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What is everyone's favorite octave generator?

Jake Reber

Jake Reber

Apr 2, 2008
36
6
Louisville
www.myspace.com
#1
I'm a double Bassist currently using a Line 6 Delayer for Loops/delay and an electro-harmonix Micro POG Polyphonic Octave Generator Pedal.

I'm trying to push the double bass up to Violin range to record loops that sound like a string quartet behind me, or to solo in violin range. Ala Andrew Bird or Robert Fripp or Bill Frisell or anyone else who does **** like that.

This set up works alright, but I'm not thrilled with the micro POG. It only does one octave up plus one octave down (which is highly unnecessary with the DB) so it's get me up to cello range essentially. I can get to the higher range by doubling the speed on the line 6 but that's another thing to do that i wanted to happen on the octave pedal, you know?

Further more, the Micro isn't the best sound in the world for the double bass. It has a slight lag in before the sound that is undesirable as well.

I know nothing will sounds 100% natural, and I'm fine with that. But does anyone know if the big boy version of the POg (the POG 2) is better at it's job? I see it does +2 octaves. I've also been recommended the Whammy 5 pedal.

What do you guys suggest? Sorry to bring the double bass question on the bass guitar side but it's an odd question and I figured this was the correct niche.

Jake
 
#2
My guitar player has an older version called the HOG. It can do four octaves up, plus things like parallel fifths, or the rather less useful parallel thirds. It sounds pretty good on his guitar. I haven't even tried my slab through it, so no idea how it would handle the DB. I think it's discontinued, but there's a couple on ebay right now. Pricey though.
 
#5
You're right. I didn't read your first post in its entirety. But your subject was "What is everyone's favorite octave generator?" You asked, I told. But here's what you could do instead of copping an attitude...you could think, "Hey, a Micro Pog isn't what I need but maybe the regular Pog would work since it has several octaves to choose from."

My advice to you would be to make your subject more related to the real question you're asking so people like me don't make that horrible hideous mistake again. Like maybe say, "Need an octaver that does 2 octaves up" as your subject line. Or you could blame the lack of clarity on me. Either way, have a good night.
 
#6
Really wasn't trying to be snotty. This is the reason I stay away from message boards because everyone's always ready to shoot off because there's a lack of inflection or tone. A thousand pardons.

I was more looking for the guys who go way too in-depth about the minutia on everything about each pedal. I could use a better title, you're right. Again, I don't do message boards often.
 
#8
The line 6 m series has a really great pitch shifter that can do up to 2 octaves up, along with intelligent harmonization and a slew of other fun sounds. One of my favorite effects with my bass guitar is running +1 or +2 octaves into a +5th with a clean blend. Helps me cover guitar and bass territory. I've never played my DB through my m9, but maybe tomorrow I will!
 
#9
All digital octavers have "that" sound, kind of a metallic thing, and there's always a delay in the bass range. The POG2 has it too, but you can smooth and filter the attack of the octave so you don't hear the double attack.

The POG2 is a cool pedal, but that digital sound bothered me. Maybe it's ok on DB, but I'd try before you buy.
 
#11
Only the digital ones sound digital, and quite honestly, for an octave up, I don't think it's bad at all. There's a tiny little delay but nothing you can't use, and it's somewhat electronic sounding but very usable IMHO. In the end, you'll have to make up your own mind on whether it's useful to you.
 
#18
Sorry man, but I'm having trouble with my recording setup. Any time I bust it down to a WAV file, I get these artifacts, and I'm not sure why. Have to look into it.
 
#19
OK, finally got it, at least I hope. First section is clean, second is single Micro Pog, third is double Micro Pogs. Sorry, but everyone went to bed before I got to record, so I had to use an electric, but at least I played something classical ;)

 
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