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Darkglass Kaamos
- Thread starter aguacateojos
- Start date
It does the clean low octave combined with gritty dry bass very well. The distortion in the pedal is very much Darkglass so not quite my thing, but with the octave it works well.
You can also use the loop to put whatever you want on the standard octave instead and/or blend in clean.
The octave sounds are good.
However you can accomplish the same things with a blender pedal and your favorite octave pedal for much less $. This does have a DI and multiple outs so that can save space and other devices.
I think if you want a great octave pedal and don’t already have a favorite and you use it a lot, this could be it. If you already own a good one, this doesn’t add enough to justify.
Yeah… I really wanna try it but I feel like my OC5 + drives is more than enough. Maybe one day
It most likely is. If you get a blender pedal like the sonicake portal you can do all the same sounds.
I’d say if you like the Darkglass drive sounds as your main OD, then it is likely worth it.
Finally snagged a used one on reverb and it’s on the way.
Has anyone else had some time to put the unit through its paces since its release? Still working in your rig?
Has anyone else had some time to put the unit through its paces since its release? Still working in your rig?
The big feature on this is the clean low octave combined with dry or distorted bass sound. Otherwise it’s duplicative of other stuff I have. If you like the Darkglass distortion and you want a clean lower octave at the same time, I think it’s a great pedal. If that isn’t your use case, other (cheaper) things work fine.
Btw I am able to achieve the “clean octave down + distorted sound” combination via my EBS Sheehan drive pedal with octaver inserted in its clean FX loop…
How are you guys finding the tracking? Distortion options aside, does the octave itself actually deliver?
The octave really, really delivers.
I have tried 8-9 octave pedals. For me this one tracks best, has the most versatile sound options, and responds the best to my playing.
I don’t think we’ve given it enough love on this thread. This pedal is expensive, but it is really a winner.
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This thread has not been very active lately, but how does the everybody feel about the Kaamos now?
I'm still looking for the perfect octave for me. I have the Octabvre 3.33 (nice sounds, reasonably versatile, ok tracking), OC-5 (one good sound, good tracking), and I have an Aguilar Octamizer on the way to me.
The thing I can't get with any of these is rock-solid tracking down to the open E, plus some tones that are NOT that square-wave synth thing.
The OC-5 has good tracking because it's digital I believe, so I'm hoping the Kaamos is even better, especially on the low notes. ???
How is the distortion? I'm hoping the AO in this pedal lands it somewhere between a Big Muff and a B7K.
I play mostly funk, so I will occasionally need a huge wall-o-sound fuzz. Can the Kaamos give me that even without the octave? Then maybe it could replace my octave and fuzz pedals.
I'm still looking for the perfect octave for me. I have the Octabvre 3.33 (nice sounds, reasonably versatile, ok tracking), OC-5 (one good sound, good tracking), and I have an Aguilar Octamizer on the way to me.
The thing I can't get with any of these is rock-solid tracking down to the open E, plus some tones that are NOT that square-wave synth thing.
The OC-5 has good tracking because it's digital I believe, so I'm hoping the Kaamos is even better, especially on the low notes. ???
How is the distortion? I'm hoping the AO in this pedal lands it somewhere between a Big Muff and a B7K.
I play mostly funk, so I will occasionally need a huge wall-o-sound fuzz. Can the Kaamos give me that even without the octave? Then maybe it could replace my octave and fuzz pedals.
I feel like the Anagram kind of killed the Kaamos -- My plan was to buy the harmonic booster and the Kaamos, but I cancelled my order and went with the Anagram. Pretty happy with it.
Let me explain a bit more. I feel like the type of person that is going to buy the Kaamos is also interested in a lot of other pedals. Where as something like the B3k/B7k that is more a specific sound that a person might be after and be happy with just that pedal. I doubt many people are running just a Kaamos they likely have a lot of pedals.
Still think it has a market, just a much smaller market now.
Let me explain a bit more. I feel like the type of person that is going to buy the Kaamos is also interested in a lot of other pedals. Where as something like the B3k/B7k that is more a specific sound that a person might be after and be happy with just that pedal. I doubt many people are running just a Kaamos they likely have a lot of pedals.
Still think it has a market, just a much smaller market now.
The Kaamos is still the best octave pedal I have tried thus far. The three different octave modes are all are incredible and they track really well. Also the tone shaping options for the octave are stellar.
But… it was more complicated than I needed on my rig. I sold it to fund a bass purchase. I am now using the OC-5 again (4th time) and am content with it. The tracking on the OC5 is comparable to the Kaamos. But the Kaamos will take you down to the low E on the most subby setting (setting 3 I think?)
Regarding drive sound, it probably won’t replace your fuzz pedals. It’s kind of a lower gain sounding AO. Definitely won’t give you a muff sound. But will do fine for mid gain.
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I use the Kaamos. I think it's great, although it is expensive for relative to how much use it actually sees.
