Fractal VP4 Owners Discussion

[SillyOctpuss]

I enjoy it, but I can't shake the feeling that it isn't for me. Again, with Fractal.... just not using even more than 30% of its features, and I have other pedals that I lurrrrrrvvveeee the sound of.

I'll keep it for now, because it does a LOT of stuff.... but if you didn't have the money and only got a Plethora x3 or x5, I wouldn't say you'd be in a bad position at all.

I've definitely got some FOMO with the VP4 even though there's other pedals I think will suit me better. I might have to try one just to scratch the itch.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Still love it, I just need to use it more. My guitar playing in general has been spotty this month.

What do you use it with? An amp or another modeller?

 

[FuzzyAce]

What do you use it with? An amp or another modeller?

I've mainly used it with an HX stomp into my FR10's or with Native for recording.

Haven't even run it into an amp FX loop yet.

 

[Whizzinby]

If you could only keep the VP4 or the H90 which would you choose?

VP4 easily.

I really like the H90, but where it really excels (dramatic effects, unique pitch algos, blackhole/wormhole verbs) the VP4 is pretty epic in those depts too. But, the VP4 is a much more comprehensive pedal for great modulation effects, and really is just much deeper in all effect categories.

They are both great though.

What do you use it with? An amp or another modeller?

Not fuzzy, but I use the VP4 with my amps. In the stereo loop of my JC120 it’s some epic clean tones. (So immersive with everything bouncing around in the room) I don’t like using it 4CM, but in a loop (especially in stereo) it really shines.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

VP4 easily.

I really like the H90, but where it really excels (dramatic effects, unique pitch algos, blackhole/wormhole verbs) the VP4 is pretty epic in those depts too. But, the VP4 is a much more comprehensive pedal for great modulation effects, and really is just much deeper in all effect categories.

They are both great though.



Not fuzzy, but I use the VP4 with my amps. In the stereo loop of my JC120 it’s some epic clean tones. (So immersive with everything bouncing around in the room) I don’t like using it 4CM, but in a loop (especially in stereo) it really shines.

Interesting. Thanks for that.

I really wish more of the youtube videos I can find showcased it into some amps. Most of them are running into other fractals as far as I can see.

 

[Orvillain]

Interesting. Thanks for that.

I really wish more of the youtube videos I can find showcased it into some amps. Most of them are running into other fractals as far as I can see.

I keep meaning to do one!

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I keep meaning to do one!

I'd like to see that when you do one. I really want to see how it interacts with other pedals into real amps and not just in the loop of another modeller.

 

[Desertdweller]

So how are all you guys getting on with the VP4 now you've had it for a while?

I love it. It has it's quirks, but it's backed by an excellent company. I posted a bug on their forum last week, they messaged me for a video of it. I sent them a video of the bug, and it was patched within a week with their last beta firmware.

You absolutely cannot replace that kind of support.

Along with that, the effects quality is really second to none. I had it along with an H90 for a while and I decided to keep the VP4. I do wish it had a little more functionality - the HX Effects has 2 loops, the ability to control amp channel switching, more blocks at a time, and a stereo send even when running in 4CM. If the VP4 could do all that it and have it's current suite of effects it would be the be-all-end-all for me.

I've jammed with it, and the only other drawback is that I have to decide on presets, scenes, or effects, because trying to hit two pedals at once in the middle of a song leads to chaos. It could have used with 1 or 2 more switches.

So yeah it's not a perfect box, but it's an excellent little machine.

 

[king_wombat]

Really like mine. Used a boss dd500, mobius, and a reverb [deal of some sort for years with various drives/wah pedals. Tried most of the well known multi effects and not really bonded with them. None sounded as good to my ears, the h90 did get pretty close, but was not an enjoyable unit to use live.

It has taken quite a few gigs to get the vp4 close to where I want it

Don’t miss the dd500 etc any more, still use drive pedals and a wah, but have used the vp4 on a bunch of songs with scenes (with the fractal drives , which are pretty good) .
if they could sort out some of the annoyances such as switching modes quickly, and improve the midi commands then would be even better.

 

[Orvillain]

Cumulonimbus is one of my favourite reverb algorithms ever. I love how you can set it to maximum decay and just drift away for ages doing swells and light to strong tremolo picking. Creates some wonderful soundscapes.

 

[Orvillain]

because trying to hit two pedals at once in the middle of a song leads to chaos.

Grab a Boss FS-7. Put it next to the VP4. Plug each output into the expression inputs. Assign them as switches. You could have the lower one as tap tempo, and the top one as tuner activation, for example!

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I love it. It has it's quirks, but it's backed by an excellent company. I posted a bug on their forum last week, they messaged me for a video of it. I sent them a video of the bug, and it was patched within a week with their last beta firmware.

You absolutely cannot replace that kind of support.

Along with that, the effects quality is really second to none. I had it along with an H90 for a while and I decided to keep the VP4. I do wish it had a little more functionality - the HX Effects has 2 loops, the ability to control amp channel switching, more blocks at a time, and a stereo send even when running in 4CM. If the VP4 could do all that it and have it's current suite of effects it would be the be-all-end-all for me.

I've jammed with it, and the only other drawback is that I have to decide on presets, scenes, or effects, because trying to hit two pedals at once in the middle of a song leads to chaos. It could have used with 1 or 2 more switches.

So yeah it's not a perfect box, but it's an excellent little machine.

Yeah the frequent updates and support are really appealing. Cliff's obvious passion for getting things right are also huge plus points to buying a fractal product.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Cumulonimbus is one of my favourite reverb algorithms ever. I love how you can set it to maximum decay and just drift away for ages doing swells and light to strong tremolo picking. Creates some wonderful soundscapes.

I've seen at least one video of yours where you used that reverb and it does sound great.

 

[Whizzinby]

Cumulonimbus is one of my favourite reverb algorithms ever. I love how you can set it to maximum decay and just drift away for ages doing swells and light to strong tremolo picking. Creates some wonderful soundscapes.

Yeah all the cloud verbs are great. Stratocumulus is fantastic too.