Carl Martin: OCTA-SWITCH (How it works)

www.carlmartin.com
www.montreuxguitars.com
This video was commissioned by Montreux Guitars, Japan. All cables used in the video are Montreux Guitars cables (and very good they are, too!). All appearing pedal brands were at the request of Montreux Guitars.
The amp used is a Laney L50H Class A half-stack. It's a KILLER amp! See: www.laney.co.uk for more info on the L50H and Laney's other great tone monsters.
The Showman and Powerstation products are by Diago UK. Many thanks to James Kitchen. See: www.diago.co.uk for more info on their fine products.
Voodoo Lab supplied the Digital power supply to send juice to the Faux Tape Echo and AMT Reverberry. Many thanks to James Santiago for his help. See: www.voodoolab.com for more info on their great stuff.

[@robby188]

You are my favorite demo maker on KZbin, All your demo's are very well explained and clear

[@smacman68]

This is a brilliant concept. I saw one at my local shop for $200 and wanted to see if that was a good price for one of these used. It was the Mk II model. New, they're running around $375, so that is not too bad a price.

[@HowardFrischer]

when i was playing electric, i always wanted something like this - Rock-on!

[@sbiegs3885]

More people should mic their videos like you! Good demo!

[@58VOSLP]

Love this pedal, true bypass so it wont change the tone of your guitar, buffered if you want to make sure your not losing hi end from long cable runs and 2 channels can be stereo (mono in stereo out(returns)) and a main stereo out if you want to run true stereo on stage.

[@tremelo68]

I appreciate this video more than the first one, as it allows us to hear the switching. Sounds pretty seamless (no clicks or pops). Is that your experience Burgs?

[@SuperEffCee]

That thing is AWESOME! Must get. Thanks for the easy-to-understand demo. Also... *most* excited to see what you think of the ZT Lunchbox! Cheers, Burgs! :-D

[@JerEvil]

Fantastic video. Sold me on the Octa II.

[@sportsportsport]

You played some Rush stuff! - I got three tickets in the post today to see them in 2013! hehe ;) you ROCK!

[@filipedelbel]

Great demo :D thanks

[@CccOrgWichita]

Great video! Do those patch cables sound as good as they look?

[@sidhree]

Hullo Burgs! That's the neatest demo yet for the Octaswitch! What surprised me however was that YOU were the one doing it. I got one and even though I'm happy with it, I can't help but wonder how big pedalboarders like yourself go around without a similar device. You (plural) have all these pedals in your signal path, but still prefer not to use loopers. I understand this video was commissioned and it's complicated to be honest, but I'm a new "looper" and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it...

[@mikestipstricksreviews7178]

I am having one issue with my Octaswitch. I added the Digitech Trio to the 8th loop after reverb and delay. However whenever I activate the loop in the presets the led lights on the octaswitch dim a bit. The Trio runs on it's own power source so that's not it. Plus the pedals don't get power from the octaswitch. Any ideas as to what is drawing the power from the lights? I know it has something to do with the Trio because I didn't have this problem until I added it...

[@DJbreakstuff]

Thank you Brett for this great video, you helped me a lot =) Keep going! greetz, Chris

[@MalCooper]

0:27 Are the 8 footswitches for each send/return or for 8 presets? The DIP switches are for the send/return loops?

[@ksmons]

How many amps can this unit send out to? My current (complicated setup) I have 2 Marshall JCM900 heads on the left that are running in stereo from a MXR stereo chorus for full dirty sound. On the right I run 2 Fender twins where the Boss SuperChorus feeds them for my cleans and overdrives. So, 4 amps in total, but 2 on each side used in stereo. Never do I have all 4 running at once. It's either the 2 Marshalls or the 2 Fender Twins. What say you???

[@TomRossi83]

Great!!! can you tell me what patch cables are that? i need a cables like that ones..Thks

[@BrettKingman]

I've tried quite a few great compressors but the one I always seem to come back to is the Empress. It just sounds amazing to me. The Wampler Ego Squasher, EBS and Carl Martin (Quattro compressor) are all great as well. If you want something that just sounds great - a little like a Vox's natural compression - then you should look at BearFoot's. There you go, plenty to think about! :)

[@miguelaraujo8526]

Is it possible to route the signal for the fx loop and the front of the amp with 4 cable method?

[@voodoochild0403]

Great product, seems very useful! One question though, if I understand the features correctly, it's not possible to run the different pedals hooked to the octaswitch both in front of the amp and in the effectsloop? For instance, a drive in front of the amp in loop 2 of the octa, and then a delay in the fx loop of the amp in loop 8 of the octa switch? Great demo!

