Fractal Audio Club

[jimfist]

on the one hand... geddy is the man and I'm sure that's a lovely pre... on the other... to go for this long with zero new bass models but then NOT get an Aguillar or Glockenklang or Ashdown or Sunn or Acoustic or Eden??? well cliff might as well punch me right in my nuts. (jk I'd be overjoyed to have geddy sansamp)

No doubt that Fractal generally neglects the bass-specific aspects of their products, but at least they're doing something. I agree 100% that there have to be a dozen other amp/preamp models that most bassists would prefer to have. For me, the lack of a GK800RB, Acoustic 360 or Aguilar says it all.

I'm not sure the SansAmp GED is the flavor that most bassists are looking for, but I guess we have to take the small wins when we get them. IMHO, any modeled bass pedal that can cover the general aspects of BOTH the preamp and (generic) cab simulation is a good thing. Now we just wait and see what they actually come up with.

In the past, I've taken it somewhat personally that Fractal gives us bassists the back-of-the-bus attitude, but I've softened my stance since it's clear that they are dug in on this position, and I don't see it ever changing. In that case, I'm not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. Fractal has always been A-list gear and I appreciate their attention to quality and detail. I used my FM9 Turbo this past weekend and it sounds great and is THE BEST pedal I've ever owned.

 

[mistermikev]

No doubt that Fractal generally neglects the bass-specific aspects of their products, but at least they're doing something. I agree 100% that there have to be a dozen other amp/preamp models that most bassists would prefer to have. For me, the lack of a GK800RB, Acoustic 360 or Aguilar says it all.

I'm not sure the SansAmp GED is the flavor that most bassists are looking for, but I guess we have to take the small wins when we get them. IMHO, any modeled bass pedal that can cover the general aspects of BOTH the preamp and (generic) cab simulation is a good thing. Now we just wait and see what they actually come up with.

In the past, I've taken it somewhat personally that Fractal gives us bassists the back-of-the-bus attitude, but I've softened my stance since it's clear that they are dug in on this position, and I don't see it ever changing. In that case, I'm not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. Fractal has always been A-list gear and I appreciate their attention to quality and detail. I used my FM9 Turbo this past weekend and it sounds great and is THE BEST pedal I've ever owned.

Many fair points there. Best my bass has ever sounded w/o question all due to axefx. Truth b told, given the incredible depth for tweaking there are a ton of gtr amps that work great for bass like the cae clean, orange ad30, marshal slp... and using the cab block w a DI ir or null ir + the mic pre options... it's amazing for direct sounds. that said I have an axefx and mp1, Tb raxx, triaxis, mp2, svt2pro......... for a reason: I am a gear whore, and gear whore req a constant feed of new cool poopie... so get on it cliff!

 

[Boy_Narf]

VP4 Virtual Pedalboard - Fractal Audio Systems

The Fractal Audio FM3 is an all-in-one Amp Modeler, Multi-FX Processor and Foot Controller featuring Fractal Audio Amp Models, Cab Sims, and Effects.

www.fractalaudio.com

I've got an FM3 but am quite interested in the VP4 for a bass board to use with my amps. Anyone else have eyes on this?

I find myself buying a few bass pedals every year so this might save me a bit of cash haha.

 

[Les Fret]

VP4 Virtual Pedalboard - Fractal Audio Systems

The Fractal Audio FM3 is an all-in-one Amp Modeler, Multi-FX Processor and Foot Controller featuring Fractal Audio Amp Models, Cab Sims, and Effects.

www.fractalaudio.com

I've got an FM3 but am quite interested in the VP4 for a bass board to use with my amps. Anyone else have eyes on this?

I find myself buying a few bass pedals every year so this might save me a bit of cash haha.

If you already have an FM3 what’s the added value of the VP4? You already have all the effects and much more in the FM3… Just curious

 

[Boy_Narf]

If you already have an FM3 what’s the added value of the VP4? You already have all the effects and much more in the FM3… Just curious

Fm3 lives on the desk, this would live on the floor haha. Portability I suppose.

