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Extremely simple and cost effective switching system |
The concept of the Carl Martin Octa-Switch Guitar Effects Switching System is simple: take your 8 favorite effects pedals, plug them into the 8 individual loops (all true-bypass gold relays) on the Octa-Switch, and then designate what effects you want connected to each of 8 banks via the world's simplest and smallest DIP switches (located over the top of each of the 8 bank switches).
When Carl Martin decided to create a baby brother for his world famous Combinator, the details of simplifying an already simple effect controller made his head hurt. So Carl enlisted the help of Thomas Guldmann, and the Octa-Switch Switching System was born.
Thomas chose DIP switches because they are just 8 individual on-off switches in a tiny package. So if your guitar effects are plugged into Loops 1-8, you simply turn the DIP switch on for each of the effects you want in Bank 1, and then Bank 2 etc up to Bank 8. You can use one or all of the effects in each bank, and once you have designated a bank, do us both a favor and cover the DIP with a bit of tape to ensure nothing happens to the DIP switch when you are not looking like an errant hand, or a flood of beer.
The Octa-Switch has a blue LED for every effects loop used and for each bank (so once you are programmed, when you step on Bank 6 you will see the lights of all the effects you have assigned to Bank 6 and the Bank 6 LED).
The Carl Martin Octa switch is mono-in and mono/stereo out, with a choice of a buffered signal or not. The effects unit is powered by dual 9v batteries, or a regulated power supply like the Carl Martin Big John Power Supply, and is housed in an all metal case with heart-stopping (ok, well almost) graphics. So, the same basic options found in the digitally controlled units the famous guys are using, at a fraction of the cost.
Please note, the DIP switches are slide type, NOT push down. They are easily operated with a small screwdriver, a pen, or a very small finger. On large stages when running long connected cables, there is a definite drop in the high end of your guitar sound (more or less depending on the input impedance of your amplifier). The solution according to Thomas was once again simple. He built in a buffer circuit at the input, so you can choose between 100% true bypass, or buffered bypass to beef up your signal.
Make it easy on yourself - call or click today to order.
Carl Martin Octa-Switch Guitar Effects Switching System Specifications:
- Size: 510x135x55mm
- Weight: 2,3Kg
- Power: 2x9V, Battery life aprox. 20 hours with average use, it can be used with external supply 9-12V regulated.
Carl Martin Octa-Switch Guitar Effects Switching System
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very nice.
Posted by SweetKings from Orlando, FL on Jul 27, 2009
Experience w/product: I have heard about it
Reviewer's Background: Active musican
Reviewer's Play Style: Ska, rock n roll, punk.
The Octa-Switch makes some very cool things happen. Want to go from clean to distorted/reverbed/flanging/delay, without hitting 4 pedals? It lets me do just that, and I have 6 channels left for other setups. True bypass means there is a click with changing channels sometimes. Wish that weren't the case ... however the click is less than when engaging some of the pedals before i used the octa. Seems well built, sturdy as you want.
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Let me start with this. The Octa switch...
Posted by Igor from california on Mar 28, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: active musician
Reviewer's Play Style: Blues, Rock
Let me start with this. The Octa switch is an awesome peice. I use about 10 pedals in my set up and once in the while I crave that "nothing but guitar and amp tone" or guitar some overdrive
and little delay. With octa switch You can do that is seconds. Hook those pedals in and dial in with the dip switches what ever you want for the chanel. Awesome. for exemple In one chenel I selected just my wha. So the signal goes to wha pedal and to the amp. Feels good knowing that it passes by all the rest of the peddals. it is like they are there by at the same time they are not.
Nice. I guees it worth the money. Verry flexable.
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GREAT IDEA!
Posted by Geo Conner from USA on Jul 13, 2008
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: pro studio player
Reviewer's Play Style: all
Finally! Someone got smart! This is the first and only switching system I have seen that allows easy, intuitive access and set-up for ANY pedal you already own. It is ingenious. You don't need a manual. The whole thing is self explanatory and takes just seconds to operate. You can hook up your favorite analog or digital effects pedals in any order, set the dip-switches and rock. New pedal? No problem! Plug it in and try it out in any combination, at any point in the chain. Carl Martin already has a stellar reputation for great sounding pedals. Those of us who love our old analog TC chorus, or the CM chorus and compressor can use those with any preamp or reverb or delay or anything we want. Great idea! Super simple. Super fast. Carl Martin quality throughout. AA+++ An absolute must-have for the boutique pedal enthusiast. A tone freaks dream come true.
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A cost effective alternative
Posted by Caveperson from Smithfield NC on May 1, 2008
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Active Noisemaker
Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Post-Punk, Stoner Rock, Alternative
I view the Octaswitch as a cost-effective alternative to a Bradshaw switcher, or something like it, like Rocktron. The only difference is: Those are Midi Switchers where you hook your effects up to a loop in each midi channel and they turn on with each activated midi bank. This works quite differently, and IMO, more effectively. Less programming. The relays in the switches are completely silent, you can select from buffered output or completely true bypass. This works well when you are running long cable lines. Each bank is controlled by dipswitches, which can be hard to set, sometimes but you have to have patience. The stereo outs are nice, when you have multiple stereo modulation pedals hooked up. Just wish it had more banks and effect loops, but that would add a bit more $$$ to this wonderful unit, try one out yourself. If you have a long pedal chain and you want to minimize the tap-dancing, like I did when I bought this, I say buy it.
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Kicks Butt
Posted by iGGY from Boise, ID on Apr 28, 2008
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Guitarist
Reviewer's Play Style: Hardcore
Sweeet! Now I don't have to mod any of my pedals to true-bypass. Fits perfectly beside my pedal board. BONUS: good for finding tone suckers... ah-ha-ha :) Draws 200mA of current. Props go to the baddest cat in town, Joe Cefalu, for pointing Octaswitch out to me.
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Carl Martin Octa-Switch Guitar Effects Switching System
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