The Electro-Harmonix HOG (Harmonic Octave Generator) is a polyphonic octave generator and guitar synthesizer. Unlike single-note octave pedals, it tracks whole chords and offers complete control of up to 10 interval pitches, so a player can generate extreme sub bass, build powerful multi-octave chords, turn a 6-string into a 12-string, or create a realistic B3 organ sound. Electro-Harmonix says it works well with any instrument1.
Electro-Harmonix describes the HOG as a pedal that can "generate extreme sub bass to powerful multi-octave chords" and "convert your 6 string into a 12 string, create a realistic B3"1. The Owner's Manual is available on the product page1.
What the HOG does
The HOG belongs to Electro-Harmonix's POG family of polyphonic octave pedals, alongside the POG, POG2, Micro POG, Nano POG and POG3. Where smaller POGs offer a fixed set of voices, the HOG is built around stacking and shaping up to 10 interval pitches at once1. MusicRadar confirms the circuit is digital: "The Micro POG, just like the original POG and HOG, is digital"2.
Expression modes: Freeze and Pitch Bend
Two expression modes give the HOG much of its character:
- Freeze: lets the musician freeze a note or chord so you can play over it, or slide to new notes just like a keyboardist using portamento1.
- Pitch Bend: turns the HOG into a whammy pedal, in Electro-Harmonix's description1.
The HOG2 expanded on this. MusicRadar's report on its introduction said it "provides a freeze mode with glissando, independent attack and decay controls and dedicated resonant filtering with a sweepable frequency control"4.
MIDI and the foot controller
The original HOG has MIDI in that allows expression control using MIDI pitch bend1. The HOG2 went further: "Full MIDI control. Every parameter on the HOG2 can now be controlled by MIDI," according to MusicRadar's NAMM 2013 report4.
The HOG Foot Controller, made to sit alongside it, let a player "instantly recall your favorite HOG settings at the touch of a switch," in Electro-Harmonix's words5. It draws no separate supply: it receives power from the HOG itself5. Both it and the HOG were discontinued in 20135.
How reviewers compared it
Reviewers put the HOG against other pitch pedals, generally to its favor on tracking and tone67:
"the EHX's freeze & glissando effects are stunning, and its low and high-end synth tones are clearer than the Whammy"
In a review of the Line 6 FM4, Delicious Audio's Ezra Tenenbaum noted that "Electro Harmonix's HOG may offer clearer note tracking" than the FM4's pitch effects6. The HOG's Attack feature has also been used as a stand-in for an auto-swell: on an Eventide forum thread comparing the Mobius and ModFactor, a user wrote, "Closest I can get to the Mobius autoswell is using the Attack feature on my Hog"8.
The HOG2 and what came after
Electro-Harmonix describes the HOG as a pedal that can "generate extreme sub bass to powerful multi-octave chords," "convert your 6 string into a 12 string, create a realistic B3," and work well with any instrument1. One reviewer found that "the EHX's freeze & glissando effects are stunning, and its low and high-end synth tones are clearer than the Whammy"7. Players looking at the wider family may also want to compare the Soul POG, Pico POG and Pitch Fork, or see the full range on the Octave & Pitch Pedals page.
Videos
Sweetwater
EHX
EHX
Questions
Is the Electro-Harmonix HOG discontinued?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix marks the HOG as discontinued on its product page, with the discontinuation dated 2013. The HOG Foot Controller, which recalled HOG settings at the touch of a switch, was discontinued the same year. The HOG2, the second-generation version introduced at NAMM 2013, was also later discontinued, with a hands-on review in 2024 noting it had recently been retired.
Is the Electro-Harmonix HOG analog or digital?
The HOG is digital. MusicRadar notes that the Micro POG, just like the original POG and HOG, is digital. That is what allows it to track full chords polyphonically and stack multiple interval voices at once, something analog octave circuits such as the Octave Multiplexer cannot do.
What does the Freeze mode do on the HOG?
Freeze is an expression mode that lets the musician freeze a note or chord so it can be played over, or slide to new notes the way a keyboardist uses portamento. On the HOG2, the freeze mode added glissando, independent attack and decay controls, and dedicated resonant filtering with a sweepable frequency control.
Does the HOG come with a power supply?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix includes the 9LDC-500 power supply with the HOG. The HOG Foot Controller does not need its own supply either: it receives power from the HOG itself.
Can the HOG be controlled by MIDI?
Yes. The original HOG has MIDI in that allows expression control using MIDI pitch bend. The HOG2 went further: according to the MusicRadar report on its introduction, every parameter on the HOG2 can be controlled by MIDI.
How many presets does the HOG have?
The original HOG has six presets. When the HOG2 was announced in 2013, Delicious Audio reported the increase versus six with the original HOG, meaning the second-generation unit expanded on that number.
Sources (8)
- HOG | DISCONTINUED 2013 | Harmonic Octave Generator - Electro-Harmonix, Electro-Harmonix, 2013
- Electro-Harmonix Micro POG review, MusicRadar, 2008-01-28
- Guitar Pedal News: Electro-Harmonix Hog 2 And Hog 2 Foot Controller, Delicious Audio, 2013-01-23
- NAMM 2013: Electro-Harmonix introduces the H.O.G. 2, MusicRadar, 2013-01-23
- HOG Foot Controller, Electro-Harmonix, 2013
- Pedal Review: Line 6 FM4, Delicious Audio, 2010-05-13
- Digitech Whammy DT + EHX HOG + Pigtronix Mothership, Delicious Audio, 2011-11-21
- Mobius vs Modfactor, Eventide Audio, 2012-12-17
