Show us your VP4 pedalboard / rig!

This is the pedalboard I currently use with my band. It has a new Fractal VP4 multi-effects, and an EX-ULT, an expression pedal which is an Ernie Ball converted by Thru-Tone. It allows me to plug into pedal 1 & 2, and I switch between them with the little 'kick switch' on the pedal.

It has a clock, a pick holder, and that green wire is a phone charger! On dark stages, I have an app on my phone that just shows the clock without shutting down the phone, and many festivals are super strict about times.

pedalboard.JPG
 
Jason M said:
After a few months, what do you think of the dual vp4 set up?
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If you require more effects than a single unit can provide, I believe it’s worth every penny. I use it by placing one before the preamp and the other after, and all the effects work exceptionally well for me. Overdrives, compressors, chorus, delay, and more are all handled effectively.

The VP4 is incredibly user-friendly, and adjusting parameters on the fly is not significantly different from using a simpler effect pedal in my opinion. In fact, I find it easier to dial in settings on the VP4 compared to some of the Strymon pedals I had in the past. This consistency in my interaction with both units, which handle all my effects, is quite pleasant, unlike having separate pedals for each effect type.

From changing effects on and off, I'm more of a single preset, multiple scenes per song kind of guy (my main preset can cover over 80% of songs I play). So I use the Luminite Midi controller mostly to change scenes, and leave the VP4 in effects mode, that way I can tweak a scene to turn of Chorus or Drive that would be turned on by the default, as an example.
Also, with the Luminite Midi controller I can decide what kind of parameter the expression pedal will change and adjust that depending on what I need. Volume, delay parameters, etc.

The one thing that would be killer on this pedal is global blocks, like what is available on AxeFX III, but looks like that won't be available on VP4.

It also would be great to have a VP8 where it would offer more flexibility in routing effects pre and post preamp, and having a single unit would be better overall IMO. However, as I mentioned earlier, if you need more than four effects, the dual VP4 approach works like a champ.
 
IMG_9301.jpg
Put this together for bass with a Yes tribute I play with- great results on Saturday's gig!

Set 1 (62 min)
Close to the Edge
And You And I
Siberian Khatru
Parallels
Into The Lens
Perpetual Change


Set 2 (62 Minutes)
No Opportunity
Yours Is No Disgrace
Our Song
Heart Of The Sunrise
Long Distance> Fish
South Side of the Sky
Tempus Fugit
Roundabout
 
Flatnine said:
View attachment 158167
Put this together for bass with a Yes tribute I play with- great results on Saturday's gig!

Set 1 (62 min)
Close to the Edge
And You And I
Siberian Khatru
Parallels
Into The Lens
Perpetual Change


Set 2 (62 Minutes)
No Opportunity
Yours Is No Disgrace
Our Song
Heart Of The Sunrise
Long Distance> Fish
South Side of the Sky
Tempus Fugit
Roundabout
Click to expand...
Great music!
Ambitious!
 

Flatnine said:
View attachment 158167
Put this together for bass with a Yes tribute I play with- great results on Saturday's gig!

Set 1 (62 min)
Close to the Edge
And You And I
Siberian Khatru
Parallels
Into The Lens
Perpetual Change


Set 2 (62 Minutes)
No Opportunity
Yours Is No Disgrace
Our Song
Heart Of The Sunrise
Long Distance> Fish
South Side of the Sky
Tempus Fugit
Roundabout
Click to expand...
Any tips on nailing some of those sounds or patches to share?
 
Can anyone advise on the best way to mount a VP4 on a board using Velcro type fixing?

It's not my unit, I have more conservative tastes in pedals. A friend (VERY non-tech) is looking at mounting his VP4 to his GiRig pedalboard which could mean removing the VP4 feet to install with sticky back Velcro. Do the screws for the four feet hold any internal parts which would be compromised if removed? Failing that, how have you approached this?
 
Thanks for the advice Udi, exactly what was needed. In the meantime I found some info (such as it is!) on the Fractal website. It is all common sense really but the way so many of these units are designed and put together nowadays means you can't afford to just take it for granted. Problem sorted.
 
