Fractal Audio Systems VP4 - Virtual Pedalboard

[Whizzinby]

VP4 factory presets have been updated for firmware version 2.0 or newer.

Factory Presets for VP4 Firmware 2.0 Preview

The VP4 factory presets have been updated for firmware version 2.0 or newer. These aren't on the web site yet. This is a preview release. As always, it is strongly recommended that you back up your VP4 using Fractal-Bot before performing any update. NOTES Updated compressors, spring...

forum.fractalaudio.com

Those are a separate install?

Gonna wire it up today and install the new FW.

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

Those are a separate install?

Gonna wire it up today and install the new FW.

vp4-edit fractal bot will update for you, but you have to also download the new vp4 editor, but as for the factory presets i opened fractal bot after installing the new firmware/editor and then put the sysex file in fractal bot and sent to my device.

 

[SonVolt]

vp4-edit fractal bot will update for you, but you have to also download the new vp4 editor, but as for the factory presets i opened fractal bot after installing the new firmware/editor and then put the sysex file in fractal bot and sent to my device.

It doesn't overwrite your user presets does it?

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

It doesn't overwrite your user presets does it?

yes, so it's better to back them up before doing so! I had one preset made by me in a slot and it overwrote that slot/section with a few extra ones from the new updated bank but luckily i had it saved and I reuploaded it to a new slot.

 

[Whizzinby]

It doesn't overwrite your user presets does it?

It does. Ask me how I know.

 

[Whizzinby]

Preset mishap aside, moving blocks around is glorious.

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

Preset mishap aside, moving blocks around is glorious.

You already could move blocks around via the editor before this update, but it's nice to be able to do it on the machine itself without the editor now

Also the new expert window that shows all 4 blocks is very nice in the new editor!

 

[SonVolt]

Preset mishap aside, moving blocks around is glorious.

I'm shocked that wasn't a "feature" the day it was released. Big oversight.

 

[Whizzinby]

You already could move blocks around via the editor before this update, but it's nice to be able to do it on the machine itself without the editor now

Also the new expert window that shows all 4 blocks is very nice in the new editor!

I use the VP4 with my amps, so primarily all on-device editing.

I'm shocked that wasn't a "feature" the day it was released. Big oversight.

100%. I was kind of shocked we couldn’t, but I figured FAS would come good on it.

My wishlist now is just user-defined type defaults, onboard user favorites, and a tablet editor.

 

[SonVolt]

1) iOS editor
2) 1U rack form factor
3) true pre/post stereo jacks

 

[TubeStack]

As an aside, man, the VP4 is such a badass device. Loving it more all the time and am so happy Fractal made it! It's what I've been wishing for from them for a long time, but had truly given up.

I just did a one-off gig where I pulled the VP4 from my board and used it alone, like I used to do with the Stomp when needing something quick and compact, and it killed in this application. Super happy with it, all around.

 

[Los-D]

@Whizzinby , how does it compare to the H90 for you?

 

[JiveTurkey]

@Whizzinby , how does it compare to the H90 for you?

I know he's broken this down before but this is the billion dollar question.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Also; e-friend/collaborator got an SLO 100 and is waiting on an H90. I tried selling him on the VP4 but his modeling allergy is too chronic

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

@Whizzinby , how does it compare to the H90 for you?

I know you didn't ask me but my opinion is the vp4 smokes the H90 and I've had 4 since H90 came out lol. I still love H90, but mainly the pitch stuff I was loving more in the H90 then most things, but VP4 just wins now after experiencing it side by side after i got another H90 after VP4, so the H90 left the building again lol. The pitch stuff in H90 still may win though but only by a little or maybe I just need to spend more time with fractal pitch stuff.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Everyone raves about the Eventide pitch stuff but the Dual Detune on FAS stuff takes a DUMP on the Eventide MicroPitch I had. Most disappointing pedal ever. The Boss dual detune crapped on it as well.

 

[Whizzinby]

@Whizzinby , how does it compare to the H90 for you?

I think the VP4 is the decidedly better pedal. Beyond having 2,743 good emulations of all the classic pedals and effect types, to me what FAS nails on reverbs and building the more exotic delay/verb tones, for my tastes, is sounding like open natural spaces. You can go full Elronds Quartet but it still sits in a very pleasant way in your ear.

