Fractal Audio Systems mystery product speculation

[duzie]

It's quite possible we could add more blocks in future firmware. I can envision, say, four switchable blocks and two fixed blocks per preset. The fixed blocks are always on. The switchable blocks can be bypassed/engaged. Or four fixed blocks and four switchable blocks.

It's just software. It's a fairly powerful processor, more powerful than the FX8 had, but our algorithms have continued to increase in complexity and require more processing power than things did back in the FX8 days.

I really appreciate your participation here.
I’m a man of few words lol

 

[Whizzinby]

At the end of the day I feel "bad" for Cliff and their team. To put work in on a product and just hear how bad it is before it's even announced must be rough.

Guess it can go for any new product these days to be honest. Not sure what people expect anymore

This thing is going to slap. I’m pumped.

Hopefully FAS really gets this out to the pedal community effectively (and some pedal tubers like Mark Johnston, and Stefan from PedalZone ) and outside of the strictly modeler crowd. (Though I’m eager for the LT demo) This is going to slot in nice for those that like to swim in the deep end of the effects market with Strymon and Eventide stuff.

 

[Mongillo19]

I agree
But if you think this thread contains stiff comments..stay away from threads on ndsp or Kemper releases …compared to those this is child play!

Oh I know but not even FAS is immune it seems. People make it seem like their forum is a cult and FAS can do no wrong. Well to many on there they can

 

[Orvillain]

I wonder how much of this is just bedroom hacks (like me) feeling bad that it wasn't something ultracomplex and powerful they could buy to feel superior. Maybe some weird subconscious gatekeeping, because fas is putting out a simplified product that might have mass appeal.

I think it is sort of natural to expect a company like Fractal to have a consistent "we're always going to be the complicated do-everything company" but really... this VP4 makes total sense business wise I think.

1. How much further can you really go in terms of amp realism? When the general public puts an Axe3, Quad Cortex, and Helix side-by-side constantly on Youtube and the like, and comes up with the inevitable answer that "they're all good, they just sound different" ... any further enhancements are really just a matter of perfection. But never let perfection be the enemy of good. IMHO.

2. There's a huge swathe of people out there who don't use modelling. Forums like this one and TGP are more or less echo-chambers where most people are digital enthuasiasts. But a fuck ton of people out there are not interested in modellers, and even if they are, they're not interested in spending $1500+ on a modelling solution. The VP4 is for those people.

3. Cliff already said it, but this product is for people who play live. Again, a lot of people on forums do not play live, have never been in a band, never toured, and never really leave the house with their music. I'm not besmirching that, and I have no problem with it. But it is a fact of life. Their experience colours their perception of products like this. But I'm telling you, there is going to be a significant proportion of people out there who have been waiting for this.

Axe3 is too cumbersome to use with a valve amp. FM9 requires too much floor space. FM3 isn't optimized for it and doesn't have enough switches. This is a sweet spot pedal I feel, that Cliff and co are well aware is going to be used on boards full of analog drives and compressors, GigRig type loop switchers, and all sorts of configurations like that. It is explicitly NOT a product for your average Youtube guitarist.

IMHO, YMMV, m2p, etc etc.

 

[FractalAudio]

This thing is going to slap. I’m pumped.

Hopefully FAS really gets this out to the pedal community (and some pedal tubers like Mark Johnston, and Stefan from PedalZone ) and outside of the modeler crowd. This is going slot in nice with those that like to swim in the deep end of the effects market with Strymon and Eventide stuff.

That's the target market. We have more products in the pipe for that market.

 

[Orvillain]

Mark Johnston, and Stefan from PedalZone

I fucking love those guys' channels tbh. Right up my bumcheek alley!

 

[Orvillain]

It's quite possible we could add more blocks in future firmware. I can envision, say, four switchable blocks and two fixed blocks per preset. The fixed blocks are always on. The switchable blocks can be bypassed/engaged. Or four fixed blocks and four switchable blocks.

Could be cool. Long as their bypass states were linked to the currently selected scene, that might appease some of these nay-nay-nellies!

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Hopefully FAS really gets this out to the pedal community effectively (and some pedal tubers like Mark Johnston, and Stefan from PedalZone

I fucking love those guys' channels tbh. Right up my bumcheek alley!

I've never heard of them but will check them out.

 

[FractalAudio]

Could be cool. Long as their bypass states were linked to the currently selected scene, that might appease some of these nay-nay-nellies!

Yes. Behind the scenes it's the architecture from the Axe-Fx III. There's still a grid and scenes and channels, etc. It's just that it's mostly hidden from the user and simplified.

 

[norminal]

That's the target market. We have more products in the pipe for that market.

I’m imagining an Amp/Cab only box, similar in footprint to the VP-4 that could integrate with the VP-4 digitally using the S/PDIF, essentially expanding the VP-4 into an eight footswitch Amp Modeler/Effects Processor.

 

[paisleywookiee]

That's the target market. We have more products in the pipe for that market.

Great, now we have to start yet another Fractal Audio speculation thread.

 

[Orvillain]

I’m imagining an Amp/Cab only box, similar in footprint to the VP-4 that could integrate with the VP-4 digitally using the S/PDIF, essentially expanding the VP-4 into an eight footswitch Amp Modeler/Effects Processor.

That would probably clean house. Would shit all over a Kemper Player and Nano Cortex in terms of breadth of sounds, and then you hook it up to .. fuck I dunno, a Boss RV5... whatever.... would be dope!!

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

I’m imagining an Amp/Cab only box, similar in footprint to the VP-4 that could integrate with the VP-4 digitally using the S/PDIF, essentially expanding the VP-4 into an eight footswitch Amp Modeler/Effects Processor.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

I’m imagining an Amp/Cab only box, similar in footprint to the VP-4 that could integrate with the VP-4 digitally using the S/PDIF, essentially expanding the VP-4 into an eight footswitch Amp Modeler/Effects Processor.

Shit....I'd take a stand alone digital preamp..... smaller width ..but same height. Just amp models.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

That would probably clean house. Would shit all over a Kemper Player and Nano Cortex in terms of breadth of sounds, and then you hook it up to .. fuck I dunno, a Boss RV5... whatever.... would be dope!!

Modular axe fx - Safe as Fuck.

 

[Orvillain]

Modular axe fx - Safe as Fuck.

Safe blud. Safe.

 

[holoholo]

Any product that doesn’t match my personal check list is shitty!…anyone buying it an idiot, and the manufacturer an ass!

Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? -George Carlin.

 

[norminal]

Shit....I'd take a stand alone digital preamp..... smaller width ..but same height.

Think about it though. If you just want amps and cabs, get that. If you decide later that you want effects and expanded functionality, add the VP-4, or vice versa.

 

[AlbertA]

The revelation that the VP4 is using a TI DSP is huge news IMO.

I believe the Axe-Fx III uses a TMS320C6672 (1.5Ghz for the Turbo, 1.25Ghz for the normal) so it's possible the VP4 uses a TMS320C6671 (1GHz?)

If so, that's a pin-compatible version of the DSP in the Axe-Fx III.
So Fractal will ship a board design using the TMS320C6671 that's pin compatible with the DSP in the Axe-FX III that fits in a VP4 size enclosure.

What could that mean for a future FM3/FM9?


Edit: VP4 does not use the TMS320C6671

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[Elf]

It's quite possible we could add more blocks in future firmware.

Is there a hardware limitation for the unit to run amp blocks? Asking on behalf of @Whizzinby