[@Biggerbyte]

I see a pedal power 2 unit off to the right. Is it powering the pedals in this video?

[@ChrisBrooksGuitar]

Are all those pedals going to the front of the amp? Curious because you mentioned activating reverb (for example) when changing channels on the amp, and I figure reverb in front of a dirty amp would be all kinds of messy. I guess this switcher works best when using pedal gain in front of the amp?

[@perr1983]

Hi Brett! Can you tell us what's your favorite compressor pedal??? I'm going to buy one but I can't decide which one. I heard good things about Carl Martin's, Diamond, Empress, Keeley, MXR... Thanks (love your videos!)

[@WatchmansGallery]

Lets say you have pedal with stereo input/output. Do you need to use two of the eight loops for that pedal to achieve it's stereo effect? I have an eventide timefacter and strymon Blue sky. That's why I'm asking :) Thanks you! Great demo

[@LioFuzz]

Hi, my amp have 2 dirty channel, Can I use the both separately? For example use crunch on the firs click and ultra on the second? (I have a Peavey Ultra Plus) Sorry for my english is not to good but I try. Thank you in advance.

[@PhillipMoita]

Comes with power supply? Thanks from Portugal.

[@Oyhus]

Can the Octa Switch run exclusively through the amps loop, or is it a "in front" type board?

[@AZFunk]

If I have 1/2 my pedals running in front of the amp (compressor, Tube Screamer, MicroVibe) and the other 1/2 in the loop of my Mesa Boogie Mark V (harmonizer, chorus, delay, reverb), there isn't a configuration that handles that scenario with this correct? I get most of my gain from the 3 channels of my amp with the TS as just a little boost.

[@aspebrend]

very usefull device I will order one right awy thx

[@Rudii_TM]

Hi Brett, first of all, nice review this is exactly what I'm looking for at the moment, but I have one question and hope u can answer it :) I'm currenty using an AMT P2 distortion pedal as a preamp, that means I have one cable going from my guitar to the AMT, then I'm going through some other pedals and from that directly into the FX Return of my amp, so basically Guitar -> AMT P2 -> FX Return of amp. If I now add the OCTA-SWITCH, and put my AMT in one loop of the switch, I'm basically bypassing my preamp if I select a preset without the AMT in it or not? So if I would select a clean preset with a chorus and a reverb, but NOT with the AMT in it, I would probably get not a good sound, or no sound at all right? Do you know, if I can use a preamp pedal as a looped pedal within the OCTA-Switch and then going in the FX Return of my amp? Because I'm not sure, if it would work.. I know I could just run the AMT directly in front of the amp, but I like the sound using it as a preamp much more... Thanks in advance! Greetings from Germany :)

[@florianjager1380]

carlmartin.com › octa_switch... Octa-Switch MK2 - Carl Martin The Manual tells you how to Do that. Have a look at the end of the document

[@sbiegs3885]

Chain set up PLEASE!!!

[@3FlyingFarts]

excellent video . Price in Canadian dollars ? where can i get one in Canada ?

[@paintballingNiNja714]

Awesome is it true bypass and does it have tuner out and how about tap tempo

[@rickmilam413]

Obviously I need more patch cables and the lengths will increase. I use a buffer so that's not an issue but would like to use good quality cables. No idea what you're using but I like the uniformity and they look like high quality. Recommendations? My unit will arrive this week. Use a Carl Martin Compressor, Chorus (love everything but the power cords), and your EQ on occasion. Thanks.

[@fusioniskey]

What about stereo pedals. Does it work with them as well ?

[@EroWheel]

Wanna know if it work great with a germanium fuzz il the loop? Sound goog with the Klinger anyway...

[@Sam785211578]

Hi! I'm from Brazil and here there is a handmaker that produces some amps and he has a product called penta-switch which came out some time ago. Could this octa-switch be a rip off based on his or is it the other way around?

[@safedangerband]

Question: I have a Mesa Mark IV and would like to connect in order to switch my amp, but the cable is not a quarter inch jack like a normal instrument cable it is like a MIDI or some other type of connection. Is there anyway I can still connect it to the Octaswitch

[@Ilicet]

yes, this guy sucks at reviewing stuff. watch this guy, he's much better kzbin.info/www/bejne/epXPeaGgfM2ampI

[@leolapulga6784]

how does the channel switching work on a Marshall JVM 215C, since it has green-orange-red-Modes for both the Clean/Crunch and Overdrive Channel...?

