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When paired with a suitable USB PD battery pack (a minimum of 30 watts is required), the Canvas Power USB could make your pedalboard truly portable with enough power to get you through a gig, functioning as an essential backup if there is any difficulty with onstage socketry. That, along with the ability to power one extra pedal, could make it a very useful addition to your rig.
Pros
+
Very compact.
+
Can use with existing power supply (if 24-volt EIAJ-compatible).
+
One extra pedal output.
+
Multiple power options (brick, charger, battery pack).
Cons
-
Great for Walrus products but only works with a limited number of other manufacturers’ power supplies with a 24-volt input.
-
Extra purchases needed for true portability.
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Whether you’re running just a few pedals or have a mega ’board in action, a decent mains-powered pedalboard power supply with multiple outputs is essential – just plug it into the wall socket and you’re good to go.
However, there may be occasions when you can’t easily plug it into the wall socket and, that’s where Walrus Audio’s latest widget, the Canvas Power USB, comes into play.
This compact converter box enables certain standard pedal power supplies to run from USB power delivery, which could be supplied by a laptop charger, high-powered phone chargers or, for truly portable operation, by a USB PD (Power Delivery) battery pack.
The Power USB is part of the Canvas ecosystem and so it’s designed to be used with power supplies in the range, including the Canvas Power 8, which takes power from a 24-volt input, rather than an IEC cable.
It will also work with other manufacturers’ 24-volt EIAJ-compatible supplies, such as the Strymon Ojai – you simply connect it from the Power USB’s 24V Thru to your supply’s 24V In socket using the included EIAJ cable.
The Power USB also has a 24-volt input, so, as well as from USB, it can take its power from Walrus Audio’s mains-powered Canvas Power Brick or a similar unit. It prioritises DC brick power when available, seamlessly switching to USB PD input when no brick is detected.
(Image credit: Future/Phil Barker)
Consequently, the belt and braces approach to cover all contingencies would be to have all of this mounted on your ’board: the Power USB inserted between a brick and your pedal power supply, with a battery pack connected to the Power USB.
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Besides powering another power supply, the unit also has one output to power either a nine-volt, 12-volt or 18-volt pedal, with 500mA of current available at nine volts. This reviewer found this aspect of it particularly convenient in connecting to his desktop phone charger when just wanting to try out single pedals.
Verdict
Verdict: ★★★★☆
(Image credit: Future/Phil Barker)
Guitar World verdict: When paired with a suitable USB PD battery pack (a minimum of 30 watts is required), the Canvas Power USB could make your pedalboard truly portable with enough power to get you through a gig, functioning as an essential backup if there is any difficulty with onstage socketry. That, along with the ability to power one extra pedal, could make it a very useful addition to your rig.
Hands-on videos
Walrus Audio
Powering EVERYTHING from a battery pack?? Walrus Audio Canvas Power USB - YouTube
Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.
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