Fractal Audio's new VP4 Virtual Pedalboard Multi-FX Processor goes head-to-head with Line 6's Helix HX Effects and Eventide's H90
So Fractal Audio Systems has thrown its hat in the ring with its first non-modelling device / unit - the VP4 Virtual Pedalboard Multi-FX Processor - which is quite a departure for the brand.
It’s obviously gunning for Line 6 and Eventide in particular, but also looking to knock out Boss and Strymon Workstation pedals. It has several of its own advantages, but with a number of caveats too. Overall it’s well priced for what it delivers - but for my own preferences it’s still somewhat over-large, has an archaic screen interface, and disappointingly lacks Bluetooth - which I keep saying should be a must for these kinds of devices!
It’s obviously geared up to take on Line 6’s Helix HX Effect unit, as well as Eventide’s recent H90 Harmonizer.
When we look at the top line comparison for those 3 devices - the VP4 looks very favourable! :
VP4 Virtual Pedalboard : 254 x 160mm : 4 + 2 Simultaneous Effects : No Bluetooth : ≈416* Effects : $699
Line 6 Helix HX Effects : 274 x 201mm : 8 Simultaneous Effects : No Bluetooth : ≈117* Effects : $649
Eventide H90 : 179 x 136mm : 2 Simultaneous Effects : Has Bluetooth : ≈66* Effects : $899
* - However note that all these brands and devices categorise ’Effects’ differently - and if you look at say Fractal’s methodology for Reverbs - we have as an instance of ’5’ Room Reverb Effects : Small Room, Medium Room, Large Room, Large Tiled Room, Huge Room - where on other devices those would all be variations of a singular Room algorithm - so you need to take all those numbers with a pinch of salt!
HX Effects = 55,074mm2 footprint
VP4 = 40,640mm2 footprint [26% smaller than HX Effects]
H90 = 24,344mm2 footprint [40% smaller than VP4, 56% smaller than HX Effects]
Obviously the HX Effects is huge - being more than twice the size of the H90 - and where the VP4 sits somewhere in between.
Fractal fans have always enthused about having superior and more pristine algorithms - in the Reverb category in particular - but there is often more to these things than just hi-fidelity. How easy the device is to deploy and run in every which practical way is an important consideration, and also as to what kind of player and ’Rig Personality’ you are.
You have the ’One-Boxers’ who will simply look to deploy the one large unit - say a Quad Cortex, possibly with a few outboard effects, but ideally just a single self-contained unit. Then there are the Digital Enthusiasts who combine a few large box effects - and this new VP4 would be one of just a handful of devices. Next you have the Hybrid Multi-Pedal types like myself - who mix up Digital and Analog effects fairly liberally - but favour a ’Spice Rack’ type approach. Penultimately you have the Analog Multi-Pedal types - like say Joe Perkins - who won’t touch digital. And finally you have the amp-only Puritans who are proud not to sport a single effects pedal in their rig!
For various reasons - I like sporting different Workstation pedals from different brands (separate ones for Multi-Modulations, Delays, and Reverbs) - in part it’s how this GPX Blog works - and how I can showcase as many brands as possible, but it’s also my preferred modus operandi as such too. I like being able to mix and match. If I was going for a one box solution I would go for something like the Quad Cortex - because of its superior interface / format / eco system - and Bluetooth connectivity. Neural DSP was very quick to champion Bluetooth - so all those devices are effortless to control and update. The standard de-facto way for editing / controlling / and upgrading devices should all involve Bluetooth nowadays - having to plug your pedal into your laptop is just plain primitive and clunky! And you can’t do clever things either - like instantly share presets and settings profiles with your friends!
