The Chunk Systems Octavius Squeezer is an analog/digital hybrid bass synthesizer pedal, announced by Godlyke in July 2008. It puts a programmable synth engine in a compact stompbox: rather than one fixed effect, it carries over 50 digital onboard presets, organized into banks, covering a wide range of synth, octave, envelope filter, fuzz and other effects1. For a bass player, that makes it closer to a preset-driven multi-effect for bass sounds than a single-purpose stompbox, sitting in the territory covered on the Synth Pedals and Bass Pedals pages.
How it works and how it is controlled
The digital side of the hybrid design is a preset system that allows constant reconfiguration of the audio signal path and storage of parameter settings1. In practice, a player can recall a preset and have the pedal rewire its own signal path and settings to match, instead of turning individual knobs to rebuild a sound.
Control on the floor is by two user-assignable foot switches and two digital control knobs1. Because the switches are assignable, what they do depends on how the player sets them up, rather than being fixed to preset-up and preset-down duties.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Foot switch 1 | User assignable1 |
| Foot switch 2 | User assignable1 |
| Digital control knob 1 | Preset parameter control1 |
| Digital control knob 2 | Preset parameter control1 |
Bypass, power and connections
When switched off, the pedal is true bypass: the input is connected directly to the output by a mechanical relay, so the bass signal does not pass through the circuitry1. Power comes from a single 9V battery or an external power supply, which is not included1.
The external power supply is not included with the pedal, so a player planning to run it on a pedalboard supply needs to budget for one1.
The pedal also has an auxiliary output with two uses: it can carry click tracks, and it serves as the envelope input for the Agent OOFunk Mark II, Chunk Systems' envelope filter pedal1. That connection lets the two units work together, with the Squeezer's auxiliary output feeding the Agent's envelope input.
Connections at a glance:
- Main input and output for the bass signal1
- Auxiliary output, usable for click tracks1
- Auxiliary output, usable as the envelope input for the Agent OOFunk Mark II1
Background and price
Godlyke debuted the Octavius Squeezer on 25 July 2008, with a list/street price of $5991. The pedal was announced alongside Chunk Systems' other bass designs; the maker is also known for the Chunk Systems Brown Dog, a bass overdrive circuit that DIY projects have since been based on1.
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Questions
Is the Chunk Systems Octavius Squeezer analog or digital?
It is an analog/digital hybrid. The audio signal path is analog, while a digital preset system handles the configuration: it can constantly reconfigure the signal path and store parameter settings across more than 50 onboard presets, organized into banks for easy selection.
Does the Octavius Squeezer run on a battery?
Yes. It runs from a single 9V battery, or from an external power supply, which is not included with the pedal.
Is the Octavius Squeezer true bypass?
Yes. When the pedal is switched off, a mechanical relay connects the input directly to the output, so the signal passes through without going through the effects circuitry.
What effects does the Octavius Squeezer produce?
It covers a wide range of synth, octave, envelope filter, fuzz and other effects, all stored as presets. As a bass synthesizer pedal, it combines these into programmable sounds rather than offering a single fixed effect.
What is the auxiliary output on the Octavius Squeezer for?
The auxiliary output serves two purposes: it can carry click tracks, and it works as an envelope input for the Chunk Systems Agent OOFunk Mark II, allowing the two pedals to work together.
Sources (1)
- Godlyke Debuts Chunk System's Bass Synthesizer Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2008-07-26
