Guitar tone aficionados and ambient musicians have a new obsession. Strymon has officially unveiled the limited-edition Cloudburst Midnight, a sleek, all-black iteration of its highly acclaimed ambient reverb pedal. Continuing their tradition of releasing stealthy, monochromatic versions of their iconic stompboxes, the Cloudburst Midnight is designed for players who demand both pristine soundscapes and a minimalist, blacked-out pedalboard aesthetic.
Despite its dark exterior, the sounds waiting to be unleashed are anything but dull. The Cloudburst marks Strymon’s first venture into a compact, standard-sized enclosure, packing immense atmospheric power into a pedalboard-friendly footprint.
Into the Clouds: The Ensemble Engine
At the heart of the Cloudburst is Strymon’s groundbreaking Ensemble engine. Designed for experimental musicians and shoegazers alike, this engine doesn’t just add reverb—it continuously analyzes your guitar’s input signal to generate harmonically rich, string-like pads that follow your playing dynamically.
Because the processing is highly responsive to picking dynamics and frequency, changing your pickups or shifting your playing position on the neck will organically alter the resulting soundscape. Whether you want subtle enhancement or a lush, sweeping orchestral backdrop, the Cloudburst adapts to your touch.
Available at Sweetwater – $279
Small Footprint, Massive Control
While the form factor is compact, Strymon hasn’t skimped on tweakability or modern connectivity. The back panel houses full stereo I/O (via TRS), TRS MIDI capabilities with 300 presets, and a USB-C port for firmware updates and Strymon Nixie software integration.
The Front-Panel Controls:
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Decay: Dictates the size of your virtual space, from tight rooms to near-infinite expanses.
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Ensemble: Features three distinct settings: Off for standard high-quality reverb, MP (Mezzo Piano) for subtle string enhancement, and Forte for maximum, lush orchestral effects.
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Mix: Blends your dry and wet signals. A 50/50 mix sits exactly at the 3 o’clock position, with the maximum setting offering a fully wet, immersive signal.
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Pre-Delay: Determines the time before the reverb blooms, helping to keep fast runs clear and articulate.
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Tone: Shapes the high-end frequencies. Roll it back for dark, warm atmospheres, or push it up for crisp, shimmering presence.
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Mod: Introduces lush modulation to the reverb trails, ranging from zero at the minimum to intense chorusing at the maximum.
Pro-Tier Hardware Under the Hood
Beyond the intuitive controls, the Cloudburst Midnight is powered by a high-performance 520MHz ARM Superscalar processor utilizing 32-bit floating-point processing. It features an ultra-low noise, discrete Class A JFET preamp input that happily accepts both instrument and line-level signals (+10dBu maximum input).
Crucially for tone purists, the pedal features an analogue dry path option, ensuring your core guitar tone is never converted to digital. Players can also utilize a “Dry Kill” mode, perfect for parallel FX loop setups, and connect an expression pedal or Strymon switch to unlock Freeze and Infinite sustain modes.
FAQ: Strymon Cloudburst Midnight Edition
Is the Midnight edition a permanent addition to the Strymon lineup?
No. Like previous Midnight releases, the Cloudburst Midnight is strictly a limited-run batch. Once these blacked-out units are sold out, they are gone.
Can I run the Cloudburst in stereo?
Yes. Despite having single input and output jacks, the pedal features full stereo I/O. You will need a standard “TRS to dual TS” adapter or splitter cable for both the input and output to run a true stereo rig.
Can I control the Cloudburst via MIDI?
Absolutely. The Cloudburst features fully-featured MIDI capability, including Continuous Controller (CC), Program Change (PC), and the ability to save and recall up to 300 presets via the TRS or USB-C inputs.
What power supply does the Cloudburst require?
Like most digital Strymon pedals, it requires a standard 9V DC center-negative power supply with sufficient current (typically 250 mA or higher; always check the manufacturer’s specific manual).
The Verdict
Score: 5/5
The Strymon Cloudburst Midnight takes one of the most inspiring, effortless ambient reverbs on the market and gives it a highly desirable, limited-edition facelift. It is a triumphant fusion of studio-grade sound design and pedalboard practicality.
If you are a guitarist or synth player who loves to lose themselves in modulated, dreamy soundscapes—and you value a clean, monochromatic aesthetic for your rig—this pedal is a no-brainer. The Ensemble engine alone justifies the price of admission, turning simple chord progressions into massive, cinematic experiences. Grab one before they vanish into the dark.
More Information
#Strymon #Cloudburst Midnight
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