Strymon BigSky MX vs Strymon BigSky - Does The New Version Sound Better?
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- čas přidán 29. 04. 2024
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The new Strymon BigSky MX has new, more powerful processor, so they remade all the main algorithms from the ground up.
So in this video, I wanted to compare the same modes (Room, Hall, Plate, Spring, Shimmer) with the version so see how much better they sounded.
It is important to note that the Strymon BigSky MX offers both the new ''MX'' algorithms and also the old ''Classic'' algorithms in the same box.
So if you happen to like the old algorithms more, but are tempted by all the new features added to the MX like Dual reverbs, Infinite footswitch, loading your own IRs or Panning features, then you can still get all the same old sounds your loved (and more!) in the new MX box.
Alright, let's do this comparison!
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Loving my Big Sky. I've learned to "Stop Chasing Technology" (you can't win). I was doing that with: Synth's, Drum Machines & Guitar-pedals . . . (stopped) = now I've got a bigger Bank Account.
But hey technology in the last years is getting better. Digital pedals of today are far away from those of 80’s or 90’s. Just like compare two phones. Although in this case I agree, BigSky is already good enough
Hard lesson
Impossible to not want the next newest thing. But I get what you're saying
I could hear a difference between the two on headphones but couldn't really tell if I like one more than the other. I think the spring on the old one sounds more like a spring reverb than on the MX. In a live situation, nobody will know the difference and probably they won't care lol.
In a live situation, I doubt anyone will care if you just use a TCE Hall of Fame 2.
I love my big sky I understand a new buyer would want the new model , I don't think I would replace mine
Merci pour la vidéo
not sure why, but for my ears most pleasant sound came from mx in classic mode
Yes same here, alot smoother
Agree, It’s the upper overtones of the MX that make it sound too tinny.
There ya go. Now THIS is the video people want. Thanks, Antoine!
Well said.
Minus the 2 minutes of unnecessary talking in the beginning, I completely agree.
Glad you are back!! Have you tried the meris x? Wondering how they compared
Thanks for the comparison. At least at this moment, it's not necessary to buy the new model if we already own older model unless you have some specific needs.
I’m fine with my original big sky. No need to spend 770 bucks
I think the MX sounds less pumped and more natural, with the reverb no longer enveloping the note, but following it, in my opinion the positive correction. Shimmer is better in the old one with a more organic tone, with the MX the frequencies are too high, but can it be adjusted?
Both versions have tone controls.
Did the old one still envelop notes despite cranking up the pre-delay?
So... I'm listening thru an ESS ES9038Q2M DAC (@24/48) and a Sennheiser HD600 headphones set. Granted that CZcams audio is a bloodbath in poor quality. Thank you for your work here but it would be REALLY nice if you had the original non mangled audio files available somewhere for download.
Now.... nowhere in the manual Strymon says that VOICE parameter (MX vs. CLASSIC) provides the previous Big Sky algorithms and tone. It's a different thing and it's about reverb density. The CLASSIC voice has less density which means there are lesser delay lines used in the reverb matrix. That's a common DSP design technique in digital reverberation, depending on the chip(s) power. So... listening closely, carefully and over and over again, I find the usual "issue" I have found in higher density modern algorithms, that is a slightly brighter tone and less energy in the reverb, overall a bit less musical character. The energy loss is something I have noticed alsewhere too and designing reverbs with variable number of delay lines myself, it's a common issue. The input sound energy is a bit lost in the matrix. Overall I find the BigSky V1 more musical in the shared algorithms.
The value of this new product to me is definitely the dual reverbs option, where amazing creativity and colorations are possible. Right there is the really nice thing of this pedal. I have explored these techniques on many high end reverbs (Lexicon PCM91 and M300, Eventide Orville and H8000) and there are many, many creative options there. I'm not impressed by the convolution thing, a technique that came out with a big fanfare in the early 2000s but never delivered anything special.
A big MINUS for Strymon is removing the MIDI SysEx dump of single presets which IS a professional feature in any pro-level machine. One should be able to backup/restore/manage his own presets on any computer, using any generic MIDI SysEx program like MIDIOX (Windows) and SYSEX LIBRARIAN (Mac). I can even use my smart phone with a similar app and manage all my programmed work wherever I am. You shouldn't really need their own application at all, which by the way doesn't seem to support presets sharing. This is a big step back in true professional setups. Hopefully Strymon will restore MIDI dumps as SysEx code is already there for their Nixie2, so why not just offering the capability of selecting a preset or a range of them and dump to a computer. Last but not least... in EU this thing goes for about 750€!!! That's absolutely crazy money for a pedal not able to run true line levels audio on balanced I/Os, let alone the absence of any digital I/O format. Bad choice. For that kind of money one can get a PCM81 or 91... and let me tell you... there's no game there. Lex wins flat out.
