The Foxrox Octron3 is an analog octave divider pedal from Foxrox Electronics, reviewed by Pedal of the Day in July 2017. It produces Octave Up and Octave Down signals alongside your dry tone, and it is the next iteration of the original Foxrox Octron Octave Divider, with upgrades and more options in a smaller enclosure1. If you are new to octave pedals, they sit in the wider family of octave and pitch pedals, which shift your note up, down or both.
The controls: blend and two toggle switches
The Direct knob blends in your dry signal to taste, so you can set how much of your clean guitar or bass sits under the octave tones1. New to this model are a couple of toggle switches that were previously only accessible by opening up the pedal, now mounted on the outside of the steel gray enclosure1.
The Octave Up circuit is a high-gain design, using germanium diodes to achieve the doubling effect, and the review notes this adds a bit of grit and distortion into your signal1.
Where it came from
The Octron design has a documented link to guitarist Frank Marino. On Foxrox's own product page, Dave Fox tells the story of Marino's modified original Octron, which used an external box to switch each of its three signals, Direct, Octave Up and Octave Down, on and off. As Fox put it, "He basically modified his Octron to work like an Octron2!"2
"That box turns each signal on and off."
How it compares
Pedal of the Day places the Octron3 in a lineage of octave pedals, "Joining the likes of Mu-Tron, Boss OC-2 and Octoplus pedals of the past"1. The reviewer's verdict on the pedal overall: "we thought it was just an incredible piece of gear," with the same killer circuitry and tone as the original1.
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Questions
Is the Foxrox Octron3 analog or digital?
The Octron3 is an analog octave divider. Pedal of the Day's review describes it as having an analog sound that fits smoothly into any guitar or bass pedal setup. Its Octave Up circuit is a high-gain design that uses germanium diodes to achieve the doubling effect, which the review notes also adds a bit of grit and distortion into your signal.
Does the Octron3 run on 18 volts?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes the Octron3 can run between 9V and 18V, which the reviewer describes as offering a nice range of increased headroom if needed. It also runs at standard 9V, so it works with a normal pedalboard power supply.
How is the Octron3 different from the original Octron?
The Octron3 is the next iteration of the original Octron Octave Divider, with upgrades and more options. It features a smaller enclosure than the original, and two toggle switches that were previously only accessible by opening up the pedal are now mounted on the outside. Pedal of the Day found it kept the same killer circuitry and tone as the original.
Are the Octron3 toggle switches on the outside of the pedal?
Yes. New to the Octron3 are a couple of toggle switches that were previously only accessible by opening up the pedal, according to Pedal of the Day's review. That means you can change those settings from the front panel without a screwdriver.
Which older octave pedals is the Octron3 compared with?
Pedal of the Day places the Octron3 alongside the Mu-Tron, Boss OC-2 and Octoplus pedals of the past, as part of the same lineage of analog octave divider designs.
Sources (2)
- Foxrox Electronic Octron3 Octave Divider, Pedal of the Day, 2017-07-06
- Mahogany Rush guitarist, Frank Marino, inspired me to create Octron2., Foxrox Electronics, 2018-10-11
