The Walrus Audio D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay is a digital, multi-function delay pedal and the first pedal in Walrus Audio's Mako Series. It carries five studio-grade, high-fidelity, custom-tuned delay programs, runs in stereo with stereo input and output jacks, and offers full MIDI control with up to 128 presets1. Walrus Audio calls it a powerful multi-function delay, and each program can be customized with modulation, tone, decay age and subdivisions1.
The five programs are Digital, Mod, Vintage, Dual and Reverse2. The original D1 launched at the beginning of 2020 and was Walrus Audio's first true stereo in/out and MIDI controllable pedal34. It was updated as the V2 in 2022 and later rebuilt as the MkII, and the original version is now discontinued5.
What the D1 does: five delay programs in stereo
Each of the D1's five programs has its own character, and each can be tailored further with modulation, tone, decay age and subdivision settings1.
| Program | What it does |
|---|---|
| Digital | A clean, clear delay sound12 |
| Mod | Applies modulation to your repeats12 |
| Vintage | Uses complex filtering to conjure up analog delay sounds of decades past12 |
| Dual | Two delays in parallel, each with different time divisions1 |
| Reverse | Reads the delay memory backwards, creating the reverse delay effect12 |
The Dual program behaves differently depending on how you run the pedal. In mono, the two delays are added together; in stereo, one set of repeats goes to the left output and one to the right7. The pedal offers various mono and stereo in/out options, so a player can run it as a simple mono delay or as a full stereo setup11.
An Attack knob adds a dynamic dimension to each program. Pedal of the Day found it softens the attack of the echoes, and that turned up alongside higher Repeats settings it can create dreamy and ethereal soundscapes12.
The controls
The front panel keeps the delay basics familiar. Guitar World's reviewer Trevor Curwen described the layout: standard Time, Repeats and Mix knobs set up the basics, with Time controlling the length of the delay and Repeats setting the number of echoes1110. Beyond those, three tailored parameters are available for each delay type through the Tweak knob, selected by a Tweak switch covering Mod, Tone and Age11.
Tap tempo is handled by a dedicated footswitch, alongside a Bypass footswitch, with quarter, eighth and dotted eighth note divisions selectable1211. Each mode can be tweaked and tuned with modulation, tone, age, and tap/clock subdivision8.
The pedal saves up to nine onboard presets, and up to 128 are accessible via MIDI6. The D1 is packaged in a custom anodized silver aluminum enclosure measuring 4.9" x 2.52" x 2.64", a pedalboard-friendly size128.
Power and connections
The D1 requires a 9V DC supply capable of supplying 300mA minimum613. That draw rules out a standard 9V battery and means a small daisy-chain output may not be enough on its own.
Connections are standard inputs (Left/Mono, Right) and standard outputs (Left/Mono, Right), plus MIDI IN and MIDI OUT10. The MIDI implementation gives full control over all parameters, delay time and preset access101. Guitar World's review notes the power adaptor is not supplied with the pedal11.
History and versions: the first Mako Series pedal and its MkII update
Walrus Audio launched the Mako Series at NAMM in January 2020, beginning with the D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay, which the company described as its most ambitious line of pedals98. It was the first pedal in the new range, a visually staid departure from Walrus Audio's usual graphic-bedecked pedals11. MusicRadar's NAMM coverage noted the D1 carried a $299 price at launch4.
The D1 was well received, and Guitar World later called it "incredibly well-reviewed" when introducing its Mako Series follow-up14. In January 2022, Walrus Audio released the updated D1, available at $34913. The 2022 update added:
- Stereo width control with two widening types, Panning and Haas Stereo Effect8
- A retooled Reverse program for a stronger effect8
- A revised Vintage program emulating a tape delay5
- USB functionality for firmware updates via walrusaudio.io15
The MkII version followed, described by Walrus Audio as a feature-packed, high-fidelity all-in-one delay pedal with complete BPM control for the user with readout on screen16. It raises the preset count to 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. Its bypass modes are listed as True Bypass, Hybrid Bypass and Buffered Bypass16.
The original D1 is discontinued and no longer available, and Walrus Audio's listing for the standard version shows it sold out6. The MkII blemished listing also shows sold out status16.
