Fractal Audio Systems VP4 - Virtual Pedalboard

Can the VP4 accept a line out from a load box? I hate swapping effects loops to amps and it would be easier to just run the output to the VP and the VP to audio interface
 
Mongillo19 said:
Can the VP4 accept a line out from a load box? I hate swapping effects loops to amps and it would be easier to just run the output to the VP and the VP to audio interface
Click to expand...
I came here to ask if anyone had downsides of running the VP4 in general / especially in 4CM with amps but then I see this.

You may have just big brained another layer of awesomeness for me because I find using loops in amps is never 100% seamless (sometimes it is but more often than not it adds some level of "less good"). But running 4cm from the line out of the load box is kind of perfect for what I want... this may have sealed the deal for me on a VP4
time will crawl GIF


Update
AU store has a 15 day return policy if things dont work out... ordered
Cant wait for the "game" to be "changed"' (legitimately stoked to check it out, have a 4cm fx solution, have a ground footswitch to help with amp/pedal demos. Ticks a lot of boxes, keeeeen)
 
Last edited:
[Nathan] said:
I came here to ask if anyone had downsides of running the VP4 in general / especially in 4CM with amps but then I see this.

You may have just big brained another layer of awesomeness for me because I find using loops in amps is never 100% seamless (sometimes it is but more often than not it adds some level of "less good"). But running 4cm from the line out of the load box is kind of perfect for what I want... this may have sealed the deal for me on a VP4
Click to expand...
Think about it this way - inside a modeler you usually run your effects after the cab block, right? They just sound better that way. Why couldn’t you do the same thing with a real amp? Heck with an Axe FX or FM9 you could set up 2 paths:

Path 1: Run your amp into a load box, and then into a path with all of your effects going to FOH.
Path 2: Copy all of the same effects and run this path in the FX loop of your amp to go out to your amp return and cab on stage.

This gives you the best possible sound to FOH and the best possible sound to your amp.
 
Desertdweller said:
Think about it this way - inside a modeler you usually run your effects after the cab block, right? They just sound better that way. Why couldn’t you do the same thing with a real amp? Heck with an Axe FX or FM9 you could set up 2 paths:

Path 1: Run your amp into a load box, and then into a path with all of your effects going to FOH.
Path 2: Copy all of the same effects and run this path in the FX loop of your amp to go out to your amp return and cab on stage.

This gives you the best possible sound to FOH and the best possible sound to your amp.
Click to expand...

Would that not be a phase nightmare?
 
Desertdweller said:
For who? Is it any different phase-wise from just running your effects into your cab and having the cab miked?
Click to expand...


I honestly don't know. My brain is still processing that signal path you explained. At first I thought you meant insert your amp's line out back into the return of the amp's fx loop. I was like, what, no.
 
SonVolt said:
I honestly don't know. My brain is still processing that signal path you explained. At first I thought you meant insert your amp's line out back into the return of the amp's fx loop. I was like, what, no.
Click to expand...
I’m a visual guy, here’s a visual representation. This is a patch I have in my FM9 I use in my home studio. The top path goes to my DAW with a cab block, the bottom path goes out to a stereo power amp powering a 4x12. I run about 6 or 7 amp models in this patch, which is why there are 2 amp blocks but only one is ever on at one time. Everything is mono up through the gate, the it becomes stereo at the split. The effects in the top path are the same as the ones in the second path and everything switches at the same time.

att.5CwKFIXTyjZET1gyA51wKY3VOBRib07nGk9pKwbjOys.jpeg
 
Personally for me the chorus, phaser should be before the amp/cab, and then delay and reverb after if you're simulating a fx loop type thing, but again people like what they like!
 
BROCKSTAR said:
Personally for me the chorus, phaser should be before the amp/cab, and then delay and reverb after if you're simulating a fx loop type thing, but again people like what they like!
Click to expand...
Yeah I can see that, I also really like moving chorus around a lot. It’s excellent after reverb too. Mind you I use very little phaser or chorus, like max of 15% mix on either, so whether in front of the amp or after is fairly minor.
 
Desertdweller said:
Think about it this way - inside a modeler you usually run your effects after the cab block, right? They just sound better that way. Why couldn’t you do the same thing with a real amp? Heck with an Axe FX or FM9 you could set up 2 paths:

Path 1: Run your amp into a load box, and then into a path with all of your effects going to FOH.
Path 2: Copy all of the same effects and run this path in the FX loop of your amp to go out to your amp return and cab on stage.

This gives you the best possible sound to FOH and the best possible sound to your amp.
Click to expand...
Im a pretty low end user of FX (basic delays and reverbs) so im not fussed if things are before or after the cab block. And in the real world I'm always using amp fx loops.

The revelation for me was being able to do this using the load box instead of the amps loop. I guess I could use a gate pedal and other pedals this exact same way instead of the vp4 but the timing of hearing that + everything the VP4 brings to the table is just all around win for me. Ironically I'd been using plugins for delay/reverbs for ages which work great and are super flexible, but for more performancy or on the fly kind of changes its not great taking your hands off the guitar. I'd need to grab some foot pedals and deal with mappings, that right there is one of the VP4 benefits around here.
 
This is going to be a very productive weekend!
The goal is to perm live between the loadbox and interface but also have the option to run it to the front of pedals/amps in 4cm. Keen to put it through its paces.

(The mystery pedal in that other box is no slouch either, blink182 tones incoming)

1742514003031.png
 
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