Dude, not only are your videos phenomenal both sonically and visually, but you do such a great job giving a fair and objective take on the gear. Thank you!
This was a great style of video, and did an amazing job of running over the pros and cons, while also being honest and not colouring too much in the way of bias. You gave me a great idea of which one I want out of two - BigSky - due to my needs and lack of wanting to menu dive. Cheers for this, great work!
IRs are not good for reverbs with modulated tails. I've sampled Eventide Blackhole but the sound was not great in comparison with the real deal. Also I was amazed that Hall algo is better than BlackHole!
I have both, and I kept both because they’re both great at different things. I use the BigSky MX on my board because it’s SO much faster to dial in a quick, excellent sounding reverb for guitar. I have the MercuryX off the board because it has those excellent sci-fi experimental sounds. I also have an LVX and an effects switcher so I can still put effects after the reverb using the LVX. One thing about the MercuryX that many people don’t realize is that all of the algorithms except Prism sum to mono. I know this because two 180 degree out of phase signals into both stereo ins results in almost no reverb as long as there is no modulation from the predelay section. Couple that with how the Poly Chroma modifier also sums to mono and you can kinda destroy the stereo image of the reverb if you don’t want modulation. Adding the tiniest bit from the predelay section fixes this for the most part, except you’ll still get an impulse in the left channel affecting the right output. One nice thing about the BigSky MX is that you can always have true stereo when an algorithm isn’t true stereo.
What a great comparison video! I've already committed to the Meris unit but it was fascinating to hear them thoroughly and objectively compared and contrasted. For my purposes the Meris was the right choice though the IR and dual reverb capabilities of the Strymon are something I would love to have.
Excellent info Mark! Curious about any further comparisons for keyboard players like me? I own a Lexicon MX200. Would either of these two improve my sounds?
I think the winning factor for me with the mercuryX is the amount of precision that the filters and eq elements give me. Having the ability to cut/add and emphasize any frequency I want has so much utility, especially in the context of post production. Add on compressors and limiters and it's an excellent all around studio tool. I will say that I haven't found a way to approximate the cloud algorithm, which I'll always have nostalgia for since it reminds me of the 2010s. Cloud is still my favorite reverb sound ever.
I think this comment encapsulates the overwhelming number of requests I got for this video. The MercX does SO much and with so much granularity but there are *some* key sounds in the BigSky that just can’t be completely replicated and they’re fully essential to some people.
Never been much of a Strymon fan boy, however, after having had both I stock with the Big Sky MX because of the reasons Mark points out. The dual algoritmes, a somewhat (for me) easier UI, sounds near ready when you need them. That being said, both sounds insanely good, and all the modifyers in the Mercury X makes up for "only" have one algorithm going at a time. It just took me too long to get the sound I was looking for.
This is a good analysis. Strymon will always have its rabid fans, and I understand why. But for me, with the style of music I like and create, nothing beats the Meris MercuryX as far as do-it-all reverbs go. In my experiences with both pedals, the MercuryX has been able to do everything that the BigSky MX was able to do step for step, but it can move well beyond that too. I have time to dial in my sounds (and enjoy the process too!) and I highly value the "overwhelming" amount of options in the MercuryX, so the "cons" that turn people away from the MercuryX are actually more of pros for me. To each their own!
I don’t have rabies the last time I checked, but I did end up selling the Mercury X and keeping the BigSky MX. The choice is probably more about musical priorities and what kind of user experience one prefers rather than brand loyalty. I haven’t encountered anyone yet who loves Meris products but hates Strymon or vice versa. That would be weird given how much cross pollination exists between the two companies and their products.
Well, I own the Mercury X and I'm endlessly fascinated by it. One of it's hidden benefits for me, is that I always run a compressor and some kind of verb on cleans. That means it kicked my compressor of of my board and I have more room for "wierdo" pedals. It also has trem, chorus and delay (if you set the pre-delay to a tempo). The cool thing for me is that the more stock sounding verbs also sound killer. In fairness, I have never owned a Strymon because I like to be "that guy" that has something just a little different. I'm probably the exact type of person the Mercury X is marketed for. Mission Accomplished! I still might try a Strymon one of these days!
I’m “that guy” too - if something is top dog in popularity, I feel compelled to look under every stone to see if there’s something that rivals in quality but has a slightly different character. I have really liked the Strymons I tested in the store (delays and rotary) - so ashamed! lol - but haven’t bought one yet. I ordered a Meris because the cxm sounded like it was sent from heaven and I can get some of the same in the MercuryX. Plus, to your other point, it also has a tuner, right? So that clears up some room for me.
Merc X is awesome..I can get lost in its huge stereo Prism or Gravity structures for hours,and that's without the vast amount of extras you can put in with them.
I have MX. Using it as an outboard for live mixing! As silly as it sounds, the kill dry function is great as the knob switches from mix to level, which means it's easy to lower the overall wet level with one physical control.
