The Blue Up Octave is a two-in-one octave pedal from NoiseKICK FX, an octave up and an octave down in a single enclosure, with the ability to blend in a fuzz. Pedal of the Day, which featured the pedal in August 2014, described it as having "a piercing clean octave up and an octave down, with the ability to blend in a fuzz"1. It sits in the same family as other Octave & Pitch Pedals, but its fuzz blending sets it apart from a straight octave unit.
The two channels
The pedal is split into two independent channels. On the left is the octave up channel, and on the right is the octave down channel, each with its own footswitch and controls1.
| Channel | Controls | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Octave up | Volume, Contour | Sets the level and shape of the clean octave up voice1 |
| Octave down | Volume, Blend | Volume sets the level; Blend mixes your clean signal with the fuzzy, synth-like tones of the octave down1 |
| Octave down toggle | 1 or 2 octaves down | Chooses between one or two octaves below your input1 |
Each channel can be used independently or together. Pedal of the Day's reviewer, Matt Z, noted that the octave up channel can be used on its own to produce an octave that will punch through the mix, or stacked on top of other effects1. Because the octave up is gain-driven, he found it sounds more pronounced in conjunction with a fuzz or distortion1.
The octave down side is a different animal. Pedal of the Day called it "a thick sounding octave down modeled after the elusive 'blue box'"1, a reference to the classic octave-down fuzz circuit. The Blend knob is the key control here: it mixes your clean signal with the fuzzy, synth-like tones of the octave down channel, so you can dial in anything from a subtle sub-octave under your dry tone to a full synth-style wall of sound1.
"Combing the two effects will produce a wall of sound with tones reminiscent of a synthesizer, fuzz, and bass all-in-one."
Power and practical notes
The Blue Up Octave runs on a standard 9 volt plug with a 2.1mm negative center/tip connector1, the same center-negative standard used by most pedalboard supplies. It is true bypass, so it stays out of your signal path when switched off1.
The pedal is described as ideal for guitar or bass1. The octave down channel and its blend control make it a straightforward fit for bass players looking for a sub-octave with a fuzz edge.
NoiseKICK FX has built other hybrid fuzz designs since, including the NoiseKICK FX Diabeetus Tremolo Fuzz, which pairs a fuzz channel with a tremolo. For more on the wider category, see Fuzz Pedals.
Sources (1)
- NoiseKICK FX Blue Up Octave, Pedal of the Day (pedal-of-the-day.com), 2014-08-11