What reviewers said
Reviews of the original D1 were strongly positive. Pedal of the Day wrote in February 202014:
"Their latest creation might just be their best one yet, as it encompasses everything we all love about delay pedals, featuring a ton of options to play with, and amazing sounds to create."12
Pedal of the Day12
Guitar World's Trevor Curwen listed the onboard presets, the practical set of delay types, the MIDI capability and the Attack knob among the reasons to buy, and the pedal made Guitar.com's best pedals of 2020 coverage, where it was described as "a beautifully made high-fidelity stereo delay"1217.
When the V2 arrived, Pedal of the Day admitted the original had left little room for improvement:
"we didn't think they could improve upon it, or would need to. Well, we were wrong"15
Pedal of the Day12
The same review called the V2 "a brilliant, feature-packed machine filled with everything you could want in a delay"15. Guitar World's V2 review noted the dedicated tap tempo footswitch, the nine onboard preset slots, or a full 128 with MIDI, and the three selectable bypass types18.
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Questions
Is the Walrus Audio D1 true bypass?
It can be. The D1 offers three selectable bypass modes: True Bypass, DSP+True Bypass (which lets trails continue after you switch off), and DSP Bypass. The MkII version calls these True Bypass, Hybrid Bypass and Buffered Bypass. You choose the mode that suits your setup.
Does the Walrus D1 have MIDI?
Yes. The D1 has MIDI IN and MIDI OUT connections and full MIDI support, giving control over parameters and delay time as well as access to up to 128 presets. Walrus Audio describes it as the company's first true stereo in/out and MIDI controllable pedal.
How many presets does the Walrus Mako D1 hold?
The original D1 saves up to nine onboard presets, with up to 128 accessible via MIDI. The MkII raises this to 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 MIDI.
What is the maximum delay time on the Walrus D1?
Delay time runs from 60 milliseconds to 2 seconds, with tap tempo available and quarter, eighth and dotted eighth note divisions selectable. Each program can also be customized with modulation, tone, decay age and subdivisions.
What changed on the Walrus D1 MkII?
The 2022 V2 update added stereo width control with two widening types (Panning and Haas Stereo Effect), retooled the Reverse program for a stronger effect, revised the Vintage program to emulate a tape delay, and added USB functionality for firmware updates. The MkII adds complete BPM control with a readout on screen.
Is the Walrus Mako D1 discontinued?
The original D1 is discontinued and no longer available, and Walrus Audio's own listing for the standard version shows it sold out. The updated MkII version followed in 2022, though Walrus Audio's blemished MkII listing also shows sold out status.
Sources (18)
- D1 Stereo Delay, Walrus Audio
- NAMM 2020: Walrus Audio MAKO Series, gearnews.com, 2020-01-15
- Walrus Audio Mako Series M1 High-Fidelity Modulation Machine pedal review, MusicRadar, 2022-06-09
- The best new effects pedals of NAMM 2020, MusicRadar, 2020-01-24
- MAKO Series: D1 High-Fidelity Delay, Walrus Audio, 2022
- MAKO Series: D1 High-Fidelity Delay v1, Walrus Audio
- MAKO Series: D1 High-Fidelity Delay, Walrus Audio, 2022
- Walrus Updates the D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay, Premier Guitar, 2022-01-18
- NAMM 2020: Walrus Audio launches its new Mako Series in high fidelity with the D1 Delay, Guitar World, 2020-01-15
- Walrus Audio Mako D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay review, MusicRadar, 2020-06-04
- Walrus Audio Mako D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay review, Guitar World, 2020-06-22
- Walrus Audio D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay, Pedal of the Day, 2020-02-15
- Walrus Audio updates the Mako Series D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay with refined tones and new functionality, Guitar World, 2022-01-18
- Walrus Audio's feature-rammed Mako Series expands with the dreamy R1 High-Fidelity Stereo Reverb, Guitar World, 2021-01-20
- Walrus Audio MAKO Series: D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay V2, Pedal of the Day, 2022-02-05
- Mako Series MKII: D1 High-Fidelity Delay, Walrus Audio
- Gear Of The Year: Best guitar effects pedal of 2020, Guitar.com, 2020-12-03
- Walrus Audio Mako D1 High-Fidelity Delay V2 review, Guitar World, 2022-06-29