@8piscean8 I am... blending two different delay types (H90 into LVX) is also pretty cool (digital into tape, etc). You can have two different delay subdivisions stacked in the LVX, but they have to be the same delay type.
I picked up the Walrus R1 a year ago - what has been Super Valuable for me in my context of play is having three banks of presets that can switch on the fly. Once i step into midi, i will likely go through another evolution in my gear, but i feel that my current skill needs to increase before i can reward myself with more tech. I play P&W and often find that carrying the ambience section and transitions is my main job. I'm simply a highlighter in that context.
The timing of this video is apt for me, as I'm interested in getting the MercuryX after having owned the original Big Sky for many years. I recently got hold of the LVX, and it's fantastic, but I find myself getting exhausted half-way through building a patch and I'll take regular breaks. The options are overwhelming, and I'm saying that as an owner of Zoia.
Great analysis. There is no best when it comes to gear many times, just better for the particular musical and sonic goals you want to accomplish. Although I could have purchased a BigskyMX, I choose to just stick with the MercuryX, AND I got a second, with the blem sale backup. I was well familiar with the architecture of the MercuryX from having an LVX, and I love the freedom to build your own sounds the big box Meris provide. (Still keeping my OG Bigsky and Timeline, great units). I also love the 78 Room for smaller but lively conventional spaces (after hearing Mick & Dan rave about the CXM version of the Room, I felt like the MercuryX version delivered something very useful.) A major issue for me was the retention of stereo separation in the tank for almost all MercuryX scenarios; BigskyMX only has that with the IRs, hall, plate and chamber and one or two others; all the more sci-fi/signature Strymon reverbs like Cloud, Bloom, etc. still sum to mono in the tank. Yes, there are workarounds and its not the end of the world, but when you are obsessed with stereo chorus before the LVX, and complicated panning, multi-tap from the LVX going into the reverb, it had to be MercuryX.
I love this type of comparison. Play into their strengths, versus trying to make one sound like the other and dissecting the frequency response of the algo's with such things as "this ones brighter" or whatever that a lot of other comparisons try and go for (not saying that isnt valid if you are looking for one hyper specific sound, just that I think it glosses over a lot of what either could do). If it sounds good, it is good. From there, feature set to match your needs. Good stuff. I went with the mercuyX personally. I actually like the endless tweakability.
Appreciate the thoughts. I’ve always been pretty reticent to engage in “shootouts” as clearly shown in this video. I am always a proponent of the idea that there are few actual “bad” products out there and mostly just products that are for *someone* but not you. I begrudge no one their preferences between reverbs like this, only people who are overly dismissive of others preferences.
I have both. MercuryX is superior to me. You can get from regular reverbs to amazing atmospheric textures. Very easy to use. You can go really deep on tweaking or not; it’s up to you. Also, Strymon has a specific sound in all their pedals that I don’t enjoy. Finally the Meris is very inspiring!
This is kinda the conclusion I expected yet DREADED to hear. I love my MercX, for bedroom playing/full ambient and I find little need for more than a smidge of amp reverb for live/rock-ish type stuff. Though even then- I find the basic Meris Plate algo does better than most in a mix, without getting blown out.
Same frustration about USB with the LVX, but it is still my favorite pedal of all. Since reverb is mostly, usually at the end of the chain, I'm perfectly fine using a plugin like RAUM or Supermassive, so I passed on the Mercury X. I'm actually happy enough with the cloudburst on my board.
its such a small gripe in the grand scheme of that device buuuuuuuut it’s also, what I feel to be, a completely valid and frustrating omission from what is proven to be and priced as a premium level reverb option.
I have the old Bigsky and still works great for me, i tried the Bigsky MX last night and it just sound as my Old great Bigsky, i will go buy Meris X to pair it with My Bigsky ❤
I had both the Mercury X and the Big Sky MX. I returned the Big Sky because it didn't sound like a Strymon pedal to me. It sounded rather artificial, as though the reverb had been laid on top of the dry signal. On the other hand, the Mercury X sounds as though the instrument was in the space, which is what I look for in a reverb. I kept the Mercury.
I think you nailed the comparison. Both are top of class, but they offer different features for different kinds of users. I love my Mercury X, but like you said, you really need to build a patch from the ground up, and that's just not a practical workflow for everyone.
Since you have already overcome your scruples of comparison (for the time being) mind giving me a quick recommendation? I bought the Specular Tempus because of your video forever ago and it has been my only reverb. I pretty much strictly use the 70s plate, and I adore how it just fades away into a wispy breeze with really long decay times, and stays out of the way of your playing. I am now on the hunt for a big box reverb with more control on the pedal itself, but I'm having a hard time giving up 70s plate. Of the plate algos, do you think the X or MX would be closer to the tempus? I really wish they would just release a synesthesia size reverb pedal with more control, but I've been waiting for years to no avail...
