Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Klowra's 4th Budding Bloom Series pedal is the Pico POG Killer - Leap Polyphonic Octaver
Key Points
Klowra Leap Polyphonic Octaver (Budding Bloom Series) echoes the EHX Pico POG controls and tone types (Low Pass, Tilt EQ, High Pass) and adds 3 Detune modes (CLEAN / SHALLOW / DEEP) for organ/key voices. The Pico POG is $240; the Leap is $105.
Controls and modes: +OCT, Dry Level, -OCT, Tone, Detune; press-hold footswitch for Infinite Freeze/Ambient Pads. Tone/EQ toggle: Low Pass / Tilt EQ / High Pass.
Specs and ports: CTRL/Remote In, TS In/Out, USB-C, 9V DC @150mA; WildSeed DSP Engine, 44.1KHz, 24-bit AD/DA + 32-bit DSP, 51×92×38mm, 234g. Available direct, on Amazon, and via dealers.
It’s quite evident that Klowra had one eye on the EHX Pico POG when it designed its Leap Polyphonic Octaver. The Leap has all the same controls as the Pico POG including the same tone options - Low Pass, High Pass, and Tilt EQ, but then adds in those super smart 3 x Detune modulation options on top.
For me those 3 Detune options can deliver similar voices to some of EHX’s 9 Series Guitar Synth Pedals. So alas it’s a double hit on EHX!
You can of course just go for the basic Upper and Sub Octave stuff in a Clean manner, but for me the real excitement is in those keys and organ tones - where all my recommended presets are in that area.
This is so far my favourite of the Budding Bloom Series - super easy to dial in, and achieve maximum impact. It easily covers off the Pico POG - and then expands its reach with those really smart Detune options.
The EHX Pico POG is $240, with the Klowra Leap at less than half of that at $105. If you’re in the market for a mini polyphonic octaver then it totally makes sense to go with the one that delivers more, but costs a lot less!
There’s nothing really for me to critique - the unit pretty much performs flawlessly, we’re quite familiar now that Klowra’s build quality is robust and super reliable, and this in an incredibly smart execution of a mini polyphonic octave generator - which one-ups the original source inspiration!
The Controls / Modes, and Ports
Leap Controls - +OCT (Upper Octave), Dry Level, -OCT (Sub-Octave), Tone, Detune : WHITE Clean / BLUE Shallow / DEEP Amber, Tone / EQ Type : Low Pass / Tilt EQ / High Pass, Press-hold Footswitch for Infinite Freeze and Ambient Pads.
Ports - CTRL / Remote In, TS In, USB-C for Updates, 9V DC [-] 150mA, TS Out.
THE MODES
3 x MODE / DETUNE BUTTON
- CLEAN - unadulterated!
- SHALLOW - subtle Detune modulation
- DEEP - more substantial Detune modulation
3 x MODE TOGGLE SWITCH : EQ / Tone Types
- Low Pass (Hi-Cut)
- Tilt-EQ
- High Pass (Lo-Cut)
All very straightforward and easy to apply - dialling this pedal in is a breeze!
The Klowra Lick Demo is essential viewing - as below!
Using the Pedal and Preferred Presets
So far the easiest of the Budding Bloom Series to operate - and one that delivers instant satisfaction. I of course started off by viewing the Klowra Leap Lick Demo (below!) - and tweaked and extrapolated for my settings - the last one is nigh identical to Klowra's recommendation - while the first 2 have more of my spin - but are roughly in similar areas - as the Klowra Lick Demos set my starting points for me - whence I adventured forth!
Here are my 3 Key Leap - essentially different 'Organ' sounds.
- PRESET 1 : Clean Detune + LP - 'Chimey-Keys' : Upper Octave accentuated Bell-like Chimey Keys Sound!
- PRESET 2 : Shallow Detune + Tilt EQ - 'Tonewheel-y' : a sort of super early Tone Wheel style late 1930's organ
- PRESET 3 : Deep Detune + HP - 'Gone to Church' : more of a church pipe organ style sound - near identical to Klowra's 'Back Pipe Organ' Preset
The Lick Demo has further examples - obviously there are myriad uses for Upper Octaves - with Fuzzes, Overdrives and Distortions, and using Sub-Octaves for pseudo Bass Guitar Tones!
The standard stock octave stuff is all very obvious - what the Leap particularly excels at and what makes it unique are those organ-like Detune Modulations!
Leap Polyphonic Octaver Features & Specs, and Buying a Unit
- Flawless Polyphonic Tracking
- Full-Range Signal Integrity
- Infinite Freeze & Ambient Pads
- Tri-Mode Filter Tuning
- Multi-Phase Detune
- Part of the brand new Budding Bloom Mini Series
- Polyphonic Octave Generator
- External Footswitch / Remote CTRL compatible
- Featuring WildSeed DSP Engine
- Constantly Evolving Firmware Ecosystem
- Selectable power-up Bypass Modes
- Ultra Compact, Robust, Road-Ready Design
- 3 x Button Detune Modes : Clean / Shallow / Deep
- 3 x Toggle Tone Modes : LP / Tilt / HP
- Pedal Type : Digital Polyphonic Octave/Freeze Pedal
- Effects : Polyphonic Octave / Freeze
- Inputs : 1 x 1/4"TS Instrument
- Outputs : 1 x 1/4"TS Instrument
- Input Impedance : 500k Ohm
- Output Impedance : 100 Ohm
- External Control : TS Momentary footswitch
- Bypass Mode - Switchable : True Bypass, Buffered Bypass
- Power Source : 9V DC power supply required
- Current Draw : 150mA
- Hardware Interface : USB-C
- Sample rate : 44.1K Hz
- Sampling accuracy : 24-bit AD/DA Conversion & 32-bit Floating-Point DSP
- Package Contents :3.5mm TS (Male) to 1/4" TS (Female) Audio Adapter Cable, Exclusive Sticker, Quick
- Start, Safety Instructions,Product Catalog
- Dimensions : 51mm H x 92mm D x 38mm W / (2.0"H x 3.6"D x 1.5"W)
- Package Size : 59mm H x 140mm D x 140mm W / (2.3"H x5.5"D x 5.5"W)
- Net Weight : 234g/0.515lb
- Package Weight : 358g/0.788lb
- MAP / RRP : $105
Klowra pedals, including the Leap Polyphonic Octaver are available Direct from Klowra and via Amazon.com, and are increasingly available at select International Dealers too.
Demos
