Fractal Audio Systems mystery product speculation

[norminal]

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 with that DSP that fits in a VP4 size enclosure.

What could that mean for a future FM3/FM9?

Makes sense to go full-TI and ditch the Sharc. Would make it a hell of a lot simpler to port firmware between each unit.

 

[AlbertA]

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

Let's do it!

 

[Whizzinby]

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

 

[FractalAudio]

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 with that DSP that fits in a VP4 size enclosure.

What could that mean for a future FM3/FM9?

The VP4 uses a SoC. It has an ARM Cortex A15 core and a C66x core along with a bunch of peripherals. The DSP in the Axe-Fx III would be too power-hungry for this application.

 

[quadgear]

Looks like a looper and IR block is in the cards for a future update, so I'm sure the midi thing can be addressed as well.

What's the likelihood that it can run two looper blocks?

How much looping time, free memory, does the VP4 have?

 

[Blix]

What's the likelihood that it can run two looper blocks?

How much looping time, free memory, does the VP4 have?

A looper has been mentioned as a possibility in a future update , whether its a block or add on to the current four is unknown.
Time, memory etc only Fractal knows.

 

[la szum]

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

 

[AlbertA]

The VP4 uses a SoC. It has an ARM Cortex A15 core and a C66x core along with a bunch of peripherals. The DSP in the Axe-Fx III would be too power-hungry for this application.

Ah gotcha - that makes more sense - given the segment

so probably something like the https://www.ti.com/product/66AK2G12

 

[laxu]

The VP4 uses a SoC. It has an ARM Cortex A15 core and a C66x core along with a bunch of peripherals. The DSP in the Axe-Fx III would be too power-hungry for this application.

What made you choose this over Analog Devices offerings? Just easier to port stuff?

 

[Whizzinby]

Cliff, does the VP4 Edit have block libraries, and/or is there any on-device “favorites”?

 

[[Nathan]]

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.

I’d probably be powerless to buy an amp box for desktop

 

[PorcinePicker]

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.

Hmmmm…. I’m picturing a secret cheat code that enables the Full Fractal. Will keep watching this space.

 

[Desertdweller]

That's likely because they consider it an unnecessary feature for what Axe-Fx is supposed to do.

You could add a Suhr MicroMIDI to your setup and do this over MIDI...well, if the VP4 would let you configure MIDI CC or PC messages to send on e.g preset or scene changes...

Yeah i have a mesa midi matrix so for me it's easy, but it's also a nice feature so you don't have to buy another $400 box.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Yeah i have a mesa midi matrix so for me it's easy, but it's also a nice feature so you don't have to buy another $400 box.

The Suhr is a fraction of that. The MIDI Matrix is cool, but overkill for a lot of amps that are just TRS.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

The VP4 uses a SoC. It has an ARM Cortex A15 core and a C66x core along with a bunch of peripherals. The DSP in the Axe-Fx III would be too power-hungry for this application.

Hey, my iMac also has an ARM SoC and would really like to run some Fractal software. Just sayin‘

 

[TSJMajesty]

Cliff, does the VP4 Edit have block libraries, and/or is there any on-device “favorites”?

 

[deadpool_25]

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

Don't. You. Fucking. Dare.

 

[Aleksi]

I'm playing synth through the FM3 right now aaaaaaaaand.... GAS averted, I think? It sounds great but I just prefer Meris reverbs, they put me in my happy place immediately with zero tweaking. Delay is my next priority and the FAS delays are obviously really good, but so are many others. I don't use much modulation honestly, but when I do I prefer FAS to anything else I've tried. I really like FAS for all-in-one guitar solutions with amp sims and really good effects, but maybe I can live without this one.

Not that I was ever the target market for this, but one can always dream of spending money on superfluous things!

 

[timbuck3]

They might even have a VP8 in development, who knows!

For 1600$