I’ll say this; I do like the act of using the CXM more than the Mercury X in terms of my desire for “can see all my settings at once and the sliders are awesome” but the Mercury X has literally everything from the CXM inside of it AND a lot more for less. It’s kind of wild. But I love my CXM
While I agree with a lot of what you've been going through, and I do feel it's a huge oversight to not include midi over USB-C, bluetooth or wifi in the MercuryX, I've fixed the problem by running through a Blokas MidiHub which allows for very flexible routings and filters. This way I can "inject" the PC connection into a loop with my meris LVX and MercuryX to have the ability to use the editors while having the pedals integrated in the board. This does mean that I am extensively testing for functionality and reliability at the moment, but it's going well so far. Of course the downside is the cost of the MidiHub and the need for usb power on the board. But it's a solution, I guess.
I prefer the mercury x but you cant go wrong with either. Personally i use the CXM1978 becuase again its like for like quality wise to these but the UI is so much better for me. It doesnt have the more experimental options but im about to take delivery of an H90 that will tick that box whilst handling my delay and modulation needs too. Its all fun though
I was looking at the Mercury X for months and months as I considered if I wanted to make a change from my old reliable Ventris. The format of the Mercury X menu was holding me back from pulling the trigger. I’m not a fan of menus in general, my eyesight isn’t great, and at this point had avoided menu-diver pedals for several years. Plus, giving up the dual reverb of the Ventris wasn’t making me excited. But I wanted a fresher stereo reverb. When BigSky MX suddenly hit, it seemed the perfect solution. For me, the menu is the most friendly one I’ve seen in a long time with big, bright text, and the reconfigured knobs made much more sense than original BigSky. The original never appealed to me in the way something like the Nightsky did. Original BigSky just seemed like the menu was hard to read and it sort of felt like a big toy. I’m enjoying the MX. It doesn’t easily get big and washy, but I’m still only a few weeks in, I think I can get there. I still long for those Mercury X ambient pads, but that menu was never going to be my thing. Maybe I’ll eventually load some addition patches from the user community or some IRs that have some spacey warbly goodness too. This thing’s so loaded for expansion, it seems like there’s a lot of future potential. Awesome comparison and super helpful video! ✌️😌🎸✨
I gotta say it's Mercury X for me. although, I eventually tried a BigSky AFTER having a mercury X already, and I have to say, if I had gotten one of those first, I wouldn't have felt the need to move on from it. BigSky has really earned its reputation and is not at all overhyped imo, but Mercury X does just that little bit extra.... or actually quite a lot extra if you're willing to get way into it. It does seem to reward curiosity a lot more. I have the same one gripe that I did about Mercury 7 though, the Ultraplate and Cathedra algos seem very asymmetrical especially in headphones. I'm sure it doesn't matter in a room or even in a mix, but all the highs seem to pile up in one side and I wish there was a way to crossfeed that. Oh well
“Bigsky earned its reputation” is I think the most accurate thing people who like to hate on that pedal fail to see. It has “the sound” and that’s a positive for some a negative for others.
I have the Big Sky (not MX) and it suits me just fine. I've been curious about the Mercury X but would rather spend that money on something other than another high end reverb.
I wanted to love the Mercury X but it simply didn’t sound as musical as the BigSky MX. You can dig deep with the MX if you want to, but it seemed like I had to dig deep with the Mercury X just to get a good sound. It ultimately felt more like programming than making music. I think you captured the differences between them really well. Get the BigSky MX if you want quick, great sounding results and want to focus on music. Get the Mercury X if you want to dive deep into FX sound design.
I have both. There’s not much insight to add to your video. Personally I like both depending on the music. In most cases I’d prefer the BigSky MX but the Merc X is inspiring which is why I want to keep both.
Lol I know this hasn't even came out yet, (I'm excited for it) .. but also, I'm really curious you think an H90 compares to these for running dual verbs.
Thanks for the feedback Mark, and great vid!!! I'm super curios now, if ya ever get to try a H90.. you're so thorough that H90 is vast. But if looking at just the verbs, it has a similar vibe for a algo verb box . Wondering how realistic the new Eventide algos are compared to strymon.
The original BigSky was so vanilla in so many ways that I eventually moved it on, and I'm not really interested in buying the MX version anymore. The MercuryX is way more capable of fantastic and atmospheric sounds, and it is way easier to use considering the breadth of sounds available.
These are quite big and expensive. As a studio tool, they won't beat DAW plugins and post-processing, and for most musicians and music styles, their sounds would be a waste in a live situation, unless people are already going direct, in which case it's probably easier to just use the reverbs in whatever modeller. The reverbs sound great, but I guess you really have to like reverb (and reverb specifically) to get one of these big boxes.
MercuryX is the better pedal here in my opinion, and as far as Strymon goes the NightSky is their most versatile reverb unit by far (yes better than the Big Sky models).