[@StringsMusicImport]

+Leo Hanke Hi, did you get an answer for that question ?

[@BluesLicks101]

Wish it was programmable with something other than frail DIP switches. Also it does not allow re-positioning of order of effects.

[@kmhMESA]

I'm sure it's just me encountering this problem, but I have the original Octa-Switch and when I engage the buffer, I lose all signal. It has done this since the day I got it brand new. Anyone have any input on this short of taking it apart (which I may end up doing anyway)?

[@mrkite89]

Have you some old fashioned germanium fuzz pedal in the chain? They Don't like buffers...Anyway, it works well for the rest? I'm thinking about buying one...

[@paintballingNiNja714]

Also could you just assign each one too its own and add say I want 1&5 on together is it possible

[@HCkev]

Is there a switcher like this that supports the amplifier's FX loop? I have some effects that needs to be "in front of the amp" while others needs to be in the FX loop. For example, for my lead tone I have an overdrive pedal (as a boost) in front of the amp, and a delay in he FX loop. I would like to be able to enable both at the same time, but they are in two different paths... With this switch, all effects needs to be either all in front of the amp or all in the FX loop... Any solution to this problem?

[@metalucaca]

Same problem for me... If you have an answer please tell me :) Maybe connect a send of the octaswitch to the input of your amp, the amp-loop to the corresponding return of the octaswitch and plug output of the octaswitch to the return of your amp-loop. You have to consider the path of your preamp like a whole effect. Draw a schematic :)

[@metalucaca]

Yes that's it, follow the link ==> carlmartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/manual-octaswith-mk2.pdf

[@mildjohn]

If one has pedals with stereo I/O this really doesn't cut it, does it?

[@PJyrstinkangas]

The newer Mark III version features one stereo loop. In case you were still wondering :D

[@11-inch]

Hello Brett! How do you incorporate this into a stereo 2 amps setup?

[@Ilicet]

you can find the manual online and it shows you how to use two amps. You can have the amp output be 1 amp, and then use 8 send (no return) for the other amp, you would just have to have 8 selected for everything you wanted to go out of that amp. You could do the same if you wanted certain combinations to go to specific amps, you'd have 8 and 7 sent to the amps. The german guy on youtube has a video where he does that.. it's like 29 minutes long very detailed.

[@Ilicet]

this is the link to the german guy kzbin.info/www/bejne/epXPeaGgfM2ampI

[@Cauldronics]

Awesome device. I just wish it didn't cost a mint for the CM and all of the needed cables. Ouch! But if you need it, you need it.

[@humpmastajoe16]

I understand this activates certain pedals, but is there a pedal like the octa-switch that can actually save all of the pedals exact settings at the time they are saved to a preset? For example, is there a pedal where you can save a certain tempo from a delay pedal to one preset, and then assign a different tempo using the same delay pedal to another preset?

[@MrBrain009]

guitar processor)))

[@groovecat7]

Check the Strymon Timeline. 200 programmable presets for delays.

[@galgogergo]

Try the TC G System :))

[@bee17167]

Cool

[@YetAnotherBeginner]

Great demo Burgs!!! as always happen each time i see your demos i'm hit by G.A.S and go shop for your stuff..by the way i love diago pedalboards i'm going to get one!!! hey what happened with Sadie not demoing with you? does she reached the age she no longer spend time with his father? :-))) joking.. bye love to you and family.

[@666jony666]

How hoes the channel switching feature work with three channel amps?

[@MrWarisnake]

I think it's not capable. Multi channel amps usually require a midi cable to be controlled by a pedal switcher. I have that issue with my JVM

[@SickMetalAddict]

My only concern is do all of those pedals go straight through the amp? Or can you have it in such a way so that the FX loop pedals go through the FX loop, but the drive / octave / compressor pedals straight through the amp?

[@Blooddrunk1995]

I was wondering this too

[@Ilicet]

it's nice that this guy never answered any of the questions about the product he was reviewing for the company that makes them... yes you can, the manual has diagrams on how to do it.

[@BrittonShrum]

this thing is badass haha

[@Chingu-nm6wp]

great send me one

[@Bflatest]

they really need to bring the price of this device DOWN. Right now it has dip switches hehe all the new stuff out has on the fly editing where you use your feet to do cool stuff this is so static! it needs to be 250

[@hddrummer8838]

Tosin anyone???

[@BRUNOCMUSIC]

shut up and take my money, where can i get this!