Another punishing Fractal experience - VP4 content

[fiftyshadesofslay]

So after a lot of back and forth I’ve decided to give the Fractal VP4 a try, to be used with my JVM and JCM800.

Honestly I know I’ve been here before with the FM3 but fuck me this is one hard to use and frustrating pedal.

So I had a few patches set up, mostly basic stuff. Got to rehearsal and I couldn’t really hear any delay (mono tape). It was there but very quiet. So I had to crank the mix to get it to an even level with the dry signal but fair enough.

But now I have this issue where one patch is ridiculously attenuated and others are much louder. No idea what’s going on there. After much menu diving and back and forth I finally worked out the mix of the delay was attenuating the signal, even when in bypass. Another weird thing was other delays sounded fine with mix up to 35% or so.

So in the end I basically spent the whole rehearsal pissing about in menu hell with this thing, it’s so hard to use.

Maybe I’m dumb, maybe Fractal stuff is just completely unintuitive or both but they’re definitely not for me. And I thought this was meant to be the easiest one to use.

Live and learn I guess.

 

[nicolasrivera]

Its actually easier than the other units. Your best firend its the user manual, if you do not read it than its not the units fault at all.

 

[fiftyshadesofslay]

With respect, that’s like saying Chlamydia is better than Herpes. It still doesn’t make it good.

On another note, why can’t you see what the scenes are called on the display? That’s mental.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Mix law is optimized for in front of an amp. So you'll need to run it higher for 4cm. For me; I'd not bother with 4cm for the VP because 4 blocks isn't enough imo. Sorry you weren't feeling it either way though

 

[Jarick]

Is the output in mono sum mode?

 

[nicolasrivera]

With respect, that’s like saying Chlamydia is better than Herpes. It still doesn’t make it good.

On another note, why can’t you see what the scenes are called on the display? That’s mental.

This is a first-gen product. It has been improving with its small firmwares. Try to canalize your frustration into constructive wishes for the Fractal team to consider implementing in future firmware.

 

[nicolasrivera]

IF you need quick and frustration free hardware and software, try Headrush units. They are some if not the easiest user interface out there. Just dont ask for top notch FX quality,

 

[Orvillain]

That's a shame Jay. I thought you'd dig it. If you don't, no sense in keeping on banging your head against the wall. Just move it on or send it back.

 

[norminal]

With respect, that’s like saying Chlamydia is better than Herpes. It still doesn’t make it good.

 

[fiftyshadesofslay]

Is the output in mono sum mode?

It is, or it was at some point, think I tried every setting under the sun

 

[fiftyshadesofslay]

That's a shame Jay. I thought you'd dig it. If you don't, no sense in keeping on banging your head against the wall. Just move it on or send it back.

Agreed, it is a shame as it sounds great, but there’s just something about the way Fractal devices work that just seems completely alien to me.

 

[laxu]

This is a first-gen product. It has been improving with its small firmwares. Try to canalize your frustration into constructive wishes for the Fractal team to consider implementing in future firmware.

It's a derivative product from their existing range. Guess who's been railing for usability improvements for years with almost zero action from Fractal?

But mix of a delay should not be changing volume in bypass mode unless there's a bug with it.

 

[Eagle]

So after a lot of back and forth I’ve decided to give the Fractal VP4 a try, to be used with my JVM and JCM800.

Honestly I know I’ve been here before with the FM3 but fuck me this is one hard to use and frustrating pedal.

So I had a few patches set up, mostly basic stuff. Got to rehearsal and I couldn’t really hear any delay (mono tape). It was there but very quiet. So I had to crank the mix to get it to an even level with the dry signal but fair enough.

But now I have this issue where one patch is ridiculously attenuated and others are much louder. No idea what’s going on there. After much menu diving and back and forth I finally worked out the mix of the delay was attenuating the signal, even when in bypass. Another weird thing was other delays sounded fine with mix up to 35% or so.

So in the end I basically spent the whole rehearsal pissing about in menu hell with this thing, it’s so hard to use.

Maybe I’m dumb, maybe Fractal stuff is just completely unintuitive or both but they’re definitely not for me. And I thought this was meant to be the easiest one to use.

Live and learn I guess.

Sorry but what is remotely complicated?? Read the manual it’s about as simple as a device that does what it does could be.

 

[sleewell]

My favorite part about fractal threads is assholes being condescending towards people who didn't spend 18 years reading a manual and learning 50 sub menus of sub menus to adjust something that could have been programmed better.

 

[fiftyshadesofslay]

My favorite part about fractal threads is assholes being condescending towards people who didn't spend 18 years reading a manual and learning 50 sub menus of sub menus to adjust something that could have been programmed better.

So many defensive Fractal fans on here. If you need to do a deep manual dive to get it to work as normal using a drive and delay etc then it’s a fail.

Plenty of other devices manage it, not to mention separate pedals themselves.

The reason I keep going back for more is the effects do sound utterly amazing, but it’s at the expense of being a computer programmer, not a musician.

 

[Orvillain]

It is a bit odd, the level drop even in bypass mode. I think I've experienced that in certain situations too, but typically when the block is set to 'THRU' mode rather than 'MUTE FX IN' - if I remember rightly.

I do agree that it is fairly easy to use. But it still requires a certain level of Fractal experience. Was a lot easier for me to use the VP4 after years of using the Axe3. But if you don't have that.... I can totally see how it might be more difficult.

 

[fiftyshadesofslay]

It is a bit odd, the level drop even in bypass mode. I think I've experienced that in certain situations too, but typically when the block is set to 'THRU' mode rather than 'MUTE FX IN' - if I remember rightly.

I do agree that it is fairly easy to use. But it still requires a certain level of Fractal experience. Was a lot easier for me to use the VP4 after years of using the Axe3. But if you don't have that.... I can totally see how it might be more difficult.

To be fair I’ve got no idea what that particular setting was at, I just basically left it stock, added the delay and fiddled with the mix.

 

[Eagle]

It’s the same style menu page approach that has existed since rack went midi . I think the thing that gets most people who are new to this is a ton more parameters that they don’t necessarily know what to do with.

 

[JiveTurkey]

My favorite part about fractal threads is assholes being condescending towards people who didn't spend 18 years reading a manual and learning 50 sub menus of sub menus to adjust something that could have been programmed better.

 

[Eagle]

My favorite part about fractal threads is assholes being condescending towards people who didn't spend 18 years reading a manual and learning 50 sub menus of sub menus to adjust something that could have been programmed better.

Complicated device=read the manual.
If you want boss pedals buy boss pedals but don’t complain that you can’t work it if you can’t be arsed to read the manual.