I mean I’d make the argument that the nightsky does some specific creative things better than the big sky but, especially with the dual engines and IR loader / edit the MX is a more “versatile” overall reverb.
Illumine is an insanely good sounding reverb. I would use it more if it wasn’t a 2 knob workflow. I understand that it’s largely designed to be used after dialing in your presets but that’s not often my workflow and NEEDING to go into the menu for everything drives me crazy.
It's funny to me that you think the lack of usb->usb for midi editing on the Meris is a negative cause I'm exactly the opposite. I HAVE a full midi loop already so I LOVE it when a pedal uses regular midi for editor editing cause I can just plug in and go, whereas for something that uses usb->usb I'd have to wire up a second cable.
Love the Meris, but the usb situation is just bad. Look at Line 6! even their $180 POD Express can be used with an editor AND is an audio interface over usb.
Yea I find it really bad that you can't just have an editor that you can just connect through the usb to your pc like Red Panda for example.. Having said that one of the reasons I got and love the Merc X is precisely that I don't have to have a laptop for editing,I can do it on the Mercury X screen itself instantly..
I think Mark took a political decision (for the benefit of the companies) by not saying that the BigSky MX is better. Not a diss, just an observation. Too safe? Not experimental enough? I think the dual reverb capability with its routing options is extremely experimental, on top of the fact that you can load your own IRs. I’d say it’s the ultimate reverb pedal in recreating real spaces and experimentation.
That’s not accurate; Mercury X has both internal trim controls for wet and dry as well as a full kill dry option which is what I used for both reverbs for all sounds in this video.
I dont have to choose i have both. Both are great. I feel the merc x gives me more cinematic awesomeness but i noticed it might have a slightly narrower stereo field than the big sky. Big sky well cloud i dont need to say any more. Amazing.
It’s nice to have both, clearly I do BUT you and I are super privileged to be able to have $1200+ worth of reverb which is definitely not the norm haha
you are totally right on that we are privileged to have both devices. Most people don’t have the funds to afford it. I guess the answer to the question is it depends on what your preferences are. To me its really hard to compare them because they can be used for similar things as well as totally different things.
@@joeymc5272 I mean, to be fair, I also absolutely do not have the funds to afford both. If I didn't have this channel I wouldn't have either of these in all likelihood which is why I think a video like this is worth doing.
Employ the pre-delay left/right delays and the micro shifting by even just a tiny amount and dial it up to taste on the Mercury X. Both of these widen the sound. See if those help. Not a fan of the editor name, either, but, wow has it made a difference for my use of the pedal! I'm biased - never personally liked Strymon reverbs as they sound like Strymon reverbs. Also, I use synths not guitars, and have a hybrid system and think Cinematic Rooms Pro crushes every pedal for realistic spaces (a lot of it has to do with early reflections). But there's no One True Reverb solution for everything.
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Dude, not only are your videos phenomenal both sonically and visually, but you do such a great job giving a fair and objective take on the gear. Thank you!
This was a great style of video, and did an amazing job of running over the pros and cons, while also being honest and not colouring too much in the way of bias.
You gave me a great idea of which one I want out of two - BigSky - due to my needs and lack of wanting to menu dive.
Cheers for this, great work!
Fun fact, i made an IR of my mercury X presets for my friends who have the bigsky MX, and they are loving the ability to use both set of sounds
Far out
Ok this is a rad notion. I might have to try and replicate this.
@@markjohnstonofficial I think we need a video about this. Great idea Jim!
Jim is the hero we need right now.
IRs are not good for reverbs with modulated tails. I've sampled Eventide Blackhole but the sound was not great in comparison with the real deal. Also I was amazed that Hall algo is better than BlackHole!
Great, so I need both.
Good video! I didn’t really understand what the Mercury X was about until you explained it so clearly.
Thanks. Bought the MercuryX just before the MX came out :-)
I have both, and I kept both because they’re both great at different things. I use the BigSky MX on my board because it’s SO much faster to dial in a quick, excellent sounding reverb for guitar. I have the MercuryX off the board because it has those excellent sci-fi experimental sounds.
I also have an LVX and an effects switcher so I can still put effects after the reverb using the LVX.
One thing about the MercuryX that many people don’t realize is that all of the algorithms except Prism sum to mono. I know this because two 180 degree out of phase signals into both stereo ins results in almost no reverb as long as there is no modulation from the predelay section.
Couple that with how the Poly Chroma modifier also sums to mono and you can kinda destroy the stereo image of the reverb if you don’t want modulation. Adding the tiniest bit from the predelay section fixes this for the most part, except you’ll still get an impulse in the left channel affecting the right output.
One nice thing about the BigSky MX is that you can always have true stereo when an algorithm isn’t true stereo.
Wow! Really? Well… that has to be something “fixable” in firmware, right?
What a great comparison video! I've already committed to the Meris unit but it was fascinating to hear them thoroughly and objectively compared and contrasted. For my purposes the Meris was the right choice though the IR and dual reverb capabilities of the Strymon are something I would love to have.
