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MIDI Control for Sunset and Riverside

Sunset Riverside MIDI

Own Sunset or Riverside? Lurking inside your drive pedal is a hidden superpower: MIDI Control! We have just released new firmware that will allow you to control your Sunset and Riverside via MIDI.

You can save and load Sunset/Riverside drive presets and control all knobs and switches via MIDI. Save and recall presets in bypass state so you can punch in the perfect drive setting when it’s time for your solo. Connect our MIDI EXP Cable to the Expression pedal jack to access these features.

Check out the video below to see some examples of Sunset and Riverside MIDI control in action.

Now you can integrate your Sunset and Riverside drive pedals into your most elaborate MIDI pedalboard, or use in an ultra-compact setup for easy travel.

Note: Your Sunset and Riverside pedals may require updated firmware to enable MIDI control. Learn how to update and how to check if you pedal requires an update here.

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Ethan Tufts

Ethan Tufts left Strymon in early 2021.

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34 Responses

  1. Super cool. When will the other pedals get the same treatment? I would love to keep presets for my Deco and Flint. I use a Mastermind PBC, so this will add a lot to my rig.

  2. Thank you for adding MIDI presets!

    I wonder if my emails with you last year instigated this added functionality regarding using a MIDI to Control Voltage converter and plugging the CV into the expression port? This could add some MIDI control to your older pedals.

  3. Ok sounds great. But where is the controller list. I hope you can use Midi controllers for all parameters on the pedal?

  4. Hey guys that is wicked news
    I have a sunset with the bigsky timeline and mobius
    I only need one thing
    The control list for midi for my killer sunset
    Pretty plz

  5. Just got the MIDI Exp cable. I have been using the Sunset & favorite switch since release. Now with the Sunset & Disaster Area DMC-3XL gen 3 does so much more.

    The ability to have 300 presets is a game changer.

    Play while toe tapping through your presets to find a tone that works, then being able to use the green “A” light to reset all of the knobs & switches of that preset, then adjust as needed (e.g. volume), then save the new messaged preset as a new/different preset is such a game changer, and the ease of use is astounding once you know what is going on.

    Way to go guys!

  6. Hello, will Nixie support the Riverside and Sunset? That would be incredible to manage the presets from your software.

      1. Hi Guys,
        Still no news about Nixie and Sunset/Riverside? Kind of sad to see some thrid parties puttin that kind of software out, I wish I could use an official software to manage my presets!

        1. Hi Patrick,

          Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. I’ll be sure to pass this along to the team.

          If you have any more feedback or questions, please email [email protected], and we’re happy to answer.

  7. This is a very exciting development, I, like many, have been champing at the bit for Strymon to tackle a multi distortion in ilk of the Timeline, Bigsky, or Mobius. I have all three and utilize a controller so thats the only tool missing in my box, I imagine it’s the multitude of electronic components required to recreate the classic analog distortions that have held them back from developing a MIDI controlled multi dirt box, maybe the Sandbox is a good name? -me! …and perhaps this development is a hint that Multi-D is finally where Stymon is focusing its efforts. If someone at Strymon confirmed this is not the case then I would rush out and buy a Sunset tomorrow.

    Next issue, I’d buy a Sunset and a Riverside if it did not look like the MIDI signal must terminate at one of those boxes. How do you put them both in a chain?

    1. @Robert Dawson – Unfortunately, we cannot speak about future products so I can neither confirm nor deny whether or not something like that is in the works.

      As for the MIDI signal chain, these pedals have both MIDI IN and OUT functionality. The TIP of the TRS expression jack receives the MIDI IN signal to the pedal, and MIDI OUT can be sent out on the RING of the TRS connection. Our 5 pin DIN to TRS cable is a one-way cable, but you could utilize something like the Empress MIDIbox, which has one bi-directional TRS jack that works both ways with our pedals. You connect it with a normal 5 pin MIDI cable to your other units, and it splits the output to 4 TRS jacks. The one on the right end is bidirectional.

