The NoiseKICK FX Troctave is a stompbox from NoiseKICK FX that combines two effects in one enclosure: a tremolo and an octave. Pedal of the Day's Mike B, reviewing it in August 2015, described the combination as producing "some of the coolest guitar effects I have ever heard," and noted that the pedal is "capable of both smooth and choppy tremolo vibes" alongside its octave voice1. It sits in the wider family of octave and pitch pedals and tremolo pedals, but few pedals put the two in a single box.
How it works
The pedal splits its two effects between a set of knobs and a pair of toggles. The main knob controls apply to the tremolo section, which is always on: there is no way to switch the tremolo off and use the octave alone. The octave section waits behind its own toggle on the right side of the pedal, and the reviewer wrote that when you flick it on, "this pedal opens up and starts to sing"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rate (Speed) | Sets the speed of the always-on tremolo1 |
| Depth (Intensity) | Sets the tremolo mix, "from a barely audible tone covering to a completely wet signal"1 |
| Waveform toggle | Selects between Square and Sine tremolo waveforms1 |
| Octave toggle | Engages the octave section1 |
With both sections running, the reviewer described the sound as the octave beefing up the guitar's signal while the tremolo washes over the top, with occasional ring mod sounds appearing in the mix1.
The controls in use
The Troctave's controls are unlabeled, but that did not slow the reviewer down much. "The controls, although unlabeled, were fairly easy to figure out," he wrote, and the layout follows standard tremolo practice: Rate and Depth, plus a waveform toggle he called "also fairly standard tremolo fare"1. Anyone who has used a tremolo pedal before will find the knobs familiar within a few minutes of tweaking.
Rarity and availability
This is not a pedal you are likely to run across often. The Pedal of the Day review called it the first and only Troctave the reviewer knew of, and recommended buying it on sight if it appeared1.
The Troctave appears to be a one-off or very limited build rather than a regularly produced pedal. If you see one secondhand, it may be your only chance to try it.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the tremolo always on in the Troctave?
Yes. According to Pedal of the Day's review, the main knob controls apply to the tremolo section, which is always on. The octave section is separate: a toggle switch on the right of the pedal engages it when you want the octave layered under the tremolo.
What waveforms does the Troctave tremolo offer?
A toggle switch selects between Square and Sine waveforms, which the reviewer described as fairly standard tremolo fare. Square gives a choppier modulation and Sine a smoother one, and the Depth control shapes how much of the effect comes through.
Are the Troctave's controls labeled?
No. The reviewer noted the controls are unlabeled, but found they were fairly easy to figure out and tweak. Like most tremolo pedals, they cover Rate (Speed) and Depth (Intensity), so anyone who has used a tremolo before will feel at home quickly.
How rare is the NoiseKICK FX Troctave?
Very. The Pedal of the Day reviewer called it the first and only Troctave he knew of, and recommended it as a rare pedal worth buying on sight. If one comes up secondhand, it is not a pedal you are likely to see again soon.
Sources (1)
- NoiseKICK FX Troctave Tremolo/Octave, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2015-08-31