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walrus121
Silver Member
USA
187 Posts |
 Posted - 10/20/2005 : 01:06:42
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I think that it is really cool that the OC-3 doesn't use one of those stupid glue-on plates on the top for the control labels. It looks really cool without that.
I haven't tried the OC-3, but I'd be willing to bet that the OC-2 mode on the OC-3 pedal sounds basically the same as the OC-2 since the premise is a basic digital circuit (I built something like it in my digital electronics class). It's really hard to make something like that a tone hound. However, I don't understand the drive mode option on there.
First of all I wonder whether it is actual overdrive or if it is digitally simulated. As far as I understand it, overdriving a guitar signal makes it more square-wave-like (I know for certain that distortion does this), and the octave tones are already square waves, so I don't think it is really going to do anything useful to them. You lose the ability to control the volume on the bottom octave by activating the drive mode (maybe you lose the bottom octave all-together?). On the dry signal it probably won't sound as good as a stand-alone overdrive, and with the stereo output doesn't even overdrive the the dry signal, so if I understand what the waveform looks like, there is no point in using the drive setting if you are using the OC-3 in stereo.
The two advantages to using the OC-3 over the OC-2 are the polyphonic octave mode and the stereo ouputs. If you have a harmonist pedal I don't think that you need an OC-3 over the OC-2 unless you want the stereo outputs. The range of the pedal is just something that will limit you (what a brilliant idea the "range" control was, would of been nice to still have two polyphonic octave tones instead). Of course it would be really cool if you had 3 outputs.
I don't really see why the bass input is necessary. On low notes the sub-octave tones in OC-2 mode are going to sound like something switching on and off with a clicking sound, not particularly pleasant. Actually in polyphonic mode you'll experience a similar problem.
I don't use stereo in my playing, partly because of my budget (I might make use of separate effect loops in the future with the same amplifier but I don't really have the finances for that either right now), and I'm not a big fan of the other features of this pedal, so if I were to buy an octave pedal again I would probably get the OC-2. |
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josiahcooper
Copper Member
Canada
25 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2005 : 05:00:59
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| ok then, you answered my question... i think |
Edited by - josiahcooper on 10/21/2005 05:01:17 |
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bossarea
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
3652 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2005 : 16:55:06
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I bought an OC-3 almost immediately when it came out. I agree that it looks great without the control plate. I hope the Boss engineers think so too and starts using this design in their next creations.
I bought the pedal primarily because I the OC-2 doesn't track good enough. The lower the action on the guitar, the worse the tracking and my guitars have rather low action. The OC-3 doesn't track much better than the OC-2 so I haven't used it much. The PS-5 has almost perfect tracking so I'm a bit disappointed.
Octaves and distortion is closely related but there's still no mistaking one for the other. I like the distortion on the OC-3 and I don't feel that any of the signal actually disappear when using it. |
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visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2005 : 19:51:10
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Mmmmmmmmmmmmm this problem with tracking and the OC-2 I hear more people talk about it, do not have it.
Bossarea do you use heavy strings or light ones? I use an 0.11 set with a 0.46 for the A and a 0.56 for the E, action on my gtrs. is in between and works well.
I agree that you need to think about how you are using the OC-2:
For the 2 ocataves down------> mainly play riffs on the higher strings, let's up to the G string.
For the 1 ocatave down-------> use mainly low E and A
so overall you get a mixed sound, and the direct sound is somehwere at 6 or 7 [using scale 1 to 10]
Mixed sound sits in between, the 2 Ocataves really jump at you on the higher strings, using that sound in the lower regions of the gtr. makes sound muddy, so need to think where you play.
1 Ocatave down seems to be fine in lower area
And yes, use an Octave before an Overdrive or Distortion and you get a lovely sound....................but this is very subjective so.....................try for yourself and see how you feel
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OC-2 and OC-3
