Fractal Audio Systems VP-4 Virtual Pedalboard A Quick Look

[@lbarj]

they simplified the front panel editor to where you can do almost everything from there again , the effects are top notch and there are plenty to choose from for me. many thumbs up. into a tube amp = heaven .

[@TheStudioRats]

good to see the master at work! great demo Larry!

[@vincelupone]

Larry you are amazing. Forget the pedal, I'm just thoroughly enjoying the music you're creating here. Subbed!

[@LarryMitchellmusic]

Thank you!!! :-)

[@JDHutson]

Nice to know that it plays well with the Simplifier X. Loads of great sounds here, and nice explanations. Thanks!

[@LarryMitchellmusic]

It does. :).

[@erik2446]

Sounds great, really enjoy your use of effects!

[@hanovergreen4091]

If you are in the Fractal ecosystem already makes perfect sense. But as a player who only needs drive/gain/verb/delay for bar music, I can't justify the price. Using a 2017 9" iPad with GigFast Lite (NAM Wrapper), TONEX, AUM and a Focusrite Scarlett. My back thanks me. And I can help the drummer load in. Thank You Sir for the great vibe, tunes and atmospherics. As the year begins to close, I wish you all the best for the Holidays and for 2025! Best Regards and Best Wishes!

[@LarryMitchellmusic]

I hear you. There are plenty of great products out for guitar right now. It is insane kind of. But not everything is for everyone. It’s good to know what you need and when you need it. I a few years with a Native American artist as a sideman and used a MacBook pro and software guitar amps and effects. Worked great until a bunch of SUmmer festivals (the Keyboard player was doing that as well) but we ran into a few outdoor festivals with crazy temps and things went a bit astray. Sound checks were almost non existent at some. Make sure you have your plan together for weather conditions that are not the bet for Laptops. But it’s a great solution.

[@hanovergreen4091]

@@LarryMitchellmusic Yes Sir!. Indoor solution only. I keep it elevated away from spilled beers ... and stomach contents... 🤮🤣😂

[@poulwinther]

Dude, try playing a metal gig with stage divers, using an iPad 😛 I think this makes a lot of sense and for quality, the price is more than fair, when you compare to even a single Strymon or Meris. Even with a ToneX (and even though they added FX now) I think it's a great option. Thanks Larry 👍

[@hanovergreen4091]

@@poulwinther Absolutely agree! Best Regards and Best Wishes!

[@Krunk41]

Fairly certain I'll need one. Great demo. Thanks, Larry.

[@MC-ov8dr]

Great playing and the device sounds great. I think there's a way to offer feedback on this device without being overtly negative. I would love to get my hands on it to try it out, but I'll wait for the used market to have it at a lower price point. That being said, I wonder who this is really for? 4-5 years ago, this would have been a must-have as it seems, to the average consumer, to compete (inexplicably) with the HX Effects. Now there are SO many options for guitarists, with devices that do more at a lower price point, and easier to get via retailers, I wonder why this, why now? I see every reviewer say this targets the Strymon range of pedals specifically. Is that the only big use-case Fractal had for this? I get it, but also I don't think it was enough to convince a lot of people to switch. FM3 on the used market isn't much more than this, and offers features that have broader appeal than stacking reverbs and delays. Maybe this was solely trying to get into the worship music market, where delays are everywhere and there's no shortage of cash for gear. Kudos to Fractal for trying to make the UI more approachable than their other devices. Definitely not as simple as the Tonemaster Pro or Quad Cortex, but a big step in the right direction. Hoping this approach is them preparing for a all-in-one device in the future. Touchscreen? Less menu diving at gigs? Hope so.

[@tonepilot]

Enjoyed the playing.

[@shellsjoint]

Always so funky!!!

[@ajlsoundwave]

Really hard to beat the fractal FX with other pedals - great demo

[@garyphillips725]

Very cool Larry, great sounds! Do you remember playing a tiny little pub down the street from Sun Studio in Memphis called Kudzu about 30 years ago? Well I was there. Spoke to you briefly after the gig. It was like a living room performance, but you were loud - and rockin'!

[@LarryMitchellmusic]

Hmm 30 years ago in Memphis???? I remember playing in Memphis 7-8-9 years ago. Hmmm.

[@garyphillips725]

@@LarryMitchellmusic no this was definitely way back. I bought a couple of CDs from you. It was a little place. No stage, just a few tables and the bar, and there was a pool table downstairs. Guitar, bass and drums. I used to run an open mic there and performed there myself in a short-lived group called Spine Tingling Toast.🤓

[@shellsjoint]

Great Video!!!

[@JaneThorson-dm3ev]

I'm liking this.

[@r.llynch4124]

perfect for amp lovers with FX loops. OUT-1 to amp INPUT OUT-2 to loop.

