About these presets
Strymon BigSky presets
Reverb presets from touring and session guitarists’ own Strymon BigSky pedals. Hear the demos before you buy.
This page lists 12 BigSky packs from 11 players, and 2 of them are free. The players include Michael Pope (guitarist for TAYA), John Meding (guitarist for Red Rocks Worship), Jace Fay (guitarist for Thrive Worship), Cory Pierce (guitarist for Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes), and Josh Aldrich (guitarist for Horizon Louange). The packs are made for the Strymon BigSky and Strymon TimeLine.
Each pack’s page has audio demos, the preset list and the story behind the sounds.
BigSky presets, answered
Are these the presets the artists actually use?
Yes. Each pack holds the player’s own BigSky presets, the reverbs they use live and in the studio. Your guitar, amp and room aren’t theirs, so treat each preset as a starting point and adjust the mix and decay to fit.
How do I load BigSky presets?
Over MIDI, not drag and drop. Back up your pedal first, then load the .syx files with Strymon’s Nixie 2 or Nixie Legacy editor through a USB MIDI interface. Writing a preset replaces whatever is in that slot. Full steps are in our BigSky guide.
Why doesn’t Nixie see my BigSky?
Plug-and-play MIDI cables usually fail. Strymon confirms the Roland UM-ONE MKII, iConnectivity MIO XC and Strymon Conduit. On a UM-ONE, TO MIDI IN goes to the pedal’s MIDI IN. Also check the pedal’s GLOBLS menu: MIDI PA and MIDI CT need to be ON.
Do these presets work on the BigSky MX?
No. Strymon confirmed that original BigSky presets can’t be loaded into the BigSky MX, so these packs are for the original BigSky.
Do they work in the BigSky Plug-In?
Presets copy one way, from the BigSky pedal to the Plug-In, never back. Many packs say on their page that they work with both the pedal and the Plug-In, so check the pack’s page. Michael Pope’s Bethel Music Strymon Preset Collection includes a full set of files formatted for the Plug-In. See the BigSky Plug-In guide.
Are there free BigSky presets?
Yes. Stephen Thompson’s BigSky Presets and Michael Pope’s Bethel Music Strymon Preset Collection are free, and Michael’s collection holds the BigSky and TimeLine presets from his pedalboard during his time as Bethel Music’s guitarist. You check out like any other product and the total reads $0.
Which BigSky machines do worship guitarists use most?
Strymon calls the BigSky’s reverb algorithms machines. Cloud, Bloom, Swell and Shimmer are the sounds on a decade of worship records, and Cloud is the one you’ve heard the most. The everyday sound is still a modest hall at a sensible mix, not shimmer on everything.
Should I get a BigSky or a MercuryX?
Get the BigSky if you want the proven, classic reverb that covers a whole setlist and dials in fast. Get the MercuryX if building sounds is more fun for you than recalling them. Read the full comparison here.
Popular packs
- Cory Pierce’s BigSky Presets, $34.99
- John Meding’s BigSky Presets, $34.99
- Jace Fay’s BigSky Presets, $34.99
- Josh Aldrich’s BigSky Presets, $34.99
- Julian Gamboa’s BigSky Presets, $34.99
- Steven Burgos’ BigSky Presets, $34.99
The guitarists behind the presets
- Michael Pope, guitarist for TAYA
- John Meding, guitarist for Red Rocks Worship
- Jace Fay, guitarist for Thrive Worship
- Cory Pierce, guitarist for Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes
- Josh Aldrich, guitarist for Horizon Louange
- Julian Gamboa, guitarist for UPPERROOM
- Steven Burgos, guitarist for Christine D'Clario
- Tommy Gerlach, guitarist for Josh Ross
Presets by rig
- Strymon BigSky, 12 packs, loading guide
- Strymon TimeLine, 1 pack, loading guide
