Octron to replace a multiplexer?

RHCP250 · #1 06-16-2010, 08:25 PM

So I'm using my guitar players EHX Octave Multiplexer right now as my octave pedal. I like it but the volume drop when I turn it on is becoming an issue now that I'm finding more and more use for it. I have it set for equal parts octave and dry. The filters are great and can acheive a wide range of sounds, but I find that a completely smooth octave isn't quite aggressive/distinct as I'd like, so I roll them up a little bit to get a little bit of the synth flavor to bring it to the foreground (super synthy octave isn't really my thing, mostly play rock with influences of other genres).

I was almost certain I was going to get the Octamizer to solve volume issues, and find my sound again, but the idea of octave up is really appealing to me. I've heard some clips of the octron and it sounds good, but this is through laptop speakers so I can't really tell. Will the octron get me what I'm looking for in a mostly deep and smooth octave pedal, with a small amount of synthy growl to replace the multiplexer? Octave up would come in super handy during jams/solos!

matskull · #2 10-11-2010, 11:03 AM

I'd be curious about this as well...

Jared Lash · #3 10-11-2010, 11:12 AM

Keep in mind that the octave up (like virtually any analog octave up) is acheived via clipping and will sound more like a fuzz than an actual octave up.

The Green Ringer circuit on the MuTron Octave divider is the same thing. Cool for adding a bit of synthy or gritty texture to the octaver, but it won't "fill out" a mix like the octave down does.

bassbrad · #4 10-11-2010, 12:46 PM

Have tried the Octron and didn't really care for either of the octave sounds too distorted for most uses even in a rock setting. I use a Boss OC2 for octave down and an Akai UniBass for octave up or sometimes the ones in the Zoom B2.1u.

gnasher1993 · #5 10-11-2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbrad

Have tried the Octron and didn't really care for either of the octave sounds too distorted for most uses even in a rock setting.

The octave down is perfectly clean. There's an internal trimpot to adjust the gain and tone of the octave up.

matskull · #6 10-11-2010, 01:10 PM

Anybody tried the multiplexer in comparision, there's a significiant price difference between both pedal.

Mr. Pickles · #7 10-12-2010, 08:25 AM

I have owned to Multiplexers - one large box and one XO version. I was never really happy with the tone of either and had difficulty dialing in the sound I wanted.

I now have an OC-2 and the Octron. Funnily enough, the octave down on the Octron is very similar to the Multiplexer; very warm and organic with some warble - not the best tracking, that's for sure. The bonus on the Octron is flexibility (octave up!) and the clean blend makes it much easier to dial in a good tone.

I much prefer the OC-2 to either, but the Octron is a keeper due to the dirty octave up.

WaldoNova · #8 10-12-2010, 08:34 AM

I tried a multiplexer and liked it but the volume drop was annoying. I ended up getting an MXR BOD for an octave down and a MicroPog for octave up. I haven't used an Octron but I've only heard good things about it but in my opinion for an octave up the Micropog is the way to go but the octave down isn't as awesome sounding as an analog octave down. That's why I got both of these!!!

gus1894 · #9 11-10-2010, 07:26 PM

These are entirely different animals. You really need to do a search for clips on the both.

Smallequestrian · #10 11-10-2010, 08:05 PM

I have an Octron and an OC2. The thing that bothered me about the OC2 was the max volume of the lower octave just wasn't enough. No problem with the Octron. Both pedals track basically the same to me.

I finding the Octron to be a bit more useable in my rock context than the OC2, but I prefer both of these to the other analog octave pedals I've used (MXR, Aguilar, EBS).

Smurf-o-Deth · #11 11-11-2010, 05:58 AM

Regarding distorted sub-octave tones on the Octron, I have one, and even at 9v it stays totally clean with a bass that made my Octamizer fart out like crazy--and it can be operated at up to 18v. I've also not had any tracking irregularities with it (in fact, the tracking is solid and consistent up and down the neck, down to G/F# depending on mitigating factors). As far as tone comparisons to the Multiplexer, I have no experience from which to draw any comparisons.

ColinGWood · #12 11-15-2010, 07:26 PM

I can't speak for the octron, but I know I use my multiplexer specifically BECAUSE it can sound very synthy and glitchy.. and you said that you're not really into that kind of thing, so I'd say go out and try any octave pedal really,to find your flavour.
I just found it odd that you don't like the sytnhy sounds this pedal can make