so... so for me this would be a no-brainer

Good call actually, given that it will do other Moog-y noises too.

bass.bert · #15 01-16-2010, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quadrogong

I noticed on while using my bandmate's Boss OC-2 at rehearsal,
it really distorted badly if my preamp was too high on my active bass,
when i inched down the bass and volume controls,it started working efficiently,
so obviously,the active thing is a little rough on these units?

...that's the only lack of this unit, maybe along with the slight volume drop at 100% -1oct.

Quote:

Originally Posted by René_Julien

EHX Bass Micro Synth

all I heard was "growly minimoog" in the OP so... so for me this would be a no-brainer

...or even better oc2 > bms. hmmmm, delicious!

fightthepower · #16 01-16-2010, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass.bert

...that's the only lack of this unit, maybe along with the slight volume drop at 100% -1oct.

...or even better oc2 > bms. hmmmm, delicious!

Yep.. I used the OC-2 in place of the BMS's (and OS's) suboctave when I had it as well. Fattened it up and tightened the tracking

(the BMS tracks very well, but its suboctave is a little on the soft side imo)

mattfong · #17 01-16-2010, 10:25 AM

I found a Danelectro Chili Dog octave pedal in my basement a while ago (someone left it at my house years ago), and it actually sounds pretty cool. Since I don't need an amazing octave pedal, its staying on my board. It's a fun little pedal.

When you play low down, the pedal can't handle it right away and will move between 5ths and octaves until finally settling on the octave (which is kind of cool, IMO). Very fat tone too. The octave note sounds kind of synthy and growly, and when coupled with distortion, it sounds huge.

quadrogong · #18 01-16-2010, 11:21 AM

the micro synth may be overkill
too expensive and bulky,I like it
but my rig is simple,small..it's a bit much for my needs.

& yes, it's for the minimoog+ bass effect
I like when it sounds a little growly..
sorta Stevie Wondery keyboard under the bass vibe.
I like the slightly dirty sound of the Boss OC
.. the pog seems very clean, less distortion-y,
maybe I need something basic, that tracks well.
the micro synth is soooo cool though,
it'd be amazing for solos.
actually, it's tempting.

I havnt had an EH effect in 20 years, does the MSynth effect low end/level etc?
I remember my old EH fx, they sorta killed my low end, noisey etc
.. that was ages ago, and I owned a big muff and a small stone.
they're probably light years ahead in technology these days,
is the bass MS a reliable,quiet effect I can keep in my signal chain all the time, without it detracting from my tone?

René_Julien · #19 01-16-2010, 11:46 AM

You know you want it.

muhahaha!

It might be expensive compared to the average price of an octave pedal...

... but for what you get the EHX Bass Micro Synth is well worth its price.

bass.bert · #20 01-16-2010, 12:24 PM

the cool thing about the BMS is the filter section and stuff, IMHO. if you don't need 4 voices, filter movement, and swell function, i'd say go with the multiplexer. it's the most "growling" octaver i played and has a similar octave-character as the BMS. you have tone controls for flexibility and you even can get slightly distorted sounds. also the overall sound is quite rough, not as fine as the oc2.

the latest EHX versions are true bypass, AFAIK. i just realized a loss of highs with my older BMS...