Excellent info Mark! Curious about any further comparisons for keyboard players like me?
I own a Lexicon MX200. Would either of these two improve my sounds?
I think the winning factor for me with the mercuryX is the amount of precision that the filters and eq elements give me. Having the ability to cut/add and emphasize any frequency I want has so much utility, especially in the context of post production. Add on compressors and limiters and it's an excellent all around studio tool.
I will say that I haven't found a way to approximate the cloud algorithm, which I'll always have nostalgia for since it reminds me of the 2010s. Cloud is still my favorite reverb sound ever.
The Cloudburst is pretty great. I'm enjoying it!
I think this comment encapsulates the overwhelming number of requests I got for this video. The MercX does SO much and with so much granularity but there are *some* key sounds in the BigSky that just can’t be completely replicated and they’re fully essential to some people.
Never been much of a Strymon fan boy, however, after having had both I stock with the Big Sky MX because of the reasons Mark points out. The dual algoritmes, a somewhat (for me) easier UI, sounds near ready when you need them. That being said, both sounds insanely good, and all the modifyers in the Mercury X makes up for "only" have one algorithm going at a time. It just took me too long to get the sound I was looking for.
I tried both in the store and went back home with the meris mercuryX. ;)
Good choice..it's unbelievable.. Gravity and Prism are out of this world..
you helped me to understand better what they are and make a decision between the two - thank you!
This is a good analysis. Strymon will always have its rabid fans, and I understand why. But for me, with the style of music I like and create, nothing beats the Meris MercuryX as far as do-it-all reverbs go. In my experiences with both pedals, the MercuryX has been able to do everything that the BigSky MX was able to do step for step, but it can move well beyond that too.
I have time to dial in my sounds (and enjoy the process too!) and I highly value the "overwhelming" amount of options in the MercuryX, so the "cons" that turn people away from the MercuryX are actually more of pros for me. To each their own!
I don’t have rabies the last time I checked, but I did end up selling the Mercury X and keeping the BigSky MX. The choice is probably more about musical priorities and what kind of user experience one prefers rather than brand loyalty.
I haven’t encountered anyone yet who loves Meris products but hates Strymon or vice versa. That would be weird given how much cross pollination exists between the two companies and their products.
Very informative think it's Meris for me.
You are in good company in this comments section than
Well, I own the Mercury X and I'm endlessly fascinated by it. One of it's hidden benefits for me, is that I always run a compressor and some kind of verb on cleans. That means it kicked my compressor of of my board and I have more room for "wierdo" pedals. It also has trem, chorus and delay (if you set the pre-delay to a tempo). The cool thing for me is that the more stock sounding verbs also sound killer. In fairness, I have never owned a Strymon because I like to be "that guy" that has something just a little different. I'm probably the exact type of person the Mercury X is marketed for. Mission Accomplished! I still might try a Strymon one of these days!
I’m “that guy” too - if something is top dog in popularity, I feel compelled to look under every stone to see if there’s something that rivals in quality but has a slightly different character. I have really liked the Strymons I tested in the store (delays and rotary) - so ashamed! lol - but haven’t bought one yet. I ordered a Meris because the cxm sounded like it was sent from heaven and I can get some of the same in the MercuryX. Plus, to your other point, it also has a tuner, right? So that clears up some room for me.
To me, the mercury X clearly has a sci-fi vibe, and big sky clearly has that heavenly big sky thing
Merc X is awesome..I can get lost in its huge stereo Prism or Gravity structures for hours,and that's without the vast amount of extras you can put in with them.
The best compromise: chase bliss CXM. Lush reverbs, easy dialling in of tones
I have MX. Using it as an outboard for live mixing! As silly as it sounds, the kill dry function is great as the knob switches from mix to level, which means it's easy to lower the overall wet level with one physical control.
meris for life lol. my mercury x is making me forget about my other pedals. so good 🫠
Meris life! H90>LVX>MercuryX is 🔥
Yup
100%
Are you using the H90 for modulation?
@8piscean8 I am... blending two different delay types (H90 into LVX) is also pretty cool (digital into tape, etc). You can have two different delay subdivisions stacked in the LVX, but they have to be the same delay type.
Right on! I’m hoping Meris comes out with a big box modulation pedal. Currently using a Zoia for modulation and trying not to spend more money. 😃
I picked up the Walrus R1 a year ago - what has been Super Valuable for me in my context of play is having three banks of presets that can switch on the fly. Once i step into midi, i will likely go through another evolution in my gear, but i feel that my current skill needs to increase before i can reward myself with more tech. I play P&W and often find that carrying the ambience section and transitions is my main job. I'm simply a highlighter in that context.
The timing of this video is apt for me, as I'm interested in getting the MercuryX after having owned the original Big Sky for many years. I recently got hold of the LVX, and it's fantastic, but I find myself getting exhausted half-way through building a patch and I'll take regular breaks. The options are overwhelming, and I'm saying that as an owner of Zoia.