The old and new sounds are close. I think the big thing is you can run two effects at the same time. Reverb into delay, Reverb into tremolo, and Reverb into Chorus. It is like the Eventide H90 Two algorithms at the same time. This and the H 90 would be a good pair. Strymon is bad at having preset that have too much mix in them or sounds way over the top. I like the way Eventide did it better. They put all their effects in one box and you can use any two algorithms.
Really love the playing here - tasteful, beautiful
Thank you so much for this. Am a little surprised the Mx does sound a fraction richer. Probably great for a studio but the old one still killer on a board.
Looking forward to a Mobius MX.
MX in classic voice! Beautiful. 😍
Iam so still happy my with my classic original Big sky ,it's like when they try remake movies there never better
I wish the MX would have given us a couple brand new reverb algorithms or something. It’s a great update from the OG, but to me it feels like it’s missing something to make it really exciting and special
They updated the algorithims. Also dual engine for true stereo
Thanks for sharing. I hear the differences but I don't think one is better than the other.
The MX sounds beautiful, and the standard does as well, but I think that with playing live, unless you have the best sound engineer in the world and the best mics, it wont really make a difference. For a Professional Studio I think the MX would be wicked though. It definitely sounds better, but for a live performance I dont see a need to replace my original BigSky.
I think with the price of the Big Sky MX versus the Big Sky, I'd be hard pushed to purchase the MX, unless it has some feature that I absolutely needed.
They made the Big Sky so good, that it's nearly unbeatable, even for Strymon.
Yes, my thoughts too. And I prefer the look of the older as well. The knob layout is nicer IMO
Do you feel the classic voice of the mx really sounds the same as the older version?
I’m in the market but wonder if we are about to see the original one (used) drop in price?
I'm definitely not agreeing w/ the comment that some of the previous algorithms being better. I think there is definite improvement across the board in the reverb unit. I purposefully am using an analog reverb unit so I don't use digital reverb because I can hear the "i'm standing in the middle of a concrete room" infinite decay slap-back-ish quality of the digital reverbs. I won't say it's perfect, but interesting improvements from one of the "analog cork sniffers"...as far as reverb is concerned.
I personally think the best strymon reverb is the nightsky :) bring out a mark 2 version for 500 and I’m there :) not crazy 700 tag
Hi Antoine Can you compare new MX with Neunaber Ilumine?
Neunaber is nice, but not Strymon-tier nice. Nope.
@@Jason75913 did you compare?
Could yoy compare the cloud verbs?
Very difficult to compare the two, but the MX sounds slightly richer. I’ll be keeping my BigSky though.
Both are great.
They almost fixed fake stereo in MX. Sounds significantly better in all modes. Thanks
$700 is bordering on immoral
I love all the options but I can't say it sounds very different to other reverb pedals
I think 700 is over the top! Way too high for most guitar players to afford! There is plenty of reverbs that cost half that will get the job done! I use a cloud burst but don’t need every sound out there :) I do like Strymons reverbs the most but not for 700
I’ll stick with my SA Collider - any 2 algorithms together for $300
Nothing really mind-blowing on the MX
I think they would make more money in the long run if it was cheeper!
Close enough why get the mx?
They are both delicious. 😊
Sounds good. But I like my Illumine so much more.
The Wet in my opinion sounds just as good as the cloud algorithm. The Illumine is like a quarter of the size and runs on only 100 mA. I will never understand these oversized bricks! 🤣
@@NomaDL2224 Yea, I also have the Illumine and can't imagine having the Big Sky when you get as much for a third of the size and power. I used to have a Mobius, and sold it to get an H90. For the price of this, you're actually better off getting an H90 which has 10x way more features and is still a bit smaller.
Still not able to run true line level audio on balanced I/Os.😒
Old one (and classic voice on MX) sound more good to my ears than the new algorithms in MX
Which guitar and ampli has been used ?
I like the classic one better
声音区别是不是真的值这么大的价格差距呢，我觉得老款更好听，一直想买，借着这个机会买一个二手的老款。
Sound difference? Very little. You get more sound design parameters and can run two effects at once, like having two Big Sky pedals in one.
Just bought the original a few months back. Ah well 😀
It feels to me that they changed the entire sound of the basic algorithms… not necessarily worse or better. Just different. Maybe just a notch more refined... But that in itself does not constitute any desire on my end to sell my BigSky, lose money and buy this ultra expensive new one.
Your fret buzz is killing me
He is incredible, STFU!
The Flint has all the Reverb any Guitarist should need , these are great units but it’s all getting a bit Overkill 🤷♂️
I like that they created a Mexican version of this pedal.
LOL!
I just by 2 Big Sky Pedals for 600€ ans but two Reverbs together and i Save 170€:)
At that price they can keep all their Big Skys. Absolutely ludicrous
Its not worth £699 to get the new one. The original sounds just as good.
