Carl Martin Octa-Switch MKII Effects Pedal SwitcherThe
Carl Martin Octa-Switch II Effects Pedal Switcher is the ultimate tool for any serious guitarist who wants simple and effective control over different effect combinations! Ok, so you have eight effects pedals which you use regularly. You use various combinations of these pedals in various songs, but you are not good at tap dancing.
Your eight effects plug into the eight effects-loops on the back of the Carl Martin Octa-Switch II (all true-bypass, impedance free, gold relays so you can run any of your pedals, new and old without problem), and then by turning on or off the numbered switches in each of eight DIP Bank switches, you determine which effects you wish to use simultaneously in each Bank.
Carl Martin Octa-Switch II Effects Switcher Features - Plug in up to eight effects into the eight effects-loops on the back of the switcher
- By turning on or off the numbered switches in each of eight DIP Bank switches, you determine which effects you wish to use simultaneously in each Bank
- Blue LED for every effects loop used and for each Bank
- 100% true-bypass, impedance free, gold relays so you can run any of your pedals
- Bypass Switch allows you to completely bypass all eight pedals for the clean sound of your amp
- Two External Switching jacks allow you to use two amplifiers and/or switch channels on those amps
The Octa-Switch II has a ninth switch on the left side which is a BYPASS Switch. This allows you to completely bypass all eight pedals and enjoy only the unaffected sound of your amplifier. There are also two External Switching jacks which allow you to use two amplifiers and/or switch channels on those amps. There is a buffered (or not…switchable) Mono input and a stereo Output, and the Carl Martin Octa-Switch II is powered by dual 9v batteries, or by a regulated power supply.
Setting up the Octa-Switch II
To set up the Octa-Switch II, plug up to eight pedals and amp(s) into the appropriate inputs/outputs on the back of the pedal. The pedals can be in any particular order you prefer or you can follow the general rule from 1-8 of compression, overdrive, and modulation. Then by turning on or off the numbered switches in each of eight DIP Bank switches, you determine which effects you wish to use simultaneously in each Bank.
There is 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). In order for the pedals to work properly with the Octa-Switch II, all the pedals must be turned on.
Please note, the DIP switches are slide type, NOT push down. They are easily operated with a small screwdriver, a pen, or a very very small finger.
There is a buffered or True Bypass (non-buffered) switch at the back of the Carl Martin Octa-Switch II which you select depending on the stage set-up or your personal preference. 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). A buffer circuit at the input allows the user to choose between 100% true bypass or a buffered bypass to 'beef' up the signal.
The Octa-Switch II has stereo outputs as well as the stereo return on Loop 8 (this is a stereo jack with tip-left and ring-right). Since stereo effects like choruses are placed at the end of your effects-chain, we would typically insert them in Loop 8.
Setting up the External Switches, is as easy as setting up the Banks. The two external outputs correspond to the two DIP switches above them and their Green/Red LED's. The simplest set-up is with one amp…plug the amp's channel switch into the External Switch Jack 1, and select which of the eight banks require a switched channel (ie high gain) by setting the individual DIP Switches to 'ON'. Now; when you engage Bank 6 for instance, it will automatically switch to high gain rather than having to step on another separate switch.