Fractal Audio Systems mystery product speculation

[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.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

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

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

 

[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

​

 

[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

 

[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.