The Polyoctaver from Z.Cat Pedals is a compact pedal that generates clean octaves above and below what you play, polyphonically, meaning it can track chords as well as single notes. The current version, the Poly-Octaver 2, folds chorus and reverb into the same enclosure, so an octave shift and some space around it come from one box rather than three pedals. Z.Cat Pedals describes it as "a Polyphonic Clean Octave Up and Down Generator, Chorus, and Reverb in one compact pedal"1.
What it does
The core of the pedal is clean octave generation in both directions: an octave up and an octave down, produced alongside your dry signal. Because the tracking is polyphonic, the pedal is aimed at players who want octave parts from full chords, not just single-note lines, which is where simpler octave circuits tend to struggle. Around that, the Poly-Octaver 2 adds chorus and reverb, covering ground that would otherwise take a separate chorus pedal and reverb pedal1.
For a player comparing options, that puts it closer to a small multi-effect built around an octave engine than to a straight octave and pitch pedal that only shifts notes.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day ran a video review of the Polyoctaver on January 29, 2015, submitted by Kyle, and filed the pedal under chorus, delay and reverb, and octave categories2.
Videos
All Things Weatherly
Questions
What does the Z.Cat Pedals Polyoctaver do?
It is a compact pedal that tracks the notes you play and generates clean octaves above and below them, polyphonically, so chords keep their shape rather than glitching. The same box also carries chorus and reverb, so a player can add octave shifts and space around them without a larger pedalboard.
Who reviewed the Polyoctaver?
Pedal of the Day published a video review of the Polyoctaver on January 29, 2015, submitted by Kyle, and filed the pedal under chorus, delay and reverb, and octave categories.
Sources (2)
- ZCAT Poly-Octaver 2, ZCAT Pedals
- Z.Cat Pedals Polyoctaver, Pedal of the Day, 2015-01-29