The Walrus Audio D1 is a high-fidelity stereo delay pedal in Walrus Audio's Mako series1. It is a multi-function delay built around five studio-grade, custom-tuned programs: Digital, Mod, Vintage, Dual and Reverse234. Walrus Audio describes it as "a powerful multi-function delay" with stereo in and out jacks, full MIDI support and onboard presets1.
The pedal has gone through three stages: the original Mako D1 of 2020, a V2 update in 2022, and the D1 MkII of 2024, which adds an LED screen and a new Grain Delay algorithm567. The original v1 is discontinued and no longer available4.
The five delay modes
Each program covers a different delay texture, and Walrus Audio tuned each one for a specific job1.
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| Digital | Crystal-clear delay, aimed at rhythmic parts and ultra-defined echoes1 |
| Mod | Modulated repeats with random LFOs running at multiple rates1 |
| Vintage | Analog delay inspired tones with complex filtering applied to the repeats1 |
| Dual | Two delays in parallel, each with different time divisions1 |
| Reverse | Reads the delay memory backwards, creating a unique delay repeat1 |
Guitar World's news coverage at launch said the five programs "cover a huge spectrum of sounds," from "dreamy, ethereal soundscapes, to grittier riffage"3. The pedal also offers global and preset tempo modes: global keeps the tempo the same when you change presets, while preset mode uses the delay time stored with each preset5.
Routing, bypass and mono use
The D1 offers Stereo In / Stereo Out routing, and Walrus Audio's page notes the stereo in and out jacks directly1. It is not a stereo-only pedal: Guitar World's review states that "various mono and stereo in/out options are possible," so it works on a mono board as well as in a two-amp rig17. At launch, MusicRadar called it Walrus Audio's "first true stereo in/out and MIDI controllable pedal"18.
There are three bypass modes: True Bypass, DSP+True Bypass (which lets repeats trail off when you switch the pedal off), and DSP Bypass4. Guitar.com's launch coverage described these as "true bypass, DSP bypass and 'DSP+true' bypass for a 'trails' effect"19.
MIDI, presets and connections
The D1 saves up to nine onboard presets, with up to 128 accessible via MIDI4. Full MIDI support covers presets, control parameters and delay time1. Guitar.com's review of the original noted that the nine internal preset banks are cycled through with both footswitches pressed simultaneously, and that full MIDI functionality allows more storage in addition to complete MIDI-based control12.
The MkII expands this considerably: up to 128 onboard presets, with presets 0 to 9 divided into Banks A, B and C, and presets 10 to 128 accessed through manual selection or MIDI16.
Versions: the first Mako pedal, then V2, then MkII
The D1 launched the Mako series at $29919, as Walrus Audio's first true stereo in/out and MIDI controllable pedal18. Guitar.com's review of the original opened by noting that "Walrus Audio debuts a flagship range of studio-grade effects with this high-fidelity stereo delay pedal, the Mako Series," and that the company's "first foray into high-end DSP means business"1220. The series later grew to include the R1 reverb and M1 modulation21.
The V2 arrived in January 2022 at $349, based on user feedback1422. The update added:
- An adjustable stereo width control5
- A revised Reverse program5
- A revised Vintage program emulating a tape delay5
- A USB port for future firmware updates23
The two updates are distinct: the V2 was a revamped version of the original D1, while the MkII is a later, more thorough revision that adds sonic enhancements, new features and an LED screen for easier setting navigation6.
The D1 MkII followed at $399.9915. It brings sonic enhancements, new features and an LED screen for easier setting navigation, plus an all-new Grain Delay algorithm67.
What reviewers said
The original D1 was well received. Guitar.com named it their 2020 pedal of the year, calling it "a beautifully made high-fidelity stereo delay" and "a device that's about doing everything, not just the outlandish"2024. Their review concluded:
"we are confident the D1 is capable of just about any existing delay texture as well as myriad yet to be discovered"
Guitar World's original review praised it as a "flexible tone machine" with myriad practical applications, a verdict the magazine repeated when the V2 arrived25. MusicRadar's review found "a startling amount of functionality available here, far more than we could hope to cover even in a review," and Guitar World's verdict on the V2 highlighted the onboard presets, the practical set of delay types, the MIDI capability and the Attack knob as reasons to buy2617. Pedal of the Day called it "an excellent start to the Mako Series"8. Delicious Audio added the D1 to its list of Best Multi-Mode Delay Pedals6.
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Questions
Is the Walrus Audio D1 discontinued?
The original Mako D1 v1 is discontinued and no longer available, and Walrus Audio's Mako Series D1 High-Fidelity Delay listing is sold out. The line continued with the V2 update in 2022 and the D1 MkII in 2024, which carries the design forward with a new LED screen and a Grain Delay algorithm.
What is the difference between the Mako D1 V1 and V2?
The V2, released in 2022 based on user feedback, kept the five delay modes but added an adjustable stereo width control, a revised Reverse program, a revised Vintage program emulating a tape delay, and a USB port for future firmware updates. The V1 had nine onboard presets and MIDI control but no stereo width knob or USB.
How many presets does the Walrus D1 have?
The V1 and V2 save up to nine onboard presets, with up to 128 accessible via MIDI. The D1 MkII expands this to up to 128 onboard presets: presets 0 to 9 are divided into Banks A, B and C, and presets 10 to 128 are reached through manual selection or MIDI.
Does the Walrus Audio D1 work in mono?
Yes. The pedal has stereo in and out jacks, and reviewers note that various mono and stereo in/out options are possible, so it works on a mono pedalboard as well as in a stereo rig.
Where is the Walrus Audio D1 made?
The D1 is made in the USA. Guitar.com's review of the original described it as a stereo delay pedal made in the USA, and Guitar World lists USA as the origin for both the V2 and the MkII.
How much does the Walrus Audio D1 MkII cost?
The D1 MkII launched at $399 in September 2024. Premier Guitar and Bass Magazine both reported the R1 MkII, D1 MkII and M1 MkII offered at $399.99, and UK pricing was listed at £379 by Guitar.com and £385 by MusicRadar.
Sources (26)
- D1 Stereo Delay, Walrus Audio
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- Walrus Audio announces the Mako R1, a high-fidelity stereo reverb, Guitar.com, 2021-01-20
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- Walrus Audio Mako D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay review, MusicRadar, 2020-06-04