Great analysis. There is no best when it comes to gear many times, just better for the particular musical and sonic goals you want to accomplish.
Although I could have purchased a BigskyMX, I choose to just stick with the MercuryX, AND I got a second, with the blem sale backup. I was well familiar with the architecture of the MercuryX from having an LVX, and I love the freedom to build your own sounds the big box Meris provide. (Still keeping my OG Bigsky and Timeline, great units). I also love the 78 Room for smaller but lively conventional spaces (after hearing Mick & Dan rave about the CXM version of the Room, I felt like the MercuryX version delivered something very useful.) A major issue for me was the retention of stereo separation in the tank for almost all MercuryX scenarios; BigskyMX only has that with the IRs, hall, plate and chamber and one or two others; all the more sci-fi/signature Strymon reverbs like Cloud, Bloom, etc. still sum to mono in the tank. Yes, there are workarounds and its not the end of the world, but when you are obsessed with stereo chorus before the LVX, and complicated panning, multi-tap from the LVX going into the reverb, it had to be MercuryX.
The Jesus of reverbs has spoken
I love this type of comparison.
Play into their strengths, versus trying to make one sound like the other and dissecting the frequency response of the algo's with such things as "this ones brighter" or whatever that a lot of other comparisons try and go for (not saying that isnt valid if you are looking for one hyper specific sound, just that I think it glosses over a lot of what either could do).
If it sounds good, it is good. From there, feature set to match your needs.
Good stuff.
I went with the mercuyX personally. I actually like the endless tweakability.
Appreciate the thoughts. I’ve always been pretty reticent to engage in “shootouts” as clearly shown in this video. I am always a proponent of the idea that there are few actual “bad” products out there and mostly just products that are for *someone* but not you. I begrudge no one their preferences between reverbs like this, only people who are overly dismissive of others preferences.
I have both. MercuryX is superior to me. You can get from regular reverbs to amazing atmospheric textures. Very easy to use. You can go really deep on tweaking or not; it’s up to you. Also, Strymon has a specific sound in all their pedals that I don’t enjoy. Finally the Meris is very inspiring!
I had both and the Bigsky MX destroys the Meris IMO. Sound is MUCH better
@@dingbatjack1234 Big Sky never sounds authentic to me. Meris is where it's at.
This is kinda the conclusion I expected yet DREADED to hear. I love my MercX, for bedroom playing/full ambient and I find little need for more than a smidge of amp reverb for live/rock-ish type stuff. Though even then- I find the basic Meris Plate algo does better than most in a mix, without getting blown out.
I don't have any but I'm thinking hard which to get thanks for your videos, I thinking my next pedal is going to be habit or mood not sure yet 🤜🤛
Buy both is what i heard! 😅
Same frustration about USB with the LVX, but it is still my favorite pedal of all. Since reverb is mostly, usually at the end of the chain, I'm perfectly fine using a plugin like RAUM or Supermassive, so I passed on the Mercury X. I'm actually happy enough with the cloudburst on my board.
its such a small gripe in the grand scheme of that device buuuuuuuut it’s also, what I feel to be, a completely valid and frustrating omission from what is proven to be and priced as a premium level reverb option.
I have the old Bigsky and still works great for me, i tried the Bigsky MX last night and it just sound as my Old great Bigsky, i will go buy Meris X to pair it with My Bigsky ❤
Needed this
Thank you for this
I had both the Mercury X and the Big Sky MX. I returned the Big Sky because it didn't sound like a Strymon pedal to me. It sounded rather artificial, as though the reverb had been laid on top of the dry signal. On the other hand, the Mercury X sounds as though the instrument was in the space, which is what I look for in a reverb. I kept the Mercury.
How does the Slöer compare to those two?
I think you nailed the comparison. Both are top of class, but they offer different features for different kinds of users. I love my Mercury X, but like you said, you really need to build a patch from the ground up, and that's just not a practical workflow for everyone.
"Preditor...which is a terrible name." Shots fired!
I love the work Meris does. Their editor is comprehensive and fairly easy to navigate but maaaan I don’t like the name.
Since you have already overcome your scruples of comparison (for the time being) mind giving me a quick recommendation? I bought the Specular Tempus because of your video forever ago and it has been my only reverb. I pretty much strictly use the 70s plate, and I adore how it just fades away into a wispy breeze with really long decay times, and stays out of the way of your playing.
I am now on the hunt for a big box reverb with more control on the pedal itself, but I'm having a hard time giving up 70s plate. Of the plate algos, do you think the X or MX would be closer to the tempus? I really wish they would just release a synesthesia size reverb pedal with more control, but I've been waiting for years to no avail...
CXM is the king!