 

[jimfist]

The VP4 is listed on Fractal's website as $699USD. One would presumably get this if they had no need for amp modeling & cabinet simulation, which is a huge chunk of what all the other Fractal units offer. On the plus side, the VP4 includes the "secret sauce" Input Impedance (variable loading), not found on the FM3.

IMHO...The good: Fractal effects are superior quality and engineering. Great sounding gear with lots flexibility/control of effects. Delays & reverbs are remarkable. Looks very simple, but is deceivingly deep under the hood. Count on regular firmware upgrades to the effects & functions.
The bad: limited to 4 effects maximum, and limited routing capabilities for parallel internal effects. This is not the pedal that you're going to geek out on creating wild, complex routings with massive amounts of effect blocks. You won't be going all "kitchen sink" with this. That's not the intent.

That said, the VP4 offers pretty much all of the other goodies found on their other units: great selection of effects, pedal switching flexibility (effect channels, scenes, etc.), MIDI, and vast external control possibilities. So, it looks geared toward players who don't need a ton of effects available at one time, but are very picky about the ones they do use.

 

[Arkamsrazor]

Many fair points there. Best my bass has ever sounded w/o question all due to axefx. Truth b told, given the incredible depth for tweaking there are a ton of gtr amps that work great for bass like the cae clean, orange ad30, marshal slp... and using the cab block w a DI ir or null ir + the mic pre options... it's amazing for direct sounds. that said I have an axefx and mp1, Tb raxx, triaxis, mp2, svt2pro......... for a reason: I am a gear whore, and gear whore req a constant feed of new cool poopie... so get on it cliff!

Mistermikev, may I ask what that cool looking bass is in your profile pic?

 

[mistermikev]

Mistermikev, may I ask what that cool looking bass is in your profile pic?

yes, please do! this is a bass I built. it has a sister too. purple is fretless... both 35 scale. the fish is a sturgeon - it's called "fish on"... big lester fan here!

 

[mistermikev]

The VP4 is listed on Fractal's website as $699USD. One would presumably get this if they had no need for amp modeling & cabinet simulation, which is a huge chunk of what all the other Fractal units offer. On the plus side, the VP4 includes the "secret sauce" Input Impedance (variable loading), not found on the FM3.

IMHO...The good: Fractal effects are superior quality and engineering. Great sounding gear with lots flexibility/control of effects. Delays & reverbs are remarkable. Looks very simple, but is deceivingly deep under the hood. Count on regular firmware upgrades to the effects & functions.
The bad: limited to 4 effects maximum, and limited routing capabilities for parallel internal effects. This is not the pedal that you're going to geek out on creating wild, complex routings with massive amounts of effect blocks. You won't be going all "kitchen sink" with this. That's not the intent.

That said, the VP4 offers pretty much all of the other goodies found on their other units: great selection of effects, pedal switching flexibility (effect channels, scenes, etc.), MIDI, and vast external control possibilities. So, it looks geared toward players who don't need a ton of effects available at one time, but are very picky about the ones they do use.

View attachment 7054694

for me... I don't use a lot of effects on bass... but the compressor and drive blocks are both really good... worth it just for those.

anybody here care to share presets at all? I've got a bunch if it's of interest... and would love to check out anyone else's.

 

[jimfist]

Would be really nice if Fractal broke out the Mic Pre/Channel Strip & Ambience portions of the Cab Block to use without the Cab IR and related parameters. This would be a killer addition for bassists or acoustic/electric instrumentalists as the non-IR functions can cover a LOT of turf, and just a smidge of ambience/reverb is just enough to give a nice room feel without eating up a reverb block. The saturation in the Mic Pre is killer IMHO.

