ORBIT CODE - Improved OCD (demo/review)

[CoolGuitarGear]

No affiliation to the company.

Pedal Mob’s true bypass ORBIT CODE is a modified OCD that resolved the OCD high impedance issue (and how it affects downstream pedals with too much emphasis on the upper mid-range and treble frequencies). In essence, Orbit Code has low impedance at output, which means you can have any pedal before it (high or low impedance) without causing signal issues. Conversely, if the OCD pedal has a low or mid impedance input pedal before it, you would experience a volume drop. I never tried an OCD pedal, but will take the builder’s word for it. The results are a smoother and more transparent tone, and the Orbit Code does have that in spades; it has a very natural sounding grain and touch response. On that note, it does amaze me how many good pedals there are out there for under $100 (Orbit Code is $65 on eBay.com).



The sound is excellent, as quality components are under the hood of this South Korean build (not to be mistaken with cheaper Chinese pedals). But Orbit Code has a few tricks up its sleeve, such as providing multiple textures, viz., overdrive up to 11-o’clock (with very little bottom end emphasis) and more of a fuzz-like bassy (more bottom end) distortion at 12-noon and beyond. Now, it’s not exactly a fuzz sound, for fuzz haters, but thicker and hairier in texture. With the gain down all the way, it acts as a Boost, albeit not 100% clean and with a small amount of grit in the signal… only enough to heighten the details and definition so that the original tone pops better in the mix. Bump up the Gain slightly and you begin hearing a crisp response that blossoms into a meaty, defined drive around 9-o’clock and beyond.

Moreover, Orbit Code has a three-position toggle switch, as opposed to only two positions with the OCD, the latter of which has a HI Peak with an upper frequency tilted up, and a LO Peak having a slightly lower frequency focus. Orbit Code has an upper (toggle switch down) and lower frequency focus (toggle switch up), but also a middle position (toggle switch in the middle), which has more bite or cut than the lower frequency, but not as much as the upper frequency position.

I reached out to Pedal Mob to get a better understanding of these three positions and their intentions for use. The LO and MID Peak (it’s the middle position, but I’ll call it the MID Peak position, which has only a 5Hz gap between itself and the HI Peak position) resemble a Fender amp’s tone stack curve. Conversely, the HI Peak position (toggle down) resembles a Marshall tone stack. This design concept also separate the Orbit Code from the OCD’s original tone curve. The builder suggested using the MID and HI frequency settings if paired with a Fender amp or single coil, and the LO frequency setting for the Marshall, so it doesn’t sound as ‘harsh’ with the HI frequency setting (which resemble the Marshall tone stack). In my opinion, and based on my limited gear and tinkering (and not playing through Fender or Marshall amps/cabs, but direct playing through my computer and Kali Audio IN-8 monitor speakers), I could go either way, as I find Orbit Code sounded awesome no matter the frequency position and whether using humbuckers, single coils or a Fender vs. Marshall cab sim. And so, it comes down to one’s taste, but also the style of music and being able to cut through the mix.

This is the fourth pedal I reviewed from Pedal Mob (they currently have only four), and after years of reviewing and tinkering with gear I will say that although Orbit Code and the other Pedal Mob pedals are budget priced, they are anything but ‘cheap’ pedals. There are serious electronics and quality standards you will find that are not in cheaper budget pedals (‘cheap’ refers to quality and not price), and if you’re looking for a brand name that Pedal Mob replicates, I do suggest delving into the less expensive arena, particularly considering how pricey gear is becoming. A few other details: Size & weight - 3.7x1.9x1.9(inch)/93x47x47(mm), 0.33lbs/150g; Power: DC9V center-negative, 30mA current. draw

https://www.pedalmob.com/pedals