A Spirited Soundscape Generator from Covet’s Yvette Young
Crafted in collaboration with star math-rocker and stompbox obsessive Yvette Young, the Walrus Audio Qi Etherealizer is a multi-effects masterwork that unlocks expansive and enveloping atmospheric textures. This pedal’s tripartite configuration of effects includes two choruses, a tap tempo-enabled digital delay, and two Grain voices, with the ability to run these captivating sounds in series (Chorus into Delay into Grain) or parallel (all three effects summed together). Each of the Qi Etherealizer’s portions sports a plethora of parameters to shift and shape your signal. You also get a global control section that supplies Mix/Dry adjustment, a powerful resonant lowpass filter Tone control, and a lush reverb that transforms from a resonant room to a cavernous echo with the twist of the Space knob. To top it all off, Walrus Audio enabled this powerhouse box of ambient allure with true stereo ins and outs, MIDI In/Thru 1/8-inch ports, and a trio of onboard preset slots. All in all, the Qi Etherealizer is the ideal example of a stompbox that rewards experimentation and, in Yvette’s own words, is aimed to inspire guitarists “to sound a little less guitar-y and more . . . magical!”
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Comprehensive chorus section
First up on the list, this pedal’s Chorus section comprises two distinct sounds to swap between: Tri and Stereo.
- Tri Chorus: By combining a trio of chorus voices into a lush and enveloping whole, Tri Chorus supplies you with a rich, complex, and multifaceted wash of modulation.
- Stereo Chorus: As you might have guessed from the name, Stereo Chorus grants you a classic chorus tone, only with the modulation of the effect offset 180 degrees to the right channel, resulting in an expansive stereo effect.
Gorgeous granular effects
The Qi Etherealizer’s Grain section selects and triggers small samples (grains) of your signal, modifying them in various ways to result in an effect that oscillates between stuttering glitch effects and exquisite, ever-moving textures. Two distinct voices of Grain are at your command, while the Playback knob provides five positions to determine how your grains are warped: normal speed, double speed with an upper-octave effect, half-speed with a lower-octave effect, reverse playback, and a setting that randomizes between all four modes for all-out chaos.
- Grain Cloud: A favorite feature of Sweetwater’s brave ambient explorers, this mode randomly selects portions of your playing to send through the Grain section, releasing them in a sporadic fashion for always-surprising sonic anomalies. In this mode, the Qi Etherealizer’s X knob dictates the length of your individual grains, taking you from rapid clusters to more irregular activations.
- Phrase Sample: In comparison, this mode triggers grains rhythmically, tracking initial peaks in your signal and playing back your grains starting from these peaks. In this mode, the X knob controls the tempo of the samples. Moreover, turning this knob to its lowest position syncs the Phrase Sample engine to your Delay time.
Clean and pristine digital reverb
Considering how colorful the Qi Etherealizer’s Chorus and Grain sections are, it’s fitting that the digital delay section is reasonably straightforward — think of it as a blank sonic canvas for this pedal’s more tumultuous textures! Aside from its frenzied self-oscillation function — accessible by momentarily holding down the tap tempo footswitch — this section represents a rock-solid digital delay, offering up to two seconds of repeat time and clean, crisp repeats.
Walrus Audio Qi Etherealizer Features:
- Crafted in collaboration with genre-defining math-rocker Yvette Young — leader of her band Covet, a boundary-pushing guitarist, and a true stompbox obsessive
- Designed to transform your signal from standard 6-string sounds to expansive waves of textured (and sometimes chaotic) ambience
- 3 dedicated effects sections (Chorus, Grain, and Delay) to explore, along with a global reverb (Space)
- Gives you the ability to run all 3 effects in either series or parallel operation
- Effects can be bypassed for more traditional tones and textures
- Mix/Dry knob controls wet/dry mix in Series mode and dictates the level of your dry signal in Parallel mode
- Grain section samples, modulates, and plays back your signal with 2 distinct voices: Grain Cloud and Phrase Sample
- 5 playback modes to transform your Grain samples, ranging from normal speed to reverse to octave effects and more
- X knob unlocks voice-specific parameters when Grain mode is selected
- Freeze footswitch unlocks momentary mayhem when you’re in Grain mode
- Chorus section with 2 styles to choose from: Tri Chorus and Stereo Chorus
- Crystal clear digital Delay section with up to 2 seconds of repeat time
- Delay section sports a handy subdivision switch and a tap tempo/self-oscillation footswitch
- 3 preset slots to save your favorite sounds
- True stereo I/O; 1/8-in. MIDI In/Thru jacks
- USB-C port to upgrade your pedal with future firmware updates
