5 Reasons Not to Buy the Strymon BigSky MX [Is it All Hype?]
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- The Strymon BigSky MX is the latest take on the foundational flagship reverb unit by Strymon Engineering. But do the latest features and marketing gimmicks lend itself to this $650 unit?
Here's a follow up video with some demo and the main reason I'm returning mine: • I’m Returning My BigSk...
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Hey, guys! I made a longer-form follow up video doing some demos and I talk about the main reason why I'm actually returning mine. Check out the link the description or here: czcams.com/video/yAruOHyKajw/video.html
The only reason is... I'm the only youtuber that strymon didn't send the MX version 😂
Allann that’s low hanging fruit. At least try to find something more original 😪😂
Keep going @Allann882 you got him on the ropes he can’t hide
Hahaha
You guys are all children in diapers. Ike is giving people a good and honest perspective. But you don’t need to listen just go spend your bread and figure out that E chord dipped in reverb. That’ll get your girl.
Firstly, you sound angry. Secondly, when you talk about the price you don’t mention inflation, so that isn’t too fair. Thirdly, you don’t mention about the dual reverb and reverb panning- which is a key difference to the OG.
Manufacturer’s don’t get a pass on pricing because the dollar is worth less.
On your third point, it’s 5 reasons NOT to buy. You’re referencing a reason to buy it.
In regards to the price tag, I think the original big sky was even more of a shocker- 479 in 2013, 679 in 2024 is kinda to be expected- everything is more expensive. Not happy with it but not surprised
I have a BigSky and a Cloudburst and the multiswitch plus on my current pedalboard. I plan on selling both to buy the new BigSky MX. This will free up a lot of room on my board for other pedals. I play a lot of ambient style music and stacking multiple reverbs is my thing so looking forward to using the new Bigsky with my Eventide H90 in the effects loop of ny Kemper Profiler Stage. Strymon and Eventide definitely make the best reverbs and delays,!
I’m not disagreeing on cost, but unless everyone is living in a fantasy world, the cost of EVERYTHING has skyrocketed in the last four years. We haven’t bought Burger King is a years. Last night we went through the drive through and for two Whooper meals it was over $28! Also, the Meris MercuryX was $600 too..
If I’m in the market for a bigsky right now, would it be worth the 200 dollars more to future proof for another 10 years. Since it has much more processing power and future updates coming?
In my opinion the original BigSky is so good a pedal you wouldn't need another reverb pedal for the lifecycle of the MX.
Also, one thing to consider is that you're getting settings of 2 bigsky pedals...
What is your beef with this pedal??
I’ve noticed an assumption in the sub-text of every review that I’ve seen in the past 3 days: “All guitar players will benefit from owning this pedal, and if you have a big sky already, you should want to upgrade.”
As a Timline+BigSky owner for 2 years, having kids and a full time non-music job, I can manage to carve an hour a week at most to truly design a sound. Even then, most of the best sounds are stereo ambient patches that get trampled on by the other instruments at church in a MONO mix, with volunteer sound techs for a congregation of 80 people.
My point: for me, I’ve bought the last dedicated reverb pedal I’ll ever own. Do I want the BigSky MX? It’s a complicated “yes”, b/c what I really want is more TIME and a live stereo space filled with active listeners, and THAT is not my situation. But, it might be yours!
All of these are factors rarely thought about-especially when everyone is marketing this "buy buy buy now now now" mentality. But when it comes down to it, 80% of the people who buy this product are only going to ever use 20% of it's feature set. Great thoughts!
#3 should be #1. This unit is $679.00. That's CRAZY!!!
Wild how expensive this is!
I've got a Nightsky. Glad my board is MIDI, the pedal would be trouble without the MIDI leash on it. And it lacks the normal space reverbs that something like the Bigsky has. Also good that I have the Volante as it gives me a Spring verb. For rooms and caves and cathedrals, I'm likely getting the Poly Verb this year. The idea of making my own IR captures and putting them in it is interesting enough to get my money.
The IR verb is definitely interesting. But it’s got to be a STELLAR reverb if I’m going to use it. Given the fact that we have so much R&D on the current algos already, it seems like another gimmicky thing.
I'm all for counter-arguments but this is flawed. You're making a case for why an existing Bigsky user should not upgrade which is valid, but if you're comparing apples to apples -- using your example of the EHX freeze with Bigsky, the difference is only $50. I would argue that the MX is a better value because it includes IR and dual reverb capability, and you're powering only one device as opposed to two. To be honest, it sounds like you're reaching with your other points. However, I do agree that existing Bigsky users should wait and see if it truly can replace their current unit. You don't always have to have the latest and greatest.
It being too expensive is a reach? You think losing a preset bank is a reach?
@@IkeGuitar If you have to buy multiple devices to do the same thing then that argument doesn't make sense. I would say that the better point is if those additional functionality are worth the upgrade price. Regarding the preset, even you state that you use 4 presets. So that means you don't have a problem "Banking UP". Whether you need to bank up to get to 3 or bank up to get to 4, it doesn't matter because you still have to bank up. With that being said, there's this thing called MIDI. You may not use MIDI but to say that the inability to use the 3rd switch to trigger a preset is not a strong argument against upgrading. I understand if this is important to you, but it's just not a valid argument against it.