The H90 is a badass pedal, (Brace for impact) but kind of excels at different things. The pitch block is awesome, they’ve created the perfect anti-shimmer, and the reverse algos are great. You have to guard against the digital sheen with the pitch type stuff though. The “regular” effects are good in isolation, but I havent turned to it for that stuff much, in my relatively short time with it. It’s the “unnatural” stuff thats amazing. There is a preset in there that is combining the wormhole and Blackhole reverbs or some combo the two, and it sounds like two massive reverbs collapsing back into itself. Played at volume in stereo, its jaw dropping. That sort of stuff isn’t going to help anyone doing James Brown covers at the local coffee shop though. But it’s those sorts of tones that have caught my attention thus far.

Eventide gets major points for having a Bluetooth tablet app, but it kind of needs it because it’s much more of a pain in the ass to use on-device. VP4 device editing is much easier. (But, dear Cliff, please release a tablet editor like Eventide did with H90 Control)

 

[deathbyguitar]

I think the VP4 is the decidedly better pedal. Like not even close. Beyond having 2,743 good emulations of all the classic pedals and effect types, to me what FAS nails on reverbs and building the more exotic delay/verb tones, for my tastes, is sounding like open natural spaces. You can go full Elronds Quartet but it still sits in a very pleasant way in your ear.

The H90 is a badass pedal, (Brace for impact) but kind of excels at different things. The pitch block is awesome, they’ve created the perfect anti-shimmer, and the reverse algos are great. You have to guard against the digital sheen with the pitch type stuff though. The “regular” effects are good in isolation, but I havent turned to it for that stuff much, in my relatively short time with it. It’s the “unnatural” stuff thats amazing. There is a preset in there that is combining the wormhole and Blackhole reverbs or some combo the two, and it sounds like two massive reverbs collapsing back into itself. Played at volume in stereo, its jaw dropping. That sort of stuff isn’t going to help anyone doing James Brown covers at the local coffee shop though. But it’s those sorts of tones that have caught my attention thus far.

Eventide gets major points for having a Bluetooth tablet app, but it kind of needs it because it’s much more of a pain in the ass to use on-device. VP4 device editing is much easier. (But, dear Cliff, please release a tablet editor like Eventide did with H90 Control)

Haven't seen a new episode of The Modeling Wars from you in sometime. Is it because you ultimately decided that Fractal is better than everything and that thinking about lesser platforms is a waste of your time and energy?

 

[Los-D]

I know you didn't ask me but my opinion is the vp4 smokes the H90 and I've had 4 since H90 came out lol. I still love H90, but mainly the pitch stuff I was loving more in the H90 then most things, but VP4 just wins now after experiencing it side by side after i got another H90 after VP4, so the H90 left the building again lol. The pitch stuff in H90 still may win though but only by a little or maybe I just need to spend more time with fractal pitch stuff.

Wow, that’s great to hear. I never got a chance to audition them head to head.

I think the VP4 is the decidedly better pedal. Beyond having 2,743 good emulations of all the classic pedals and effect types, to me what FAS nails on reverbs and building the more exotic delay/verb tones, for my tastes, is sounding like open natural spaces. You can go full Elronds Quartet but it still sits in a very pleasant way in your ear.

The H90 is a badass pedal, (Brace for impact) but kind of excels at different things. The pitch block is awesome, they’ve created the perfect anti-shimmer, and the reverse algos are great. You have to guard against the digital sheen with the pitch type stuff though. The “regular” effects are good in isolation, but I havent turned to it for that stuff much, in my relatively short time with it. It’s the “unnatural” stuff thats amazing. There is a preset in there that is combining the wormhole and Blackhole reverbs or some combo the two, and it sounds like two massive reverbs collapsing back into itself. Played at volume in stereo, its jaw dropping. That sort of stuff isn’t going to help anyone doing James Brown covers at the local coffee shop though. But it’s those sorts of tones that have caught my attention thus far.

Eventide gets major points for having a Bluetooth tablet app, but it kind of needs it because it’s much more of a pain in the ass to use on-device. VP4 device editing is much easier. (But, dear Cliff, please release a tablet editor like Eventide did with H90 Control)

Effects are my favorite thing from Fractal actually, ever since my AX8 (amp tones are killer obviously). I am an Eventide fan as well but dont have my FM3 anymore to compare them.

 

[Whizzinby]

Haven't seen a new episode of The Modeling Wars from you in sometime. Is it because you ultimately decided that Fractal is better than everything and that thinking about lesser platforms is a waste of your time and energy?