Silly me, always wanting for stuff we don't have. I agree that the comps & drives are really good now, a far cry from where they were years ago. I'm curious about the supposed coming new addition of the Ged SansAmp DI to see if it can replace my standard amp/cab sim signal path. Adding this to the new VP4 might help encourage bassists who don't want to go full boat on the FM3/FM9.

 

[mistermikev]

Would be really nice if Fractal broke out the Mic Pre/Channel Strip & Ambience portions of the Cab Block to use without the Cab IR and related parameters. This would be a killer addition for bassists or acoustic/electric instrumentalists as the non-IR functions can cover a LOT of turf, and just a smidge of ambience/reverb is just enough to give a nice room feel without eating up a reverb block. The saturation in the Mic Pre is killer IMHO.



Silly me, always wanting for stuff we don't have. I agree that the comps & drives are really good now, a far cry from where they were years ago. I'm curious about the supposed coming new addition of the Ged SansAmp DI to see if it can replace my standard amp/cab sim signal path. Adding this to the new VP4 might help encourage bassists who don't want to go full boat on the FM3/FM9.

Would be really nice if Fractal broke out the Mic Pre/Channel Strip & Ambience portions of the Cab Block to use without the Cab IR and related parameters. This would be a killer addition for bassists or acoustic/electric instrumentalists as the non-IR functions can cover a LOT of turf, and just a smidge of ambience/reverb is just enough to give a nice room feel without eating up a reverb block. The saturation in the Mic Pre is killer IMHO.

Silly me, always wanting for stuff we don't have. I agree that the comps & drives are really good now, a far cry from where they were years ago. I'm curious about the supposed coming new addition of the Ged SansAmp DI to see if it can replace my standard amp/cab sim signal path. Adding this to the new VP4 might help encourage bassists who don't want to go full boat on the FM3/FM9.

You can use the null ir to achieve that (no cab ir) and also irs from di boxes, neve consoles etc. I have done this to some success. Also... some of my favorites - the crossover??? Direct highs w big Ben lows, mixing cabs and amps for his/lows...also use my axe w an ada mb1 or amped svt pro and a pseudo power amp plus the cab block... ir is the best tool I've ever used for wrangling external preamps.

 

[jimfist]

You can use the null ir to achieve that (no cab ir) and also irs from di boxes, neve consoles etc. I have done this to some success. Also... some of my favorites - the crossover??? Direct highs w big Ben lows, mixing cabs and amps for his/lows...also use my axe w an ada mb1 or amped svt pro and a pseudo power amp plus the cab block... ir is the best tool I've ever used for wrangling external preamps.

Yes, for sure. I've done the null IR trick as you've described, and sometimes blended with a cab IR. I was speaking more directly to the VP4 pedal since it's not designed for amp/cab sims, and it would be great to have the channel strip features in it.

I'm doing the same with the crossover for my gig rig, lows and highs treated separately. The top end gets the drives, amp model, effects, while the low end is just beefed up with some drive block and compression, that's it. Getting all of that low end muck out of the top end effects path really makes them POP, especially the new envelope filters. I love the FM9 especially for this routing flexibility. The VP4 isn't meant to do this, though.

 

[mistermikev]

Yes, for sure. I've done the null IR trick as you've described, and sometimes blended with a cab IR. I was speaking more directly to the VP4 pedal since it's not designed for amp/cab sims, and it would be great to have the channel strip features in it.

I'm doing the same with the crossover for my gig rig, lows and highs treated separately. The top end gets the drives, amp model, effects, while the low end is just beefed up with some drive block and compression, that's it. Getting all of that low end muck out of the top end effects path really makes them POP, especially the new envelope filters. I love the FM9 especially for this routing flexibility. The VP4 isn't meant to do this, though.

Right on, my mistake. Yes not that fam w fm9 or vp4. Also have not tried the new env filters yet but I'm sure they rule!

 

[Les Fret]

The VP4 is listed on Fractal's website as $699USD. One would presumably get this if they had no need for amp modeling & cabinet simulation, which is a huge chunk of what all the other Fractal units offer. On the plus side, the VP4 includes the "secret sauce" Input Impedance (variable loading), not found on the FM3.

