The Boss OC-2 is as far as I´m concerned a pretty useless piece of equipment, but I´ve understood that it is/was (there are newer, better models, so I´m informed) used as a sort of fat-booster by some. This escapes me, since I can´t hear any differencce at all when it´s on or off, using the middle control ("direct level") at the maximum, and the octave controls at minimum. (The octaves in themselves sounds terrible.) Am I doing something wrong -- or do I have the wrong mics, amps, cables, deodorant etc?
Last Edited by Martin on Jun 17, 2017 7:01 AM
Octave pedals are not used to"fatten up" tone. A quality octave divider like the Electro Harmonix MICRO POG is a powerful and fairly extreme sounding effect--not at all subtle and certainly not an always on device.
Some players claim that the OC-2 has a compressor like effect on the signal. But it is not a particularly well regarded octave divider. If you are after compression, check out the Lone Wolf FLAT CAT. As I understand it the FC functions as an "always on" processor which may be what you are after. The BBE SONIC STOMP, while not a compressor, is also in that category. Hope this helps.
Last Edited by hvyj on Jun 17, 2017 7:54 PM
Thank you hvyj. What octave pedals in general can do interests me a lot, and when my ship comes in I´ll line up for any organ simulator that does a credible job. The POG comes recommended. It´s so that I happen to own an OC-2 and before I hand in that miserable gadget to the nearest police station and start looking for somtehing else I was curious about any potential use it could have -- after all. But now I understand that I was misinformed, and I thank you for clearing that up.
I just bought an Electro Harmonix Pog 2, after seeing this video by Hakan Ehn. Haven't had much time to play with it just yet, but it seems pretty cool for producing some fairly radical "WTF" effects.
Yup. You don't get it. It's used to create an organ sounding effect think Carey Bell or Billy Branch. They make effective use of that pedal. I own one. I rarely use it. It's best used sparingly and not everyone likes it.
One more thing, it really shine on single notes. It kinda dies on chords or partial chords. Turn up the knobs all the way and play some single notes. The change with the pedal engaged should be obvious. If it isn't replace the battery. If you're battery is new and there is no change, there is something wrong with your pedal. ---------- The Blues Photo Gallery
Last Edited by Joe_L on Jun 20, 2017 9:05 PM
I use an old Boss octave pedal on some tunes. How you set it depends on your mic and amp. I use a flat response mic. Here's a live tune that I used it on. ----------
For sure octave dividers are best used sparingly. But the POG and MicroPOG track chords just as well as they do single notes. They sound pretty good on funk besides being good for emulating an organ (especially when used in conjunction with a rotary speaker simulator).
@Joe L: What I meant was that the OC-2, as octave dividers go, is not a very good piece of equipment. I understand its regular use, and have toyed with that, but if one is looking for effects of that kind there are better stuff to buy, as hinted here by others. (And yes, used sparingly.) My misconception was that I thought it did something for your sound by way of fattening it. As compressor ... well that´s something I´ve never felt the need for, but who knows.
Hi Martin. I believe I was the first cat to use the OC-2 in the manner your describing... It was an accident at first. I accidentally turned the octaves down to zero and had the Direct level/volume all the way up one day and noticed I liked the sound. I then used it for years after that in that manner never really using the actual octave effect. I didn't even really know what it was I was hearing that I liked but I never wanted to play without it. The later Boss octaves pedals didn't do that. I found it later the effect produced that I was enjoying is called "compression" and that Boss had "fixed that problem with the direct level knob in later models. I later went on to be a real/actual compressor and found it even better..Surprise surprise..nI then went on to design the "Flat Cat" with The Lone Wolf Blues Company". Real compressors are better than the accidental 98-2004 boss compression I enjoyed and a few people mimiced. Everyone here is right if you want a good actual octave pedal FOR octaves get and Electro Harmonix "micro pog" or something like that as the OC-2 and other boss pedals don't track real well for harmonica... ---------- www.mooncat.org
