Strymon – Cloudburst (Review)

When Strymon announced a plugin version of their beloved Cloudburst ambient reverb pedal, excitement rippled through the music producer communities. Known for its lush, endless reverbs and a unique harmonic engine called Ensemble, the original Cloudburst pedal quickly became a favorite among ambient guitarists and electronic sound designers alike.

Now, with the release of the Cloudburst plugin, Strymon opens this otherworldly sonic palette to a much wider audience — from composers working in the box to hybrid electronic producers and ambient-leaning film scorers. But does this plugin version retain the magic and immediacy of the original hardware? And does it offer enough depth and flexibility to warrant a place in a modern composer’s toolkit?

We spent time exploring every corner of Cloudburst’s algorithmic textures, harmonic enhancement tools, and spatial modulation — and we found more than just a reverb. We found an instrument in itself.

OVERVIEW

At its core, Cloudburst is a reverb plugin, but calling it that feels reductive. It’s a highly musical ambient engine that combines rich algorithmic reverbs with a uniquely expressive harmonic effect called Ensemble. This effect analyzes 48 frequency bands in real-time and generates synthesized upper harmonics based on the input signal — creating something that almost feels like a living, breathing string section woven into your sound.

The plugin’s interface is minimal and focused, reflecting Strymon’s hardware design ethos. You’ll find parameters for decay, tone, and pre-delay — allowing you to sculpt the reverb’s length, brightness, and spatial response with precision. A single modulation knob controls both depth and speed in tandem, making it easy to add subtle movement or deep, warbly textures without overcomplicating your signal path.

The Ensemble control is the heart of Cloudburst’s uniqueness. Turned up, it introduces rich harmonic content that responds dynamically to your playing — from delicate shimmer to full-bodied, pad-like warmth. Whether you’re processing a dry piano or a pulsing synth arpeggio, Ensemble adds a surreal, cinematic dimension.

Strymon has also included a Freeze function for capturing and holding reverb tails in place, as well as an Infinite Hold mode that transforms any transient input into an evolving ambient drone. For those routing Cloudburst into parallel chains, a Kill Dry option provides 100% wet signal for seamless blend control.

Cloudburst also provides input and output metering, gain knobs for staging, DAW automation support for every parameter, and a curated collection of presets designed to get you started quickly — whether you’re working on atmospheric scoring cues, ambient textures, or experimental sound design.

Cloudburst is compatible with AU, AAX, and VST3 plugin formats, runs on both macOS and Windows, supports sample rates up to 192 kHz, and processes in 32-bit floating point. It works in both mono and stereo configurations, making it equally useful as an insert on individual tracks or as a return effect on busses.

USER INTERFACE

Strymon has a reputation for designing intuitive interfaces that invite creativity, and the Cloudburst plugin is no exception. The visual design borrows heavily from the physical pedal, but with smart enhancements that take full advantage of the plugin format.

At the center is a sleek, high-contrast control panel that mirrors the hardware’s layout: six primary knobs for Decay, Pre-Delay, Tone, Mix, Mod, and Ensemble. These are immediately responsive, with smooth parameter transitions and a tactile feel even when adjusted via mouse or MIDI controller. The plugin retains the elegant minimalism of the pedal while adding visual feedback that makes it even easier to understand what’s happening under the hood.

Along the top, a simple preset manager allows you to load and save custom patches, with Strymon providing a well-rounded collection of factory presets to cover everything from delicate piano glimmers to full-on ambient washes. The presets are clearly labeled and thoughtfully organized, making them practical starting points for sound exploration or mix-ready effects.

To the top-left of the panel, input and output meters, each with a gain knob, help you maintain clean signal levels, whether you’re using Cloudburst on a bus or directly on an instrument. There’s also a Kill Dry switch for 100% wet signal — a useful feature when using Cloudburst in parallel processing setups.