I’ll say this; I do like the act of using the CXM more than the Mercury X in terms of my desire for “can see all my settings at once and the sliders are awesome” but the Mercury X has literally everything from the CXM inside of it AND a lot more for less. It’s kind of wild.
But I love my CXM
While I agree with a lot of what you've been going through, and I do feel it's a huge oversight to not include midi over USB-C, bluetooth or wifi in the MercuryX, I've fixed the problem by running through a Blokas MidiHub which allows for very flexible routings and filters. This way I can "inject" the PC connection into a loop with my meris LVX and MercuryX to have the ability to use the editors while having the pedals integrated in the board.
This does mean that I am extensively testing for functionality and reliability at the moment, but it's going well so far. Of course the downside is the cost of the MidiHub and the need for usb power on the board. But it's a solution, I guess.
I have not had a chance to see what the Big Sky can do with IR's. If those work well, then its truly unlimited....well, nearly.
I've made IRs of some of my plugins (UVI & Arturia Plates) and have loaded up a few directories of Briacasti IRs and they all work flawlessly.
@@thepedalpress I figured as much, odd no one is showing it off.
I prefer the mercury x but you cant go wrong with either. Personally i use the CXM1978 becuase again its like for like quality wise to these but the UI is so much better for me. It doesnt have the more experimental options but im about to take delivery of an H90 that will tick that box whilst handling my delay and modulation needs too. Its all fun though
That's my setup. H90 into a CXM and I love it.
Def the MercX for me. If I'm just getting normalish verbs, I got a few other things for the job.. The MercX is just so lushhhh 👍🏼
I was looking at the Mercury X for months and months as I considered if I wanted to make a change from my old reliable Ventris. The format of the Mercury X menu was holding me back from pulling the trigger. I’m not a fan of menus in general, my eyesight isn’t great, and at this point had avoided menu-diver pedals for several years. Plus, giving up the dual reverb of the Ventris wasn’t making me excited. But I wanted a fresher stereo reverb.
When BigSky MX suddenly hit, it seemed the perfect solution. For me, the menu is the most friendly one I’ve seen in a long time with big, bright text, and the reconfigured knobs made much more sense than original BigSky. The original never appealed to me in the way something like the Nightsky did. Original BigSky just seemed like the menu was hard to read and it sort of felt like a big toy.
I’m enjoying the MX. It doesn’t easily get big and washy, but I’m still only a few weeks in, I think I can get there. I still long for those Mercury X ambient pads, but that menu was never going to be my thing. Maybe I’ll eventually load some addition patches from the user community or some IRs that have some spacey warbly goodness too. This thing’s so loaded for expansion, it seems like there’s a lot of future potential.
Awesome comparison and super helpful video! ✌️😌🎸✨
I gotta say it's Mercury X for me. although, I eventually tried a BigSky AFTER having a mercury X already, and I have to say, if I had gotten one of those first, I wouldn't have felt the need to move on from it. BigSky has really earned its reputation and is not at all overhyped imo, but Mercury X does just that little bit extra.... or actually quite a lot extra if you're willing to get way into it. It does seem to reward curiosity a lot more.
I have the same one gripe that I did about Mercury 7 though, the Ultraplate and Cathedra algos seem very asymmetrical especially in headphones. I'm sure it doesn't matter in a room or even in a mix, but all the highs seem to pile up in one side and I wish there was a way to crossfeed that. Oh well
“Bigsky earned its reputation” is I think the most accurate thing people who like to hate on that pedal fail to see. It has “the sound” and that’s a positive for some a negative for others.
I have the Big Sky (not MX) and it suits me just fine. I've been curious about the Mercury X but would rather spend that money on something other than another high end reverb.
I wanted to love the Mercury X but it simply didn’t sound as musical as the BigSky MX. You can dig deep with the MX if you want to, but it seemed like I had to dig deep with the Mercury X just to get a good sound. It ultimately felt more like programming than making music.
I think you captured the differences between them really well. Get the BigSky MX if you want quick, great sounding results and want to focus on music. Get the Mercury X if you want to dive deep into FX sound design.
I have both. There’s not much insight to add to your video. Personally I like both depending on the music. In most cases I’d prefer the BigSky MX but the Merc X is inspiring which is why I want to keep both.
Is mercury x a dual reverb?? Like the new strymon?
It’s not. Single engine with several pages of customization and additional effects that can be placed throughout the effect.
Lol I know this hasn't even came out yet, (I'm excited for it) .. but also, I'm really curious you think an H90 compares to these for running dual verbs.
I’ve never used the H9 nor the H90
@@markjohnstonofficial I would also love to see you compare the reverbs in the H90 to these.
H90 has nice verbs, but I mostly use mine for pitch and modulation. The LVX and MercuryX covers all my ambient tones.
Thanks for the feedback Mark, and great vid!!! I'm super curios now, if ya ever get to try a H90.. you're so thorough that H90 is vast. But if looking at just the verbs, it has a similar vibe for a algo verb box . Wondering how realistic the new Eventide algos are compared to strymon.
