Walrus Audio Canvas & Understanding Impedance | Secret Weapons Demo & Review FEAT: Jace Fay

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The Walrus Audio Canvas is a DI and Line Isolator. it includes a -15dB pad, a ground lift, and the ability to sum line out signals to mono. But what IS the difference between DI and Line Isolation? Without looking it up, what does DI stand for? Spoilers; I didn't know before I started this video. But I dove deep, did a LOT of reading on the subject of impedance, and hopefully was able to distill it down to exactly what you, a musician, needs to know and nothing more. Don't worry, we're gonna dig into some practical sound samples as well here.
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Signal Path (Samples):
1981 DRV
Origin Cali76
Walrus ACS1
Hologram Microcosm
Empress Echosystem
Meris Mercury 7
Walrus Audio Canvas
Timecodes:
00:00 Intro Song
------Talking-------
03:03 What IS The Canvas?
05:18 Lets talk about Impedance
09:00 Unbalanced VS Balanced
------Sound Samples-------
11:30 Signal Chain Explanation
12:07 DI vs LI
15:08 Thru outputs and the Stereo Sum switch
Recorded in Universal Audio LUNA
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[@loganwilson2660]

I don’t normally comment on KZbin but I just wanted to thank you for this video. It explained things I’ve never explored and helped me understand WHY the canvas is what I needed. I bought one and it is a complete game changer and I actually know why lol your content is the real deal. Keep it up

[@matthewdavis473]

I don’t technically know what the canvas does but when I use it to record my acs1 the clarity is excellent

[@SevinHertz]

Thank you for tackling this topic and explaining it well... Balanced vs Unbalanced is one of the greatest fundamentals that most don't understand as well as impedance.... impedance is why the Euna is magic... because it sorts that out. 🙌

[@ONIONSonionsONIONS83]

This is an incredibly helpful video. I learned today. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

[@sandwich-breath]

Great information here. I appreciate the attention to detail on the often overlooked basics

[@echothenatives]

Im in Sac too! great video! I just bought one of these, they are great, I pair it with a UAD Dream

[@simonkeenangomez]

That intro. Crystal clear clean tone.

[@daveandrew7014]

Thanks for the videos Mark! Really love the tones you're getting out of the ACS1. How do you set the low pass and high pass and what IR do you use for the Vox setting?

[@sons7429]

Great explanation. If I have a very short distance between my iridium and my interface, will the canvas help my interface not to clip?

[@scapegoatVJ]

Thanks Mark! Looking to get one of these. I run multiple pickups into a Bose Tonematch mixer. I can send 2 TS L and R out, what settings do I use for this on the DI? And will this bring me nice and clean into a PA? Thanks!

[@AttackKnob]

This sold me. I'm buying one.

[@countstoneula]

"You don't have to learn anything you don't want to learn today." -Mark Johnston. Thanks for another great video. I just got a UA Ruby, so I'm trying to figure out the best solution for running it live. I ran it into two DI's today and it was quiet... Amazing tones though.

[@gilguajardo7808]

You want a line isolator like the Canvas or DISO+ for the Ruby.

[@cherrypie7016]

I want to start off by saying I absolutely love this video it’s super cool to see how to reamp with canvas How do you connect stereo canvas DI to the Apollo twin X? Are you using the two XLR’s for stereo?

[@Hamppzah]

Very interesting. Do I understand correctly, that with an output buffer the impedance of the output stays low, but the signal is unbalanced, whereas a LI box makes it balanced and keeps the impedance low?

[@AmiliaCaraMia]

Interesting pedal. The line isolator mode seems like it would be great for recording really delicate finger picking parts. They're often so quiet going direct in that it's tricky seeing the waveform when editing.

[@markjohnstonofficial]

A fortunate side effects of proper signal flow / impedance IS that better signal to noise floor ratio which heavily benefits delicate finger picking or other quieter moments in music.

[@Zan_Halford]

Hey I have questions! Why do you choose to run the ASC1 where a preamp section would be, prior to wet effects? If I were using this like a single channel radial DI, I could right? (Summing would be in the event I had stereo at the input)

[@middle_pickup]

Will the LI mode work well with the UA ox box? I've been using DI's for performing live.