One of the standout UI features is the Freeze/Infinite Hold button, subtly placed but incredibly powerful in use. When activated, it allows you to capture and sustain the reverb tail, effectively turning transient inputs into lush pads or drones. This opens up a new layer of creative potential, especially for composers and sound designers looking to transform short samples or effects into evolving ambient textures.

Automation is fully supported for every parameter, and all controls are MIDI-learnable, making it easy to integrate the plugin into expressive performances or dynamic mixes. The plugin is also resizable, which is a small but appreciated touch — especially when working on larger displays or complex DAW sessions.

Overall, the Cloudburst interface achieves that rare balance between minimalism and depth. It encourages experimentation without overwhelming you with menus or modifiers. Everything is exactly where it needs to be — which makes it easy to forget you’re working with a plugin at all.

IN PRACTICE

While Cloudburst’s intuitive design and rich sonic palette make it instantly enjoyable, it’s in real-world use that the plugin’s true potential reveals itself — especially for composers working in film, TV, trailers, or hybrid electronic productions.

One of Cloudburst’s greatest strengths is how quickly it integrates into your creative flow. Insert it on a piano, and suddenly that static dry sound becomes a cinematic statement — blooming into lush, emotional space with just a twist of the Decay or Ensemble knobs. Apply it to string ostinatos, and what was once mechanical becomes mystical. Throw it on trailer percussion and freeze the tail — and now you have a rhythmic bed transformed into an ambient drone. It’s the kind of effect that doesn’t just decorate your mix — it suggests new directions for your composition.

For film and trailer composers, Cloudburst works beautifully both as a subtle space-enhancing reverb and as a sound design engine in its own right. The Ensemble feature is especially valuable when used on sparse elements like synth plucks, guitar harmonics, or even solo woodwinds. It adds an ethereal string-like glow that doesn’t sound “synthy” or artificial — it’s harmonically rich, organic, and emotionally resonant.

Ambient producers and electronic artists will find a powerful tool for layering evolving textures. Used in tandem with Freeze or Infinite Hold, Cloudburst turns any percussive or tonal input into a foundational drone or atmospheric pad. Stack several instances across sound groups and you can sculpt entire ambient environments with only a handful of original sources.

Sound designers will appreciate the plugin’s subtle randomness and the way modulation interacts with the tail and harmonic content. Even minimal modulation settings can result in soft pitch movement and timbral shifts that help keep sustained sounds alive — a key element when creating long atmospheric layers for game audio or experimental film soundscapes.

PLUGIN VS. PEDAL

If you’re familiar with the original Cloudburst hardware pedal, you’ll feel instantly at home. The plugin is a faithful recreation in terms of both sound and layout. However, the plugin offers several advantages when it comes to studio-based composition:

• Precision control and recall: With full parameter automation, preset saving, and instant recall, the plugin format integrates seamlessly into DAW workflows. Unlike the pedal, which relies on manual adjustment and lacks patch memory, the plugin makes it easy to save a sound and return to it later.
• Flexible routing: Use Cloudburst as an insert, a return effect, or across multiple buses — options that are more limited when working with physical hardware without complex I/O setups.
• Stereo and plugin-specific enhancements: The plugin offers refined stereo handling and metering that go beyond the hardware experience, helping dial in more transparent or expansive mixes.

That said, the hardware version still holds an edge for live performers and guitarists, especially those seeking hands-on control in a tactile context. Its immediacy on stage, pedalboard integration, and zero-latency analog processing are unbeatable in a live scenario. But for studio work — particularly for composers building complex arrangements with multiple layers of subtle variation — the plugin is the more powerful and flexible option.

Ultimately, the choice between pedal and plugin comes down to context. But with the plugin offering everything the hardware does (and more) in a DAW-ready format, most composers and producers will likely gravitate toward this version — especially when working fully in the box.

