Fractal Audio Systems VP4

The Fractal Audio Systems VP4 is a compact floor-based multi-effects processor that the maker calls a "virtual pedalboard": a single digital unit meant to replace a board of individual multi-effects pedals. Announced in October 2024 and available from October 15, 2024 at $699 in the US and Canada, it packs Fractal's effects library, drawn from the award-winning Axe-Fx III, into a steel floor unit with four footswitches¹².

What sets the VP4 apart from most multi-effects units is what it leaves out. There is no amp modeling and no impulse responses; it focuses purely on delivering high-quality effects, which makes it Fractal's first non-modeling device³⁴. It is built for the player who already has an amp or a modeler and wants Fractal's drives, delays, reverbs and modulation in front of it.

A virtual pedalboard without amp modeling

The VP4's effects are based on those of the Axe-Fx III and include drives, delays, reverbs, choruses, flangers, phasers, pitch effects and Fractal's own Plex Delay, plus EQs, compressors, wah, tremolo and more². On the count, sources disagree: Guitar World's and MusicRadar's buying guides list 300 effects⁶⁷, while MusicRadar's launch coverage and gearnews reported over 400 effect emulations, models of classic stompboxes and studio effects⁴⁸. Fractal says there are over 400 of them⁴.

The effect blocks break down into named categories, each with its own model list³:

Fractal describes the interface as streamlined and inspired by traditional pedals⁹, and the unit supports Scenes, Channels, Modifiers and Controllers for a highly customizable experience¹. It has four operational modes (Preset, Scene, Effects and Tuner) and 104 onboard presets, with four footswitches, five rotary selectors and six pushbuttons for control³¹⁰.

There is no effects loop as such. Instead, a four-cable-method setup option splits the virtual pedals into pre and post positions around your amp, in mono configuration only¹⁰.

Power and connections

The VP4 runs on 9V DC at 1.3A (1300mA), and the power supply is included³⁵⁷. That current draw is far beyond what a typical analog pedal needs, so the unit needs its own supply rather than sharing a daisy chain.

Connections on the rear panel¹³:

• L-Mono In and R-In (analog inputs)
• L-Mono Out and R-Out (analog outputs)
• SPDIF in and out (digital)
• MIDI in and out (mini)
• USB audio and MIDI
• Two expression pedal ports

The analog I/O is mono/stereo with unity gain and an ultra-low noise floor, and the pedal can be run in mono or stereo with flexible routing options¹⁵⁴. Bypass is buffered analog¹.

Physically, the VP4 is housed in a 10 by 6.25 by 2.5 inch steel enclosure (254 x 66 x 160.3mm) weighing 1.56kg³¹⁰. Guitar Pedal X noted that its design cues come from Boss's 500 Series³.

Fractal Audio posts documentation for the VP4 on its downloads page, including an Owner's Manual dated October 10, 2024 (version 1.x) and a separate Quickstart Guide¹¹.

What reviewers said

Reviews were broadly positive, with some reservations.

• Guitar World (Trevor Curwen): "Solid build," and the pedal can be run in mono or stereo⁵.
• GuitarPlayer (Dave Hunter): listed clever design, high functionality, great sound and reasonable price among the reasons to buy¹⁰.
• Guitar Pedal X (Stefan Karlsson): 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"³.

Guitar World's review listed the VP4's reasons to buy as its clever design, high functionality, great sound and reasonable price, and praised its solid build⁵⁶. The reviewer's overall verdict was more mixed: "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"³.

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