Can I use the overdrive and octave effects separately?

Yes, the pedal features independent footswitches for each effect, allowing you to use the Soul Food or the Nano POG alone or together.

What does the 'Mode' switch do?

The Mode switch offers a choice between two different octave-up sounds, providing additional tonal variety for the polyphonic octave section.

Does the Soul POG have an effects loop?

Yes, it includes an FX Loop that allows you to insert other pedals in the chain between the Soul Food and the Nano POG.

Is the octave tracking polyphonic or monophonic?

The Nano POG section features polyphonic tracking, meaning it can accurately track chords and multiple notes simultaneously without glitching.

Can I change the order of the effects?

Yes, the pedal includes a switch that allows you to place either the Soul Food or the Nano POG first in the internal signal chain.

What controls are available for the Soul Food section?

The Soul Food section includes Volume, Treble, and Drive knobs to shape the transparent overdrive sound.

What controls are available for the Nano POG section?

The Nano POG section features Sub Octave, Octave Up, and Dry knobs to control the blend of the octave and original signals.

What is the typical price for the Soul POG?

The typical price range for a new Electro-Harmonix Soul POG is approximately GBP 299.

Is the overdrive circuit transparent?

Yes, the Soul Food circuit is designed as a transparent overdrive, meaning it adds gain without significantly altering the fundamental tone of your guitar.

Can I use an expression pedal with the Soul POG?

The Soul POG does not have a dedicated expression input for its internal parameters, though users often pair it with external pedals like a Yamaha FC7 via the FX loop for other effects.

How does the Soul POG compare to a Big Muff?

While a Big Muff provides heavy distortion and sustain, the Soul POG offers transparent overdrive and clean polyphonic octaves, making it better for articulated, multi-tonal textures.

Gear article

Electro-Harmonix Soul POG

The Electro-Harmonix Soul POG is a dual-engine multi-effect pedal that integrates two of the brand's most popular circuits: the Soul Food transparent overdrive and the Nano POG polyphonic octave generator. It is designed to offer guitarists a streamlined solution for combining harmonically rich drive with precise, glitch-free octave tracking in a single enclosure.

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Overview

The Soul POG is a versatile utility and performance pedal that houses the Soul Food transparent overdrive and the Nano POG polyphonic octave generator. By combining these two distinct effects into one unit, Electro-Harmonix provides a compact solution for players who frequently stack drive and octave sounds. The pedal is designed for flexible signal routing, allowing users to engage the effects independently or simultaneously to create thick, synth-like tones or subtle harmonic enhancements.

Key Features and Signal Routing

One of the primary advantages of the Soul POG is its internal and external routing flexibility. It features a built-in effects loop (FX Loop), which enables the insertion of other pedals, such as a Boss DD-3T Digital Delay or a Fender Hammertone Flanger, specifically between the Soul Food and Nano POG sections. Furthermore, a dedicated toggle switch allows the user to determine the order of the internal signal chain, placing the overdrive either before or after the octave generator to significantly alter the resulting texture.

The Nano POG Section

The octave portion of the pedal is based on the Nano POG circuitry, renowned for its polyphonic tracking that handles chords as accurately as single notes. It includes dedicated controls for Sub Octave and Octave Up levels, as well as a Dry knob to mix in the original signal. A unique feature of the Soul POG is the 'Mode' switch, which provides two distinct algorithms for the Octave Up sound, offering different harmonic characters to suit various musical styles.

The Soul Food Section

The Soul Food side of the pedal serves as a transparent overdrive, providing a touch-sensitive response that maintains the original character of the guitar and amplifier. Its controls include Volume, Treble, and Drive. At lower gain settings, it acts as a clean boost with added harmonic sparkle, while higher settings produce a smooth, saturated drive. This circuit is often used to push the front end of a tube amplifier or to add grit to the Nano POG's synthetic tones.

Sound and Character

The sonic character of the Soul POG is defined by its clarity and versatility. The polyphonic octave tracking is 'flawless,' meaning it does not suffer from the glitching associated with older monophonic octave pedals like early versions of the Digitech Whammy. When combined, the transparent nature of the Soul Food ensures that the octave-shifted notes remain articulated rather than becoming muddy. This makes it an effective tool for mimicking 12-string guitars, organs, or bass-heavy power trios.

Comparison and Suitability

The Soul POG is best suited for guitarists who want to save space on their pedalboard without sacrificing the quality of dedicated single-effect units. Compared to using a standalone Electro-Harmonix Big Muff for fuzz-heavy octaves, the Soul POG offers a more 'refined' and transparent alternative. It competes with other multi-effect units by offering specialized analogue-style drive paired with digital polyphony, a combination that is harder to achieve with standard individual pedals like a Behringer UC200 Ultra Chorus without complex wiring.

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Frequently asked questions

What two pedals are combined in the Soul POG?: The Soul POG combines the Soul Food transparent overdrive and the Nano POG polyphonic octave generator into a single chassis.
Can I use the overdrive and octave effects separately?: Yes, the pedal features independent footswitches for each effect, allowing you to use the Soul Food or the Nano POG alone or together.
What does the 'Mode' switch do?: The Mode switch offers a choice between two different octave-up sounds, providing additional tonal variety for the polyphonic octave section.
Does the Soul POG have an effects loop?: Yes, it includes an FX Loop that allows you to insert other pedals in the chain between the Soul Food and the Nano POG.
Is the octave tracking polyphonic or monophonic?: The Nano POG section features polyphonic tracking, meaning it can accurately track chords and multiple notes simultaneously without glitching.
Can I change the order of the effects?: Yes, the pedal includes a switch that allows you to place either the Soul Food or the Nano POG first in the internal signal chain.
What controls are available for the Soul Food section?: The Soul Food section includes Volume, Treble, and Drive knobs to shape the transparent overdrive sound.
What controls are available for the Nano POG section?: The Nano POG section features Sub Octave, Octave Up, and Dry knobs to control the blend of the octave and original signals.
What is the typical price for the Soul POG?: The typical price range for a new Electro-Harmonix Soul POG is approximately GBP 299.
Is the overdrive circuit transparent?: Yes, the Soul Food circuit is designed as a transparent overdrive, meaning it adds gain without significantly altering the fundamental tone of your guitar.
Can I use an expression pedal with the Soul POG?: The Soul POG does not have a dedicated expression input for its internal parameters, though users often pair it with external pedals like a Yamaha FC7 via the FX loop for other effects.
How does the Soul POG compare to a Big Muff?: While a Big Muff provides heavy distortion and sustain, the Soul POG offers transparent overdrive and clean polyphonic octaves, making it better for articulated, multi-tonal textures.