HX Effects Octaver Comparison
@bgmww I had some time last night to record some audio samples for you. I included not only the HX Effects Bass Octaver model and Boss OC2 per your request, but I also included the MXR Bass Octave Deluxe, 3Leaf Octabvre, and Aguilar Octamizer since I was already doing recordings. I also added a sample of my dry bass, just because.
I used the OC2 as a reference, including five different samples. By comparison, I stand by my statement that the Bass Octaver in the HX Effects indeed does not have the -2 baked in.
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A quick note for anyone else listening: All of these octavers are quite capable of a much wider variety of tones than I included in the sample files. This comparison was specifically done to compare the HX Bass Octaver to the Oct1 + Oct2 sound of the OC2.
Further thoughts: Revisiting a couple octavers I haven't used in a while (Aguilar and MXR) was fairly refreshing. It reminded me that they all sound good (including a passable OC2 impression by the MXR's Growl knob), but it also made me think that the Bass Octaver in the HX holds it's own. Don't get me wrong... It doesn't really cop the OC2 sound on it's own and I still much prefer my Octabvre & OC2. But I spent some time with the HX and figured out that by adding a touch of chorus (like the Dimension model) after it, it comes closer.
Spending time really dissecting and comparing the OC2 to these other octavers, I kept having the thought that to TRULY get the OC2 sound, you'd need a synth more than an octaver.
Another thing to keep in mind: When directly scrutinizing and A/B comparing like this, it's easy to tell the difference between the different octavers, and the subtle (and not so subtle) variations in flavor that they have. As standalone units and in a mix, they're all good in their own ways.
Also like any piece of gear, the beauty is that we don't all have to like the same things. Some may not like the Bass Octaver in the HX. I think it's pretty decent. But I'll still be keeping my Octabvre in an FX loop when I do my HX board build.
5sg.