Octave Pedal Question

woodsideh · #1 11-19-2009, 06:30 AM

Is there an octave pedal out there that will allow me to only hear the octave note and not the note being played or a blend of the two? I am looking for something that will drop out the played note completely.

René_Julien · #2 11-19-2009, 06:32 AM

Most octave pedals can do this.

I recommend you look at the Electro Harmonix Micro POG.

rratajski · #3 11-19-2009, 06:34 AM

Octave, my friend.

Yes, there are many...EHX HOG, EHX POG, EHX Micro POG, EHX POG2, MXR Bass Octave Deluxe just to name a few.

jetofuj · #4 11-19-2009, 06:38 AM

Don't forget about FoxRox Octron and Boss OC-2!

theunknowndude · #5 11-19-2009, 06:40 AM

who can forget the mighty boss PS-3

setting that thing to full effect mix = instant synth/keyboard tone...

fightthepower · #6 11-19-2009, 07:30 AM

The Pollyanna is a nice dirty octaver with a clean blend and -2 through +1 octaves. The DOD Octoplus fits the bill as well, and has a nice fat and smooth octave when solo'd. Also the MOC-1, and OC-2 clone in a cheap plastic shell but sounds good, EBS Octabass, etc. Lots to choose from, depends what kind of solo'd octave tone you want and budget... there are some nice options from $25 on up.

woodsideh · #7 11-19-2009, 08:23 AM

Please excuse my spelling...

I guess that I didn't realize that most pedals would actually do this. As far as tone I'm not looking for something to necessarily change the tone. I would like to maintain the tone as much as possible. I'm thinking it would be sort of like having a B string option on a 4 stringer. My use would probably be very limited anyway.

RickenBoogie · #8 11-19-2009, 09:15 AM

That usually doesn't work out nearly as well as you might think it will.

Smurf-o-Deth · #9 11-19-2009, 09:24 AM

Yeah, that's really not how octave pedals work--they are synthesizing a note based on the input, and thus will have their own tone. Some octave pedals can be pretty "organic" in sound, though the most natural sound is going to come from blending in some of your actual bass tone. If you want a 5 string bass, you'll have to play a 5 string bass. I personally use an Aguilar Octamizer, which can be shaped into some pretty nice sounds, and can sound quite organic, but it doesn't sound like my Stingray. Having said all that, try an octaver out; you might just find that, despite it not lining up with your initial desires, you like it anyway.

JMDT · #10 11-19-2009, 09:57 AM

The eventide pitchfactor does the best job of an pedal I've seen at changing the picth and sounding legit and even its not perfect, especially if you are trying to do two octaves up solo'd. The pitchfactor can do a pretty convincing job modulating up or down a forth or fifth if you want to make your 4 string into a 5 or piccolo. The pitchfactor is pretty expensive, but it will do what you are wanting along with many other things you can only dream of.

rratajski · #11 11-19-2009, 10:32 AM

For 'that 5 string sound', you'll have to play your 4 string from the G on the E string up. The A on the E is safe on most octavers, but the octavers mentioned really will have trouble tracking the lower you go (below the G on the E string)...

Mobile Sprout · #12 11-19-2009, 10:58 AM

My recommendation would be to A/B a both a digital (the Micro POG) and an analog octaver (MXR BOD, Aguilar Octamizer), and decide whether you want to go analog or digital. The analog ones have a wonderfully fat warmth to them, but even the best will occasionally introduce little artifacts (and they all go nuts if you try to play double stops, no matter what the literature says).

In contrast the digital pedals track your playing better, but have a completely different (though not necessarily worse) tone.

Personally I love the analog sound; I can live with the occasional grit they put out (and that sounds nice sometimes too). I've been on a quest to find the best analog octaver.. I'm A/B/Cing the Aguilar Octamizer, MXR BOD, and EBS Octabass as we speak. (well, the Octabass already went back. Poor Octabass.) I'll post my reviews soon!

I would have liked to try out the Boss OC-2 (analog) as well, but I didn't want to buy a pedal without a return policy. I demo'd the OC-3 (totally new circuit, and a digital pedal) briefly in a guitar center and it was about what I expected: good tracking but not really the tone I wanted.

woodsideh · #13 11-19-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobile Sprout

My recommendation would be to A/B a both a digital (the Micro POG) and an analog octaver (MXR BOD, Aguilar Octamizer), and decide whether you want to go analog or digital.

What do you think of the Micro POG so far?

Mobile Sprout · #14 11-19-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodsideh

What do you think of the Micro POG so far?

Oh, maybe my post was confusing. I've had very little experience with the Micro POG (just a very limited guitar store test, and listening to clips of other players online), my A/B/C fest is between the three analog octavers. I was just suggesting the OP figure out if they want the "analog octaver sound" or not. I got onto this octaver quest after listening to a lot of Tony Levin, and he goes for the analog sounds.

The Micro POG has that octave up knob, that's a neat extra. Maybe an actual Micro POG *owner* can chime in here.

Smurf-o-Deth · #15 11-19-2009, 01:51 PM

I've owned both a Micro POG and a POG 2, and they will track pretty much whatever you throw at them with just a hint of latency, and are fully polyphonic. Having said that, the Micro POG is very inorganic and not particularly fat (the POG 2 gets around this somewhat with the on-board low-pass filter). The POGs most assuredly do not sound like the bass tone you send into it. I posted clips of the POG 2 back when I had it.

TheRockinRoadie · #16 11-19-2009, 02:32 PM

when i read your question, the first thing that sprang to mind was 'he needs a pitch shifter, not an octaver'...

woodsideh · #17 11-19-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRockinRoadie

when i read your question, the first thing that sprang to mind was 'he needs a pitch shifter, not an octaver'...

Ok, Pitch fliter......tell me more....

cybersnyder · #18 11-19-2009, 09:02 PM

I'd recommend trying the Line 6 M9. Its octave and pitch shifting effects track better than any octave pedal I've tried, but I have not tried the Micro POG.

ehque · #19 11-19-2009, 09:15 PM

The line 6 M13 does not do octaves as well as the micro POG. It's good, but the micro POG is in a world of its own wrt tracking.

I own both.

kevteop · #20 11-19-2009, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodsideh

I guess that I didn't realize that most pedals would actually do this. As far as tone I'm not looking for something to necessarily change the tone. I would like to maintain the tone as much as possible. I'm thinking it would be sort of like having a B string option on a 4 stringer. My use would probably be very limited anyway.

Buy a 5-string bass.

If you use a digital harmonizer like the EHX pedals (POG and HOG models) it will sound thin and ******.

If you use an analogue octaver (Boss OC-2, EBS Octabass, MXR Bass Octave Deluxe) it will sound like a synth.

If you want extended range on your bass that still sounds like a bass, buy an extended range bass. No pedal will do it. Maybe the Eventide Pitchfactor, but only if you're not too far from the original note. Better off just buying an extended range bass.

FWIW / YMMV / I use both analogue octavers and digital harmonisers, but I use them for how they sound, not to imitate a different instrument. Those sort of experiments usually fail.