RECORDING January 2023 - 57

preset, any parameter tweaks made on
any algorithm around the dial hold their
settings when you return to them. This
makes quick comparisons fast and easy.
When you find one that works best, simply
hit the large, obvious save button.
Sounds Like the Sky
Does the plugin sound like the hardware?
In side-by-side comparisons between
a hardware BigSky and the Bigsky Plugin,
with presets and parameters matched, I
could discern very little difference between
the two. Any noticeable differences came
down to level matching and how hard I
was driving the ins and outs of each.
Classic Tones, Not Just for Guitar
While the pedal was initially conceived
for guitar, and as we saw in my original
review, it excels at that application. It
quickly found use in studios as both an
atmospheric sound design tool and a
high-quality hardware box with an almost
classic 80s/90s algorithmic reverb sound.
Like many guitar pedals and reverbs
of that era, the BigSky (hardware and
plugin) is not a true stereo reverb. It
takes both incoming stereo channels and
effectively sums them into the reverb. It's
not mono exactly, as the resulting stereo
sound is wide and lush, but the panning
and movement of the source is not maintained
in a fully wet mix. This is part of
the rich sonic tapestry of the BigSky.
The Sky Is the Limit
I have been using the Big Sky Plugin
to add rich, shimmering plates to vocals,
lively rooms to drums and acoustic guitars,
opulent halls to strings and all manner of
standard fare. While it sounds great on
all of the above, the true magic comes
when you dive into the specialty algorithms.
This is a soundscaping synths
player's dream and a key component of
my personal tribal ambient sound, especially
on my analog synths.
Shimmer can take a monophonic lead
line and craft a sound-cloud orchestra,
adding Choral to a violin adds an instant
supporting choir, and Cloud can
turn darn near any source into a deep
drone for days. For drummers, you also
get some classic Non-Linear tones.
While there is a third-party software
editor-librarian for the pedal, the GUI
of the BigSky Plugin is better in every
way for ease of use and creativity. Unfortunately,
while the BigSky Plugin can
import saved presets from the hardware,
the two cannot communicate together.
Off Into the Clouds
I make no secret that the original
BigSky Reverb is one of my favorite
reverb devices of all time. This means
I am completely over the moon for the
new Strymon BigSky Plugin. The lush,
gorgeous BigSky sound is now even
easier to pepper into your mixes with a
simple-to-use, highly creative interface.
What's not to love? The price is less than
half the cost of the hardware, and gives
you the same algorithms and sound.
Personally,
I hope Strymon tackles my
beloved TimeLine delay pedal next.
Price: $199.99
More From: strymon.net
Detailed, ultra-high resolution
For vocals & all instruments
Rich lows & detailed mids
Clean high-end air
Unique FET-tube amplifier
Center-terminated capsule
Handmade in USA
PELUSOMICROPHONELAB.COM
THE P-280 DELIVERS AN ULTRA-HIGH
RESOLUTION SIGNAL, CRYSTAL CLEAR QUIET
NOISE-FLOOR AND VACUUM TUBE WARMTH.
THE PERFECT COMBINATION TO RECORD
THROUGH ANY OF TODAY'S WIDELY DIVERSE
SIGNAL CHAINS.
P-280
Peluso Microphone Lab
RECORDING January 2023 57
OUR QUIETEST LDC
TUBE MICROPHONE
P-280
http://strymon.net http://pelusomicrohponelab.com
RECORDING January 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of RECORDING January 2023