In my case, I like it for it's ability to have a clean lower octave blended with a distorted midrange. I don't really use it the way one would traditionally use an OC-2, and if that's your goal the Kaamos seems overkill.
The distortion was a pleasant surprise. I get more use out of just the distortion side than I thought I would. I has a nice EQ curve baked into it that fits in a mix really well.
In my case, I like it for it's ability to have a clean lower octave blended with a distorted midrange. I don't really use it the way one would traditionally use an OC-2, and if that's your goal the Kaamos seems overkill.
The distortion was a pleasant surprise. I get more use out of just the distortion side than I thought I would. I has a nice EQ curve baked into it that fits in a mix really well.
I picked up a Kaamos a few weeks ago when I was looking for a new dirt pedal and possibly a MXR synth to replace my Source Audio C4. The Kaamos slam dunked the dirt pedal and octave thing. The Kaamos was next level in terms of its octave sounds and I loved it immediately. I haven't had anything track so musically and stay together down to low E. It's absolutely musical and probably the best octave pedal I've ever used. The 3 different sub voices are all unique and you can get a lot of tones playing with the cutoff,tone, distortion, and clean tone blend. The series switch really changes the character of how the two different pedal sections blend together. I like it in parallel for a bigger more open sound. I got to use it live on a reggae gig last week and it was perfect for the couple of songs that used synthy sequenced bass sounds. Sounded awesome and I was able to dial in the perfect amout of low end for the boomy stage.
The distortion was also really nice and suited my sound in both drive flavors. I like a blend at 11 o clock. I have a Darkglass B7k Ultra and it's just to aggressive. The Alpha/Omicron kind of tops out where the B7k keeps going gain wise. It can be buzz saw. The kaamos definitely gives me a very usable overdrive separate of the octave. Together they are amazing.
I love that this pedal can be fully controlled like the MXR, but the knobs are always exactly where you think they are. No jumps like the MXR. The App stuff is great but not when I'm actually playing somewhere and need to make some adjustments. Low end is hits differently in every room so having the ability to make fast musical changes is really nice after having only the C4.
Side battle: Source Audio C4 Synth vrs MXR Synth. I was not enjoying the tweaking experience on my C4. The problem I ran into was dialing in a sound and home and then it not translating to venues in a good way. The 4 knobs are as minimal as can be for a pedal with so much potential. Definitely not a pedal I want to ever tweak live. The sounds, tracking, and community for sharing patches is insanely good.
I tried the MXR and it's tweekable live but I didn't think it sounded good enough to unseat the C4. In general I ended up not feeling the MXR was worth swapping with because the Kaamos crushed the main sound I wanted from both pedals. The app and ability to share patches made me want to keep the C4. I also use it for things the Kaamos cannot do for recreating pop wedding band stuff. I have an awesome PYT patch and Pinky pony club.
The distortion was also really nice and suited my sound in both drive flavors. I like a blend at 11 o clock. I have a Darkglass B7k Ultra and it's just to aggressive. The Alpha/Omicron kind of tops out where the B7k keeps going gain wise. It can be buzz saw. The kaamos definitely gives me a very usable overdrive separate of the octave. Together they are amazing.
I love that this pedal can be fully controlled like the MXR, but the knobs are always exactly where you think they are. No jumps like the MXR. The App stuff is great but not when I'm actually playing somewhere and need to make some adjustments. Low end is hits differently in every room so having the ability to make fast musical changes is really nice after having only the C4.
Side battle: Source Audio C4 Synth vrs MXR Synth. I was not enjoying the tweaking experience on my C4. The problem I ran into was dialing in a sound and home and then it not translating to venues in a good way. The 4 knobs are as minimal as can be for a pedal with so much potential. Definitely not a pedal I want to ever tweak live. The sounds, tracking, and community for sharing patches is insanely good.
I tried the MXR and it's tweekable live but I didn't think it sounded good enough to unseat the C4. In general I ended up not feeling the MXR was worth swapping with because the Kaamos crushed the main sound I wanted from both pedals. The app and ability to share patches made me want to keep the C4. I also use it for things the Kaamos cannot do for recreating pop wedding band stuff. I have an awesome PYT patch and Pinky pony club.
I had a very similar reaction to the Kaamos and the MXR. From a Future Impact thread:
I have been jonesing to get the Kaamos back into my rig. My OC-5 is doing the trick. But I really miss the multiple octave types with the filter.
Price and functionality. It has incredible tracking and in a mix does exactly what I need. I use it for an added low octave a lot like most folks use the BOD.
I have tired so many octave pedals and for some reason the OC-5 just wins. And it’s always easy to find and affordable.
Ah- I missed the post from May where you explained selling it- I thought you were just saying that you had both and were choosing to use the Boss instead for some reason. I get it- I have a couple pricey pedals in my rig right now that I'd love to turn into cash if I could find reasonable cheaper alternatives that filled their roles as well.
