Overview
The Walrus Qi Etherrealizer is a multi-type effects guitar pedal, equally useful with electronic keyboards, including synthesizers. It was designed for a “creative playground for atmospheric exploration”. It has four independent effect sections which are; Chorus, Delay, Granular, and Reverb. Finally, it has a resonant low pass filter. It offers two types of chorus, two types of granular processing, plus processing of the four sections in either series or parallel mode. It can save up to three presets
Main Features
- Four Concurrent Effect Sections (Chorus, Delay, Granular, Reverb)
- Option to process effect section is series or parallel.
- Adjustable resonant low pass filter
- Stereo input and output connectors.
- True bypass footswitch.
- Trails Mode: Selectable between trail on or off after bypass is activated.
- Preset Storage – The three parameters can be stored and recalled using the footswitch. Multi-colored LED representing bypass, normal, and preset modes. A total of 127 can be stored and recalled via MIDI.
- Fully MIDI controllable via In and Thru Mini Connectors
- Firmware updatable via USB-C connector
- Stereo input and output connectors.
- True bypass footswitch.
- Trails Mode: Selectable between trail on or off after bypass is activated.
- Preset Storage – Three parameters can be stored and recalled using the footswitch. Multi-colored LED representing bypass, normal, and preset modes. A total of 127 can be stored and recalled via MIDI.
- Fully MIDI controllable via In and Thru Mini Connectors
- Firmware updatable via USB-C connector
Adjustment Details
As you can see in the video, the pedal has twelve knobs, four small switch buttons, and two push foot switches. With all of this, the following can be controlled;
- Chorus;
- Dry/Wet Mix
- Rate
- Depth
- Types: Tri or Stereo
- Delay;
- Dry/Wet Mix
- Decay / Feedback
- Time
- Divisions: Quarter, Dotted Eight, or Eight.
- Tap Switch
- Oscillate Switch
- Grain / Granular;
- Dry/Wet Mix
- Grain Size
- Playback: x 1, x 2, x .5, Reverse, Random
- Types: Grain Cloud or Phrase Sample
- Grain / Granular Freeze Switch
- Reverb with Space control knob allowing adjustment from small room sounds to large ambient sounds with long decays.
- Adjustable resonant low pass filter
Testing
Although I have 40+ synthesizers, I am for this effect test using one of my most simple synths, the Yamaha PSR-36, which although it has a synthesizer function, it has no built-in effects. Furthermore, I did not add any external effects or processing. On the Yamaha PSR-36 I am keeping things simple, by mainly using a few different sounds; Electric Piano, Strings with and without turning on the “Synthesizer” function, and Pipe Organ 1 near the end.
Video
I’ve made short video demonstrating how the Walrus Qi Etherealizer multi-effect unit can turn a simple Yamaha PR-36 keyboard with synth capability, into an ambient dream machine. https://youtu.be/lSzRZgL4piQ
Effect type details
- Chorus: Choose from two different flavors of modulation:
- Tri Chorus: A wide, rich-sounding chorus with three delay lines with phase offset modulation applied to each delay line resulting in a lush modulated signal.
- Stereo: Classic chorus effect with the added benefit of stereo width by offsetting the modulation by 180 degrees in the right channel. Note that in Stereo mode, turning the Chorus Mix knob fully clockwise will create a Vibrato sound.
- Rate: Controls the rate of the modulating LFO. A higher rate will produce a faster and more pronounced pitch modulation, while a lower rate will produce a slower and more subtle effect.
- Depth: Controls the depth of the modulating LFO. This affects the amount of pitch modulation applied to the affected signal.
- Delay: The Delay program is a clean, crisp digital delay with up to a two second delay time. Use the toggle button to select between quarter, dotted eighth, and eighth note tap divisions.
- Time: Turn the Time knob clockwise to increase the length between delay repeats. The Tap/Osc switch can also be used to tap in the desired tempo in quarter note intervals.
