DOD Meatbox behaviour

[Undertone]

May II seek a little knowledge from seasoned DOD Meatbox users please.

 

I just bought a brand new DOD Meatbox. First thing I do is match the volume & timbre of the affected signal (effect on), to that of the unaffected clean tone (effect off). Playing through a Trace AH350SMX I've had new since the early 1990's (onboard effects off / flat).

Octave & Sub knobs fully CCW, Output at 2pm, Low at 3:30pm.  Volume match exactly, timbre not quite but pretty good.

 

Now to add some octave down, I bring up the Octave knob to 2pm, the octave down is heard, but the overall output volume (perceived) goes DOWN!  Quite a BIT!   As though the octave sucks the original signal.  Is that normal?  Is it the aim?    Does the Output knob lset the output volume no-matter-what (regardless of other controls) thereby sucking clean tone when Octave is added?  (perhaps for speaker-safety?).

Some volume returns if I then bring up Sub to midday, but I don't want to on this occasion.

 

I also find it a bit noisy. The Trace has a little hum, but significanly more with the Meatbox (which I'm powering from a Strymon Ojai with no other pedals).

 

What's going on?

Thanks

[Byo]

I can't answer for the noise you're experiencing, but regarding the Meatbox itself, I have always found it behaves differently to a regular octave pedal.

 

I have always used mine on a clean parallel signal that is split from my compressor and goes straight to a DI and to FOH. Never in line with my amp or other effects.

 

The intent behind the Meatbox, or at least the meta that Juan Alderete popularised, is to give you that ultra low bass extension that pushes the subs in a venue. Emulating the range of a 808 synth.

 

The eq controls, as far as I recall by memory, were around 30Hz and 60Hz (I could be wrong), which will make any amp sweat a little if you are pushing them. This is essentially killing all your headroom too.

 

Maybe the perceived volume drop is based around the frequencies that are boosted when the pedal is engaged.

 

Not sure if you have access to a second amp or a PA system, but if you can split the signal into two separate rigs, you will really be able to balance your main sound and the sub accordingly.

[Byo]

Forgot to mention that the general rule of thumb with the Meatbox, and other variants like the Mantis Density Hulk, has always been to max out the controls and let the pedal do its magic via the PA.

 

Mantis even released the version with the EQ knobs inside the casing as users tend to run the thing maxed out anyways.

 

Beware, you can fry a speaker and even a power amp section if you are not careful! There is so much low end content that amps struggle, hence the PA + Subs approach.

Edited Monday at 17:38 by Byo

[Undertone]

Hey thanks. The 2 amps thing is a good idea, although I'd like not to have to do that. Headroom comment noted too.

I'd have loved to get hold of a Mantis but they're tough to come by in the UK.

Seen lots of vids & comments re potential gear damage so I'm at low volumes at this stage.

[Byo]

What are you trying to achieve with the Meatbox?

 

Only asking, as there might be something else that might do the trick for you instead.