Boss OC-2 Octave Settings Guide
The Boss OC-2 (1982–2003) is an analog monophonic octave pedal — one of the most sought-after discontinued Boss units. It generates one and two octave-below signals via analog sub-harmonic generation rather than digital pitch-shifting, producing a warm, slightly buzzy sub-octave character that digital alternatives don't accurately replicate. Works best on single notes above the 7th fret; polyphonic tracking is unreliable. The OC-2's unique analog character is the reason a used market for them continues despite modern alternatives.
Used by: Prince
The best Boss OC-2 Octave settings start with: Direct Level at 7/10, Oct 1 at 5/10, Oct 2 at 0/10. Adjust from there based on your amp, guitar, and room volume. For Blues (sub-octave): Direct Level 7/10, Oct 1 6/10, Oct 2 0/10.
⚡ Start Here — Recommended Settings
| Control | Starting Position | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Level | 7/10 | Off → Full |
| Oct 1 | 5/10 | Off → Full |
| Oct 2 | 0/10 | Off → Full |
These are universal starting points. Adjust based on your amp, guitar, and room. Scroll down for genre-specific settings and artist-documented positions.
What Each Control Does
Recommended Starting Settings
Safe starting positions for any style. Adjust from here based on your amp and room.
All values on a 0–10 scale. These are starting points — fine-tune by ear.
Settings by Genre
Direct Level dominant with moderate Oct 1 — the classic bluesy two-voice sub-octave. The OC-2's analog generation produces a buzzy, slightly imprecise sub-octave that has an organic quality missing from digital octave pedals. Works on single notes in the mid-guitar range; track carefully above the 5th string.
OC-2 before or after a fuzz pedal — the Hendrix Octavia technique on guitar. With Oct 1 dominant the sub-octave reinforces the fundamental and fuzz harmonics produce a complex, fat tone. The analog OC-2 interacts with fuzz differently than digital sub-octave pedals.
Reduced Direct Level with dominant Oct 1 and audible Oct 2 — simulating bass register from guitar. Direct Level at 3 keeps the guitar fundamental present but muted, while Oct 1 at 9 provides the bass-like fundamental. Oct 2 at 4 adds sub-bass emphasis. Works for solo performance where you need to suggest a bass line beneath guitar chords.
Balanced all-three-voices setting for solo guitar performance. Direct Level at 7 for the guitar melody; Oct 1 at 5 for bass-range accompaniment; Oct 2 at 2 for just a hint of sub-sub-bass. This approach lets a guitarist imply three pitch layers simultaneously.
Artist Settings
Documented settings used by professional guitarists on this unit.
Prince used octave pedals (including OC-style analog octave devices) to generate bass register tones from his guitar during solo performance. The OC-2's warm, imprecise analog sub-octave suits the groove-oriented bass-register guitar work in Prince's funk-influenced guitar playing.
Also in Our Rig Database
Guitarists who feature this gear in their documented rig — explore their full setup.
Tips & Common Mistakes
- The OC-2 is monophonic — only play single notes. Chords cause the pitch detection to fail and produce unmusical artifacts. Unlike the Micro POG or later Boss OC-3 which have polyphonic modes, the OC-2 is a single-note instrument.
- The sweet spot for OC-2 tracking is the 5th string (A) to the 10th fret of the 1st string (D) — notes in this range track most reliably. Very low notes (below 5th position on the low E) can produce tracking issues.
- The Boss OC-3 (which replaced the OC-2) added a polyphonic mode and a Drive section but changed the analog sub-octave character. Many players prefer the OC-2 for its simpler, warmer analog character despite its monophonic limitation.
FAQ
Boss OC-2 Octave — Common Questions
Best starting settings for Boss OC-2 Octave: Direct Level at 7/10, Oct 1 at 5/10, Oct 2 at 0/10. Adjust from there based on your guitar, room, and playing style.
For Blues (sub-octave): Direct Level 7/10, Oct 1 6/10, Oct 2 0/10. Direct Level dominant with moderate Oct 1 — the classic bluesy two-voice sub-octave. The OC-2's analog generation produces a buzzy, slightly imprecise sub-octave that has an organic quality missing from digital octave pedals. Works on single notes in the mid-guitar range; track carefully above the 5th string.
For Psychedelic (octave fuzz): Direct Level 6/10, Oct 1 8/10, Oct 2 0/10. OC-2 before or after a fuzz pedal — the Hendrix Octavia technique on guitar. With Oct 1 dominant the sub-octave reinforces the fundamental and fuzz harmonics produce a complex, fat tone. The analog OC-2 interacts with fuzz differently than digital sub-octave pedals.
Direct Level: Dry guitar signal level (Off to Full). Oct 1: One octave below level (Off to Full). Oct 2: Two octaves below level (Off to Full)
The OC-2 is monophonic — only play single notes. Chords cause the pitch detection to fail and produce unmusical artifacts. Unlike the Micro POG or later Boss OC-3 which have polyphonic modes, the OC-2 is a single-note instrument. The sweet spot for OC-2 tracking is the 5th string (A) to the 10th fret of the 1st string (D) — notes in this range track most reliably. Very low notes (below 5th position on the low E) can produce tracking issues. The Boss OC-3 (which replaced the OC-2) added a polyphonic mode and a Drive section but changed the analog sub-octave character. Many players prefer the OC-2 for its simpler, warmer analog character despite its monophonic limitation.
Prince settings: Direct Level 6/10, Oct 1 7/10, Oct 2 0/10. Prince used octave pedals (including OC-style analog octave devices) to generate bass register tones from his guitar during solo performance. The OC-2's warm, imprecise analog sub-octave suits the groove-oriented bass-register guitar work in Prince's funk-influenced guitar playing.
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