- Feedback: Controls the amount of repeats. At minimum, there will be one repeat. At maximum, the delay repeats will slowly trail off over several seconds.
- Granular: The Grain effect features two ‘flavors’ of operation:
- Grain Cloud: This mode triggers small samples (grains) randomly from your playing, which gives you unpredictable, yet charming glitchy texture for your sound. The X knob controls the length of time between grains, so you can go from dense clusters to sparse accents.
- Phrase Sample: This mode triggers grains rhythmically from your playing. Initial peaks in your playing are detected and grains are played back starting at these peaks, creating a rhythmic and intentional effect. The X knob controls the tempo at which the samples will be played back. Turning the X knob to the minimum position will sync the Phrase Sample time to the Delay time so that repeated grains are in time with the Delay repeats.
- The Grain effect also features 5 playback modes that dictate different ways the grain samples are projected:
- x1: Normal
- x2: Double-speed and +1 octave
- x.5: Half-speed and -1 octave
- REV: Reverse playback
- RNDM: Randomized combination of the previous four modes.
- Reverb: The Space knob smooths out the wet effects by applying a lush hallstyle reverb. Go from small room sounds at minimum to large ambient sounds with long decays at maximum. Note: The reverb will only apply to wet effects, not the dry signal.
- Resonant LP: The Tone knob controls the cutoff of a resonant low pass filter. Turning the knob counter-clockwise will remove higher frequencies from the wet effects.
Connectors
- Power: There’s only option to power this effect pedal, and that is with a standard negative center pole 9V female socket. Power requirements are 300mA.
- Input: Two ¼” (6.5mm) unbalanced female mono TS jack sockets.
- Output: Two ¼” (6.5mm) unbalanced female mono TS sockets.
- MIDI: In and Thru via mini MIDI sockets.
- Data: Firmware upgradable via USB-C socket.
Build Quality: Case, Knobs, and Switches
The metal case and knobs are very sturdy. The adjustment and selection knobs enough distance between them to make it fairly easy to tweak. The foot switches seem very solid and of good quality. At $449 is surprised me that the pedal does not have rubber grip pads on the underside, preventing it from sliding around. I mean the $17 pedal I bought from China have grips!
Documentation
- Not even at $449 do you get any documentation included in the box!
- I had to go to Walrus’s website, find, download, and print the manual, which is horrible and I absolutely hate it! With its colorful, “artistic” design cluttered with repetitive images, and inconsistent text alignment, it is very cumbersome and confusing read! Actually, some of the background and text color combinations make it very hard to read! Walrus, please keep your artistic creativity to your products, and leave us some plain to read, white background, black text thanks!
Firmware Update
Updating the firmware for the first time was a bit cumbersome. Initially the Walrus update page would not update the unit as Chrome could not communicate with it. Then I downloaded a recommended driver, installed, and rebooted Windows. After I still had no luck, so figured out I had to go to the Windows Device Manager to manually update the newly installed driver. Anyways after the update, I had to power cycle the unit in order to confirm the new firmware was installed. Good thing is for the next update it will be a lot easier!
Size
- Dimensions: 5.82” / 148 mm wide x 4.87” / 124mm deep x 2.29” / 58mm tall
- Weight: 1.3 lbs
Pros
- Four concurrent quite controllable effect sections running serial or parallel.
- Resonant low pass filter.
- Stereo In/Out.
- MIDI Controllable.
- Three presets via switches and all 127 via MIDI.
Cons
- Manual – No documentation included in the box, and what was downloadable is confusing, and some places very hard to read!
- Updating the firmware for the first time was a bit cumbersome.
- No grips pads in bottom of case.
Conclusion
I do like the Walrus Qi Etherealizer multi-effects pedal a lot! If you’re into ambient and/or “dreamy” music, you ought to consider it. Sure, at about $450 it’s not exactly cheap, but keep in mind you get four quite controllable effect types operating simultaneously, in either serial or parallel, and in a stereo, plus the ability to control the unit via MIDI, store and load presets, and it is firmware upgradeable!