Done a couple of gigs with the vp4 and tsalakis mothership straight to foh. Liking it so far and got the vp4 controlling the channels of the mothership via midi scenes. Use the mvave chocolate plus to Change presets, scenes, and tap tempo. Got a momentary switch to activate/deactivate the tuner and expression pedal (Dunlop ) to change the gain on drive blocks. The bright onion patch box means I can connect to amp(4cm or return) and/or to mixer/frfr very easily. I do have a external drive pedal in there but didn’t use it last night at all, and the Xotic wah is just fantastic. There is a donner reverb which I just use for a little bit of reverb and Bbe sonic stomp that I use very sparingly to add a little treble/bass sprinkle dust .

I might add a spark boost to this set up. The tsalakis mothership is absolutely fantastic btw, and works brilliantly as drive pedals into a real amp as well as your amp.
 

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Jezzbro said:
@thomasw88 , that Barber Gain Changer is a very nice pedal.
I have several Barber pedals and like 'm all. But I love the Gain changer.
Click to expand...
Yes its up there with my favourites. The Mad prof Sweet honey pairs up it with really nicely as well. I'm currently swapping between the two on this board but have just put the GC back. Wish Fractal would model the Gain Changer! @FractalAudio
 
Soulfly said:
If you require more effects than a single unit can provide, I believe it’s worth every penny. I use it by placing one before the preamp and the other after, and all the effects work exceptionally well for me. Overdrives, compressors, chorus, delay, and more are all handled effectively.

The VP4 is incredibly user-friendly, and adjusting parameters on the fly is not significantly different from using a simpler effect pedal in my opinion. In fact, I find it easier to dial in settings on the VP4 compared to some of the Strymon pedals I had in the past. This consistency in my interaction with both units, which handle all my effects, is quite pleasant, unlike having separate pedals for each effect type.

From changing effects on and off, I'm more of a single preset, multiple scenes per song kind of guy (my main preset can cover over 80% of songs I play). So I use the Luminite Midi controller mostly to change scenes, and leave the VP4 in effects mode, that way I can tweak a scene to turn of Chorus or Drive that would be turned on by the default, as an example.
Also, with the Luminite Midi controller I can decide what kind of parameter the expression pedal will change and adjust that depending on what I need. Volume, delay parameters, etc.

The one thing that would be killer on this pedal is global blocks, like what is available on AxeFX III, but looks like that won't be available on VP4.

It also would be great to have a VP8 where it would offer more flexibility in routing effects pre and post preamp, and having a single unit would be better overall IMO. However, as I mentioned earlier, if you need more than four effects, the dual VP4 approach works like a champ.
Click to expand...
That's what I was getting at. If you get 2 vp4's, would it make sense to just get the FM9? Pros and cons either way.
 
Anth said:
Mvave functions perfect. Allows me to change presets while always staying on effects view. Not sure if durability yet…
Click to expand...
Vp4 and isp Go in Loop. The rest in front. Then if I’m playing with no loop, I can make it all run in series
 
Jason M said:
That's what I was getting at. If you get 2 vp4's, would it make sense to just get the FM9? Pros and cons either way.
Click to expand...
It depends. I had the FM9 as well and ran into some challenges with clipping before the preamp, which was pretty annoying. To be clear, I don't think this is a problem with the unit, and much more on my end as I likely could have tweaked levels and such to get it to work just as well as the VP4 does for me, but I just couldn’t manage it myself.

My history with AX3 vs FX8 is the same, FX8 I just had to hook it up in 4CM and adjust effects. AX3 required a bit more adjusting IMO. They both sound awesome, with the AX3 obviously offering more effects and some new types, along with amp modeling.

That said, if the FM9 works for you and you’re willing to tweak a bit more, it’s a fantastic option. You get way more flexibility, tons of effects, and the amp modeling we all know and love. You really can’t go wrong with it.

For context, I use these units hooked up in 4CM on my Mesa Triple Crown, and a clear unchanged signal flowing from the unit is important to me.

So, going back to your question, you can't go wrong with either options, single/dual VP4 or FM9. It will be a matter of how comfortable you are with either unit. The VP4 IMO offers a simplicity that I see Fractal is trying to push that really goes well with many people, while the Axe FX and FM units give you the world, but not everyone needs or wants that and are willing deal with the increased complexity they bring.
 
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