Product: Monkey FX OtterShocker
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted
03/01/2005
at
07:36am
by
Dan Robins
Ease of Use
:
10
Very straight forward. No knobs to tweak. This is a custom made switching system featuring twelve loops which are triggered by a remote switcher. Absolutely no noise, no fuss, and no midi. The system sets up in seconds by plugging in two CAT 5 cables to control the relays in the loops. So what you have is the switcher unit which is on stage at your feet. This is called the Outer Otter. The power for the Outer Otter is delivered via the CAT 5 cables which are connected to two units of six loops each, which I locate behind the amp within a case that holds the effects pedals and power supply. These units are called the Inner Otters which both require 9 VDC. I use a Boss PSA 120T wall wart. The Outer Otter has a switch for each loop and a bright LED to indicate on/off for each loop. The switches are conveniently spaced, but no more than necessary, which keeps the Outer Otter reasonably compact. Each Inner Otter has a master input and output plus a send and return for each loop. You simply connect each pedal to a loop in the order you desire.
Sound Quality
:
10
I gave this a 10 because it is absolutely silent. It has no effect on the tone or volume. All loops are true bypass.
Reliability
:
10
All components are top drawer. Build quality is superb. Design is very straight forward. I don't anticipate any problem.
Customer Support
:
10
I doesn't get any better than this. Andi was very helpful in working through a custom design with me. He responded immediately to all my questions and was most willing to incorporate all of my requests, even down to the outstanding paint job. Andi regularly kept me updated on the progress of the Otter Shocker. Even has a great sense of humour. You will not encounter the snobby arrogance of some you have to deal with in this field. My whole objective in this was to avoid midi. Scrolling through banks and programming is not my thing. Just simple, dependable, quality design was what I was after.
Overall Rating
:
10
I would be lost without the Otter Shocker at this point. It completely did away with the mess of chords and stomp boxes at my feet. I highly recommend visiting the Monkey FX website to checkout the many products that are available.
Product: Monkey FX OtterShocker
Price Paid: US $196
Submitted
04/09/2003
at
09:13am
by
Jorge Luis Varela
Ease of Use
:
10
You don't need a manual, you just have to connect things right...
Sound Quality
:
10
This is not an FX unit, is a remote true bypass loop system, so no sound is created from it, but it can help you to improve your rig overall sound.
System consist in two sections, the InnerOtter stays at the rack and has the actual loop switches and the OuterOtter stays at your pedalboard and has the actual footswitches, no audio is transferred between the two units.
Mine is a custom made 2 loop system, bus since Monkey FX accepts custom jobs, you can customize it 100%.
I'm using it to be able to have a pure/hot signal coming from my Soldano preamp to my Boogie poweramp, and from the pedalboard being able to switch in/out from the main signal my HUSH unit and my Lexicon FX unit.
Reliability
:
10
Yes, i think i can depend 100% on it!!
If this unit fails, this will be caused by relays or switches, that as you know have their own lifetime and can be easily replaced, and i'm sure that i will have Andi advice and help to make the unit work again!!
Customer Support
:
10
EXCELLENT, period!!!!!
Overall Rating
:
10
For $US 196, including shipping from the UK to South America and a 6ft. midi cable, this unit worth every penny!!
If it's stolen i would but it againg for sure, but probably with a rackmount version of the InnerOtter.
Monkey FX will be VERY known if Andi keeps his good work, and his excellent customer support, and i'm sure he will...
www.monkeyfx.co.uk
