MXR Octave Deluxe problems?

t3ch · #1 09-06-2010, 10:03 AM

Does anyone have trouble with tracking on theirs or is something wrong with mine? Anything below the A string it can't track without moving between 2-3 notes, and even about 1/4 of the time on higher notes it bounces around. I've tried a bunch of different settings and get the same result regardless.

I can record clips in a bit if this doesn't make sense.

over_the_moon · #2 09-06-2010, 10:18 AM

Mine doesn't do so well below that A either, but it tracks pretty well otherwise. Make sure your muting technique is good. It doesn't like handling more than one note at a time and unintentional ringing of other strings sometimes confuses it and makes it flip back and forth. Otherwise, I like mine a lot.

RickenBoogie · #3 09-06-2010, 05:22 PM

Analog octavers don't do well below a low A. Your unit is fine.

bassman1185 · #4 09-06-2010, 06:50 PM

Mine tracked fine for me down to a low E or so without a problem. It went to Smallequestrian, and then on to someone else.

t3ch · #5 09-06-2010, 07:34 PM

I guess it's just not the pedal for me given my playing technique. Thanks for the responses.

Mudfuzz · #6 09-06-2010, 07:53 PM

Switch to a short scaled mudbuckered bass with flats and play with your thumb... Or just except the limitations of a analog octaver.

over_the_moon · #7 09-06-2010, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudfuzz

Switch to a short scaled mudbuckered bass with flats and play with your thumb... Or just except the limitations of a analog octaver.

Excellent advice!...Wait, which thumb?

t3ch · #8 09-07-2010, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudfuzz

Switch to a short scaled mudbuckered bass with flats and play with your thumb... Or just except the limitations of a analog octaver.

I'd rather just sell it.

I'll play octaves manually and have it sound better before being bothered with changing the way I play for a few parts around how a pedal wants me to play.

Mudfuzz · #9 09-07-2010, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t3ch

I'll play octaves manually and have it sound better before being bothered with changing the way I play for a few parts around how a pedal wants me to play.

Things do what they do and that is why one should research first. A analog octaver is a great effect when used within it's limits, all things have their limits.

t3ch · #10 09-07-2010, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudfuzz

Things do what they do and that is why one should research first. A analog octaver is a great effect when used within it's limits, all things have their limits.

Roll your eyes all you want, I DID do my research and I liked the clips I heard. I just can't get the sound I want. I don't know why this is such an epic problem that I need to work to resolve. I'm sure the rest of you have never bought a pedal and had it not work out the way you'd thought. I've had other octaves which I like more, I'm not going to keep this for your approval. The condescending attitude is a nice touch though.

raymondl3 · #11 09-07-2010, 08:32 AM

If you mix more dry signal (the original higher note) the tracking problem will probably be less noticable. I also found using the mid boost helpful in general, in terms of tone. Be careful with the "Girth" knob. I found it to be a little wild and boomy, so I usually cut it a little.

Ba55Man1ac · #12 09-07-2010, 08:59 AM

Roll your treble back & boost your bass a bit if you're running active. Turn your tone down if you're running passive.

t3ch · #13 09-07-2010, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymondl3

If you mix more dry signal (the original higher note) the tracking problem will probably be less noticable. I also found using the mid boost helpful in general, in terms of tone. Be careful with the "Girth" knob. I found it to be a little wild and boomy, so I usually cut it a little.

I tried a bunch of different settings but will be sure to try this specific combination just to make sure I covered all my basses bases.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ba55Man1ac

Roll your treble back & boost your bass a bit if you're running active. Turn your tone down if you're running passive.

I tried running both just to see what happened and had trouble with both. I normally play passive; I'll see what happens with the tone rolled back. Maybe I could roll the volume back a bit on my EB Vol pedal before using the octave. It would be used during guitar solos for the most part anyways so no problem there.

scotch · #14 09-07-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ba55Man1ac

Roll your treble back & boost your bass a bit if you're running active. Turn your tone down if you're running passive.