The VP4 obviously takes its design cues from Boss’s 500 Series, which in turn seem to have been in part at least influenced by Atomic’s AmpliFIRE Multi-FX and Amp Modeller Unit. For me there’s quite a bit of old-fashioned thinking here - and that big blocky interface is a little nonsensical. The industry standard now has to be what Amplitube, Positive Grid, and Fender are doing with their graphical interfaces - basing them on detailed colourful pedal and amp visuals - which are instantly identifiable - seeing a Green 3-knob Pedal immediately brings to mind Tube Screamer - but a Big Red Box with just [DRV] appearing across it is rather nonsensical really. Too many killer pedal and effects companies are seriously lacking a good systems interface designer. In any case - as I said - I feel that Amplitube, Positive Grid and Fender’s Tone Master have already set the standard on that. As a device the VP4 looks to have bene beamed from about 10 years ago!
I still feel many will like it - obviously depending on what effects group / methodology they adhere to.
Space on my board is always at a premium - and the VP4 would take up too many slots overall - and limit the onward expansive nature of my core system and methodology. It would be odd if at the end of the month I just had a picture with a singular Quad Cortex in it! I am a multi-pedal guy - and aways will be!
Vive la difference! As the saying goes!
Here below you will find a whole load further details including a full list of all the effects - and yes that took a while to compile! :
Controls, Feature & Specs
Controls - MODE } Home, Save, < Page, Page >, SETUP } Enter, Exit, Select, Parameters : A | B | C | D, Footswitches : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4.
Rear Ports - L-Mono In, R-In, L-Mono Out, R-Out, Pedal 1, Pedal 2, SPDIF : In & Out, USB-C, MIDI In & Out (Mini), Power : 9V DC [-] 1300mA.
- Superior Sound Engine with 24 Bit Depth, 48kHz Sample Rate and 114dB Dynamic Range on AD and DA Conversion
- Better sounding FET Input Stage
- 4 Operational Modes : Preset / Scene / Effects / Tuner
- 4 x Effects Blocks + Noise Gate + Master EQ / Level
- 104 Onboard Presets
- 4 Footswitches
- 2 x Expression Pedal Ports
- Flexible, High-Quality Connectivity
- Engineered to work with both conventional amps and Modellers
- Supports Scenes, Channels, Modifiers and Controllers
- USB-C connectivity
- Comes with free VP4-Edit companion software editor and librarian
- Upgradeable Firmware
- Power : 9V DC [-] with 1300mA Current Draw
- Dimensions : 254 x 66 x 160.3mm
- Weight 1.56 kg
- MAP : $699
- www.fractalaudio.com/vp4/
The 24 Effects Blocks
CHORUS [20]
Digital Mono, Digital Stereo, Analog Mono, Analog Stereo, Japan CE-2, Warm Stereo, 80’S Style, Triangle Chorus, 8-Voice Stereo, Vintage Tape, Dimension (1/2/3), 4-Voice Analog, 8-Voice Analog, Stereo Tri-Chorus, and Dual Chorus.
COMPRESSOR [16]
Studio Feed-Forward Compressor, Studio Feed-Forward Sustainer, Studio Feedback Compressor, Studio Feedback Sustainer, Analog Compressor, Analog Sustainer, Commander, DynamiComp, Dynamics Processor, JFET Compressor, JFET Sustainer, Optical Compressor, Optical Sustainer, Pedal 1 Compressor, Pedal 2 Compressor, Tube Compressor.
DELAY [28]
Digital Mono, Digital Stereo, Analog Mono, Analog Stereo, Mono Tape, Stereo Tape, Ping-Pong Delay, Dual Delay, Reverse Delay, Sweep Delay, Ducking Delay, Vintage Digital, 2290 w/ Modulation, Ambient Stereo, Deluxe Mind Guy, Mono BBD, Stereo BBD, Lo-Fi Tape, Stereo Mind Guy [Memory Guy], Graphite Copy Delay [Carbon Copy], Worn Tape, Zephyr [FAS].
