Fractal Audio Systems VP4 - Virtual Pedalboard

[mchad]

The sequencer UI from the FM9. I didn't set those levels BTW. I employed a trained monkey to do it for me. I sit on one chair mindlessly noodling and my chimp Barney sits on another setting sequencer levels. Has cost me a fortune in bananas so far.

And I use the bit reduce and sample rate controls in the Drive effects section all the time. Very cool.

And this guy https://simeonharris.co.uk/fractal.html is a monster programmer.

 

[Orvillain]

Are the pitch stuff on par with eventide H90 or better? That is one thing I loved about H90 was the pitch / delay / reverbs. I do NOT care for the pitch stuff in my helix.

Better or on par in various cases.

sorry still reading on this unit, but that also means in one pitch block I can recall 4 different versions at anytime right? Same with any other block?

Yes exactly. When you're in the 'effects' view, you hold down an effect switch, and it pops up a list of the 4 channels for that effect. You tap the switch corresponding to the effect you want, and it switches over to that channel and goes back to the full 'effects' view. It is very cool.

I was going to ask this next, is there any of that fuck shit up effects like chase bliss stuff (but im assuming with lfo/modifier stuff it can do crazy?), and ugh I see only 1 synth thing and I am assuming mono right? It's 2025, and if eventide, meris, boss and even mooer can do polyphony stuff than why aren't we seeing fractal, helix doing this stuff yet geez!

There is a lot you can do with the modulation options, but there aren't really any quick and easy slice/granular type things going on.

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

Anyone on the latest beta? Stable? Should I wait to upgrade once it's out of beta when my vp4 comes?

From the looks of it, they are putting new compressors and spring reverbs into the next betas as well for 2.0. Perhaps I should just wait?

VP4 Firmware V1.03 Public Beta 2

The VP4 Firmware V1.03 Beta 2 is now available for download here: VP4 V1.03 Beta 2 Please download at your own risk, as this is considered Beta and therefore has not been fully tested or vetted. As such, please back up your Global Settings as well as all of your presets before installing this...

forum.fractalaudio.com

 

[Hapless]

Anyone on the latest beta? Stable? Should I wait to upgrade once it's out of beta when my vp4 comes?

From the looks of it, they are putting new compressors and spring reverbs into the next betas as well for 2.0. Perhaps I should just wait?

VP4 Firmware V1.03 Public Beta 2

The VP4 Firmware V1.03 Beta 2 is now available for download here: VP4 V1.03 Beta 2 Please download at your own risk, as this is considered Beta and therefore has not been fully tested or vetted. As such, please back up your Global Settings as well as all of your presets before installing this...

forum.fractalaudio.com

I've gigged it with the beta twice now with zero issues.

 

[Orvillain]

Yep. I'm on the latest beta. No issues.

Fractal are one of the few companies where I would absolutely trust a beta release.

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

Yep. I'm on the latest beta. No issues.

Fractal are one of the few companies where I would absolutely trust a beta release.

I figured, but just wanted to be sure. I have been on betas of helix for years and never had issue with those either.

I'll go ahead and download the latest beta firmware and editor for it then!

Also duh i remember what the VP4 reminds me of, the boss sy-300 lol. Pretty much the exact same format / size lol.

The other funny issue is that everyone complained the sy-300 was to big for their boards blah blah when it came out and some still today, but yet today we have this, meris big box stuff and more and no one complains about the size like they did when sy-300 came out lol.

I got one of them coming again as well (like my 5th or 6th time having one since 2015 haha).

 

[Orvillain]

I'm genuinely really impressed with the VP4. It sounds great, and very very close to the Axe3 in terms of how transparent it is with a valve amp, both just straight into the front and in 4 cable method.

I've not used it in anger with the band yet. I'll do that on Wednesday night.

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

very very close to the Axe3 in terms of how transparent it is with a valve amp

Shouldn't it sound exactly the same since they came from the axe3?

 

[Orvillain]

Shouldn't it sound exactly the same since they came from the axe3?

The algorithms are. The AD/DA and I/O buffering, I'm not sure of the differences honestly.

 

[deadpool_25]

The algorithms are. The AD/DA and I/O buffering, I'm not sure of the differences honestly.

I'd think it should be at least as good since that's its primary purpose

 

[SillyOctpuss]

The algorithms are. The AD/DA and I/O buffering, I'm not sure of the differences honestly.

I'd think it should be at least as good since that's its primary purpose

In the earlier speculation thread Cliff said it has the Analog path from the axe-fx iii. I'd have thought that meant they should sound the same, shouldn't they?

 

[Desertdweller]

I'd think it should be at least as good since that's its primary purpose

I don't hear a difference in quality using the VP4 or the FM9 in 4CM. Both are incredible.

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

This is pretty nice, not sure if been posted here or not

VP4 - Fractal Audio Wiki

wiki.fractalaudio.com

 

[Aleksi]

This is pretty nice, not sure if been posted here or not

VP4 - Fractal Audio Wiki

wiki.fractalaudio.com

lol no

 

[iaresee]

lol no

Clearly I haven't.

 

[Orvillain]

Clearly I haven't.

You don't need to!

 

[iaresee]

You don't need to!

TRUE!

 

[deadpool_25]

I’m 0/1000 answering VP4 questions correctly here.

Clearly I haven't.

You don't need to!

TRUE!

 

[MixMinisterMike]

I would have probably missed Channels completely if I hadn't read the manual. And that's actually my favorite feature!

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

My VP4 came today!

First day impressions is that most of the stock presets suck ass, but then again they usually do in any unit.

Also it seems it doesn't like usb hubs and won't connect using one, so have to go direct into computer which is a pain in the butt.

Fumbling around the unit was pretty easy without manual, and I think I got the hang of it now.

The magic is when you open an effect in expert mode, and then there lies all the options to tweak every nuance!

So far I mainly tweaked some reverb and it was nice, so still got a lot of things to try out on their own and tweak and see what i like and don't like etc.