Octaver for Dummies

[Ron G]

Let see if I understand this correctly, an Octaver will make the fretted (B) second fret on the (A) string the same octave as the open (B) string. If this true why buy a 5 string?

[Darkstrike]

Not exactly.

It will hit both at the same time, but it will introduce its own tone. Its gonna sound far from just plucking a note an octave lower.

Then there is octave up pedals, and ones like the HOG, that do a group of octaves and make your bass sound like an organ.


I'm sure the FX gurus will be along soon enough to explain it far better than I could ever.

[jam.majors]

because it is an effect. It sounds different. It's really hard to punch the pedal in as often as you would want to get that low B or D or whatnot.

[Ron G]

So it's some what like a double stop producing over tones?

[FreaqyFrequency]

An octaver is not actually a pitch shifter, but an octave divider. It takes a note that you play on your bass and synthesizes a note an octave below it, creating a unique, deep sound that sounds nothing like a bass guitar's note. So if your objective is to not sound like a bass guitar, then it might be what you're looking for. If you want it to render a B-string universally unnecessary, it will not do that.

[mrtn400]

It's more like hitting the open B AND the second fret B.

[FreaqyFrequency]

Originally Posted by mrtn400

It's more like hitting the open B AND the second fret B.

Only if the dry signal is blended in. And, as described above, the synthesized note does not sound anything alike to a bass guitar.

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

I'm sure the FX gurus will be along soon enough to explain it far better than I could ever.

Originally Posted by FreaqyFrequency

An octaver is not actually a pitch shifter, but an octave divider. It takes a note that you play on your bass and synthesizes a note an octave below it, creating a unique, deep sound that sounds nothing like a bass guitar's note. So if your objective is to not sound like a bass guitar, then it might be what you're looking for. If you want it to render a B-string universally unnecessary, it will not do that.

[FreaqyFrequency]

Aww shucks. I'm blushing here.

EDIT: The best example I could find is actually a gitfiddle demo. The first pair of licks showcases an octave divider, and then the second set demonstrates the sound of a pitch shifter set an octave down.

http://javajunkiemusic.com/Audio/axeoct_oc2.mp3

[Ron G]

I have some music written tune B-E-A-D, I'm playing it standard tuning an octave higher. I'm looking for something that would produce a tone an octave lower. Will a Pitch Shifter give me what I'm looking for?

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by Ron G

I have some music written tune B-E-A-D, I'm playing it standard tuning an octave higher. I'm looking for something that would produce a tone an octave lower. Will a Pitch Shifter give me what I'm looking for?

Quite honestly?

Tune your bass BEAD, with the low four strings of a 5 string.


Effect pedals are just that effect, not to make your bass be different than what it is.

[Joe Gress]

Darkstrikes right. The octaver is what you would use to change your sound (in this case make it deeper, fatter), but for the tuning of the song, your going to want to tune to BEAD. Octavers can be glitchy, and they aren't the best in tune. If the band is depending on you to provide that fundamental root note, your going to want perfect pitch.

[fightthepower]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Quite honestly?

Tune your bass BEAD, with the low four strings of a 5 string.


Effect pedals are just that effect, not to make your bass be different than what it is.

True, unless you want the bass tone to sound more like a keyboard, in which case an octaver is great for making your bass sound different-- but definitely not to simulate lower strings.

Originally Posted by Joe Gress

Darkstrikes right. The octaver is what you would use to change your sound (in this case make it deeper, fatter), but for the tuning of the song, your going to want to tune to BEAD. Octavers can be glitchy, and they aren't the best in tune. If the band is depending on you to provide that fundamental root note, your going to want perfect pitch.

Octavers are only as glitchy as you play them- they can track perfectly fine in many situations, though most of those situations occur farther up the neck (ie playing an octave up the neck). Analog octavers are perfectly in tune (as in tune as the note your bass produces anyway... they can't be anything different), and while I've never experienced a digital shifter that was not perfectly in tune, I have read of Whammies and other Expression-pedal-based pitchshifters to be a bit off at the heel down position.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by fightthepower

True, unless you want the bass tone to sound more like a keyboard, in which case an octaver is great for making your bass sound different-- but definitely not to simulate lower strings.



Octavers are only as glitchy as you play them- they can track perfectly fine in many situations, though most of those situations occur farther up the neck (ie playing an octave up the neck). Analog octavers are perfectly in tune (as in tune as the note your bass produces anyway... they can't be anything different), and while I've never experienced a digital shifter that was not perfectly in tune, I have read of Whammies and other Expression-pedal-based pitchshifters to be a bit off at the heel down position.

+1

I always considered myself to have pretty good technique, but after playing with an octave I`ve found out how sloppy I actually was at times without even noticing it.

Anyways, octave pedals are good for beefing up a bands sound and (depending on the model/brand) providing a synthy sound much like a keyboard. They are really fun, can add depth in trio settings when the guitarist is soloing, or can even add depth when you (the bassist) are soloing.

If you are looking for something to provide a very clean and natural sounding low B then octave pedals probably aren`t exactly what you want. However, if you want something to add a synth-like like tone to your bass and help thicken up your bands overall sound this very well may be what you want. I highly suggest every bassist at least trying them out at some point because they can be very useful.

[Ron G]

Thanks for all the input. One thing I will say, staying in standard tuninng I'm learning my neck.