Strymon BigSky vs. Neunaber Illumine

[@alexoftheway8169]

To be fair, plugging this vidio into my Hi-Fi amp, the Illumin sounds awesome, and to clarify, I do own a Big Sky, and I like it very much, the cab filter is super helpful to me too when I'm out. I like your demo of the paddles and I also like your positivity, there was no marking down of the Big Sky for not having the extras, afterall we might have other pedals for modulation, delay etc, but it's still cool that the Illumine has those features. Great work man, keep it up!

[@JoseStudios]

I am looking into buying either one of the MXR. I play worship. What would you go for?

[@alexoftheway8169]

@JoseStudios Hey, I play worship too, the Big Sky has been very helpful for me over the years, unfortunately I've not tried the others as I guess I've not needed to and it was a fair investment at the time! Recently amps have been ditched in favour of plugging into the desk so the inbuilt cabinate filter has been good. I'd suggest trying them out and assuming it's Christian worship pray about it and then move forward. May God bless you, I hope this is of some use to you.

[@JoseStudios]

@@alexoftheway8169would you recommend going big for the bigsky MX, or just the regular Bigsky since now it’s almost have of the price. Thank you!

[@alexoftheway8169]

@@JoseStudios Heya, sorry for the late reply, life has been manic busy but at least I can rest now it's the holiday period. Well, I suppose, back in the day I felt like I was going big on getting the BigSky, I don't know how successful I was in my prayer life being obedient to getting what was best, so I wouldn't blame you for going all out on the MX. For me I've used the BigSky for years and the tone is lush, it's been more than enough for me, I've used it in the FX loop of an all tube amp, I've used it to record during Covid behind a drive peddle with the cab filter on and now use it to plug directly into PA. I'm wondering weather to get a TC Electronic Polethera X3, I don't know weather something like this might be of use to both of us, apparently the hall of fame reverb is good and I believe it might have a cab' filter too, the mash feature also sounds good on the reverb, the BigSky also does this too. If I get an X3 I'd be using it with my BigSky. Anyway, all the best in getting what you're after, you know, at half the price I think that I'd be tempted with the BigSky! You might be able to get something else to go with it! and let me know what you end up getting. May God bless you richly over the holiday season.

[@JoseStudios]

@@alexoftheway8169thank you brother for the response. I play in a small church and church nearly makes ends to pay rent. So, part of my money is going to on buying other things like in ear monitors, we need more mics (and preferably a wireless system), we are going to need a piano soon, and etc. 😅. So, trying to manage my money effectively. And of course, always communicating with Holy Spirit for guidance 😊. I am glad you are still happy with the regular BigSky. I know it is still a great pedal. I’ll let you know what I end up using. Thanks again for reaching back. May God keep blessing you and your loved ones.

[@soumikdas2009]

Hi, it's very good comparison. However I have immerse mkII and now the illumine. Wondering if you can suggest if I can let the immerse go ? To my understanding The bigsky chorale sound can be achieved using both immerse and illumine I guess.

[@gilguajardo7808]

Pretty sure the Illumine has everything that the previous reverb pedals have. Send a message to Brian Neunaber, though.

[@soumikdas2009]

Using the illumine for two months now. Here are some thoughts 1. The sound quality, form factor is really good , but it lacks usability. It should have two more button such as mix and tone at-least. 2. I had immerse earlier , somehow the shimmerTone in immerse sounded and controlled better than illumine. 3. Not all the reverbs sounds wonderful or 4. I once had bluesky, from there I moved to immerse, never had bigsky. But after watching the comparison video it seems I should try the bigsky once. Or just like Anthony’s rig it’s good to have immerse and bigsky both. Much appreciated everyone opinion. Shall I try this

[@michael_caz_nyc]

When Strymon made the Big Sky - they hit a Grand-Slam. ( Yes, there are other fantastic reverb pedals ) - but the Big Sky is an Inspiration machine and like an instrument unto itself. It's Phenomenal. I am able to do Synth, Strings & Choir's in a Live-performance. I actually use mine like a guitar synth. It's going to the Grave with me !!!

[@ProcalHarem]

It has a huge range of options and soundscapes but, for me, the Strymon reverb pedals (Cloudburst, Flint, Big Sky, etc) all have a 'Strymon' sound. It's a bit like a bright, soupy, digital, sound. I personally don't like it. I find it hard to name other reverbs when I hear them, but I think you can tell a Strymon a mile away. I think that's a negative.

[@BonafideToolJunkie]

So much creative potential when you insert these reverb pedals into a desk mixer, along with a condenser mic.

[@gilguajardo7808]

I wonder if Neunaber will add cab sim in a future firmware update. Especially since they have a digital cab sim on the Neuron, and of course the Iconoclast.