Just bought my Big sky Mx for 611.00 out the door. Happy shopping 🎉
Helpful bro! Thanks
You’re welcome! Glad it helped!
Also you buy one and use the old algorithms because you have double the functionality! Series, parallel, usbc, reverb irs. future proofing
Serious question
Who tf use all this crazy reverb settings on stage?
Worship dudes? I don't know
This is just another Instagram pedal
Yes. All of the worship dudes.
LOL! Nice try…Outstanding Strymon Reverb pedal with true stereo , dual stereo reverbs, and IR support. An INSTANT BUY. This thing sounds incredible.
Great video!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
“I don’t own this pedal and never played it, so here’s why you shouldn’t buy it” lol.
I do own it. And you shouldn't buy it.
Good advice, thanks!
You’re welcome!
*I FEEL YOU MY SON! ...The unit is hella pricy and it does sound very clean and seems to lack that thick low res goodness. But I tell you the GFI Specular Tempus is a real deal beast and its less than half the cost and smaller! As a guitar player I really thing the MX is better suited as a PRO LEVEL STUDIO REVERB, and is kind a over kill for a guitar rig, especially when there are other options out like the GFI that will get you all the way there at half the cost and no doubt you could purchase a 1st gen BIGSKY.! I personally will be buying 2 MX versions but for my recording studio*
I understand what you are saying for Bigsky owners. But to be fair, I believe that yes it expensive, but it's in par with the Meris and Empress who are the only 2 same kind of range competitors imho. Also, for people who look to have a more compact pedalboard, with pedals and cables, ditching the EHX freeze can be a plus. I do not see a song today that would require 3 differents presets for the same song. Two should be enough (I would basically do A a simple plate/room/hall type, and B a more complex FX).
So my conclusion is more: yes it is an expensive product, but an amazing one that will mostly be unbeaten for the next 10years. If you recently bought another massive reverb pedal it might not be worth the upgrade yet or ever. If what you currently have serves the songs you are making, it is more than enough. If you do not have a reverb pedal, have the budget and want something futureproof, there you go.
I think strymon is testing the waters to see how this sells so they can do this with timeline and mobius. It’s really just the price that can’t be justified.
They haven’t tested the waters in any of their history. I think they’re serious, sadly.
For me, I would rather buy another H90.
What the majority of people are overlooking about the new Big Sky MX is CONVOLUTION REVERB! This is huge!
In a recent thread on The Gear Page, someone posted an email response from Strymon that said "60 folders of up to 50 IRs in each can be loaded into the impulse engine". That's 3,000 IRs! Of course 3000 can't be saved into presets but the IR options are there and can be found online for free.
Yes the price is steep, but if you use a little bit of critical thinking, the BSMX is the equivalent of an improved original Big Sky ($479) and a Tasty Chips Integral ($340) in one enclosure. But even better than that because the Tasty Chips cannot do MIDI as of yet.
Already have a Bigsky, just bought a MercuryX for less than the Bigsky MX.
The Mercury smokes all reverb pedals in my opinion. Excellent choice.
What do you think?
@@empathysgone96 Just had it delivered last night but my extremely early impressions are good. Of course it sounds great, but I’m actually impressed by how easy it is to navigate the bubble interface and create patches. I’m also extremely impressed by how fast it responds. It takes basically no time to boot up and there’s no discernible latency In navigation. So in regard to user interface and performance it seems fantastic.
Mercury X blows this pedal out of the water.
@@crag_ curious. Why do you think so? Have you tried it?
So… You haven’t even touched it… and rail away…yet you clearly do not even understand what the Infinite button does. It is NOT just a “Freeze” like your other pedal. You have options with how that button works…
I’m sitting here with BOTH BigSky & the MX … and while the original BIG Sky was king for a reason…. the MX os a huge and powerful upgrade. Besides all the panning, parallel, Serial, L & R options… INCREDIBLE ensemble that explodes far beyond what was introduced on the Cloudburst… including harmonics, delay-type effects using magneto, massively more realistic and DEEP orchestration & voicing…
-BEYOND all that?
This MX SOLVES the confusion factor of BigSky’s buried menus. Saving and/or copying /moving presets is actually FUN now…. Massively more i tuitive…with a quick, responsive OLED display that takes away what was always the achiles heel of BigSky and TimeLine-the buried menus… The EASE OF USE alone is a worthy upgrade here…
But beyond that? Man… I am loving this thing after getting it on my board..
I’d suggest putting a hold on your overly strong opinions-considering you haven’t even touched the thing.. 🤷🏻♂️
Are you a psyop?
@@IkeGuitar Nah… Just a dude on a budget who is blown away with the MX s my original which was already great. For some reason, youtube isn’t lletting me edit my many auto-correct errors… The MX is hugely more powerful. Crazy, really. Hard to believe, since the BigSky was/is so good…but wow… if you get your hands on one… You definitely need to try combining effects, and digging into the additional capabilities of chorus, choir, harmonics behind various effects, and the massively improved orchestration tools.
