Walrus Audio launches its Qi Etherealizer, an ultra-complete multi-effects unit designed in collaboration with guitarist Yvette Young

Announced at NAMM 2025, effects manufacturer Walrus Audio has just unveiled its latest creation: the Qi Etherealizer. This multi-effects pedalboard, designed in collaboration with the talented Yvette Young (guitarist and leader of the math-rock band Covet), redefines the possibilities of sound creation. With a clever blend of chorus, delay, granular effects and reverb, the Qi promises to be a fine tool for lovers of immersive, “magical” sound textures.

Whether enriching post-rock tracks with ethereal ambiences, adding dreamy depth to shoegaze passages or experimenting with glitchy sounds perfect for electronica, this pedal adapts to a multitude of musical styles.

The Qi Etherealizer (pronounced “chee ethereal-izer”) reflects the innovative approach of Yvette Young, known for her exploratory fingerstyle playing and love of guitar effects. The pedalboard is named after the vital energy that flows through all living things, a symbolic choice that perfectly reflects the organic, fluid nature of the effects it offers. According to Yvette, “I want this tool to inspire musicians to explore less conventional melodies and take them into a more magical universe.”

The Qi is the first product to benefit from Walrus Audio’s MDSP (Multi-Dimensional Signal Processing) platform, a technology developed in-house. At the heart of this innovation is the ARM Cortex M7 processor, capable of processing advanced audio algorithms with exceptional quality. This technology offers enhanced sonic depth, wide dynamics and the ability to adapt to a variety of pedal formats.

The MDSP platform also enables future upgrades via a USB-C port, ensuring scalability for years to come.

Qi in detail…

The Qi offers a multitude of parameters for shaping your sound:

General controls

• Space: Adjusts the mix and duration of reverberation, from small rooms to ethereal, ethereal and spacious soundscapes.
• Tone: Synthesizer-style resonant low-pass filter, ideal for sculpting tone.
• Series and parallel: Effects can be chained in series (Chorus > Delay > Grain) or mixed in parallel, offering different sound worlds.
• Mix/Dry: Controls the balance between dry and processed signals.

Granular” effects

• Grain Cloud: Creates random glitch textures by triggering small samples of your game.
• Phrase Sample: Produces rhythmic beats synchronized with your attacks.
• Playback modes: Normal, Double (+1 octave), Half (-1 octave), Reverse and Random.

Delay

• Clear delays of up to 2 seconds.
• Available subdivisions: Black, dotted crotchet and crotchet.
• Tap Tempo function with oscillation.

Chorus

• Tri Chorus: Moderate, complex sound with three voices.
• Stereo Chorus: Creates stereo width with phase-shifted modulation.

Other features

• Three recordable presets + live mode.
• MIDI TRS and USB-C ports for advanced control.
• Freeze function for instant textures.

With the Qi Etherealizer, Walrus Audio and Yvette Young offer a pedal designed for musicians in search of creativity and new sound dimensions.

Retail price: €519
Available for pre-order now, first shipments are scheduled for February 3. More information on the Walrus Audio website.