Bending Time in True Stereo
For all the technological advances made in the wide world of guitar effects, few things can hold a candle to the distinctive character of analog, true-stereo delay. The good folks at Walrus Audio seem to agree, and their take on this iconic avenue of sound shaping has guitarists at Sweetwater eager to send their sonics to multidimensional planes. Enter Meraki. Designed with eight MN3005 chips, Meraki elicits evocative delays and rich repeats, paired with a detailed suite of modulation, division, tone, sync, and stylization tools that empower players to achieve nuanced sonic sculpting and aural excavation. With delays up to 1,200 milliseconds, onboard per-channel controls, optional MIDI integration, and EQ attenuation, Meraki masterfully blends iconic analog character with contemporary control, enriching any rig for guitars and beyond.
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Three modes, two channels, and limitless potential
Meraki was designed with three delay modes: Parallel, Ping-Pong, and Series. In Parallel, left- and right-channel paths operate independently, letting you adjust repeats, rates, and modulation for each pathway without affecting the other. Ping-Pong delay funnels the feedback from one channel into the opposite, bouncing around the mix. Series mode sends repeats from the Left channel to the input of the Right delay line, which repeats with the addition of Left-channel repeats, allowing for complex, syncopated rhythms that dance throughout space and time. As a bonus, Walrus Audio has even outfitted Meraki with two Bypass modes so you can decide if you want delay trails or a neat, true bypass. Did we mention the Tone knob? You can introduce an adjustable Tilt EQ for the delay lines. With master Mix and Time controls, as well as per-channel Feedback adjustments, this triad of delays offers endless sound-shaping opportunities. However, we’re only scratching the surface.
Dialed-in delays with decadent detailing
A tripartite delay pedal is a powerful tool in itself, but the innovative minds behind Meraki weren’t content to stop there. Each channel features its own 3-way Tap Division switch, allowing you to choose between quarter-, dotted-eighth-, and eighth-note patterns, but these switches have further functionalities to hone your tones. When holding the bypass switch, you can access a second layer of sound design: the left switch lets you adjust the modulation pattern that’s attenuated by the Mod knob, with sine, square, and random wave shapes. Performing the same thing with the right switch, you control the phase of the modulation with 0-, 90-, and 180-degree offsets. At zero, both channels are in phase; when pushed to 180, it conjures vast stereo breadth, with one channel rising as the other falls, resulting in undulating soundscapes and dynamic aural textures. For the ambitious among us, let us direct you to the Mod // Time switch. Its Sync, L, and R options dictate which side of the pedal you’re adjusting: both, left channel, and right channel, respectively. Using this, each channel can operate with totally independent time values, note divisions, and even the rate, depth, or shape of the modulation.
Extensive connectivity and an instrument all its own
Meraki’s stereo 1/4-inch I/O pair can lead to compelling signal paths within your rig, whether you’re processing one instrument or more, but its versatile connectivity options help morph Meraki into an instrument of its own. Along the back side are two 5-pin DIN MIDI ports for MIDI In and Thru, respectively, and an additional 1/4-inch jack accommodates an external connection for expression or tap tempo (adjusted via internal dip switch). Using MIDI or an external expression pedal allows you to make nuanced, real-time adjustments to parameters like Time or modulation depth. MIDI goes a step further with its capacity for controlling digital parameters, and when you imagine the innumerable ways MIDI can interface with external devices and instruments, vast worlds of interoperative potential soar into focus. If you need more texturization tools, the onboard Tap switch can be held to activate the Oscillate mode, automatically maximizing the feedback of both channels for an instant deluge of sound. What’s more, releasing the switch reverts parameters back to their knob locations, making for painless activation or inventive opportunities for on-the-fly adjustments.
Walrus Audio Meraki Analog Delay Pedal Features:
- Robust, analog delay pedal offers true stereo I/O for extensive, multidimensional sonic sculpting
- Onboard controls are streamlined and straightforward, maximizing hands-on adjustments without compromising depth
- Three delay modes offer distinct foundations for further space-shaping: Parallel, Ping-Pong, and Series
- Per-channel time divisions and feedback values let you craft reactive, immersive sound spaces
- Dual-layer functionality allows Division 3-way switches to adjust modulation shape and phase values to explore extensive delay configurations
- Dual bypass modes provide flexible integration options with True Bypass and a secondary mode to retain delay trails
- Delay times range from 80–1,200ms, accommodating a broad swath of stylistic needs
- Mod knob can be used to elicit chorus- or vibrato-like effects with your repeats through its depth adjustments, but holding the bypass switch lets you modify its rate as well
- Versatile connectivity suite means extensive control via 5-pin DIN MIDI and external tap or expression inputs, granting limitless worlds of interoperative expressivity with your rig