[@gilguajardo7808]

I emailed Neunaber. Not possible to add cab sim in a firmware update, since the dry signal is analog.

[@crybaby1029ify]

I've never seen this pedal before! Thank you for introducing a good pedal :-)

[@wheresallthezombies]

I wish I would’ve found the Illumine when I was looking for this style of reverb. I ended up with the walrus r1. It’s alright. Kind of hard to dial in. The big sky is probably what I should get. I like the screen along with being able to dial it in with the knobs, and it seems easier to switch presets.

[@mr.d.572]

Hey everyone, I just started using reverb pedals and only have the EHX Canyon and Walrus Audio Slo so far. What would you recommend next? I want something with Shimmer and delay if possible, and other sounds good for ambient. Looking at Big Sky, Illumine, Keeley Caverns, Earthquakes Devices Dispatch Master, Meris Mercury 7, Avalanche Run, IK Multimedia Amplitude X-Space, and Line 6 DL4 Mkii.

[@seanstiller7202]

What did you end up purchasing next?

[@mr.d.572]

@@seanstiller7202 Nothing yet.... I have been holding off for now because I got a new amp that has reverb. Maybe this year I'll get something....

[@seanstiller7202]

@@mr.d.572 I just ordered the Immerse II and will be picking up the Big Sky early next year. I play ambient bass )

[@Mesa3077Boogie]

Good call saying Neunaber has usable tones in extreme settings. Thats a big plus for Neunaber products. That has been my experience as well on all algorithms I played on a V2 pedal using multiple modes loaded from the expanse software (reverb, chorus, delays, etc.)

[@tommyfhathaway]

I wonder how many people have tried to get an illumine and can’t find one? It took me a few days to find one online.

[@softlightsymphonyband]

I’ve owned both of these and Specular Tempus beat both of them out for a home on my board. Take that as you will.

[@Jason75913]

The Tempus rules hard. I have it. I love running my Boss RV500 or Walrus R1 into it for more reverb. But my favorite sound is the Eventide Blackhole going into the Specular Tempus. I need to get another Blackhole as I got rid of it and regret it.

[@brad42948]

Excellent video; I would say, though, that the BigSky Cloud algorithm and Neunaber Wet are well-matched.

[@Acousticeg]

BigSky for live gigs, because of ease of use. Neunaber Illumine for the studio, for tweeking just the right verb. simple as that.

[@jviolin]

For me it would be the opposite, I can tweak the Neunaber so it doesn't wash out the sound and get a very natural verb for live use. I could see use for the BigSky in a studio but prefer Neunaber for live use.

[@MrSigitar]

Thanks for that great comparison. Very helpful… I just wonder: what tells the time? Did you replaced the Big Sky with the Illumine?

[@charlarge3555]

Another great video! Thanks, Antoine!

[@gilguajardo7808]

It’s worth mentioning that the price of the Illumine hasn’t been more than $429 since it was released.

[@Starch1b2c3d4a]

Damn

[@manvsem]

I got both of them 😇 and I like it

[@SergoKazmir]

Antoine you are going to organize a stream?

[@jackguitarfreak3]

i'm still sticking to my bigsky!

[@georgerichardson7728]

Me too, best reverb on earth

[@Danthehorse]

Excellent demo. Big sky sounds bigger, higher headroom. Neunaber always sound a bit washy, like my old HOF.

[@sexyguitarboy69]

Of course, the Strymon has more than twice footprint! 😊 Neunaber sounds washy? Omg - get yourself a new hearing aid, man! 🤦

[@TheTinMan123]

Bigsky is still a fabulous pedal But The Illumine sounds incredible, for me Neunaber can’t be beat when it comes to reverb, would of been amazing to have heard both pedals with overdrive, so many videos reframe from showing this, Pete Thorn maybe the only one?? great demo though

[@Jason75913]

The Illumine reverbs hold their own against the Big Sky up to a point, just wow. That's a hell of a step up from the Immerse Mk2. I didn't like the Immerse Mk1 or Mk2 due to their audio quirks and got rid of them. That Illumine shimmer is too aggressive, much like the Hall of Fame 2, but much more piercing, yuck. I think Big Sky's sound is still better overall.

[@beneath_the_woods]

Shame the user interface of the Illumine is the exact opposite of the Immerse. I really liked that it has no presets, hidden parameters/functions or convoluted menus.

[@TrentonF505]

The Illumine sounds wider and clearer

[@WinterVibrations]

Interesting.. I think the Strymon sounds noticeably more lush and better all around. It’s like you can ‘feel’ more from the bigsky. Definitely subjective though!

