Electro-Harmonix POG2 Polyphonic Octave Generator

Having recently reviewed the Micro POG, and being impressed with all it could do with such limited controls, I was sure the POG2 was going to really give off some crazy sounds. Guess what? It does! I understand the space-saving and simplicity aspects of the Micro POG, but when it comes to my new favorite POG model, this one takes the cake.

Working with numerous options and roughly a bajillion different sounds, the POG2 features a groovy display of a group of sliders that let you severely dial in whatever sounds you want this red box to make. Utilizing -2 Octave, -1 Octave, +1 Octave and +2 Octave controls on the left side (as well as a Dry signal mix slider), this is just the tip of the sonic iceberg as far as what this pedal can do.

The right side of the pedal REALLY open up the options, with so much to take in, it may blow your mind for a minute, and then continue to do so after that minute passes. The main sliders here are Attack (controls the fade-in speed, awesome feature), LP Filter (this works with the Q button in the middle of the pedal) and Detune, all of which are what the main Dry signal runs through when this pedal is active (using the Dry FX selection button), adding a plethora of sonic blasts that are both startlingly unexpected and extremely welcome.

One of the best features about the POG2 has got to be the EIGHT selectable presets, which is just unheard of in an octave pedal…until now. The big dial in the top right corner that controls these presets is easy to manipulate with your foot, as is the second footswitch (which can be used to switch the presets as well), for expressive live switching and extended studio trickery as well.

Featuring flawless glitch-free tracking, a ton of sonic experimentation and more options than you can shake a stick at, the POG2 Polyphonic Octave Generator is really going to be hard to beat in this super-specific effects pedal category, as it is just too much fun. Don’t get me wrong, the Micro and Nano versions of this pedal have their place, as does the big, fat original, but there’s just something special about this mid-sized red beast that is too rad to put into words. Oh, and check out the other pedal lineup that Electro-Harmonix has to offer; it’s as astonishing as the options on the POG2.