Help me choose an Octavepedal

[Andy westwood]

Yup, please note OP that anyone suggesting analog octavers to you is not reading your original description of needing tracking down to G on the E string. That just isn't going to happen with an analog device. Plus, going digital will help with the synthy and even cleaner tones. So as nice as all the other suggestions are, like the Cog pedals (which are wonderful at what they do), forget about them all. You need digital, period.

Have to disagree I've got to say that I've had a whammy and pitchfork yes they track well but felt a bit sterile, if I play cleanly and with a softer touch I can track very low notes with the t70 and also with the redwitch Zeus. But again if you want the octave to be heard and not make things muddy the op would probs end up playing the lines an octave higher which brings the analogue octaves back in the mix

 

[roller]

+1 on the Mooer Tender Octaver.

It tracks splendidly.
It has a simple control layout... just three knobs (octave down, octave up and dry).
It's not too pricey.

=

 

[blindrabbit]

Have to disagree I've got to say that I've had a whammy and pitchfork yes they track well but felt a bit sterile, if I play cleanly and with a softer touch I can track very low notes with the t70 and also with the redwitch Zeus. But again if you want the octave to be heard and not make things muddy the op would probs end up playing the lines an octave higher which brings the analogue octaves back in the mix

Good points Andy. The Cog is an outstanding octaver, without a doubt. You'll not get any disagreement with me on that one, and when I reacquire an octaver, it will be one of them.

 

[blindrabbit]

But the point that really no bass cabs will reproduce an octave below the G on the E string is salient. OP doesn't have the experience with octavers to know that is simply not going to be needed. You play the line an octave up and let the octaver do its thing.

Also some analog octavers will track that low G for a split second, definitely long enough to play Billy Jean. But the amp will fail and make it a muddy mess. I'd say get a SubT and use the unison square wave generator for Billie Jean, the bass and synth are playing unison on that track anyway, not an octave apart.

...I forgot about the SubT! That would be an excellent choice.

You know I love you blindrabbit, but in this case I have to agree w/ kevteop. You don't need a G0 for covering pop tunes in a dance band.

Fair enough man, point well taken. I was setting aside the fact that those notes are unusable and instead sticking with the answering of the question exactly as it was worded.

 

[Freekmagnet]

I play in a big cover band, and I use an octaver to cop those 80's synth tones all the time - Shalamar, Skyy, Dazz Band, etc.

The digital stuff, EHX POG, OC-3, etc. track really well and reproduce the pitch really accurately, but they just don't sound very inspiring.

The analog stuff, Boss OC-2, EHX Octave Multiplexer, Pearl OC-7, Aguilar, MXR etc. don't track quite as well, but they sound fat and funky. The trick is to change your playing style to get the best tracking and use the glitches (which sound really cool, BTW) to your advantage. They can track below the A a little bit, but it's just too low a note to be useful.

I have the OC-2 and the Octave Multiplexer. The OC-2 is considered "vintage", so a lot of people think that they're worth hundreds of dollars. If you look around you can get one for about $75. I got mine at Guitar Center used. The EHX is really underrated and runs about $89 new.

I go between them both. They OC-2 is definitely fatter, but the EHX works better with my active basses and has a nice filter function that makes it really growly.

I'm really curious about the new COG pedals - a couple of them have built-in effects loops, which I imagine would be really cool.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

The MarkBass Octaver is a brilliant octave pedal which is super accurate all the way down to low E and even handles decaying notes on fretless properly which hardly any other octaver does. Only trouble is they don't make it any more as a separate pedal, but it is part of their Super Synth pedal. Which if you want synth sounds as well might be a way to go.

 

[jam.majors]

Hey, I found this video helpful when I wanted to hear differences in the sound some octave pedals can produce. Also, there isn't some dude pontificating on the history of octave pedals for five minutes before picking up the bass: just bass playing and pedal experimenting.

 

[Mosfed]

If the OP wants an octaver that can cleanly track a low G, he, in my humble experience, needs a digital octave.

No they don't sound as good, no he probably doesn't need the low G, etc etc etc but whatever

I love analog octavers, I have a ton of them and have tried even more. I have an octamizer, a Mutron original, a Mutron reissue, the COG T-65 and T-16, a number of mij and MIT Oc-2s and the Broughton Broughctave. I also believe very strongly about technique's role in getting an analog octave to track better. But I've never hear one track a Low G in anyway without glitches.

 

[onosson]

The MarkBass Octaver is a brilliant octave pedal which is super accurate all the way down to low E and even handles decaying notes on fretless properly which hardly any other octaver does. Only trouble is they don't make it any more as a separate pedal, but it is part of their Super Synth pedal. Which if you want synth sounds as well might be a way to go.

I stupidly sold my Octaver a couple of years ago because I didn't use it very much. I've tried several alternatives since, and haven't found one to really replace it.

