Fractal Audio Systems mystery product speculation

[Tanax]

It actually looks incredible! Touchscreen is NOT needed as I've said in the past. Touchscreen would have been ONE way to solve the UX issues, but I think they've solved it very neatly here without the use of a touchscreen. People will know that I've been critical about Fractal's UX (not UI) in the past but I think this is a homerun for them. It looks amazing!

I think this also sets a very good direction that Fractal is moving in. A similar one for amp+cab (probably also including a drive block to not lose stereo capabilities of the VP4) would be amazing!

The good thing about this approach with not having an all in one box with a whole grid is that it appeals to regular analog amp people as well. Look at it as a gateway product into the Fractal universe.

Congratz to Fractal! Keep it up

 

[SillyOctpuss]

My typical chain is:
Tuner
Volume Pedal
Wah Pedal
Drive Pedal
Delay 1
Delay 2
Reverb

.... this, my crybaby, and my lehle volume pedal.... I mean, add my JVM to the mix... or my Dual Rectifier with the midi doohicky box I have... that's a rig dudes.

If I'm honest, I was really hoping for more than 4 blocks at once. But a huge chunk of that is just block "GAS" ... I probably don't even need more than 4 blocks at once for the majority of the time.. and I can add other pedals to the setup.

I don't think this product is meant to be an all-in-one. I think it is meant to play nicely with your other stuff.

That's basically my take on it too.

 

[HotRats]

What caught me by surprise about the VP4 is that has clear limitations, somenthing you don't usually associate with Fractal products.

I might have a skewed view but to me Fractal have always been the brand that makes full featured products with endless options.

 

[Orvillain]

What caught me by surprise about the VP4 is that has clear limitations, somenthing you don't usually associate with Fractal products.

I might have a skewed view but to me Fractal have always been the brand that makes full featured products with endless options.

Well the FX8 had clear limitations, as did the Axe FX Standard versus Ultra, as does the FM3 versus FM9, and FM9 versus Axe3. For instance, for a lot of people only having 1 delay or reverb block would be fine enough, for me it kills a product more than a lot of other things.

Limitations are obviously somewhat subjective, because they're based on a users notions about how they'd like to use a thing versus how they can use a thing.

I don't think enough good things can be said about the form factor of the VP4.

 

[Orvillain]

Compressor, drive, EQ, delay, reverb.

Block 1 - Compressor
Block 2 - Drive
Block 3 - EQ
Block 4 - Reverb, using the pre-delay as your delay pedal. IE: Two effects in one.

 

[DLC86]

Block 1 - Compressor
Block 2 - Drive
Block 3 - EQ
Block 4 - Reverb, using the pre-delay as your delay pedal. IE: Two effects in one.

There's a 10 band GEQ on every preset output, no need to waste a block

PS: oh, and there's one in the drive block as well

 

[texhex]

My typical chain is:
Tuner
Volume Pedal
Wah Pedal
Drive Pedal
Delay 1
Delay 2
Reverb

.... this, my crybaby, and my lehle volume pedal.... I mean, add my JVM to the mix... or my Dual Rectifier with the midi doohicky box I have... that's a rig dudes.

If I'm honest, I was really hoping for more than 4 blocks at once. But a huge chunk of that is just block "GAS" ... I probably don't even need more than 4 blocks at once for the majority of the time.. and I can add other pedals to the setup.

I don't think this product is meant to be an all-in-one. I think it is meant to play nicely with your other stuff.

Block 1 - Compressor
Block 2 - Drive
Block 3 - EQ
Block 4 - Reverb, using the pre-delay as your delay pedal. IE: Two effects in one.

Exactly! Adds to what you already have or gives you the core to add to an amp. Love it.

 

[ian_dissonance]

Fractal VA4 coming soon!

 

[Orvillain]

There's a 10 band GEQ on every preset output, no need to waste a block

PS: oh, and there's one in the drive block as well

Champion.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Well the FX8 had clear limitations, as did the Axe FX Standard versus Ultra, as does the FM3 versus FM9, and FM9 versus Axe3. For instance, for a lot of people only having 1 delay or reverb block would be fine enough, for me it kills a product more than a lot of other things.

Limitations are obviously somewhat subjective, because they're based on a users notions about how they'd like to use a thing versus how they can use a thing.

I don't think enough good things can be said about the form factor of the VP4.