IMHO...The good: Fractal effects are superior quality and engineering. Great sounding gear with lots flexibility/control of effects. Delays & reverbs are remarkable. Looks very simple, but is deceivingly deep under the hood. Count on regular firmware upgrades to the effects & functions.
The bad: limited to 4 effects maximum, and limited routing capabilities for parallel internal effects. This is not the pedal that you're going to geek out on creating wild, complex routings with massive amounts of effect blocks. You won't be going all "kitchen sink" with this. That's not the intent.

That said, the VP4 offers pretty much all of the other goodies found on their other units: great selection of effects, pedal switching flexibility (effect channels, scenes, etc.), MIDI, and vast external control possibilities. So, it looks geared toward players who don't need a ton of effects available at one time, but are very picky about the ones they do use.

View attachment 7054694

The price is not bad if you compare it with the Eventide H90 (only two effects at the same time and more expensive). But still only 4 effects at the same time and no amp modeling feels limited to me for a multi effect. A nice product anyway, but I am not sure what the target group is with this.

 

[jimfist]

The price is not bad if you compare it with the Eventide H90 (only two effects at the same time and more expensive). But still only 4 effects at the same time and no amp modeling feels limited to me for a multi effect. A nice product anyway, but I am not sure what the target group is with this.

It's a fairly straightforward play to those who don't need amp modeling and cab sims, and who may not need the crazy routing capabilities of their other pedals or AxeFXIII. If you're sold on the Fractal effects modeling algorithms, don't mind the 4 effects "limitation" (clever programming makes this seem less so), and want a top notch programmable effects-only pedal, this would be a great choice. They're hitting the same market as those who use H90, Strymon, Boss, and others, but offering a LOT more options for +/- the same coin.

Not a bad play, IMHO, since there are a lot of guitarists who use Fractal primarily for the effects. I think that Fractal knows that they own a big share of the all-in-one "boutique" amp/cab/effects modeler market - but at too high a price tag for many others. The moves downward to the middle of the market with the FM3 and now the VP4 means that they're figured out a way to bring Fractal quality to a much larger market...and this is a great way to hook players on Fractal without the high price tag. Me, personally, I'm too much of a gear junkie to be happy with just 4 switches.

 

[Les Fret]

They're hitting the same market as those who use H90, Strymon, Boss, and others, but offering a LOT more options for +/- the same coin.

Good point! I think it's a great device for on your pedal board combined with a real amp, but for in the home studio I would go for the FM3 or Axe fx.

 

[Boy_Narf]

I watched a few more videos and quickly realized this won't work for me. Seems there isn't access to the advanced parameters on the VP4. I guess they're trying to keep it simple and attract a new market. I swear by those advanced parameters for bass effects, good to have access to blend and sample rate on every dirt box.

Will wait for the used market to fill up, still want to try one but no longer an instant buy for me.

 

[Challanger2]

I watched a few more videos and quickly realized this won't work for me. Seems there isn't access to the advanced parameters on the VP4. I guess they're trying to keep it simple and attract a new market. I swear by those advanced parameters for bass effects, good to have access to blend and sample rate on every dirt box.

Will wait for the used market to fill up, still want to try one but no longer an instant buy for me.

I thought I read on the fractal forums that there is an expert mode that gives access to all parameters. Did that not make it to the final product?

 

[Boy_Narf]

I thought I read on the fractal forums that there is an expert mode that gives access to all parameters. Did that not make it to the final product?

Oh no that I'm not sure I saw a review yesterday from g66 saying there was no advanced menu... Guess I'll wait for some people to get them and check out some more video reviews.

 

[Les Fret]

Oh no that I'm not sure I saw a review yesterday from g66 saying there was no advanced menu... Guess I'll wait for some people to get them and check out some more video reviews.

I would be really surprised if there is no advanced menu. Are you sure you saw that right?