[@toddbarriage]

intro song always makin me tear up 🥲

[@waynegram8907]

MARK JOHNSTON, The Line Isolator input impedance and output impedance are the same matched the same? If you plug your strat output jack into the line isolator input and then take the output of the line isolator the impedance will be the same matched impedance as the strat output impedance jack? does this lower and eliminate cancel out the strat guitars single coil pickup hiss, hum, noises when connecting a strat output jack direct to the line isolators UNbalanced input jack then the line isolators UNbalanced output jack straight into the guitars input jack? I would think this would cancel out the hiss, hum and noises from signal coils

[@jimmidelay]

Hey Mark. Thanks for making this content. Really insightful stuff. What are the predominate differences between the DISO+ and the Canvas? I know the DISO has a Jensen in it which is a plus.

[@jacobholmes6201]

The DISO+ has tons of configurable options on the manufacturer’s website and can get a little overwhelming, but is an extremely high quality build and always good to know you can add/remove features to get a device that is exactly what you need. The Walrus Audio Canvas is also extremely high quality, feature rich, AND can act as a DI or LI depending on your needs. The transformers in both are very nice, and I’d be hard pressed to tell you one sounds markedly better than the other.

[@gilguajardo7808]

If the ground switch on Canvas affects the 1/4” outs, too, then that’ll be an advantage over the well-loved DISO+. I’m about to look at the Canvas specs…

[@jacobholmes6201]

@@gilguajardo7808 mind you, I could be completely wrong, but from recollection it only affects the balanced out.

[@gilguajardo7808]

@@jacobholmes6201 Yeah, I just looked. Sad day. Am I the only one who sometimes needs a ground lift when going to 2 amps?? I had to replace the DISO+ on my main board with a GWA LongLine (opted for the additional grounding on 1/4” outs).

[@tendingtropic7778]

So do I understand correctly: if I only play at home, no long cables needed, this might be unneeded?

[@n8dawg85]

Thanks for the info, just wondering if i'm using stereo L & R outputs from my digital modeller if i need to run TRS cables into the walrus canvas or just regular TS cables?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

TS

[@johnschoppmusic]

Mark, Great video! Awesome Intro!! so which are you going to use from now on? Pinstripe or Walrus for your DI? Thank you ~cheers

[@markjohnstonofficial]

It's gonna be a case by case basis. Pinstripe makes insanely high quality stuff. The Jensen transformers are phenomenal AND I only have one of each so as the studio grows I'll more often than not have multiple audio sources running and probably be making use of both.

[@renno92music69]

If both inputs are being used but only the left thru (sum engaged) do both the DI’s have the same signal sent to them ?

[@oasisftw]

Hi Mark, thanks for the awesome videos. Question: If I'm running wet/dry like you did in the DISO+ video but with the stereo Canvas, can I bypass the ACS1 and use the sum to mono function to use an amp instead? Are there going to be issues if I do this?

[@Hamppzah]

He talks about exactly that at 15:08.. the only issue can be phase cancellation, depending on what stereo effects you use. It's a great feature if you need a mono out in a pinch, but if you have time it's always better to re-route your rig so that you're running true mono out instead of summing.

[@oasisftw]

@@Hamppzah Thanks for the reply. I ended up using only the wet output without the sum switch to go into the front of an amp.

[@pyngwi]

Which would be the best option if im running a Quad Cortex? for both studio and stage. (In studio I use to record a dry signal from the QC)

[@Miss_Pixie]

Hi, do you have any good results with single coil hum? thanks

[@GibsonGuy777]

Hey my guy! What IR’s do you use with the ACS1? Curious on how you get your settings!

[@markjohnstonofficial]

I am almost entirely on Ownhammer right now.

[@GibsonGuy777]

@@markjohnstonofficial yea I’m gonna have to check those out!

[@iamkennymartin]

So if you used sum, and then want balanced XLR (mono) out, then what? Would you need to run the left thru 1/4 into a separate DI, and then would you get the same signal loss issue you'd get with a DI in the first place?

[@iamkennymartin]

Or, I suppose, you could just use a Y XLR (stereo to mono) cable to do that?