No one catching the rare moment Mark is wearing a T-shirt with a LOGO! I mean…of course it’s Castedosa. …wait…it’s Castedosa right?
Do I detect a twothirtyeight influence in 5:16 ?
Unlikely given that I don’t know who that is but I’ll have to check them out
I bought both, ended up selling the Mercury X. I can see the potential but can't bring myself to invest the required time in the menus.
The original BigSky was so vanilla in so many ways that I eventually moved it on, and I'm not really interested in buying the MX version anymore. The MercuryX is way more capable of fantastic and atmospheric sounds, and it is way easier to use considering the breadth of sounds available.
These are quite big and expensive. As a studio tool, they won't beat DAW plugins and post-processing, and for most musicians and music styles, their sounds would be a waste in a live situation, unless people are already going direct, in which case it's probably easier to just use the reverbs in whatever modeller. The reverbs sound great, but I guess you really have to like reverb (and reverb specifically) to get one of these big boxes.
MercuryX is the better pedal here in my opinion, and as far as Strymon goes the NightSky is their most versatile reverb unit by far (yes better than the Big Sky models).
I mean I’d make the argument that the nightsky does some specific creative things better than the big sky but, especially with the dual engines and IR loader / edit the MX is a more “versatile” overall reverb.
Big Sky MX on my bass strings & MercuryX on my high strings: stellar !
Thanks for the video Mark! I was very close to pulling the trigger on the Big Sky, but now I’m lusting after the dark horse in the race: OTO BAM
The BAM feels like a spectre that just looms over all my existing reverbs just waiting for me to buy one and see the light
The BAM with a midi controller is Mark’s final form.
Please do an H90 video!! 🙌🏻
Great Test, I prefer the Neunaber Illumine Stereo Reverb.
Illumine is an insanely good sounding reverb. I would use it more if it wasn’t a 2 knob workflow. I understand that it’s largely designed to be used after dialing in your presets but that’s not often my workflow and NEEDING to go into the menu for everything drives me crazy.
It's funny to me that you think the lack of usb->usb for midi editing on the Meris is a negative cause I'm exactly the opposite. I HAVE a full midi loop already so I LOVE it when a pedal uses regular midi for editor editing cause I can just plug in and go, whereas for something that uses usb->usb I'd have to wire up a second cable.
Lol…. The Big Sky has a 15$ CPU 😂
Love the Meris, but the usb situation is just bad. Look at Line 6! even their $180 POD Express can be used with an editor AND is an audio interface over usb.
Yea I find it really bad that you can't just have an editor that you can just connect through the usb to your pc like Red Panda for example.. Having said that one of the reasons I got and love the Merc X is precisely that I don't have to have a laptop for editing,I can do it on the Mercury X screen itself instantly..
I think Mark took a political decision (for the benefit of the companies) by not saying that the BigSky MX is better. Not a diss, just an observation.
Too safe? Not experimental enough? I think the dual reverb capability with its routing options is extremely experimental, on top of the fact that you can load your own IRs. I’d say it’s the ultimate reverb pedal in recreating real spaces and experimentation.
Only 100 percent wet is allowed on the Big Sky MX.
That’s not accurate; Mercury X has both internal trim controls for wet and dry as well as a full kill dry option which is what I used for both reverbs for all sounds in this video.
Wrong idiot
@markjohnstonofficial Sorry, I meant like it's the best way to play the Big Sky, which is 100 percent wet.
SOMONE HAD TO SAY IT... Predator is a terrible name for software.
I dont have to choose i have both. Both are great. I feel the merc x gives me more cinematic awesomeness but i noticed it might have a slightly narrower stereo field than the big sky. Big sky well cloud i dont need to say any more. Amazing.
It’s nice to have both, clearly I do BUT you and I are super privileged to be able to have $1200+ worth of reverb which is definitely not the norm haha
@@markjohnstonofficial I will vote for whichever candidate promises 40 acres and at least $1200 worth of reverb.
you are totally right on that we are privileged to have both devices. Most people don’t have the funds to afford it. I guess the answer to the question is it depends on what your preferences are. To me its really hard to compare them because they can be used for similar things as well as totally different things.
@@joeymc5272 I mean, to be fair, I also absolutely do not have the funds to afford both. If I didn't have this channel I wouldn't have either of these in all likelihood which is why I think a video like this is worth doing.
Employ the pre-delay left/right delays and the micro shifting by even just a tiny amount and dial it up to taste on the Mercury X. Both of these widen the sound. See if those help.
Not a fan of the editor name, either, but, wow has it made a difference for my use of the pedal!
I'm biased - never personally liked Strymon reverbs as they sound like Strymon reverbs. Also, I use synths not guitars, and have a hybrid system and think Cinematic Rooms Pro crushes every pedal for realistic spaces (a lot of it has to do with early reflections). But there's no One True Reverb solution for everything.