Walrus Audio M1 MkII

The Walrus Audio M1 MkII is a stereo, all-in-one digital modulation pedal featuring six studio-grade programs: Chorus, Phaser, Tremolo, Vibrato, Rotary, and Filter¹. It sits in Walrus Audio's Mako series of stereo, multi-algorithm pedals, and the MkII update brings a 2-inch OLED screen, a flanger sound added to the Chorus algorithm, updated Rotary and Filter algorithms, total BPM control, an internal wet/dry mix, and 128 onboard presets²³. For a player, it means covering nearly every modulation effect on one pedalboard slot, with deep editing when you want it.

The M1 MkII lists at $399.99 on Walrus Audio's product page as of October 2026¹. It is a digital pedal, with a dark blue finish featuring red, orange, cream, gold, green, purple and blue ink, in an enclosure measuring 4.9" x 2.52" x 2.64" with knobs¹. All Walrus Audio products are covered by a limited lifetime warranty¹.

Six modulation modes in one stereo pedal

The M1's six programs each offer three different types, selected by the Type control, giving eighteen algorithms in total²⁴. MusicRadar summarized the range: "On the M1 you have chorus, phaser, tremolo, vibrato, rotary and filter, with the chorus algorithm also handling flanger"⁵.

Walrus Audio describes the Chorus program as running "from subtle chorus to vibrant and lush tri-chorus that will instantly teleport you to the 80s"¹. In the Rotary program, the X knob controls the drive of the horn².

The flanger is new to the MkII. Guitar Pedal X welcomed it: "Within the 3 formerly Chorus voicing options we now have a Flanger at last - great news for me!"⁸. It replaced the original M1's dual-chorus mode, and guitar.com's Josh Gardner wrote, "I certainly didn't miss the replaced dual-chorus mode as a result"⁹. The original M1 had been flagged in buying guides for having no flanger¹⁰, so the addition closes a real gap for players who want that effect alongside chorus.

The controls

The MkII keeps the Mako series knob layout and adds screen-based editing. Guitar World lists the controls as Rate, Depth, Lo-fi, Mode, and 2 parameter controls⁷, with each program further customized through the left encoder knob for features like effect type, BPM, wave shape, and more program controls¹.

Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson was enthusiastic about the Lo-Fi variables, writing:

Guitar Pedal X, November 2024⁴

The two footswitches offer tap tempo, preset navigation and a series of momentary effects². The MkII adds total BPM control, allowing you to select a specific tempo and read it out on the menu screen for the Chorus, Phaser, Tremolo, and Vibrato programs¹. The original M1's tap tempo footswitch could also be used for a Skip performance effect¹¹.

Presets, MIDI and connections

The maker's page says the M1 MkII holds 128 onboard presets, held in a preset bank made accessible by tapping down on the bottom left and bottom middle knobs simultaneously, with presets 10 through 128 accessible through manual selection or MIDI¹¹². Delicious Audio and Guitar World describe it differently, as 9 onboard presets with 128 accessible via MIDI²³.

MIDI control is extensive. The pedal has mini-jack MIDI In and Thru plus USB-C⁷, and MIDI allows control over most of the M1's parameters¹¹. Guitar Pedal X notes MIDI compatibility for external control and preset selection⁴. Connections are stereo in and out, so the pedal works in mono or stereo rigs⁶¹³.

Power and bypass

Power requirements are 9V DC at 300mA minimum¹. Guitar Pedal X specifies an isolated 9V DC center-negative supply at 300mA minimum⁴, and the original M1 ran on a 9V power supply only, with no battery option⁶. A 300mA draw rules out a standard 9V battery and means the pedal needs a supply or an isolated output capable of that current.

The bypass is switchable: Walrus Audio lists both True Bypass and Buffered Bypass¹, and Guitar World describes it as a switchable relay or buffered bypass⁷. That lets you keep the pedal's DSP out of the chain when off, or leave a buffer in place to drive long cable runs. The original M1 used a DSP bypass⁷, so the MkII's relay true bypass is a change players with strict bypass preferences will notice.

What reviewers said

Guitar World's Jonathan Horsley reviewed the MkII and listed among its reasons to buy "top-shelf sounds and creative ways to manipulate them," a super compact size, a very welcome display screen, and the new flanger³. His spec summary noted 9 onboard presets, 128 when connected via MIDI, and 9V, 300mA power³.

Guitar.com's Josh Gardner reviewed the MkII in September 2025⁹. Guitar Pedal X's first impressions of the Mako Series II called it a high-fidelity stereo modulation pedal, with the Lo-Fi section standing out⁴. Walrus Audio itself describes the M1's six programs as fine-tuned modulation algorithms: Chorus, Phaser, Tremolo, Vibrato, Rotary, and Filter¹.

For context, the original Mako M1 carried the same six programs the MkII builds on: Chorus, Phaser, Tremolo, Vibrato, Rotary, and Filter¹. The MkII adds a 2in OLED screen measuring 128x32 pixels and a left encoder knob for features like effect type, BPM, wave shape, and more program controls¹. It lists at $399.99¹, and the Mako Series MKII M1 is currently sold out¹¹².

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