DRIVE [63]
BB Pre [Xotic], BB Pre AT [Xotic], Bender Fuzz, Both Crusher, Blackglass 7K [Darkglass], Blues OD [BluesBreaker], Bosom Boost [Friedman], Box O' Crunch [MI Effects], Compulsion Diet HP/LP, Compulsion Dist LP, DS 1 Distortion [Boss], DS 1 Distortion Mod [Seeing-Eye - Boss], Esoteric ACB [Xotic], Esoteric Bass RCB [Xotic], Esoteric RCB [Xotic], Eternal Love [Lovepedal], Face Fuzz, FAS LED-Drive, FAS Boost, Fat Rat, FET Boost, FET Preamp, Full OD [Fulltone], Griddle Cake [Crowther], Hard Fuzz, Heartpedal 11 [Lovepedal], Hoodoo Drive [Voodoo Labs], Horizon Precision Drive, Jam Ray [Vemuram], Klone Chiron, M-Zone Distoriton [Boss], Master Fuzz [Maestro], Maxoff 808 [Maxon], MCMLXXXI [1981 Inventions], Micro Boost [MXR], Mid Boost, Octave Dist [Octavia], OD-One Overdrive [Boss], OD 250 [DOD], OD 250 Gray [DOD], Pi Fuzz [EHX], Plus Distortion ]MXR], Rat Diet, Suhr Riot Ge, Suhr Riot LED, Suhr Riot LED/So, SDD Preamp, Shimmer Drive, Shred Dirt [Marshall], Sonic Drive [Ibanez], Super OD [Boss], T808 MOD [Ibanez], T808 OD [Ibanez], TS9DX+ [Ibanez], TS9DX Hot [Ibanez], Tape Distortion, Timothy Up/Down/Mid [Paul Cochrane], Tone of Kings [Analog.Man], Treble Boost, Tube Drv 3-knob, Tube Drv 4-knob, Valve Screamer VS9 [Ibanez], Zen Master [Hermida].
ENHANCER [3]
Modern Enhancer, Classic Enhancer, Stereoizer.
FILTER [18]
Null, Lowpass, Bandpass, Highness, Low Shelf, High Shelf, Peaking, Notch, Tilt-EQ, Feed-Forward Comb, Feedback Comb, Allpass, Low Shelf 2 [passive], High Shelf 2 [passive], Peaking 2 [Variable Q].
FLANGER [32]
Analog Mono, Analog Stereo, BBF-2, Binary Flange, Cancel Flange, Count of Flanging, ‘Cuda Flange, D/AD 185, Deluxe Mystery, Digital Mono, Digital Stereo, Electric Mystery, FAS Flanger, Harmonoflange, Hemisflange, Lofty Flange, Manual Thru-Zero Flanger, Melodic Flange, MXF-117, Pop Flanger, Scion Stereo Flange, Spirit Flange, Starship Flanger, Step Flanger, Stereo Jet, Thru-Zero, Trippy Flanger, Tubular, Vowel Flanger, Zero Flanger, and 80s Rack Flanger.
FORMANT [1]
Talk-box style effects [Start Vowel / Middle Vowel / End Vowel / Resonance]; Vowels : AAA / EEE / III / OHH / OOO / EHH / AHH / AWW / UHH / ERR.
GATE / EXPANDER [4]
Classic Expander, Classic Gate, Modern Expander, Modern Gate.
GRAPHIC EQ [16]
Includes : 3-Band, 3-Band Console, 4-Band, 4-Band JMPRE-1, 5-Band, 5-Band Mark, 7-Band, 8-Band, 10-Band, 10-Band 2/3
MEGATAP [20]
20+ Different Settings, including 1 to 128 Taps, Delay Time, Predelay, Feedback, Feedback Tap, Low Cut, High Cut, Time Alpha, Time Randomise, Amplitude Shape Alpha, Amplitude Alpha, Amplitude Randomize etc.