      Hope this helps,

  8. Guys that’s huge!!!!
    I’m already sold on those pedals but you keep upgrading them.

    Proud to be one of your customers.

  9. HI regarding the 300 presets on sunset is there a list of presets already done by you guys in the pedal memory (as TimelIne, BigSky, Mobius)? if yes, where I can find this out? thanks!

    1. @Pablo – The default settings for the MIDI presets are all “default” presets, with all knobs at noon. There are not any pre-made factory presets like the TimeLine, Mobius, or BigSky.

  10. Hey Guys,

    I wonder if it is possible to Use Nixie with the new Midi option.
    Beyond that, I wanted to ask whether it is possible to use two of the Strymon Midi Cables, one with the EXP and one with the TRS to have a Midi In and Out?

    Thanks!

    1. @Giacomo Rockenfeller – Riverside and Sunset are not compatible with the Nixie software. The new MIDI features do not include Nixie compatibility.

      As for MIDI IN and OUT, this is done via the EXP jack with the pedal receiving (MIDI IN) MIDI messages at the TIP and sending MIDI back out (MIDI OUT) at the RING of the TRS connection. As the Strymon MIDI EXP cable does NOT support bi-directional communication, you would need to get a device that accommodates for MIDI IN and OUT using a single TRS cable such as the Empress Effects Midibox2.

  11. I bet there is also a lot of people out there who wants this update on similar products like this, for exaple DIG, FLINT, DECO, so do you guys have any future plans for this? i really like my strymon DIG. If there is any flaw, its just one : lack of MIDI!

  12. Hi guys, looked over and couldn’t find this info, please.

    I want to make a more compact board with only my TL, Mobius, BigSky and Sunset, using the TL as a sort of MIDI controller (as seen in your video).

    How do you cable and program it so to recall one preset on TL and it changes all the other ones?

    Hope my question is clear, keep up the good work!

    1. @Guilherme Pañella – First, you need to make the proper MIDI connections between the pedals:

      TimeLine MIDI OUT => Mobius MIDI IN; Mobius MIDI OUT => BigSky MIDI IN; BigSky MIDI OUT => Sunset EXP Jack set to MIDI mode using our MIDI EXP TRS 1/4″ cable.

      Make sure that all pedals are set to the same MIDI Channel. Then, in TimeLine, BigSky, and Mobius’ GLOBLS menu, set the following:

      MIDI CT – OFF
      MIDI PA – ON
      MIDI TH – MERGE (or ON in older firmware)
      MIDI ST – OFF

      Once set this way, changing presets on TimeLine will change to the corresponding presets on all the other pedals.

  13. hi,
    I have a bluesky and The Dig pedals.real good products… BUT :
    is it possible to add the MIDI SYNC option in a future firmware with the midicable available for sunset or riverside?

    THE DIG is almost perfect, but perfect syncing is a real nigthmare on it. An specific cable like the riverside or sunset, will be a must.

    PLEAASE…..
    thank you

    1. Hi, we can’t promise this will ever be implemented as a design change, but I’ll be sure to pass your feedback along to the team. Thanks!

  14. Hey,
    can anyone tell me the internal connections of the Midicable? I‘m using a ChaseBliss MidiBox with a brothers and would like to use it for the soon to arrive Riverside as well.
    Chase Bliss use pin5 to ring / pin2 to sleeve / tip not connected.
    I can change the order moving a jumper within the MidiBox so I hope it works for the Riverside as well.
    Would be great if you could let me in.
    Thanks

    1. For the CB Midibox, you want to set the jumpers so that the MIDI IN data is sent on the tip of the TRS connection for your Strymon pedals, instead of the ring. Feel free to email [email protected] with any more questions!

    1. Yes, you can engage and bypass both pedals remotely. You can find the full list of CCs in the back of each manual.

      Sunset

      A Side Bypass — CC 10, 0-127 (0 for bypass, 1-127 to engage)
      B Side Bypass — CC 15, 0-127 (0 for bypass, 1-127 to engage)

      Riverside

      Bypass — CC 102, 0-127 (0 for bypass, 1-127 to engage)

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