[@relaxedmax8972]

My only thought here is, if the VP4 is in the effects loop, will the drives sound weird since they really should be hitting the front of the amp?

[@LarryMitchellmusic]

@@relaxedmax8972 I have presets on it for going straight into the front of a cleanish amp and a few for in an effects loop of n amp. For the ones in a loop. I am not using a drive block

[@relaxedmax8972]

@@LarryMitchellmusic I've seen that the FM3/FM9 can do 4 cable method. I wonder if this is also possible with the VP4. That might solve the problem.

[@rockstarjazzcat]

🤙🏻

[@Bridging_the_Political_Divide]

The Good: Fractal effects are the best, its pretty small & compact, and scenes...and The Bad: $800 is alot for 4 effects and no amp models. Used FM3s dip down to $800. Granted there are single effects on the market at $500+. We'll have to see how it does.... 🤔

[@rockstarjazzcat]

Consider the switching/routing, SPDIF, cabling avoided, quality components, support/frequent improvements, etc., etc. It’s a lot more than just “4 effects.” Cheers, D

[@terryschommer1019]

Hello Larry

[@terryschommer1019]

Beautiful

[@bluematrix5001]

Great review, how much is the $$ of this unit?

[@Margilio5150]

According to their website it’s almost $700 USD, if you already have your amp solution this is a great option for effects, considering fractal has the reputation of ultra solid build, great support and continuous updates through their products lifecycle.

[@jonathanwindhorst526]

Hi Larry: Joining late. Please play some of your Jazz Fusion.

[@LarryMitchellmusic]

I do a live stream every Tuesday night 9pm EST. This was a product demo of cool new gear :-)

[@pb25193]

Who is this for? Why wouldnt this individual save up a little bit more and buy fm3?

[@poulwinther]

Because you can't run nearly the same effects on FM3 and because a lot of people just don't want the modeling. So we'd be paying more for less by getting FM3.

[@pb25193]

@@poulwinther which effects don't work on fm3?

[@LarryMitchellmusic]

@@pb25193 it’s primarily for a different user. But people with an FM3 could benefit from one as well but it’s meant for people who would like the high quality effects of the fractal world but simplified work flow and who use tube amps.

[@matteomidas638]

850 dollars for this stupid pedal that can handle 4 fx???? 😂😂😂 As everyone knows that within 3 months we're gonna see the VP4 Turbo Mk2 with screens over the switches and a super powerful Dsp that can handle at least 8 fx. Fractal is famous for its crappy way of doing business.

[@freddieward5860]

The price is $699...

[@matteomidas638]

@@freddieward5860 Ohhhh what a difference!!!!I have to have it😂😂😂

[@LarryMitchellmusic]

There are other High end EFX pedals that cost the same and more that only do 1 effect at a time or 2 effects at a time. And many of those don’t have the collection of effects that is in this. I’m not so certain about a VP-8 at all and i don’t think unless the internal parts become unavailable soon that there will be a Turbo version of this. More likely there will be free software updates that will give it more coolness. :-). But as i said in the video. It’s not right for everyone

[@matteomidas638]

@@LarryMitchellmusic Listen Larry you are a great guy and a great musician. No question about that. Fractal quality is indeed great but the way they do business is really not about respecting the customers. Every time they have launched a new product after a bunch of months, not years, they came out with a dammed Turbo Mk2 version. Why shouldn't it be the same even for this VP4? Fractal clearly said, for example, that guys who have purchased the regular Axe 3 would not benefit from the updated that are reserved only to the Turbo version that has been presented few month later. Is that way of doing business ethical? No. It's not about quality it's just about honest reputation. And Fractal, apart from the fan boys community, do not deserve it. That's my opinion regardless the quality of the VP4. You can bet that at the beginning of the next years we will see a VP4 with a more powerful Dsp, screens over the switches and updates not available for the regular Vp4. Believe me... it's already written. I wish you the best. 👍

[@HootieHootie]

Is your goal to just go troll on every VP4 demo page? It's pretty sad, man. Go touch grass.

[@jbhunterfire8155]

Not worth the price, it will be a nitch unit.

[@metalmover]

I was waiting for this...then I got upset when I couldnt find dimensions for this item....so I honestly paid more just now for an eventide H90 and a Strymon bluesky......BOOOOOOO to fractal for not even thinking this information was important....figures, their customer service is terrible and because of that, I shouldn't even consider it. waste of time.

[@grahambrecke9292]

waste of money for 200 more you can have a fm3. but do your self a big favor save a little more and buy a quad cortex. I wasted to many years on fractal and there prices and to many things to list here. I got a quad and it solved all the problems I was having with fractal and its sound is much better.

[@poulwinther]

FM3 can't run nearly the same effects and who want's to pay more for modelers if they don't want the amps?