Rebuilt from the ground up... Was it worth it? Walrus Audio ACS-1 Firmware 2.0 | Secret Weapons

[@SG-4u]

If you come here to watch Mark’s gear reviews, which is how I showed up here and stuck around, and you watch long enough, you will get to see his guitar playing and production getting better over time. Most noticeable on video with the bass I suppose, but an evolution in composition and skill across the board. Good on you, Mark, conquering multiple things and once and keeping at the art and craft part.

[@DGGriffinMusic]

The question is…are you going to be using the ACS1 more in place of the Ruby/Dream? I’ve spent time with pretty much all of the big players in the Amp Modeling, end of board solutions. The ACS1 has been my choice for live playing even before the update. Being able to use 2 amps in such a small footprint has been ideal for my small, grab n’ go sized board.

[@tylergorham7301]

I love seeing Walrus's consistent pattern of updating software on existing devices, rather than solely focusing on new SKUs! Adds a lot of confidence to purchasing within their Mako line 🤘

[@sub-jec-tiv]

It’s cool that they’ve updated Mk1 with algorithms even after they’ve released Mk2.

[@patchpit]

Mark, this pedal was my first pedal I use live without an amp but I end up returning it for UA Dream because of some limitations but now with the new firmware I just picked up another recently and it is just so amazing I'am just blowed away I just put together another pedalboard with this pedal and it will never leave, anyway thanks Mark for all the great videos and content! Walrus Audio Rules!

[@johnhennessey5]

Which one do you like more and would keep if you could only keep one? The walrus acs-1 or the dream 65

[@sub-jec-tiv]

@@johnhennessey5 Totally depends on what you need. The Dream 65 is a deep dive on one Fender amp. Including spring reverb and such. ACS-1 has a Fender, Vox and Marshall in one pedal. It doesn’t go as deep into the Fender simulation as the Dream. But to me, the ACS makes up for it with the sheer amount of control you get over multiple amps simultaneously. (You can select a Vox on one side and Marshall on the other for example, and you can match each model with a different cab sim. Which in the Dream, you get one amp, and that’s it. It’s super deep and sounds great. But I’d rather have the multiple amp options.

[@SuddenSoundStudios]

Watching this for the second time through. I already have the 2.0 firmware installed, but it's helpful to step back and hear your sounds. One big change for me: the ACS1 has been at the end of my stereo wet=x=wet chain since I got it, but I've now moved it in front of my stereo delay/mod/ambience effects - partly because I want to be able to push the ACS1, and partly because the ACS1 gives me the volume, EQ, and gain control I like before hitting the big stereo FX.

[@JC-ee8qm]

No offence but this comment is exactly what’s killing guitar. It’s become a nerds’ race. Just step back and enjoy playing dude…

[@SuddenSoundStudios]

@@JC-ee8qm I've been playing guitar for 50 years, acoustic, electric, bass, guitar-like instruments from all over the world. I've built acoustic and electric guitars from scratch. I've played through $30 battery powered amps and thousands of bucks of studio gear. If you knew anything about the history of the instrument, or the history of musical instruments in general, or of music itself, you'd know that innovation and inspiration have always gone hand-in-hand. And a little news for you: guitar is alive and well.

[@jhneilson]

Now that there's a UA Marshall pedal out, would love to see the ACS1 up against UA's Fender, Vox, and Marshall offerings. Would also be cool to see them all into the Ox Stomp!

[@Moka8]

Definitely hear some La Dispute/As Cities Burn influences in there. Nice playing!

[@markjohnstonofficial]

You’d be pretty accurate with both of those. ACB’s second era of work (come now sleep especially) is a very important touch point for me

[@ChristianHilley]

+5pts for Come Now Sleep 🥵 @@markjohnstonofficial

[@chrislink73]

Would definitely love to hear the new ACS-1 side by side against the dream/ruby. It definitely sounds like an improvement, but something tells me it's still not quite up to the level of accuracy of those amp sims, as far as modelling those fender/Vox amplifiers. But for some players who just want a compact solution with multiple amps and XLR outputs, it may be a good solution.

[@ZachariahConnor]

I have both the dream and the ACS1 with the firmware update, the ACS1 just has so much midrange that you can't dial out. It's a very different sound to the Dream, but the amp models are much better than before. I personally just prefer the dream in terms of its amp model.

[@scottbecker3485]

@@ZachariahConnorAm I correct in presuming you updated the firmware on your ACSI to 2.0?

[@bgarza18]

@@ZachariahConnorI just picked up an ACS1 to compare to my Dream and yeah, I can’t cut those weird low mids out.

[@onehellofameme6166]

Before I felt like the acs1 was in line with the iridium good but had some compression and need drive before it to get beyond any kind of beginner breakup tones. Post 2.0 its far beyond the iridium in my mind as a stand alone vintage amp sound. Some people may still like the iridium as a pedal platform but the acs1 standalone has better gain and vintage sounds. I think the acs1 is on par with the ruby and dream from uafx in straight amp sounds and presents itself as the same level but a more versatile choice. As its 3 amps for $300. Loving my acs1 after 2.0

[@Enduringrevery]

Came here for a full proper deep dive review. Plus your playing is captivating!

[@zakdillon9730]

I’ve been running the ToneFactor IRs in my Two Notes Torpedo Captor X and also the ToneFactor Tonex stuff. Sounds killer. Great for studio work or when you need to work on a silent stage.

