The Walrus Audio Canvas Clock is an essential utility for musicians who rely on having accurately synchronized tempos across multiple MIDI devices. Designed to unify an entire rig under one tempo source, the Walrus Audio Canvas Clock serves as the virtual conductor of your ensemble of pedals, synthesizers, and MIDI-enabled devices. Multiple MIDI inputs are provided with 5-pin MIDI DIN, 1/8” MIDI, and 1/4” analog clock outputs. The Walrus Audio Canvas Clock is designed to integrate seamlessly into a pedalboard setup, offering a sturdy and durable build that matches other Walrus Audio products.
Built with simplicity and efficiency in mind, the Walrus Audio Canvas Clock features a compact and minimalist physical layout. The front panel houses an easy-to-read LED display, ensuring visibility even in dimly lit environments. The Walrus Audio Canvas Clock interface includes a few tactile buttons for setting and adjusting the time. The power input and necessary connection ports are strategically placed to maintain a clean and organized layout. The Walrus Audio Canvas Clock enclosure is a small, pedalboard-friendly metal chassis, maintaining the sleek and modern design typical of Walrus Audio products.
The best way to think of the Canvas Clock is as a virtual conductor that seamlessly distributes clock signals to multiple effects and instruments. This can include a collection of vintage and modern MIDI devices, pedals, and synthesizers. The Walrus Audio Canvas Clock can transmit both analog and MIDI clock signals, allowing seamless integration of older MIDI gear with modern digital devices.
The Canvas Clock is not simply a timekeeper. It possesses the ability to send MIDI Program Change (PC) and Continuous Controller (CC) messages, allowing it to control various aspects of connected equipment beyond just tempo. This transforms the Walrus Audio Canvas Clock into a compact yet powerful MIDI controller.
If you have a complex MIDI setup, the Walrus Audio Canvas Clock can function as both a timing source and a control unit, making the management of multiple MIDI controllers and footswitches a breeze. For musicians who rely on time-based effects—such as delays, tremolos, or modulation pedals—the Canvas Clock eliminates timing inconsistencies that arise from manually setting tempos across multiple devices, ensuring perfect synchronization during live performances.
The Walrus Audio Canvas Clock is designed to safeguard against errors that could otherwise disrupt the flow of your performance. By using Walrus Audio’s Canvas Clock Editor web app, users can pre-program entire setlists and assign tempos to each song in advance. This is great for touring musicians who need to transition between songs with precision, eliminating the need for manual tempo adjustments on stage. With your tempo locked in, each song can be recalled at the tap of a switch, eliminating the need for manual pedal adjustments. The Walrus Audio’s Canvas Clock Editor also allows for the customization of footswitch functions, offering the flexibility to tailor controls to individual preferences.
Using the Canvas Clock Editor web app, you can create and modify up to 128 song slots, adjusting details like song names, meters, BPM, MIDI macros, and metronome start/stop preferences. Organizing your songs into setlists allows for smoother navigation during performances or practice sessions. Additionally, you can configure MIDI Macros to trigger specific MIDI commands when recalling certain songs, ensuring seamless integration with other MIDI devices. Metronome settings can also be customized, including adjustments for type, volume, and accent notes. Once you’ve made all your desired changes, save the settings within the web app. The Canvas Clock pedal will automatically update to reflect your modifications, ensuring your configurations are ready for use.
Beyond its role as a master clock, the Canvas Clock also includes a metronome output. This is useful for keeping an entire band in sync during live scenarios, where fluctuating tempos can lead to disjointed performances. The metronome output can also be routed to an in-ear monitoring system or sent to the front-of-house mix, ensuring that every member of the ensemble is locked into the same rhythmic framework.
Live performers will appreciate the Walrus Audio Canvas Clock’s seamless song transitions, metronome integration, and the ability to pre-program entire setlists. Studio musicians, on the other hand, will find that the Canvas Clock enhances precision during recording sessions.
In summary, the Walrus Audio Canvas Clock is more than just a tempo control device; it is a refined tool for musicians who demand precision, flexibility, and ease of use in their performances. By bridging the gap between analog and digital, providing comprehensive setlist management, and offering MIDI control functionality, it stands as a pivotal addition to any serious musician’s setup.
Much more than just a simple MIDI utility, the Walrus Audio Canvas Clock simplifies workflow and makes integrating old and new MIDI gear a breeze. Whether in a live setting or within the controlled confines of a studio, the Walrus Audio Canvas Clock is designed to ensure that all your MIDI devices stay in sync in a studio or live performance situation.
The Walrus Audio Canvas Clock is available now for $299.
Find out more at walrusaudio.com/products/canvas-clock.