The dilemma for Strymon is that they released BigSky 11 years ago and it has since been the benchmark for reverb pedals in terms of both sounds and features, to the point that even Strymon themselves have found it impossible to top it with a 'better' product.. BigSky MX is not better than BigSky. It has more features but none of them really make sense. Yes, the extra processing power allows you to run 2 reverbs at a time but have any of us ever wished to do this? I get running two delay pedals at a time to create interesting textures but two reverbs just don't work the same. The ability to load Impulses also feels puzzling...like who would buy a Strymon to run impulses? You buy a Strymon specifically for that Strymon sound.
MX sounds more clear
La única diferencia es la pantalla y la entrada c
The old one sounds cleaner less muddy to my ears.
old one much better
The MX is actually better fidelity and smoother.
Chase Bliss CXM 1978 is still the winner
The chorale feature on these pedals should be illegal
$700 is insanity!
Strymon should stop producing the blue sky v1, lower the blue sky v2 price to the v1 tag. Lower big sky $80-$100…lower this new one to $525.
completely agree with all of this
The original is worth ~$643 in today's money versus 2013 when it released, but they never raised the price over time together with inflation. And then the new MX version is also basically two Big Sky pedals in one.
Or just grab a Cloudburst or Blue Sky V2? You don't have to spend $700+ unless you really want to.
@@Jason75913 you are not wrong…I just don’t think it will sell well at that price bc at the current inflation prices…people don’t have as much disposable income compared to 12 years ago. The features other than 2 rev are not radical. And it’s just a reverb unit…next to say a QC is about 40% the price and it doesn’t do 40% what a QC does. I understand it may not be a fair comparison since they are different units…but it’s my way of comparing value for the money.
@@netzarim1277 to each their own, but Strymon fans will not be discouraged, and together with Strymon's reputation, I think it will sell.
Personally, I might grab a Cloudburst at some point, but I doubt that. I just collect reverb pedals whose sound I enjoy at home with my synths. Strymon is awesome, but I hardly care. Plus I've got a handful of other badasses like Boss RV500, Walrus stuff, and the GFI Specular Tempus, so I'm fairly happy.
Strymon.... it should be like 250 bucks
It would help if he could play guitar. Mind you, Heavy Reverb can hide a lot of sins. Maybe that's why he's such a fan.
Meris mercury x hands down
Can u elaborate?
Totally my friend. I’ve owned both now. I started with the Bigsky and always liked it, but there is some artificial feeling to all these BS sounds. And it’s funny in the new videos that they involuntary me tio that they now feel more “natural/real” in the Mercury X, you have total control of what you can do. Sometimes that is good or bad. What I do is follow @thepedalcollaborative to achieve my favorite tones. The person shows you how to use each parameter and I eventually learned how to make my own. They also share the final parameters or you can get all of them for a few bucks. But overall mercury x sounds more natural.
A Meris pedal sounding natural? It is likely just _your_ listening setup.
For natural reverb, try a Hall of Fame or Fender Marine Layer, and listen them through treated speakers. I wouldn't recommend Strymon, Eventide, Meris, EHX, and most others for natural(-like) reverb. Most folks don't want that, either, that's why ethereal/unnatural reverbs are so popular and so much more common.
Strymon are proving they've run out of ideas and are just chasing cash
mx was clipping on some of those algos. definitely could hear it on the left channel. definitely warmer and can guarantee it probably cant have the hell driven out of it without crackles snaps and pops. I thought the classic on mx sounded probably the best except for shimmer where mx shined. I Would never pay $700 for nothing new as far as innovation goes. For Cripe Sake, Meris X is the best dam reverb right now. It has an amazing screen, controls, will have an app editor, and just sounds amazing for cheaper. Strymon will go the way of the dodo if they continue this kind of crap. i have Been pretty die hard with strymon over the years. Definitely disappointed by this.
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If this had been released in 2007 it would've been amazing, but in 2024...
Of course, you could always just grab a Boss RV500 and have another great dual-reverb pedal for much less than this Big Sky MX.
Basically, sounds the same the both
nope. studio Technology wisey the new one is a milestone as it hasbtrue stereo, dual chanel stereo processing, that makes the big sky a full worthy studio equipment
@@marcusstrymon693 it's not worth 700 pounds though.
The CB CXM is 900, Meris X 600, and H90 is 90. Pedal manufacturers have been pushing prices on these flagship pedals for a while now.
@@marcusstrymon693 not able to run true line levels audio on balanced I/Os.
$700 so you can lose the C foot switch for an infinite setting already in the big sky on the ABC switches if you just hold it down, routing nobody needs (who tf needs a hall on the left and a slap on the right? Why? Oh you’re pretentious got it.)
You’re basically stacking two big sky’s. You wanna save $700? Buy a second big sky for $300 and run the presets with global midi so they always switch together as you want them, boom big sky Mx. gtfo strymon.
Impulse responses woooooow that’s why I buy a strymon big sky, so I can upload my own reverbs 😂😂 and we lost the cab filter option which to me is key
You must be mistaken upon what an IR is compared to a cab filter....
Strymon has taken a really bad path--the usual outdated products in a new package.