[@danmorrison8746]

I'm hoping the additional gain doesn't upset the only thing that set the it apart - the ACS was the only pedal-scale modeller designed by someone who's actually played a plexi. If i wanted a Plexi model that has as much gain as a 5150, I'd buy an Iridium and forget how Marshalls sounded before DSLs.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I think the Marshall setting on this has the best cleans in the pedal now

[@mofateam1]

The ACS-1 sounds VERY convincing ! Nice playing too 👍

[@Two-Eyed_Boy]

This was the demo the people* wanted! *the post-rocky ones

[@AlexandreSoma]

Best ACS1 video update so far! Thanks!

[@calebneff5777]

Mark, love your videos, been watching for several years. Bought several things based on your stellar reviews. But dude, could you PLEASE turn up your vocal audio? Maybe smash it into a limiter? I can keep quiet no longer!

[@pepisoul1]

I like the intro very much!

[@fibonacho]

Love the 21:9 format!

[@wholewheaties]

After updating to 2.0 did you notice on the Fullerton (clean, low gain setting) some unwanted combination tones when playing a minor sixth interval? (ex: intro of Slow Dancing in a Burning Room) Unless it's some kind of firmware glitch that only I got, I'm curious why no one else picked up on this nuisance. Fullerton, low gain, clean tone, any cab. Please comment!

[@ChrisDoes_Things]

Hey, you said you typically use OwnHammer IRs. What’s your go-to usually? I have a handful of his IRs as well that I always use and I’m always curious about what others use.

[@plee822]

The new video style & quality looks good!

[@ChuckLopez]

Finally!! a demo that is not bluesy/vintage rock oriented

[@StratsRUs]

Sounds great.Well done !

[@Quicksilver_Cookie]

I like it a lot. But I already have Iridium, which does all I need a pedalboard-friendly amp sim to do. But if I was in a market for one I'd seriously consider one of those things right now.

[@scottbecker3485]

Didn‘t care for the sound of this pedal too much back when it first came out (based on zillions of YT videos I watched, i.e. not personal experience), so didn‘t buy it. When 2.0 came out, I checked it out again and was/am quite enthused! So I scoured the used market and got a great deal on one, which now lives on my pedalboard as a compact solution that gets me as far as I need to go for certain gigs. For other things, I have a ToneX (which is too big for my overstuffed pedalboard).

[@TheFlutecart]

The amp sim thing has come a long way since Digitech's Audio DNA. I use the analog amp style pedals into a big clean stereo tube amp. I could almost ditch my heavy rig and use this thing instead. But if I have to hear my guitar sound only coming out of a stage monitor, I'm sure I'd loose my mind. And my straight clean sound is HUGE, I'd likely have to imitate that with a Bassman sim or something. I'll wait until they can cram 12 amps in that little thing before I get one.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

You can put in your own cab sims. ML makes a bunch of nice ones including Bassman. Not saying it’s for you, clearly you like having an amp on stage and are able to do that where you play (and willing to carry it!). But if you ever do want to switch, or you end up on a gig where they demand you not use an amp onstage, give a look at some different cab sims, you might be surprised. For me it’s not about having a ton of different amp models (i don’t need more than a Fender Marshall and a Vox ‘head’ personally), so much as having a lot of cab options.

[@MRxr400]

opening track sounds amazing. if there's no post production tricks and this is how the pedal sounds, it's perfectly suited to my taste.

[@MRxr400]

i love the edge of break up dynamic tone this pedal gets, and the grindier stuff. cleans brilliant too. I'm sold

[@markjohnstonofficial]

No post prod tricks in the sound samples (outside of a super basic master to get everything up yo a mostly standard level) Intro song is always sweetened via compression, EQ, preamp gain, mixing and mastering because that’s how songs are made and it’s important to hear both how a piece of gear sounds raw as well as how it sounds produced.

[@MRxr400]

@@markjohnstonofficial you certainly produce it extremely well.

[@wheresallthezombies]

I love the acs1! This video also doesn’t help how badly I want a Browne amps protein.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Yeah i’m totally fiending over an Unobtainium to go with this. Little juice.

[@fronthorse]

Can I buy an old one and just update it with the new firmware?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Yes

[@seedubxj]

My guy, have you made it out to Mosaic in Folsom yet? Some solid metalcore/hardcore shows have been happening. Worth a look if that’s your scene. They share the space with a church here in town.

[@Gregor_G]

How do you find the Room control versus something like a room mic IR that Celestion IRs come with?

[@joshfirlotte]

Very good demo! I’m curious what bands you’re listening to now?

[@orangesystem969]

the intro sounds like 4ofspades Great!

[@christopherrusch]

hey king, I don’t know if I missed it but what guitar are you using in this?

[@chrisgarciaj16]

Hows your DAW look? Is it straight in through an interface? Whats the gain look like on the faders?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

ACS1-> canvas line isolator -> 1073 unison preamp into the daw via my x8p gained to around -12db headed in

[@Adrian-Moreno]

What ambient pedal do you use in minute 8?

[@stephennanna-lc7qg]

How well do they handle overdrives though?

[@oqtavio]

How did you record the bass in the intro? Just curious if the ACS1 had anything to do with that nice tone

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Nope, that’s origin bassrig

[@oqtavio]

@@markjohnstonofficial That explains everything :p

[@dcastillogzz]

Hi Mark, are you using the Canvas Stereo from Walrus anywhere in your chain? Thanks!

[@dcastillogzz]

Thanks! Mark!