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How to get octave pedal sounds like a guitar

RoccoBass04

RoccoBass04

Nov 26, 2022
59
25
#1
I tried using the +1 octave option and putting distortion on it but just sounds like a synth. I'm using the built in octave pedal and distortion on the boss katana bass amp(a modelling amp). I'm asking this because I'm trying to get that royal blood/ death from above sound.
 
#2
You may need to get into Parallel signal paths, and blend the Octave signal chain in with your non octave signal path for that type of "bass and guitar playing at the same time" effect.

Some people even go as far as using two separate amps, but should be able to get close with a Parallel loop blender pedal of some kind.

There are a bunch of different options depending on you specific needs.

Boss LS-2
Broughton Filter FX Loop
EHX Tri Parallel Mixer
KMA Tyler
Wounded Paw Blenders
etc
 
#3
RoccoBass04 said:
I tried using the +1 octave option and putting distortion on it but just sounds like a synth. I'm using the built in octave pedal and distortion on the boss katana bass amp(a modelling amp). I'm asking this because I'm trying to get that royal blood/ death from above sound.
Click to expand...
The electronic process that generates the up sound is not going to provide a tone exactly like a clear guitar, and there are physical factors working against it as well, such as the longer, thicker strings.
Whenever possible, I use a separate guitar amp for the octave out, with separate effects/EQ settings, if I want the ‘tandem guitar’ result, but otherwise I think of it like an 8-string/four course bass. The upper is blended in slightly less than the fundamental, with everything going into one amp, more like a ghost overtone. I rarely use octave down. Trust me, in the cacophony of a band, the audience win’t hear any synth-like tones in particular(as opposed to sounding like a guitar).
 
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#4
I've been trying to do this for years, both on guitar and on bass. The answer is everything sounds synthetic and you either live with it or play the instruments separately. I agree that not many will tell in a mix. But this is more about you the player than the audience.

FWIW, I'm currently running an HX One on the Dual Pitch setting, blending in an octave up and a fifth above that, pre-distortion. I'm still working on octave down with the HX One. If I only want an octave up, I use a setting on my Source Audio Multiwave Bass Distortion because the octave registers instantly.
 
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#5
Royal Blood's live tone is quite a bit more "raw" and synthy than the recorded tones. They go through a lot of tone shaping to get those natural recorded tones. That said, it still sounds great. Arrangement plays a huge role; nobody is going to give a poop about your tone if the song is good.

VERY generally, you want to be able to cut some of the fizzly treble content on the octave signal, and I dunno if you can do that with the Katana.

Mike in Royal Blood splits his signal and runs his pitch shifted tones through guitar amps or modelers.

DFA doesn't use any sort of octave, just a metric butt ton of distortion. I saw them in a club in LA and with his two amps, they didn't even put the bass through the PA.
 
#6
Instead of the octaver try the pitch shifter up an octave with dry mixed in then add distortion or overdrive.
Akai used to offer a pedal called the UniBass that does this that later became the Fishman Fission and the Future Impact is supposed to have those sounds. Another pedal to consider is a TRex QuintMachine.

Another solution is to split your signal and run one part through a pitch shifter then effects and mix that back with your bass signal.

My current solution is Main Pedalboard 11-20-2023.jpg

[sfx]microThumpinator 2

> Boss LS2 > wet dry blended, easy to hit bypass, my mix is always 50/50 wet/dry.
> loop send>>
> Donner Harmonic Square- 1 or 2 Octave up

> EHX Mel9 various sounds, mostly strings sometimes flute, sax, clarinet

> Mooer Sweeper my 2nd favorite effect, mini version of Bass Balls

> Source Audio Aftershock- 6 custom distortion tones

> C4 Synth - synth, octaver, filters and more

>insert loop to add additional effects

> Ultrawave Bass Multiband processor - comp, EQ, crazy fuzz and other sounds

> Spectrum - for even more octaver, filter funnn

> TRex Quint Machine add octave & fifth up and octave down, turns sounds into a massive wall

>>loop return

> TC Electronics 3rd Dimension or Ibanez Chorus mini

> Sushi Box FX Underground Accelerator Hand Wired solid tube tone goodness

> Zoom MS60B > utility for modulation, reverbs and delays occasionally filter or synth creations

Underneath the board is a Source Audio Neuro Hub for changing presets on SA pedals.

