Best Octave Pedals - Boss OC-5 vs Sub 'n' Up vs POG2 Review and Comparison
Michael Banfield Michael Banfield
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 Published On May 25, 2021

Need to choose an octave pedal? These are my three front runners. See the links below for prices.

- TC Electronics Sub 'n' Up
USA: https://amzn.to/3wzMQ0y
UK: https://amzn.to/3vktBrt

- Boss OC-5 Octave
USA: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/deta...
UK: https://www.andertons.co.uk/boss-oc-5...

- Electro Harmonix POG2
USA: https://amzn.to/3fjWPB5
UK: https://amzn.to/3ws4OBK

Timecodes:
00:00 - Intro
00:21 - TC Electronic Sub 'n' Up
01:58 - Boss OC-5 Octave
04:22 - Electro Harmonix POG2
06:30 - Which One is Best?

The TC Electronic Sub ’n’ Up is the cheapest on this list and this is the one I’d recommend if you really want value for money. It’s got a very clean sound, tracks perfectly and while it’s simple and easy to use, if you do want to get some crazy organ and synth sounds you can use the TonePrint software to basically design your own custom octave pedal if you want to. Classic mode is a more aggressive sounding octave effect for single notes. Polyphonic mode is for chords and the default tone print setting gives you an organ type sound.

The Sub ’n’ Up is really versatile. Be aware it has a much cleaner more polite type sound with less volume available than the other pedals. You could just make a tone print setting if you wanted to change that, but the tone print editor is pretty complex so unless you’re just planning on using it for some of the pre-made tone prints, be ready to spend some time to figure out that software.

The big advantages about the Boss OC-5 for me is it’s just so easy to use especially on the vintage setting and it has a classic powerful octave sound which can really boost your signal if you want it to.

Another big feature on the Boss OC-5 is the range control which is pretty unique. It controls the response of the octave down when in poly mode. When set all the way up the pedal behaves like all the other pedals in poly mode and any note you play you’ll hear the octave down of that note. If you want to hear only the lower notes with the octave down, you set the range control lower. When you set it to the lowest position the octave down note will only apply to the lowest note of any chord you play, fantastic if you want to mimic the sound of playing chords with a bass player.

The Electro Harmonix POG2 is the priciest but I think it’s the most versatile, with nine storable presets and just enough extra controls so you can do lots of crazy synth and organ sounds without it being too complicated to use.

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