MULTI-TAP DELAY [34+]
Quad-Tap Delay, Quad Parallel Delay, Quad-Series Delay, Quad Diffusor, Quad Tape Delay, Quad Tap Band Delay, 1210, A.H. Clean Long, A.H. Clean Short, A.H. Lead Long, A.H. Lead Short, A.H. Swell Long, A.H. Swell Short, Aerosol, Ambient Quad Tape, Ambient Tape Delay, Aurora Delay, Circular Delays, Comb Filter Delay, Dub Echo, Filtered Mod Band Delay, L-C-R-C, MD Chorus, Mono Diffuser, PCM Circular, PCM Pan, Pealing Bells, Quad Chorus, Rhythmic Bands, Shadows Taps, Space Tape, Stereo Shadows, Swing Ping, Ya-Ya Delay.
PARAMETRIC EQ [1]
5 Band Parametric EQ
PHASER [16]
Digital Mono, Digital Stereo, Script 45, Script 90, Block 90, Classic Vibe, Stereo 8-Stage, Barberpole, Stripe 90, Naughty Rock, FAS Vibe, Treadle Phaser, Virtuoso Phaser, Borg Phaser, Ultra-Super-Mega Phaser, and Mutated Twin-Phaser.
PITCH [16]
Dual Detune, Quad Detune, Dual Chromatic, Quad Chromatic, Quad Chromatic Delay, Dual Diatonic, Quad Diatonic, Quad Diatonic Delay, Custom Shift, Arpeggiator, Classic Whammy, Advanced Whammy, Octave Divider, Crystal Echoes, and Virtual Capo.
PLEX DELAY [44]
Multiple Delay-Line Feedback Matrix, includes : Plex Delay, Plex Detune, Plex Shifter, Plex Verb, Shimmer Verb and 39 variant types.
RESONATOR [1]
Resonant Comb Filter created from four parallel delays with feedback.
REVERB [66+]
Ambience, Andromeda, Aquarius, Asylum Hall, Capricorn, Cavern, Centaurus, Chorus Hall, Cirrocumulus, Coliseum, Concert Hall, Cumulonimbus, Deep Chamber, Deep Space, Deluxe Spring Verb, Drum Room, Echo Hall, Echo Plate, Echo Room, Gemini, Gymnasium, Hallway, Huge Room, Ice Castle, Large Cathedral, Large Chamber, Large Deep Hall, Large Hall, Large Plate, Large Room, Large Spring, Large Tiled Room, Large Wooden Room, London Plate, Medium Cathedral, Medium Chamber, Medium Hall, Medium Plate, Medium Room, Medium Spring, Music Hall, Nimbostratus, North Church, Opera House, Pegasus, Pleiades, Recording Studio A, Recording Studio C, Rich Hall, Sagittarius, Small Cathedral, Small Chamber, Small Hall, Small Plate, Small Room, Small Spring, South Church, Stone Quarry, Stratocumulus, Studio, Sun Plate, Symphony Hall, Tunnel, Ursa Major, Vocal Plate, Wide Hall, Water Reverb, Blooming Reverb etc.
RING MOD [1]
Rapid Amplitude Harmonic Modulation
ROTARY [1]
Hammond Leslie Rotary Speaker Simulator - Rate / Low Rate Multiplier / Rotor Length, LF & HF Mic Spacing, Stereo Spread etc.
SYNTH [1]
3-Oscillator Monophonic Synthesizer with Pitch and Envelope Control etc.
TREMOLO / PANNER [5]
Tremolo, Panner, Bias Trem, Harmonic Trem, and Optical Trem.
VOLUME / PAN [1]
Dynamic Expression Controls as well as static boost or cut, mute, pan or isolate left/right channel signals.
WAH [8]
FAS Wah, Clyde Wah [Vox], Cry Babe, VX846 [Vox], Color-Tone [Coloursound], Funk Wah ["Shaft"], Mortal [Morley], VX845 [Vox], Paragon [Tycobrahae].
Demos
