Carl Martin Octa-Switch II

[rupe]

I had an opportunity to grab one of these today and jumped on it without knowing much about it. I haven't been completely happy with my racked pedals rig simply because I still have a lot of stuff on the floor (Ground Control, wah, tuner, volume) along with a 6-space rack...just a PITA to haul around and set up. The Octa-Switch II looks like it may be exactly what I need...8 settings that allow any combination of 8 different pedals...more than enough for my needs. Additionally, it has to switchable outs that can change channels on my Marsha...score!!!

Does anybody use one of these? Thoughts?

If this thing works as well as the reviews that I've seen indicate, I'll be able to scrap the rack and keep everything in front of me on the floor. Anybody looking for an RG-16 and/or a Ground Control can keep their eyes on the classifieds

 

[LP Freak]

I was looking at those. I'm interested to hear how it works out for you.

 

[rockify]

I was looking at one of these however I went with the gigrig midi 14 instead, had a few more loops, midi channel switching for my amp and almost idiot proof to use.
However, for the price..the Carl Martin delivers fantastically!

 

[Michi]

I had the Carl Martin Combinator (the "big brother" of the OctaSwitch) for a short while and ya it is very much like the reviews indicate. Works like a charm with looping pedals and changing channels too!

I flipped the Combinator only because I don't like having a huge pedalboard at my feet and to me that thing is massive even with a few pedals only. And it's not that portable compared to my current pedalboard, OD, delay, eq, phaser, channel switcher and tuner all in a board sized approx 11" x 11" .

 

[rupe]

I flipped the Combinator only because I don't like having a huge pedalboard at my feet and to me that thing is massive even with a few pedals only. And it's not that portable compared to my current pedalboard, OD, delay, eq, phaser, channel switcher and tuner all in a board sized approx 11" x 11" .

That's why I originally racked my pedals and went with the RG-16, but by the time I added the Ground Control for my switching along with the few pedals that I needed to have on the floor, I still ended up with a pretty big board in front of me. I'll still have the pedal board but I can lose the rack now...that's my thinking anyhow. I'm curious to see if it works for me...if not I'll just go back to the rack.

 

[Michi]

I'll still have the pedal board but I can lose the rack now...

Yeah I can see your logic, makes complete sense to me.

If I'm not going for the Kemper as my go-to live setup I think I'll have to re-evaluate my approach as well, I'd like to get an even smaller pedalboard at my feet, only a small midiboard, tuner and wah and that's about it. The rest in a small rack, 2-3 units tops.

I'm sure the OctaSwitch will solve your problems, it's quite a nice size after all!

 

[killertone]

I too had the Combinator a few years ago. It worked very well.

I have been back and forth with the pedalboard/rack and the switcher on the board and really neither is easier or better. It's kind of 6 one way half a dozen the other. I almost always flip flop between the two after a few gigs because I keep thinking one is easier than the other but not really.

 

[rupe]

I have been back and forth with the pedalboard/rack and the switcher on the board and really neither is easier or better. It's kind of 6 one way half a dozen the other. I almost always flip flop between the two after a few gigs because I keep thinking one is easier than the other but not really.

I suspect that's the conclusion that I'll come to as well