Which octaver do you use and why?

I don't have a lot of exposure to many octavers, but I do have a Boss OC-3 that I like a lot, most of all for the drive setting. Why do I like it? Because I tend toward synthy sound with my effects, and the OC-3 octave with some of the drive is a great basis to creating synthy sounds together with other pedals (envelope filters, etc.).

 

My favorites are the Dan Armstrong Green Ringer, except it needs improved passage of the low frequencies; and the DOD Meatbox and Boss OC-2, except they need better tracking on the low end.

If you could use Pino Palladino's octaved tone in the late 80's and early 90's as a benchmark, and improve the tracking on the lows, many of us would be grateful.

 

My favorite is the OC-3 in Poly mode played through the guitar input. Perfect, IMHO. The OC-2 is a close second place. I had both of the MXR bass octaves and I thought they tracked terribly.

 

I recently acquired my first Octaver.
I choose a MicroPog because I liked the idea of the option up.

 

In Poly mode it tracks better because if you get some overtones or pull a slight double stop it doesn't glitch. If you play cleanly, the OC-2 works just fine.

 

The Meatbox does both one octave down and two octaves down, simultaneously, and it has this really massive synthetic sound that is "ugly" in all the right ways. It's very far from the Pino tone, but it has adherents among those who like scary bass tones.

 

I've got the Boss OC-2. Its got its problems with tracking but I like it.

 

I'm using a Micro Pog. Thinking about getting an OC-2 for that fat octave sound, but I dig the twanginess of the Micro Pog.

 

I'd probably never use the OCT2. I'd prefer something like the MXR-288 that has two different octaves that you can blend. Except the tracking is crappy on the MXR. Not really sure what a ring modulator would sound like on an octave, so I have no meaningful comment on that. The key, for me, is a solid, clean, well-tracking octave down.

 

Not if it's easy to keep it out if you didn't want it. I think people would find a use for it somewhere along the line. Ever see that Nocto Loco pedal? Does like 3 octaves down and does trippy ring mod/distortion stuff to the signal. Not for the faint of heart but there would be some who might appreciate it.

 

I think a straight oc2 emulation is crucial, and then maybe a subharmonic box like the dbx120xp and then a freaky original design.

John

 

That would be cool.


What is the dbx120xp?

Is that the previous model of the dbx120a?



Oh, and to answer Rich's question:
I use the EHX POG.
The POG series from EHX definately deserve to be modelled in Line 6 products.

 

I haven't had mine for quite that long, but I love the sound of the Octabass. If that is the first order harmonics, cool. It tracks really well also.