I ended up getting the Aguilar Octamizer but I do find it doesn't track quite as low - I would say it does at least low A pretty well. On the plus side, the filter controls on the Octamizer let you really tailor the sound.

 

[HolmeBass]

If the OP wants an octaver that can cleanly track a low G, he, in my humble experience, needs a digital octave.

No they don't sound as good, no he probably doesn't need the low G, etc etc etc but whatever

I love analog octavers, I have a ton of them and have tried even more. I have an octamizer, a Mutron original, a Mutron reissue, the COG T-65 and T-16, a number of mij and MIT Oc-2s and the Broughton Broughctave. I also believe very strongly about technique's role in getting an analog octave to track better. But I've never hear one track a Low G in anyway without glitches.

The OP *thinks* he wants to track down to low G, but is a self-admitted pedal noob.

Rather than steer him to a more expensive and less funky digital octaver pedal, following the letter of the request, we should provide him with the benefit of our experience and give him the best advice instead, following the spirit of the request.

For playing Lady Marmalade or Billie Jean a fat analog octaver is what is needed, and you play the line an octave higher and let the analog pedal do its thing.

 

[Dave W]

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest to start with the OG...a Boss OC-2. Cheap, easy to find, and they sound great. It's not going to track a low G but that's not its intention either.

By starting there you won't spend much money and see what everyone is talking about.

If you want to spice it up a bit grab a 3Leaf Octabrve Mini. Same basic sound, more flexible with the Mutron side, smaller, and a better buffer.

I agree with a lot of the posts, you won't need that low G tracking. Billie Jean doesn't have an octave on the bass, but copping that overall vibe with one is a great idea.

With that said, if you REALLY want that low tracking and have a super cab that can a least do it some justice, you'll want a digital unit.

 

[SGT. BAKER]

At first look seems that the MRX BOD is what you are looking for. It tracks so well in the lower register of the E string. Probably the best in analog octavers.

Take a look too to Aguilar Octamizer. With the Octave Filter Knob you can get a bunch of great tones for the tunes that you described, not synth but really punchy. I

I am currently playing in a Bigband, and there are some songs, where i was advised to use an octav pedal (Lady Marmelade, Ghost Busters, and Billie Jean).

It would be great if it could properly track the G on the E string (and put that 1 octave down). If possible i want a pedal that can sound synthy ( for lady marmelade) or more cleaner (Billie Jean).

If it is possible i would like to stay under 250€

You also can read more about octaver pedals in this thread:

Which Octave Pedal?

 

[dannybuoy]

Sounds like you might need two octavers, one digital and one analog. Digital when you need flawless tracking down low and analog when you need a fat synth sound. At least at first, so you can make your own mind up on which you prefer and sell he other on.

The Boss OC-2 is the daddy when it comes to analog octaves that sound like a keyboard synth. However the soloed octave does not have enough volume. The 3Leaf Octabvre Mini nails the OC-2 sound and more besides, with tons of volume on tap. I heartily recommend it.

I didn't like the COG T16. Great form factor, but ultimately the octave side did not have enough output volume, and whilst the filter being closed generated a great tracking sine-like subharmonic, opening up the filter makes it raspier but it cannot cop the character or tone of the OC-2 / Octabvre.

 

[dieselbass42]

The MarkBass Octaver is a brilliant octave pedal which is super accurate all the way down to low E and even handles decaying notes on fretless properly which hardly any other octaver does. Only trouble is they don't make it any more as a separate pedal, but it is part of their Super Synth pedal. Which if you want synth sounds as well might be a way to go.

I can second that, I have a Super Synth for sale that I almost want to keep because of it's octave capabilities. Very accurate tracking to low E, great sound, can be clean or a bit more synthy. It's a bit pricey and big if all you want is the octave. Also does octave up.

All that said, has anyone tried the Taurus Dexter Mk2? It may be out of the OP's price range, but it seems to track quite well, sounds better (to my ear) than the EHX stuff, the Mooer, etc., similar low oct., less artificial up oct. Worth checking out? I only find two YouTube demos with bass, but it sounds pretty good! I'm considering it myself as the octave up is the best one I've heard, but it is also awful expensive for an octave pedal.

 

[kevteop]

For the record I use more pitch effects than any other type (vibrato, ring mod, octaves), and I do use a digital pitch shifter all the time but set to +1 octave on a treadle, Whammy-style, because it's a great effect on bass. But I wouldn't use one for octave down - you need the beef for that.

For the extended record I'm currently using Guitar Rig's Whammy model for it. Latency is a bit meh, but I haven't found a faster pitch shifter in software that doesn't sound like total bawbag. The OC-2 model in Guitar Rig is my current "analogue" octaver too, surprisingly decent. I would use the OC-D2 but it's only available as a 32-bit VST and I decided (probably stupidly) to go with 64-bit.