MIDI pedals connected to an ASUS laptop running SA Neuro, ToneLibZoom, ZenBeats and VCV Rack 2.
 
#7
If authentic "guitar" +1 Octave up is the goal with other routing options already explained. The one toy not mentioned is the Digitech Mosaic 12-string emulation.

The people at DigiTech have a real good handle on pitch-shifting. This produces a believable Octave up electric guitar sound...what you do with it from there is up to you. It doesn't sound like a POG.

I just ordered the MXR Poly Blue Octave because I want that synth'ish style sound. I'm not suggesting it is what you want, need or would even enjoy. But, it tracks real well, mono/polyphonic, Fuzz, +1 +2 Up, -1 -2 down and Modulation (Phase 90'ish/Leslie). Dry blend knob. (The video below will illustrate very judicious use of dry signal in an otherwise synthy brew.)

The Expression jack can take a pedal for selection functions on two presets and Tap switch for control of the Fuzz/Mono Phase Modulation I/O function.

It's a MONSTER...
 
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#10
J Wilson said:
Instead of +1 up on the pedal, play it up there instead and let the octave box play the octave down.
Click to expand...

Yes this is me too. I'm not a huge Royal Blood fan - I mean I am not aiming for what they do, I want my own sound. I run two boards, a bass one with a KMA Tyler Deluxe and the larger board is guitar/highs focused and gets a send from the Tyler. I tried various octaves ups on that board, but it all sounded like digital poop to me. Instead, like Mr. Wilson mentions, I run a sub octave (currently a Octabvre) on the bass board in the Tyler low loop and play higher on the neck. It sounds massive.

Edit: While I don't like digital octave up, I do love analog octave up fuzzes on the guitar/highs board :)
 
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#13
I have gone through a lot of pitch shifters (7+ IIRC) and, no, you aren't going to be a guitar. Mostly.

I borrowed a guitar and strung it every other one CFA# to see if I could do better artificial harmonics than a CGCF bass through a Digitech Bass Whammy on two octaves up into a ZVex Machine, Boss FZ-2, and Chase Bliss Dark World, and the bass sounded better (also false harmonics). This could be partially due to me not being a guitarist.

This recent game audio project of mine used Logic's pitch shifting as well. Some Bass Whammy +1 Oct, and I just don't think you can get it unsynthy. I have a LOT of blending issues, but I don't think you're going to be able to do it slower to a guitar sans DAW/plug-ins.
 
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#15
J Posega said:
Royal Blood's live tone is quite a bit more "raw" and synthy than the recorded tones. They go through a lot of tone shaping to get those natural recorded tones. That said, it still sounds great. Arrangement plays a huge role; nobody is going to give a poop about your tone if the song is good.

VERY generally, you want to be able to cut some of the fizzly treble content on the octave signal, and I dunno if you can do that with the Katana.

Mike in Royal Blood splits his signal and runs his pitch shifted tones through guitar amps or modelers.

DFA doesn't use any sort of octave, just a metric butt ton of distortion. I saw them in a club in LA and with his two amps, they didn't even put the bass through the PA.
Click to expand...

DFA?
 
#19
If you want Mike Kerr’s sound then it might be a good idea to look at the gear he used to get it.

His original setup used a combination of Fender guitar and bass amps along with the EHX POG2 and Big Muff Pi plus a Gretsch Junior Jet II short scale bass as the main ingredients. An amp switcher box allowed him to route his signal to either amp or both amps simultaneously.

My understanding is that he’s since refined his setup even further. But two amps, the POG2 (he uses two of them) and some dirt remains at the heart of of the Royal Blood signature sound.

FWIW I don’t think you’re going to be able to easily get around not using a POG2 for the octave effect. Much as I like BOSS octavers, I don’t think they can match the capabilities of the pricier POG2.
 
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