Octave pedals of the past 10 years have presented guitar and bass players with a tough decision: Are you searching for that classic OC-2–style octave effect — the sound most of us guitar and bass players associate with the octave pedal — to add weight to your leads and walking lines? Or do you want modern tracking and polyphonic capabilities to help flesh out chords in a solo setting? Well, with the BOSS OC-5 Octave pedal, now you don't have to choose. Whether it's thunderous mono sub-bass or strum-enriching root enhancement you're after, the OC-5 has you covered. The OC-5 sports an all-new tracking engine based on some of BOSS's top-tier effects floordboards. The result is one of the smoothest, lowest-latency octave effects you'll ever experience. In addition to the classic -1 and -2 octave controls, the OC-5 gives you a +1 octave dial for achieving faux 12-string textures and screaming classic lead lines. A dedicated instrument switch tailors the OC-5's tracking for either electric/acoustic guitar or bass, while a parallel Direct Out dry path preserves your input signal for running into a dedicated amp or PA. If you've been waiting for the next evolution of the BOSS Octave sound, the OC-5 is where it's at.
Ever since its 1982 debut, BOSS's OC-2 octave effect has left an indelible mark on the guitar and bass market. The great news is that the BOSS OC-5 delivers the classic OC-2 mono sound in a big way, and better than ever thanks to its improved tracking engine. Dedicated controls for your dry tone and each of the two octaves down help achieve synth-like sub-bass and tight octave lead crawls without any fuss.
The BOSS OC-5 picks up where the OC-3 left off, with a smart polyphonic sub tracker that's able to flesh out power chords, open chords, and barre chords with bass-like root notes. It's the last piece of the puzzle for the solo acoustic performer. The OC-5 gives you a Range knob to help restrict octaves to exactly where you want them.
A new +1 Oct control on your BOSS OC-5 Octave pedal unlocks 12-string textures and classic fuzz solo tones. Best of all, this control can be used with either Vintage or Polyphonic mode's -1 Oct and -2 Oct controls for a thick, impenetrable tone.
The BOSS OC-5 Octave pedal's brand-new tracking engine promises low latency, high expression, and zero dropped notes. And whether you're running it in mono or poly modes, this means better performance across the board, even for vintage octave enthusiasts.
A dedicated switch on the side of your OC-5 lets you tailor this octaver's tracking response for guitar or bass. So for the price of one pedal, you're effectively getting two powerful octave effects that you can transplant onto any live pedal rig.
Whether you're running a wet/dry amp rig or you want to send a clean bass signal to front of house, the BOSS OC-5 has you covered. Its Direct Out retains all the character of your dry instrument tone, which means endless possibilities onstage or in the studio.
With a modest 55-milliamp current draw, the BOSS OC-5 is able to give you around seven hours of run time off a single 9-volt battery. This makes it a great option for players who love the sound of alkaline or carbon-zinc. For modern pedalboards, a standard center-negative wall supply works just fine. Searching for the ultimate does-it-all guitar/bass octave pedal? Music Experience recommends giving the BOSS OC-5 Octave a spin.
More than 10,000,000 BOSS guitar and bass effects pedals have been sold to players worldwide, including such top players as Yngie Malmsteen, Dave Navarro, John Petrucci, Marty Friedman, Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani. You've also no doubt heard BOSS pedals recorded and onstage beneath the feet of bands of all genres, including Muse, The Killers, and Silversun Pickups. The reason for the success is clear: not only do BOSS effects pedals sound great - but they're also built like tanks and designed with serious use in mind. Each BOSS pedal is housed in a stomp-ready metal box and features a rubberized stomp area and base, to help safeguard against slipping. So, whether you're a fresh-out-of-the-gate beginner, an axe-veteran designing your dream pedalboard, or anywhere in between, you can depend on BOSS's proven line of pedals to craft your tone.
Fusing classic BOSS octave tones with the latest tracking technologies, the BOSS OC-5 sets a new standard in octave pedal performance. Vintage mode provides a spot-on recreation of the legendary mono OC-2 from 1982, while Poly mode offers numerous enhancements for extended-range playing. And with the addition of an octave-up feature, a span of three octaves is now available for creative exploration. From fat, low mono sounds to octave-shifted chords and more, the OC-5 delivers the widest range, finest sound quality, and best playability in any octave stomp to date.
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Powered by the latest real-time processing technologies from BOSS, the OC-5 provides exceptional sound and playability for the most expressive octave experience ever. A key feature is the newly developed tracking engine, which delivers clean, accurate performance with no latency. The OC-5 also offers wider range and greater polyphonic capabilities than previous OC models, covering all your octave needs in one high-performance pedal.
Introduced in 1982, the OC-2 was the world’s first modern octave pedal for guitar and bass. Still loved by players everywhere, the stomp’s warm-yet-present tone sits perfectly in a mix, and its characteristic voice can be heard in many famous songs. The OC-5’s Vintage mode brings you the OC-2’s iconic mono sound, coupled with improved response thanks to the new tracking engine. Dedicated level controls are provided for -1 and -2 octave effects and the direct sound, giving you quick access to an endless variety of sub-octave colors.
The OC-5 also features an evolved version of the smart Poly mode first introduced with the OC-3 Super Octave, letting you play full chords with octave effects. The variable Range knob restricts the effect to the lower notes on your instrument, perfect for playing octave bass lines alongside normal chords and melodies in the higher registers. And with the new tracking refinements, it’s even possible to isolate the octave effect to the bottom note in a chord—just turn the Range knob to the “Lowest” setting.
Another cool OC-5 enhancement is the new octave-up effect, which is available in both Vintage and Poly modes. Simply twist the dedicated +1 OCT knob to bring in the desired effect level. Use the octave-up effect on its own for faux 12-string sounds and unique solo tones, or blend it with the octave-down effects for extended chord voicings and super-fat leads.
The OC-5 lets you instantly optimize the performance of its tracking engine for either guitar or bass via a dedicated switch on the body of the pedal. And with the Direct Out jack, it’s easy to route dry and effect sounds to different destinations, such as two stage amps or discrete channels on a mixer or audio interface.
| Pedal Type | Guitar/Bass Octave |
|---|---|
| Effects | Octave-up, Octave-down, Poly Chord Mode, Vintage Mode |
| Inputs | 1 x 1/4" |
| Outputs | 1 x 1/4" (main out), 1 x 1/4" (direct out) |
| Bypass Switching | Buffered |
| Power Source | 9V DC power supply required (sold separately) |
| Power Usage | 55mA |
| Batteries | 1 x 9V |
| Height | 2.32" |
| Width | 2.87" |
| Depth | 5.07" |
| Weight | 1 lb. |
| Manufacturer Part Number | OC5 |