A few days ago I said I was looking at a used FM3 because I might as well check out fractal amp modelling. When I was properly digging into it I found out you could only use one reverb and delay block. For me that's an instant deal breaker.

I can't do the FM9 either because I don't want to use something that size with my wah and fuzz pedals. I also couldn't afford it tbh.

That leaves me with VP4. I can totally see how it wont work for others but a VP4, Wah, expression pedal and Tone bender is all I'd need. I'd still have room to chuck cool pedal du jour on my board too.

 

[HotRats]

Well the FX8 had clear limitations, as did the Axe FX Standard versus Ultra, as does the FM3 versus FM9, and FM9 versus Axe3. For instance, for a lot of people only having 1 delay or reverb block would be fine enough, for me it kills a product more than a lot of other things.

Limitations are obviously somewhat subjective, because they're based on a users notions about how they'd like to use a thing versus how they can use a thing.

I don't think enough good things can be said about the form factor of the VP4.

Ok but FM3, FM9 are scaled down versions on the big boy therefore you know will have less of everyrhing.

Don't know, is just my impression I'm not saying I'm right but seeing a brand new FX only unit that seems to offer less (at least in some areas) han an HXFX is wired.

 

[DLC86]

is wired

Yeah, no wireless

 

[Orvillain]

Don't know, is just my impression I'm not saying I'm right but seeing a brand new FX only unit that seems to offer less (at least in some areas) han an HXFX is wired.

I sort of agree. But also... I just keep thinking to myself about what scenarios I need more than 4 blocks for... and a lot of the time it tends to be to overcome some sort of limitation in the available processing (not enough tail on a reverb for instance, so stacking delays before it to increase the ambience) or to otherwise wash out the core guitar tone and turn it into something else. Which I know I can easily do with even just a single block on the Fractal side.

The fact that patches will spillover and that changes are gapless.... I tend to think that this is one effects unit where I truly could just think on a presets basis. Won't need to C*ck around with scenes, won't need to C*ck around with parallel paths and switching between them... there's a ton of housekeeping workflow on other devices that this one looks to be avoiding, and that is something that really appeals to me. Allows me to just focus purely on the sound.

 

[OrganicZed]

Of course I'm aware of that but having the switching outs in the unit is soooooo much more practical.

Yeah, that is true. It is probably a cost cutting / size reducing measure not to include relay switching abilities on the unit. If you want it to be a certain size and under a specific price point then decisions need to be made.

The FX8 has relay switching abilities on the unit but I still need the Control Switcher for my Fryette Sig:X because it has more than two switchable functions.

 

[Orvillain]

Few setup ideas:

 

[laxu]

Don't know, is just my impression I'm not saying I'm right but seeing a brand new FX only unit that seems to offer less (at least in some areas) han an HXFX is wired.

I think it's just different pros and cons.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the HX Effects is limited to 6 fx slots.

Let's say you want multiple drives to switch between. You can already waste a good 2-3 spots on the HX Effects on those, vs using channels on one block on the VP4. Same could be true for having several delays, modulations, or reverbs.

Where the HX Effects has an advantage is when you want to run a complex chain all at once, like Comp - Drive - Mod - EQ - Delay - Reverb. The way I'd get around that is two presets where Comp and Drive get swapped, as at least I don't often want to run Comp AND Drive together but instead it's Comp OR Drive.

I think it would be cool if Fractal could add a "preset EQ position" feature as a fw update, so you could put it before or after any block. Almost like a 5th block, and offer both graphic 10-band and parametric options like the Axe-Fx global EQ.

 

[Orvillain]

Mod - Drive > 4-cable method > Delay > Reverb

I'm sure a lot of guitarists could get by with a simple series chain like the above!!

 

[DLC86]

I think it would be cool if Fractal could add a "preset EQ position" feature as a fw update, so you could put it before or after any block. Almost like a 5th block, and offer both graphic 10-band and parametric options like the Axe-Fx global EQ.

On the other hand putting the eq before or after mods, delays and reverbs makes little or no difference at all.

 

[DLC86]

Comp - Drive - Mod - EQ - Delay - Reverb.

This specific chain can be accomplished with the trick Orvillain mentioned previously, i.e. using the reverb block to do both delay and reverb (see the echo plate or echo room types for example)

PS: with the exception of the eq not being switchable within the preset I think.

 

[aivoryuk]

If the fm3 only had an spdif input - i could use the VP4 for pre effects and FM3 for cab block and post effects - but then the FM3 is not very good for USB audio