Hey man, I saw your video, and had bought the OG Bigsky a couple days ago. What’s funny is that the new MX came a DAY after I got mine lol, even though its been 10 YEARS. What makes this more funnier is, that morning around 7, I was trying to make sure they haven’t released a new one until then, however, I see a whole new video about the MX at 12 from Sweetwater….. Anyways, apart from the craziness of what I just said, I was wondering… do you think I should return the og bigsky, and wait until the price comes down on it (if it does)? Since the new one came out all of a sudden.
My opinion:
1. If you need a BigSky right now, keep it. It’s a great pedal. Emphasis on “need.”
2. I’d always buy used to begin with, and if you’re willing to wait for the right deal, the BigSky will come down in the used market-or, find someone on Facebook Marketplace trying to move theirs quickly. May be able to find it for $300. Or do a partial trade. And on Marketpalce, you wouldn’t get hit with Reverb fees and taxes.
TL;DR-Return your BigSky. Find someone selling theirs used and get a SICK deal.
To reiterate, there’s always gonna be a Strymon Bro with a semi trying to sell whatever he has to get the latest and “greatest.” Take advantage of that as a smart player and consumer!
@@IkeGuitaralr thanks!
Meris Mercury X is just objectively better
Ehhhh
I just keep hearing the opposite
Nice pedal... but waaaaaay too expensive for most.
big agree
Thanks, Emily! Big fan of your work. 🤘
Thanks for this video, I was almost ready to pull the trigger.
You bet, man! Happy to help.
To me, the price tag is hard to swallow, but there are two features that are preventing me from just dismissing it outright.
1. The convolution reverbs. I've been enamoured by the idea of the Poly Effects Verbs since it came out. It, alone, commands a $400 price tag, and the reviews I've seen online say that there are problems with the support - and I would expect better support coming from Strymon than a smaller bou-tech company.
2. The adjustable panning for stereo delays has my floored. In my book, that has the potential to make this a studio monster. Being able to fine-tune the separation of dual stereo reverbs sounds awesome for direct recording. Set aside the huge soundscapes that Strymon are known for - just setting a modest room and chamber setup to slightly offset pan values seems like a recipe for immersion.
It's hard, because I JUST invested in the RV-500 as my "big box reverb" not six months ago, but I'm heavily considering how much I would get for trade in.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s cool. But with the Big Sky I only used 4 verbs. Am I going to use all these new bells and whistles? And would anyone be able to hear them with a full band behind it?
Don’t worry for 680 I won’t!!
Maybe in 7 - 10 years, the BigSky MX 2 will come out for $999. LOL
The Strymon BigTime MX $1099 💸🫠
I don’t get why the add an infinite switch if the old big sky can accomplish that when you hold any of the bank switch
A Source Audio Ventris makes a lot more sence
Ventris is killer, but OG BigSky beats it out imo. That is unless you must have dual verbs.
@@IkeGuitar In no way does OG Big sky beat Ventris. I have numerous times A/B them and Ventris sounds like OG Bigsky with a towel taken off the amp. Same sounds, massively move clear. Ventris is King.
@@youwantthis7607 Ventris is cool, don’t get me wrong. It does benefit from newer tech, but does it beat it out? I disagree, but it’s close enough that a lot of people love it.
@@IkeGuitar Do you own them both? I can tell you, I prefer Strymon since it's made in USA. However, without a doubt- EVERY preset on Ventris sounds like a way cleaner version of a BigSky. Again I am not a shill for any of these companies, I think Fractal is the best reverb, but I can confirm that A/B a ventures on the same preset as a BigSky there is no chance unless you prefer noisier, muffled, lower quality sounding verb. And the Ventris is super small. Again, sonically, there is no chance the BS is better than the Ventris. Some major players in Reverb history developed the Ventris as well...
@@youwantthis7607 I’m have not “owned” both verbs but I have played both extensively. BigSky is my current verb.
We all know you’ll buy one within 3 months
I need to to re-up my salvation!
I actually lie "reasons not" videos like this. Loving a brand and having the fortitude to still call out negatives is rare. Strymon engineers will get a more useful info from a review like this that they would from 100 candy-coated reviews. What worked in the video for me is that you gave concrete examples and comparisons that dug in to actual usage. EXAMPLE: I do have the Freeze. So the previous model probably would be a good option for me. You also point out that the things you find problematic might not matter to others. Thanks
Thanks, Kent! Appreciate the feedback! And that you seem like a reasonable guy 😅
So you haven’t got one then! 😂
I’m Returning My BigSky MX (And Why You Should Too)
czcams.com/video/yAruOHyKajw/video.html
To “infinity” and beyond!
Yuck 🫠
Over priced
Yup
The worst reviewer
Thank you 🙏
Strymon is really leaning in to their target demographic: middle class, middle aged, dorks.
I’m more than happy with my Empress Reverb, which already has an “infinite”/sustain function.
Yeah this is not groundbreaking tech here. I want my bank back! Let me have the infinite (if you must) on the expression jack or switchable with bank C.
Brilliant video. I agree with all these points. I also just want true spillover on my Blue Sky V2 🫠
Maybe we can impulse response a reverb that cuts out into another half-way through!