Really? That's sort of the opposite thing to do for an analog octaver. Playing with a bright, articulate sound generally yields the best results (according to conventional wisdom, as well as my extensive experience with a myriad of octavers).

To the OP:
I have the MXR BOD (as well as an Aguilar Octamizer, POG2 and formerly BOSS OC-2 and EBS Octabass). It tracks great down to around G# to Ab (depending on the instrument & other effects employed). You do have to "play" an analog octaver. You can't just ignore that it's on and play the same. It sounds like you have discovered this on your own!

This is normal, desirable and not an indication of a malfunction in an analog octave pedal.

If you don't want to have to learn to "play" the pedal, go with a digital! The BOSS OC-3, EH microPOG, POG2, and other digital pedals will be easier for you to employ. The tone is different, but you will be able to ignore any changes in technique, etc...

Smallequestrian · #15 09-07-2010, 09:18 AM

I don't care what kind of suggestions you're giving him guys...simple fact is the analog octavers really don't track below A. I can massage my OC-2 or a BOD to track down to F, but below A it really doesn't track as nice as it does above it.

cybersnyder · #16 09-07-2010, 09:23 AM

I tried two different BODs and I was never able to get a good sound out of them. Higher notes had a noticeable delay to the octave after the initial, direct note sounds. Lower notes were very glitchy for me. I tried everything, but was unable to get satisfactory results. I think the best tracking unit is the OC-3 in poly mode, guitar input. Best tone goes to the OC-2. Best overall, EBS OctaBass.

t3ch · #17 09-07-2010, 09:24 AM

We were recording this weekend so I didn't have a lot of fun time to myself trying my new basses and pedals. I'm going to play with it some more and see what I can/can't coax out of it. As I mentioned, even some notes on the A/D were fluttering, and that is flat out unacceptable. Most of the other octavers I've used have been digital, so it looks I'll need to adjust my expectations. The E doesn't bother me, I won't be playing anything that low. I just wanted to make sure my unit wasn't busted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

I tried two different BODs and I was never able to get a good sound out of them. Higher notes had a noticeable delay to the octave after the initial, direct note sounds. Lower notes were very glitchy for me. I tried everything, but was unable to get satisfactory results. I think the best tracking unit is the OC-3 in poly mode, guitar input. Best tone goes to the OC-2. Best overall, EBS OctaBass.

Ahh, finally... the answer I was looking for.

4OnTheFloor · #18 09-07-2010, 09:26 AM

As stated above,
I found that any pitch shifting filter or harmonizer likes a really clean right hand. I personally find the most versatility for these sub octave pitch generators to be tonal, as tracking is a problem. If you think about it tho, tuning a 5-string below B is a daunting task and sounds like it ... not very good IMO

What I mean is, if your pedal shifts your note down an octave, shift your playing up an octave. I apply these octave pedals mostly in an electronica setting. I generally use the 100% octave down and 0% dry. I did own an M288 very, very recently

and it was replaced by Boss OC2 because the MXR BOD had a harsh tone to my ears even with the growl all the way out and girth all the way up. I guess I am after more of a sine wave tone.
Whammy 4 2-octave down sounds great. That range only gives me like an octave to work with. Right by the heel, and I'm fat, which doesn't help. Sorry I got a little off topic.
What type of riffs are you trying with the M288? I found that the game changes quite a bit once you engage the octave down.

Weird enough, I also found that the M288 tracks better with the tone all the way up! Totally counter-intuitive since it is a monophonic pedal and having the tone up would invite more harmonic content. Can anyone back up my assumption?

P.S. I hope you like the M82

cybersnyder · #19 09-07-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t3ch

Ahh, finally... the answer I was looking for.

And I may even give the best tone award to the OctaBass, but the OC-2 is that standard by which all others are measured. Uriah Duffy seems to be able to do the BOD justice on YouTube, but I had zero luck.

scotch · #20 09-07-2010, 09:45 AM

There's definitely a "different strokes for different folks" when it comes to octave pedals! What sounds & tracks great for me may not work at all for someone else. There's no clear "winner", which explains the great variety of octave-downs that we have. Heck, I need 3 different pedals to satisfy my octave needs!