Fractal Audio Systems launches VP4 Virtual Pedalboard multi-effects pedal

October 15, 2024 · 4 sources

Fractal Audio Systems announced the VP4, a compact virtual pedalboard processor, on October 15, 2024, at $699¹. The unit is a multi-effects pedal that carries effects based on the company's Axe-Fx III and is designed to work with an amp or a modeler rather than replace one; it has no amp models²¹.

Fractal says the VP4 holds over 400 effects, described as models of classic stompboxes and studio effects, "including drives, delays, reverbs, choruses, flangers, phasers, pitch, plex, EQs, compressors, wah, tremolo…"². Guitar Player lists drives, delays, reverbs, choruses, flangers, phasers, pitch and the company's own Plex Delay, plus EQs, compressors, wah and tremolo¹. Gearnews counts 69 drive models, 78 reverbs and almost 130 delays³, while Guitar Pedal X puts the total at about 416 and notes that makers count effects differently⁴.

Each preset holds up to four effects in any order, and the unit has 104 presets, each with its own noise gate and master EQ and level settings²¹. Four footswitches switch effects on and off like four traditional pedals; a factory default Gig Mode places presets, scenes, effects, channels, tuner and tap tempo on the footswitches¹. There are inputs for two expression pedals or control switches²¹.

Connections include mono/stereo analog input and output, buffered analog bypass, MIDI in and out, USB and S/PDIF digital input and output¹⁴. A 4CM Mode divides effects between the front of an amp and its effects loop¹. The VP4-Edit software editor and librarian is free, and Fractal says firmware updates will be free¹.

Guitar Pedal X gives dimensions of 254 x 66 x 160.3mm, a weight of 1.56 kg and power of 9V DC at 1300mA, and reports 24-bit, 48kHz conversion with 114dB dynamic range⁴.