[@josephirvan707]

great demos! i’m using hx stomp-canvas for direct setup to FoH, but i hear a different tone from headphone out to main output.. tone from headphone out is more harmonic and fuller, and it’s so different when you listen the sound for direct.. any suggestions what could i make to change this differences ? 😢

[@tim0391]

Are your global settings set to inst out or line out? Try switching and see if it helps

[@jeremyyappy]

Any specific reason for running mono to the Microcosm? I'm guessing there just wasn't a need since this was really about the Canvas?

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Largely that. But I typically run mono to the microcosm. It’s almost always my first stereo pedal in the chain.

[@RCGC01]

Did not now you are from Sac. Sending a big HEY THERE

[@tonytaormina4759]

what are you using for drums?

[@ianernest2504]

Would this be needed if you had a Simplifier or does that already have balanced outs?

[@yadielmolinaofficial2015]

Hey bro the simplifier dont need a DI box because have one internaly

[@BrunoKrnetic]

Hey man! I've seen that you own a DISO+ too. Have you noticed any differences between DISO+ and CANVAS stereo? I am still thinking which one to get. The price difference is negligible so I would really appreciate your input on this. I plan to use it in a live setup with Strymon Iridium. Thanks!

[@chrispiccaro]

What’s you end up going with?

[@BrunoKrnetic]

@@chrispiccaro walrus. The fact that DISO+ plus is not available within Europe and the pedal format played the biggest role. So far I’m satisfied.

[@chrispiccaro]

@@BrunoKrnetic thanks for the reply. good to know.

[@martinaleksandrov7080]

thanks for the video! And what if I want to plug an electric guitar into LINE LEVEL ? Does this box help for that or i need another type of device?

[@sethnovak]

You'd need a preamp. Many come with a DI built in guitar/bass.

[@martinaleksandrov7080]

@@sethnovak can you please recommend me a specific product?

[@sethnovak]

@@martinaleksandrov7080 ART Tube MP might be a good start

[@martinaleksandrov7080]

@@sethnovak thanks! and preamp guitar pedals wont help?

[@sethnovak]

@@martinaleksandrov7080 preamp pedal would definitely help. You might want a speaker/cab IR too.

[@scienceofsound]

How do you get your sound to be superbly clean with no hum/noise? This has plagued me in all my setups and is especially heard because I play similar music to yours that is clean guitar with reverbs and delays.

[@jacobg2662]

I had this issue for a long time and then I realized I needed an isolated power supply for my pedals and the hum all but ceased

[@scienceofsound]

@@jacobg2662 - I wish that were my case. I’ve had isolated power, noise gates, had my electrical checked in my home.

[@tendingtropic7778]

interesting! why is the amp modeler in the middle of the chain and not at the end?

[@canausestimating3375]

It is at the end

[@allyourbasearebelongtous2191]

So... I have stupid question... you know the EHX Tri Parallel Mixer? It has an Input Volume and and an Output Volume. What does the Input Volume do? Like... When I turn either up it gets louder but I have to be losing something on the Input one or something? Since EHX don't get KZbinrs to explain stuff like other companies do it just makes it more difficult. I know it's probably pointless to ask. Why would you know? Meh? Maybe you've had one. Idk. Sorry. It has those phase switches so I guess I just thought I'd ask. The talk about the impedance just reminded me I guess.

[@SS-gx7tg]

lol man I still have no idea what this thing does. If anyone sees this, for home recording, using a ruby or Dream65, what does the Canvas Stereo offer and is it worth the cost? Im not talking live or PA or anything, just home recording? I just do not understand what this thing does

[@patromo]

DI... Never thought it meant direct injection... Thought it was direct input. Cool

[@defsantiago]

I just came here for those GGD Flams. 😏

[@alessiomalatesta4617]

Impedance matching regards maximum power transfer; here you're dealing with impedance bridging (voltage bridging); moreover balanced audio has nothing to do with differential signaling (moreover the term phase is uncorrect...you're speaking of polarity);

[@larryrock11]

So basically walrus lifted pinstripe's Technology and repackaged it?

[@larryrock11]

Without the Jensen of course

[@markjohnstonofficial]

Line Isolators predate both companies.

[@larryrock11]

@@markjohnstonofficial thanks for all of the quality content that you create Mark. Always solid!