Can I chop the upper octave out of my Octane III?

[Nitefly182]

There are a pair of germanium clipping diodes in my Octane III and as much as I like the pedal I think I would like it more if it didn't have the super prominent upper octave at times. If I switch those germaniums out for a pair of 1n914s can I still get the clipping without the upper octave?                 

[ambulancevoice]

the octave isnt made by the diodes
there is a circuit i think somewhere before the clipping diodes that makes the octave
according to my octave 2 schematic anyway
(although the octave 3 is just the same with and led and shit though right???)
im not totally sure how one would bypass it though




check your pm

[petemoore]

  Perhaps tacking a two pole filter on the end will do ~what you're wanting. 

[John Lyons]

I'd need to look at the schematic but you could probaby add a pot or a switch cut back (or out) the octave.
Like most octaves with diodes they have some resistance to ground that can be altered for more or less octave.

john

[nelson]

There should be a transistor with same value resistors from both collector and emitter, this is the in and out of phase signal that leads to the octave generation circuit which is two NPN transistors. Cut the connection or place it on a switch to the base of one of these transistors. That will get rid of the octave but leave the fuzz.

[Nitefly182]

There should be a transistor with same value resistors from both collector and emitter, this is the in and out of phase signal that leads to the octave generation circuit which is two NPN transistors. Cut the connection or place it on a switch to the base of one of these transistors. That will get rid of the octave but leave the fuzz.

Awesome. Im going to hold off until I hear back from ZVex as I sent him an email. If this works though Ill definitely give it a shot.

[nelson]

There should be a transistor with same value resistors from both collector and emitter, this is the in and out of phase signal that leads to the octave generation circuit which is two NPN transistors. Cut the connection or place it on a switch to the base of one of these transistors. That will get rid of the octave but leave the fuzz.

Awesome. Im going to hold off until I hear back from ZVex as I sent him an email. If this works though Ill definitely give it a shot.

It is essentially the same as lifting the diode in the foxx tone machine. Except in this instance you are lifting the signal to one of the NPN transistors. No reason it shouldn't work.

[Nitefly182]

I heard back from ZVex. He said clipping one of the diodes would cut the octave. Thanks everyone!

[tcobretti]

Hmm.  Is the Octane 3 that much different from the Octane 2?  If memory serves, on the 2 the diodes just serve to clip and 'fuzz' it up, like Nelson was saying, the transistors generate the octave.

[nelson]

Perhaps the Octane 3 is either a transformer diode affair or a foxx tone machine esque affair.

[Nitefly182]

Im not sure but I have a hard time believing zach doesn't know what makes the octave

[nelson]

In the octane 2 the diodes are definitely not responsible for the octave. If zach is telling you lifting one of the diodes on the octane 3 kills the octave then it must be a different circuit.

[tcobretti]

Yeah, I'd be pretty surprised if Zach didn't know what made the octave. 

Perhaps the Octane 3 is either a transformer diode affair or a foxx tone machine esque affair.

My thoughts exactly.  I guess he decided the Superfuzz wouldn't make the octave the way it needed to.  I'm betting FTM.  It has the best octave of any of those IMO.

[ambulancevoice]

from zvex site
"IMPROVEMENTS:
The newest Octane has the exact same audio circuit as the older ones, but has a special LED switching system that preserves the true-bypass while adding an LED on/off indicator. Also, this switching system silences the pedal's circuitry while it is in the "off" mode so it doesn't squeal or hiss in the background. Finally, there are two improvements to reduce radio reception, which was a serious problem with the older designs, and the main reason why I discontinued the pedal in the first place. In some cities, the older octanes picked up radio louder than the guitar! "

ive got an octane 2 schematic, and its quite clear that the diodes are just for clipping, and that the circuit before it is clearly the octave generator, but since the diodes are germs, is possible that they contribute something to the octave
but, if you look at this gut shot of the octane three, there is alot more transistors and circuits that say otherwise
http://www.beavisaudio.com/gg/images/ZVex_Octane3.jpg

in conclusion... im lost

[nelson]

from zvex site
"IMPROVEMENTS:
The newest Octane has the exact same audio circuit as the older ones, but has a special LED switching system that preserves the true-bypass while adding an LED on/off indicator. Also, this switching system silences the pedal's circuitry while it is in the "off" mode so it doesn't squeal or hiss in the background. Finally, there are two improvements to reduce radio reception, which was a serious problem with the older designs, and the main reason why I discontinued the pedal in the first place. In some cities, the older octanes picked up radio louder than the guitar! "

ive got an octane 2 schematic, and its quite clear that the diodes are just for clipping, and that the circuit before it is clearly the octave generator, but since the diodes are germs, is possible that they contribute something to the octave
but, if you look at this gut shot of the octane three, there is alot more transistors and circuits that say otherwise
http://www.beavisaudio.com/gg/images/ZVex_Octane3.jpg

in conclusion... im lost

All the diodes do is further clip the signal.

In conclusion, either zach is wrong in his email or the info in his little blurb is wrong.

Can't have it both ways.

[zachary vex]

Zack was wrong in his email, sorry.  I didn't look at the schematic and think about my answer before I quickly typed it... I hope you didn't take out the diode.  I'll send you another pair if you did.  The Octavia circuit popped into my head as I was answering you, not the Octane... my bad.

We used to see Octane pedals that sounded great but had no octave-up when the wrong value resistor was installed feeding the base of one of the transistor pairs used to generate the octave.  That's the simplest part you can remove to get rid of the octave.  On the schematic I've got here at home, R11 or R10 (right after the phase splitter) would be your two choices.  I don't have an actual circuit board here to make sure that the values have traveled safely all the way from my original schematic to the final board design in recent years... I'd have to check that at the shop later, so feel free to write to me there later today if you can't verify that those two resistors are feeding the transistor pair's bases.  Not all of the parts on the Octane board are marked with numbers because of space limitations.

[nelson]

Zack was wrong in his email, sorry.  I didn't look at the schematic and think about my answer before I quickly typed it... I hope you didn't take out the diode.  I'll send you another pair if you did.  The Octavia circuit popped into my head as I was answering you, not the Octane... my bad.

We used to see Octane pedals that sounded great but had no octave-up when the wrong value resistor was installed feeding the base of one of the transistor pairs used to generate the octave.  That's the simplest part you can remove to get rid of the octave.  On the schematic I've got here at home, R11 or R10 (right after the phase splitter) would be your two choices.  I don't have an actual circuit board here to make sure that the values have traveled safely all the way from my original schematic to the final board design in recent years... I'd have to check that at the shop later, so feel free to write to me there later today if you can't verify that those two resistors are feeding the transistor pair's bases.  Not all of the parts on the Octane board are marked with numbers because of space limitations.

Awesome customer service.

I see zack characterised as arrogant and egomaniacal - this proves that wrong for me.

Can I have a free seek wah?

[zachary vex]

Awesome customer service.

I see zack characterised as arrogant and egomaniacal - this proves that wrong for me.

Can I have a free seek wah?

I try.  Arrogant and ego maniacal?  I need to start living up to my reputation! 

Can have some free money?

[nelson]

Awesome customer service.

I see zack characterised as arrogant and egomaniacal - this proves that wrong for me.

Can I have a free seek wah?

I try.  Arrogant and ego maniacal?  I need to start living up to my reputation! 

Can have some free money?

With the GBP so strong against the dollar I might buy your company.

[zachary vex]

With the GBP so strong against the dollar I might buy your company.

As they say, everything's for sale!  8^)