[@marcusstrymon693]

When going out and telling that the illumine has the edge over the bigsky, you cut one important thing imo. Yes the wet is absolutely gorgeouse and strymon does not have anything that does this. BUT The big sky has the cloud algorithm. An absolute monster for heavenly, distorted lead solos, ambient drones. This thing can be overwhelming and too much but also absolutely musical. Its very unique and nothing comes even close in doing ehat this does. especially with diffusion low and muted picking. it soundds like rain drop delays. INSANE. So both are gorgeous. For me as a big sky owner its very simple: Get a neunaber wet. As you said, best wet sound of all.

[@Legitimatenobody]

As with all Strymon vs Neunaber videos. The Neunaber's algorithms are waaaaaay better crafted. The Big Sky sounds cheap compared to the Neunaber. And The Big Sky gets in the way really easily. For me an obvious winner. The Big Sky is really good, but all of that completely falls away when you put a Neunaber next to it.

[@jacksprat3009]

I appreciate this demo. You didn't cover everything (that would take a few hours) but you gave enough time with the ones you did cover to really get the sense of the pedal setting. I'm looking for a reverb for my synth (Prophet 12 which doesn't have reverb) I believe The Big Sky has 5 pin midi in and out. I think illumine has midi in/out too but uses a special connection.(?). I like the Illume is small and hand tweeking while working with the synth would be preferable than foot stomping. But with guitar foot stomping, with the Big Sky would be preferable. (Leaves hand free to play). So I might just get the one i can get at a sale price.

[@marcusstrymon693]

The cab sim is absolutely amazing. I used it for recording for nearly 2 years, completely ditched my stereo amps cause of how good it sounds. Sometimes i even put my iridium away and play with the cab sim, especially with the riverside acting as a preamp. Riverside normal with everything at 12 0 clock and high gain plus big sky cab filter is just awesome.

[@jdwilliams202000]

Can you use the cab sim into front of house for a stereo signal? Asking for a church I serve at locally that I am only playing in mono due to having 1 amp

[@gilguajardo7808]

@@jdwilliams202000 cab sim on BigSky is a switch on the back side. So if you can send the stereo signal from BigSky to front of house (presumably via DI box(es)), then, yes, you can send the same signal with cab sim enabled.

[@erikhartley2494]

I assume the cab sim would be usable also if running POST whatever amp modeler you’re using (Iridium in stereo), to get a more colored sound similar to the cab coloration of running in an amp’s fx loop?

[@marcusstrymon693]

@@jdwilliams202000 Hey sry for not writing back, nots are a joke on YT. Ah yes, absolutely, no problems at all, done that one few times. It is just great, you have nothing to carry and your pocket amp/reverb anywhere. You dont need any additional d3vice, as the clean sound is just amazing out of yhe box and it also handles dirves quite well. With overdrive i would rate the sound as good and reasonable, it is not like the iridium where it adds such a pleasure of sound but you will instantly get rid of that miserable fizzy sound you have when going DI, no soundproblems at all and i guarantee nobody will notice. As said i recorded 2 years exclusively with that, all stereo fx, all konds of sound from heavy to beautiful ambient pads. It also blows with Riverside.

[@marcusstrymon693]

@@jdwilliams202000 You can even use bigsky to create a split signal. Go in regular, even with no reverb on you will send out the same sound left and right, meaning you will. always have stereo, doesnt matter if you go in mono or stereo. Of course if you go in stereo with like a mobius or a heris hedra you will come out stereo but with those gorgeous bigsky reverbs added to taste! Best pedal ever!

[@clayteasouth]

Bigsky is the standard that all other reverbs try to reach. In the end it is personal taste and what workflow is best for you.

[@matthewholme297]

The plate on the big Sky was more clear

[@NikolausBrocke]

To me the plates with modulation sound warmer on the big sky. On the neunaber it's a bit thinner with more highs. Also nice, but the big sky knocks me off my shoes. This is like a lexicon.

[@the5chord]

Awesome! Thanks so much for doing this. I do love the big sky but I am always trying to recreate Neunaber algorithms on my other reverb pedals. So probably I should just buy the Neunaber. Rate and depth in the modulation controls is just a must have for me on a reverb this expensive.

[@marcusstrymon693]

Go for a used wet, that is quite not too expensive these days and it is just gorgeous. I am a bigsky owner too, so i am not in need of any other stuff except the wet cause it is insanely beautiful

[@the5chord]

@@marcusstrymon693 I have one but I do like the other algorithms in the Illumine. I really like the Rumble that he played for a few seconds, the chorus and the echoes. Those seem more useful to my tastes than chorale which I did not like on the Big Sky. On the other hand Cloud!

[@marcusstrymon693]

@@the5chord Yess cloud. But cloud is very extreme, careful about that. Big sky has the magneto which is built like a delay with tape heads. Astonishing thing. absolutely amazing.

