The Copilot FX Cubic is an octave-down pedal built for bass, made by Copilot FX in the Dominican Republic. Premier Guitar's reviewer described it as a pedal that can "work wonders for beefing up thin tone," tracking the notes you play and generating notes one or two octaves below. It sits in the wider family of octave and pitch pedals and is one of the dedicated options among bass pedals.1
Copilot FX's own product index lists the Cubic's status as "This design is being updated," so availability may change.3
Controls and switches
The Cubic's control set covers the basics of an octave pedal and adds a few things most do not:
- Volume and Blend knobs: a pair of knobs for output volume and dry-tone blending, letting you set how much of your clean bass sits under the octave signal12
- Filter knob: adjusts the intensity of the octave effect and adds synth-like bite when its upper registers are reached1
- Clipping control (top-right, unlabeled knob): cranking it enhances the octave tonality, rolling it back smooths it out1
- Octave range flip switch: sets the octave range to either one octave down, or two octaves down with intentionally glitchy-sounding fourths and fifths1
- Pure/mixed flip switch: the switch between the top-mounted jacks determines whether the effect is a pure octave or a mixed octave for strange and eerie tones1
- Expression jack: a 1/4-inch expression-pedal jack for sweeping the clipping parameter remotely1
The expression input means you can pair the Cubic with one of your expression pedals and ride the clipping control by foot, which Premier Guitar's reviewer called handy.1
Power, size and build
The Cubic runs on a DC 9V power jack with center-negative polarity, and there is no 9V battery option: Premier Guitar's reviewer noted you will need a Boss-style 9V adapter or another universal power supply.12 The enclosure is lightweight and takes up just a little more space than a Boss pedal on the floor, with top-mounted jacks.1 No Treble reported a lifetime warranty on the pedal.2
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer came away impressed with the core effect:
"Very strong sub-octaving. Capable of synth-like tones."
The same review praised the smooth pot turns and true-bypass switching, and framed the pedal in the context of what a bass-octave pedal can do for thin tone.1 No Treble's Kevin Johnson announced the pedal's release in May 2012, noting its two voices, four knobs and expression input.2
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Questions
Is the Cubic true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted the Cubic has true-bypass switching, along with smooth pot turns. That means the pedal takes itself out of the signal path when off, leaving your dry bass tone untouched.
Can I use an expression pedal with the Cubic?
Yes. The Cubic includes a 1/4-inch expression-pedal jack for sweeping the clipping parameter remotely, which Premier Guitar's reviewer called handy. Plug an expression pedal into the jack and you can move the clipping control with your foot while playing.
What is the difference between pure and mixed octave on the Cubic?
A flip switch between the top-mounted jacks determines whether the effect is a pure octave or a mixed octave. Premier Guitar's reviewer described the mixed setting as producing strange and eerie tones, while the pure setting gives a straightforward octave-down effect.
Where is the Cubic made?
The Copilot FX Cubic is handbuilt in the Dominican Republic, according to No Treble's 2012 announcement of the pedal. At that time it could be purchased directly from the manufacturer's website.
How many octaves down can the Cubic go?
The Cubic offers two octave ranges, set by a flip switch: one octave down, or two octaves down. The reviewer for Premier Guitar described the two-octave-down setting as having intentionally glitchy-sounding fourths and fifths.
Sources (3)
- Copilot FX Cubic Bass Octave Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2012-12-26
- Copilot FX Releases New Octave Pedal for Bass, No Treble, 2012-05-28
- Products, Copilot Fx, 2024