Fractal Audio Systems mystery product speculation

[HotRats]

H90 gets released: YAS!! It runs two effects!!

Big Sky MX gets released: YAS!! It runs two reverbs!!

VP4, which runs four unique effects and loads 16 unique effects per preset gets released: Its limiting.


People buying Strymon, Eventide , Meris pedals etc. don’t give a shit about the cost to value ratio with an HXFX, they want Strymon, Eventide, and Meris effects. Same with the VP4.

Its “limits” exceed the pedals from its target market: H90, Big Sky MX, Meris LVX, Timeline users. Some of y’all trippin. (And I still think a loop would have been great on the VP4)

oh well, the "it's limited" comes from comparing the VP4 with the other FAS products and in general from what is expected from the brand.

Now we know they've taken a new road, next time nobody will complain (LOL)

 

[Lysander]

Sorry. My meme vs text ratio has been WAY off, and it's making me twitch. I'm not even sure I disagree with you, but I'm a child, so . . .

Well, "straightforward to operate" needs to be graded in Fractal terms, but still

HXFX can do nine blocks, two loops, command center, IRs, snapshots and many other Helix goodies; this product (and stuff like the HX One) is intended for people who wants nothing to do with those. If tweaking is your thing, get a FM3 instead.

 

[BenIfin]

A Zoom MS50g can do way more, too...

L6 HXFX -vs- Zoom MS50g

Call me crazy, but not really an apples-to-apples "comparison" when discussing what the VP4 might be like, or used in, in real-life gigging scenarios.

 

[Orvillain]

The AD/DA of the Zoom just doesn't even compare to anything Line 6 or Fractal have done.

 

[BenIfin]

The HXFX can do nine blocks, two loops, command center, IRs, snapshots and many other Helix goodies; this product (and stuff like the HX One) is intended for people who wants nothing to do with those.

^ Other than *not* having a Variable Input Impedance ..... I've never understood why more pedal board people don't look at or consider the HXFX (?)

But this is a VP4 thread so back to topic :)

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

This thread is like a rollercoaster designed by the oxygen deprived, at times.....

 

[Whizzinby]

^ Other than *not* having a Variable Input Impedance ..... I've never understood why more pedal board people don't look at or consider the HXFX (?)

Because they like the sounds of something else.

I owned an HXFX, and returned it when I realized I like my individual pedals more than the thing that was supposed to replace them.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

"Amps are coming back in a really big fuckin' way"

View attachment 30691

Give him brown hair and that's me circa 2005.

It probably would still be me if I hadn't gotten married.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

Give him brown hair and that's me circa 2005.

It probably would still be me if I hadn't gotten married.

I'm pretty sure it represents over half of the forum at one point in time....hahaha

 

[Orvillain]

^ Other than *not* having a Variable Input Impedance ..... I've never understood why more pedal board people don't look at or consider the HXFX (?)

Frank sorted me out with one for TNBD back in 2018 or so. That thing is really good! Again with the form factor of these units... you can have both!!!

HX FX for Cosmos Echo, Adriatic Delay, Glitch Delay, Xenomorph Fuzz, Bleat Chop Tremolo.... VP4 for everything else!

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

Frank sorted me out with one for TNBD back in 2018 or so. That thing is really good! Again with the form factor of these units... you can have both!!!

HX FX for Cosmos Echo, Adriatic Delay, Glitch Delay, Xenomorph Fuzz, Bleat Chop Tremolo.... VP4 for everything else!

See ....all you goofballs got him talking sense ...how did you break our @Orvillain ! Damn You All!!!!!

 

[Orvillain]

See ....all you goofballs got him talking sense ...how did you break our @Orvillain ! Damn You All!!!!!

I always talk sense! You just need super powers to read through the cynicism and self loathing!

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

I always talk sense! You just need super powers to read through the cynicism and self loathing!

I know..... most sensible on the forum!

Just being silly!

 

[yeky83]

It’s a four footswitch device controlling presets, scenes, and channels of four effects. That’s quite enough to handle with four footswitches as is. How are y’all expecting it to also do relay switching or CC messages and stay usable as an effects device, y’all not gonna use the effects or something?

 

[Orvillain]

 

[dk_ace]

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.

And they still have those endless option products…

Endless options is off-putting to a lot of players. There are a lot of players who would like the sounds of fractal gear, but are never going to deal with the things that go along with those endless options. Now fractal has something to offer those people.

For people like me who want few limitations, loads of power, and lots of footswitches, well we already bought or plan to buy an FM9 of Axe3.

While this thing isn’t really for me, I think it’s a brilliant product choice for their lineup.

D

 

[yeky83]

Back to the VP4. The manual says the power requirement is 9V DC 1.3A. I'm wondering if two outputs on a Zuma would be enough to power it, or if it is wall wart time?!

Ciok Crux! Works with the Zuma.

Still a deal breaker for me. I use more than one reverb on a few tracks. It's a shame I had thought about grabbing a used one in the UK.

The Plex Delay block can basically do reverb. The Fractal standard for reverb is really high, and what you'll find as reverb in a lot of other devices can be done with the Fractal Plex Delay block. Check out some demos, here's a quick one:

 

[JiveTurkey]

Plex is

 

[GTR37]

Compressor, drive, EQ, delay, reverb. Absolutely common FX chain for yours truly, used for pretty much any lead sound since ages. Impossible with this guy. And I may even add another drive here and there (especially when running into clean pedal platform amps). Or a wah/filter.

As said before, IMO this could be a fantastic device (and perhaps even a bargain) for those looking for a spatial/modulation FX unit. But as the main device to run into either a pedal platform amp or using it in 4CM, I think there's better alternatives around.

#not4you

 

[spawnofthesith]

Back to the VP4. The manual says the power requirement is 9V DC 1.3A. I'm wondering if two outputs on a Zuma would be enough to power it, or if it is wall wart time?!

Cioks DC7 is all 650ma outputs. I'd sooner buy a new PSU than have to deal with wall warts. Which I did just recently so I could power my stomp with everything else on my board and 1 plug

in my experience though you can usually get away with a little less draw than some of these digital pedals claim... if it boots its probably good to go