[@the5chord]

Shouldn’t you be adjusting the high pass filter to get rid of the piercing on the shimmer?

[@SethDStanley]

High pass adjusts low, low pass adjusts high. It’s backwards. High pass lets the high pass through unaffected and therefore only affects low end.

[@the5chord]

@@SethDStanley I suppose I should have just looked at the manual but thanks. I did notice that shimmer is one of the two modes without high frequency damping. I wonder if that could help.

[@RosssRoyce]

Neunaber is so clean it has no soul. It’s different affectations stay separate and don’t blend! Also it’s stereo space picture sound artificial and narrow. PS to me most of big sky sounds like the other’s “wet v1”, even though lower res, it has infinite varieties of this feel and alchemical, blended spirit…

[@Starch1b2c3d4a]

Illumine looks like a nightmare to tweak and program. For 500 bucks, wtf

[@gregs6424]

Illumine sounds softer, more subtle, like it has less effect. Big Sky is very dramatic, much stronger effect. Neunaber sounds almost like it wants you to lose volume when you engage it. Very hard to understand Neunaber's approach.

[@kevinhetzel8654]

Illumine wins

[@marcusstrymon693]

"so if you could only choose one, which strymon or neunaber reverb woul you choose?" Me, Antoine and all you other anbient freaks here: Yes, i'll take all and i want the meris and the ventris

[@mr.d.572]

I'll take any! I do have the EHX Canyon and Walrus Audio Slo, those are good for what they are too.

[@marcusstrymon693]

@@mr.d.572 They are excellent!! The slo is very experimental as well. Only thing i would miss is the stereo, like especially with reverb stereo is so unbelieveably gorgeous

[@mr.d.572]

@@marcusstrymon693 Haven't progressed to stereo yet...maybe if I start playing live. I just started using these reverb pedals and only have the 2 so far (EHX Canyon and Walrus Audio Slo). What would you recommend next? I want something with Shimmer and other sounds good for ambient. Looking at Big Sky, Illumine, Keeley Caverns, Earthquakes Devices Dispatch Master, Meris Mercury 7, Avalanche Run, IK Multimedia Amplitude X-Space, and Line 6 DL4 Mkii.

[@marcusstrymon693]

@@mr.d.572 I think neunaber and source audio are great as well as meris. Either a ventris or an immerse is absolutely awesome. However for me personally, the bigsky was absolutely blasting my mind. It was both the most useful and most beautiful piece i ever had in my equipment other than the guitar itself. In am extreme occasion of i only could have one piece of guitar equipment other than pa and guitar, it would be the big sky. Its verbs are extremely beautiful and there is so mich dofferent sounds to explore, especoally on the high decay verbs. The magneto reverb on it is a crossover between delay and reverb. It makes clean delays but you can add on reverb trails the delay so delayreverb. Also its cabfilter is a big surprise. It sounds quite good, especially clean. Before i got the iridium, i changed from a stereo amp setup to recording DI woth bigsky cabfilter for 2 years, because it just has such a good guitar sound. So bigsky is really really amazing. As well as timeline, which is also absolutely a monster.

[@marcusstrymon693]

@@mr.d.572 Also bigsky is especially good in stereo. like going from a mono to stereo with bigsky is noght and day. its true beauty comes only up in stereo.

[@guitfiddleblue]

The menus in the Big Sky (which I own) are bad enough - I cannot imagine only having two knobs to manipulate settings. Nuenaber is amazing - and I own a Wet v5 - but the Illumine seems too much for me.

[@gilguajardo7808]

Like with most pedal menus, you get used to the UI quickly and then navigation is easy.

[@juandoming6688]

The talking took away from the presentation

[@christopherrusch]

i prefer everything about the Illumine more

[@christopherrusch]

also the fact that the illumine has the wet plugin algorithm, that’s WILD to me

[@michalpaluchnik5856]

That's really good video thank you🫶🏻

[@joetoe9207]

I don’t understand a place for “shimmer” through guitar. It’s a guitar. Not an orchestra or synthesizer.

[@theflamerising1767]

Come on! This guy knows the bigsky is better.

[@raldtechtv1251]

Neunaber wet v1!!

[@crag_]

Kind of ridiculous that the neunaber is a 479 dollar spin fv1 pedal

[@NotoriousV.I.C.]

Jesus Tapdancing Christ, do you talk a lot. Focus more on the pedals, my guy.

[@joetoe9207]

I like the editorializing. To think you can detect the true sound after all the processing that occurs isn’t reasonable.

[@Cadiztano99]

Hi Antoine. Do you have instagram? I want to follow you for new vids and content from your channel but i can see you in the social media. Thanks!