The Electro-Harmonix HOG2 is a Harmonic Octave Generator and guitar synthesizer that can generate multiple octaves and harmonics from your input signal at the same time. It gives you ten polyphonic, glitch-free voices spanning two octaves below your instrument's pitch to four octaves above it, so a single guitar note or a full chord can come out as a stack of octave and harmonic layers1. It is a digital pedal, released in 2013 as the second-generation version of the original HOG, and Electro-Harmonix lists it as discontinued in 20241.
Guitar World introduced it at NAMM 2013 as a successor that "builds upon the legacy of the critically acclaimed H.O.G."2, and Premier Guitar described it as offering all of the original HOG's features plus new ones, including the jump from six stored presets on the original to 100 with the optional foot controller3.
What the HOG2 does
The HOG2 sits in the octave and pitch family, but it goes further than a typical octave pedal: rather than adding one or two octaves, it generates ten voices at once, from two octaves down to four octaves up, and it does so polyphonically, meaning chords track without glitching1. That combination of octave and harmonic generation in one box is what Electro-Harmonix means by calling it a guitar synthesizer as well as an octave generator1.
Because the voices are polyphonic, the HOG2 works on chords as well as single notes, which is where many octave and pitch pedals fall apart. The Direct Output jack gives you a buffered version of your input signal, so your dry sound stays available alongside the synthesized output1.
Controls and expression modes
The front panel includes a MASTER VOL slider that sets the overall output volume1, and a BYPASS footswitch that toggles between bypass and effect mode1. The EXP. PEDAL jack takes a standard expression pedal1.
Built into the HOG2 are seven Expression Modes that let you modify your sounds using a standard expression pedal, a MIDI controller, or the Expression Button on the HOG2 itself1. Each press of the EXP. MODE button selects the next mode in a clockwise rotation, with LEDs showing which mode is active1. Guitar World described what those modes cover: plus or minus one-octave bends, one-step pitch bends, and control over freeze plus gliss, freeze plus volume, wah wah and filter frequency2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| MASTER VOL slider | Sets the overall output volume1 |
| BYPASS footswitch | Toggles between bypass and effect mode1 |
| EXP. MODE button and LEDs | Cycles through the 7 Expression Modes in a clockwise rotation1 |
| EXP. PEDAL jack | Takes a standard expression pedal1 |
| INPUT jack | Connects your instrument with a standard 1/4" cable1 |
| DIRECT OUTPUT jack | Outputs a buffered version of the input signal1 |
MIDI control
The HOG2 offers full MIDI control over all parameters and presets1. Guitar World made the same point at launch: every parameter on the HOG2 can be controlled by MIDI2. For players building a MIDI pedalboard, the expression pedal input responds to CC4, per Disaster Area Designs' supported-device documentation5.
Presets and the Foot Controller
The HOG2 can save and recall up to 100 preset programs, but only with the optional HOG2 Foot Controller, which was sold separately1. That is a large increase over the original HOG, which stored six presets3. Vintage Guitar noted the same comparison in its launch coverage4.
The Foot Controller itself has been discontinued, in 2024, the same year as the main unit6. It received its power from the HOG2, so no separate supply was needed, and its Select knob let you scroll through presets without loading a new one until you chose it6. Its input jack was the sole connection point to the HOG26.
Both the HOG2 and its Foot Controller are discontinued (2024). The 100-preset storage depends on the Foot Controller, so a secondhand HOG2 without its controller loses access to full preset storage.
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Questions
Is the Electro-Harmonix HOG2 discontinued?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix lists the HOG2 as discontinued in 2024, and its optional Foot Controller was discontinued the same year. The HOG2 was released in 2013 as the second-generation Harmonic Octave Generator, so it had a long run before being retired.
Can the HOG2 be controlled over MIDI?
Yes. The HOG2 offers full MIDI control over all parameters and presets, so every control on the pedal can be driven from a MIDI controller. Its expression pedal input responds to CC4, which matters if you are wiring it into a larger MIDI rig.
How many presets does the HOG2 store?
The HOG2 can save and recall up to 100 preset programs, but only with the optional HOG2 Foot Controller, which was sold separately and discontinued in 2024. The original HOG stored just six presets, so the second generation was a big jump.
Is the HOG2 true bypass?
No. The HOG2 uses buffered bypass, not true bypass. It also has a separate Direct Output jack that passes a buffered version of your input signal, so you can keep your dry sound available alongside the effected output.
What range of octaves can the HOG2 produce?
The HOG2 generates ten polyphonic, glitch-free voices spanning two octaves below your instrument's pitch to four octaves above it. Because the voices are polyphonic, chords and single notes alike come out as stable octave and harmonic layers.
Do I need the HOG2 Foot Controller?
Only if you want the full 100-preset storage, since the presets require the optional Foot Controller. The controller received its power from the HOG2 itself and let you scroll presets with a Select knob, but it was discontinued in 2024.
Sources (6)
- HOG2 | DISCONTINUED 2024 | Harmonic Octave Generator - Electro-Harmonix, Electro-Harmonix, 2024
- NAMM 2013: Electro-Harmonix Introduces H.O.G.2 Harmonic Octave Generator, Polyphonic Synthesizer, Guitar World, 2013-01-22
- Electro-Harmonix Releases HOG2 & Foot Controller, Premier Guitar, 2013-01-11
- Electro-Harmonix Launches HOG2, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2013-01-11
- Supported Devices, Disaster Area Designs, 2021-10-11
- HOG2 Foot Controller, Electro-Harmonix, 2024
