Fractal Audio Systems VP4 - Virtual Pedalboard

[JiveTurkey]

That stinks

 

[Mongillo19]

Between the FM9 power port and these midi I/Os, the newer fractal unit I/Os have taken a hit.

I have a feeling support will make it right though. I imagine you'll have to ship it out to them but you shouldn't have to pay anything (I hope)

 

[dk_ace]

I was just sketching out what a vp4 setup with midi might look like alongside my fm9. And then I see this midi jack…

Still might happen. Can’t decide if I’d rather have an fc-6 or a vp-4.

FC-6 is simpler and gives me more switches. VP-4 adds horsepower and some flexibility.

D

 

[TubeStack]

That stinks

Thanks, JT! Yes it does.

Between the FM9 power port and these midi I/Os, the newer fractal unit I/Os have taken a hit.

I have a feeling support will make it right though. I imagine you'll have to ship it out to them but you shouldn't have to pay anything (I hope)

Thanks, yeah that’s what I figured.

Funny thing too, I’m literally three days from my 1-year warranty being up.

 

[TubeStack]

Shit, I just realized it’s a postal strike here and the mail isn’t running.

Goddammit!

 

[Mongillo19]

Thanks, JT! Yes it does.



Thanks, yeah that’s what I figured.

Funny thing too, I’m literally three days from my 1-year warranty being up.

Well if it was going to happen......

 

[namathan_zirwir]

Reminds me of the time I got my FM3 and plugged USB cable in to it and the jack came loose and fell out, first time just plugging in to it. So I didn’t have very good luck either

 

[Aleksi]

I plugged into the MIDI in jack once and it feels like a tight fit. I'm getting a right angle TRS cable for it and I guess I'll wait until it gets here and plug it in once and just leave it there. At least I have a 3 year warranty.

 

[TubeStack]

Ok, so Fractal's going to fix the busted midi jack, although they're saying it's not really covered under warranty but that they will do so anyway, which I appreciate.

Shipped it via FedEx yesterday, which was honestly a pain in the butt, as I wasn't able to pay + print a label online due to some recurring issue during checkout (I think FedEx's method of showing my address, which involves a condo#, didn't match my cc company's?) So then I'm off to Staples, who weren't able to enter the customs code Fractal wanted, so they sent me across the city to an actual FedEx location, in hopes they can enter that code, which FedEx was able to do.
However, I wasn't able to declare the value as $1, like Fractal wanted, while also insuring it for a higher amount, so I ended up not insuring it and declaring value as $1. Don't love that, but I was concerned if I declared it at a higher amount, it would complicate things on Fractal's end, with some big customs fee coming back to me? I don't have much shipping experience to the US (I'm in Canada), so I'm not sure.

Anyway, this all has me thinking I may just go back to where it all began for me, and grab a good ol' HXFX. For what I use the VP4 for, which is mostly delays, clean boost, and switching my MkVII channels, with a touch of modulation here and there, I think the HXFX would be fine and actually more fun/way easier to use. Plus more switches and my beloved Transistor Tape delay, which I still haven't found anything I love as much in Fractal land. I'm just not entirely confident in the HXFX having the same level of "pristine audio path" that the VP4 does, however can always try and see. Plus it's just in the loop of the amp, not out front.

 

[TubeStack]

Ok, just bought at used/demo HXFX that still has full warranty, picking it up tonight

 

[Mongillo19]

Ok, just bought at used/demo HXFX that still has full warranty, picking it up tonight

Nice! Bummer the VP4 didn't work out for you but I understand how this could leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Did this warranty interaction sway you as well? I'm surprised they mentioned it isn't technically covered by warranty.

 

[TubeStack]

Nice! Bummer the VP4 didn't work out for you but I understand how this could leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Did this warranty interaction sway you as well? I'm surprised they mentioned it isn't technically covered by warranty.

Thanks! Ah the ups and downs of the gear humpin' life...

Yeah, I didn't love that warranty interaction, to be honest, as it's kind of a known issue, what with a thread in their forum about it + pics that look the same as my busted jack. However, I get it and am thankful they're fixing it and shipping it back at no charge (though I'm still out the $50+ it cost to ship it there).

But overall it's mostly soured me on Fractal products, in that I now see what a pain it will be in the future if I have problems that require repairs/returns, vs the ease of just dropping something off at the store where I bought it in town. And being that I'm still an amp guy and don't use modeling anyway (and love L6 effects) maybe I'll just stick with stuff I can get (and return) in a local store.

The VP4 is still a killer product though, and I was hoping Fractal would release something like it for years, so I don't wanna be a downer in the thread here. I did really enjoy it while I had it.

 

[ian_dissonance]

I understand the desire for the mini jacks for MIDI, but they’re such crap jacks, usually.

 

[Orvillain]

I'm just not entirely confident in the HXFX having the same level of "pristine audio path" that the VP4 does, however can always try and see.

I think you'd be surprised tbh. Apart from the HX One, the Helix series compares very favourably. The QC does not - not for these purposes anyway.

What I would say is, if you're at all worried... you could run your HX FX in 100% wet mode only, and mix it into the signal path using a parallel mixing box. A bit more cabling, and a bit more fiddly, but gives you that peace of mind.

But enjoy both units, at the end of the day!

 

[Desertdweller]

I understand the desire for the mini jacks for MIDI, but they’re such crap jacks, usually.

Agreed. Why can’t they just be TRS 1/4” instead of 1/8” or smaller?

 

[TubeStack]

I think you'd be surprised tbh. Apart from the HX One, the Helix series compares very favourably. The QC does not - not for these purposes anyway.

What I would say is, if you're at all worried... you could run your HX FX in 100% wet mode only, and mix it into the signal path using a parallel mixing box. A bit more cabling, and a bit more fiddly, but gives you that peace of mind.

But enjoy both units, at the end of the day!

Good to hear! This is my third HXFX (maybe fourth? that's almost @JiveTurkey levels of buying/selling/buying the same piece of gear ), but I haven't used one since getting used to the VP4's level of clarity. I think it'll be fine in an effects loop, maybe keep it in buffered bypass mode?

 

[Desertdweller]

Good to hear! This is my third HXFX (maybe fourth? that's almost @JiveTurkey levels of buying/selling/buying the same piece of gear ), but I haven't used one since getting used to the VP4's level of clarity. I think it'll be fine in an effects loop, maybe keep it in buffered bypass mode?

If Fractal made an HX effects-style unit, it would be perfect. If Line 6 made Fractal quality effects on the HX effects, it would be perfect. I love the functionality of the HX, but the sounds in the Fractal unit are superior.

 

[TubeStack]

... the sounds in the Fractal unit are superior.

I'd say that's subjective. There are L6 effects I like better than Fractal. Transistor Tape delay, as mentioned, as well as their Reverse Delay. But I like Fractal's univibe and phase more than L6. Can go with either, depending on the effect.

 

[yek]

and my beloved Transistor Tape delay, which I still haven't found anything I love as much in Fractal land.

I listened to a video featuring the Transistor Delay, and I'm certain it can be reproduced quite easily using the Mono Tape Delay, or any of the other tape delays in the VP4.

 

[Orvillain]

I listened to a video featuring the Transistor Delay, and I'm certain it can be reproduced quite easily using the Mono Tape Delay, or any of the other tape delays in the VP4.

Fractal doesn't get gritty or filtered enough really. I've experimented a lot, and my one observation with delays is that Fractal is nearly always far cleaner than Helix and others.