SOUND QUALITY

From the very first note passed through it, Cloudburst reveals itself not merely as a reverb plugin — but as a living, breathing instrument of space. Its sonic character is lush and immersive, yet never overbearing. Even at extreme settings, it maintains a clarity and musicality that is rare in ambient effects of this kind.

The reverb engine has an unmistakable depth — long decays evolve gradually, enveloping the input without washing it out. At shorter decay times, Cloudburst can function as a subtle room simulator or stereo enhancer, gently widening dry signals and enhancing presence. But increase the decay, raise the mix, and introduce Ensemble — and Cloudburst begins to sing in layers, blooming into a sea of shimmering harmonics.

The tone control is key to shaping its character: dialed low, it produces a warm, vintage-like ambiance reminiscent of analog plates or early digital processors. Pushed higher, it takes on a glistening, celestial brightness — ideal for modern hybrid scoring and ambient production. It’s a wide tonal range, but always musical, never clinical.

The Modulation parameter is equally tasteful. Rather than introducing dramatic pitch detuning or chorus-style wobble, it imparts movement and depth to the tails. At subtle levels, modulation creates a barely perceptible warble, making even static sources feel alive. At higher levels, especially when paired with Ensemble, the result is a shifting, dreamy smear that works particularly well on pads, vocals, and electric pianos.

Of course, the true signature of Cloudburst is the Ensemble section. Unlike traditional shimmer reverbs that rely on pitch-shifting to generate octaves or fifths, Ensemble uses real-time spectral analysis to extract harmonic content and generate synthesized layers based on the input’s own overtones. This makes it uniquely expressive and responsive. A delicate fingerpicked guitar line blooms into synthetic string textures. A dry piano becomes a cinematic wash. Even percussive elements like snares or plucks can gain melodic resonance and extended sustain, ideal for ambient breakdowns or textural transitions in trailer music.

For composers, this means you can create evolving ambient beds from nearly anything. One powerful technique: send a short tonal sound to Cloudburst, enable Infinite Hold, and sculpt the resulting layer with tone, mod, and mix until it becomes a pad. Then stack this with your original input or build additional layers — all inside the plugin, no need for resampling or extra processing.

Even when pushed to extremes — with full decay, high Ensemble, and maximum modulation — Cloudburst never loses its polish. There’s no graininess, no digital harshness. The algorithm retains detail and stereo integrity, offering a beautiful balance of depth, clarity, and dreamlike bloom.

CONCLUSION

Strymon’s Cloudburst plugin is more than just a faithful recreation of its iconic hardware pedal — it’s a reimagined ambient instrument for the DAW-centric composer. Seamlessly blending lush algorithmic reverb with dynamic harmonic generation, Cloudburst offers a singular blend of subtlety and scale, intimacy and enormity. It’s equally at home adding gentle depth to a solo instrument as it is building entire sonic landscapes from a single transient.

For film and trailer composers, it’s a powerful scoring ally — transforming everyday sources into ethereal textures that can underscore emotion, tension, or awe with ease. For producers and sound designers, it opens a world of ambient sculpting tools, whether you’re after cinematic shimmer or evolving pads.

What makes Cloudburst remarkable isn’t just its sound — it’s the immediacy of that sound. You don’t need to build elaborate effect chains or tweak a dozen parameters to find something inspiring. It responds to musical intent with intelligence and elegance. Just insert it, play a note, and you’re already in a world of possibility.

With full DAW integration, automation, and routing flexibility, the plugin offers everything modern in-the-box composers demand — while preserving the warmth and organic feel that made the original pedal so beloved. Whether used subtly or pushed to the extremes, Cloudburst delivers an atmosphere with character, control, and unmatched sonic beauty.

If you’re working in ambient music, film, trailer, or even hybrid scoring, Cloudburst is not just another reverb — it’s a compositional catalyst.

RECOMMENDED: 9.5/10

The Cloudburst plugin is available through Strymon’s online shop for $79.

CLOUDBURST PLUGIN – SOUND SAMPLES