VP4 Effects List

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DadBandJammer

New Member
I am currently a discrete analog pedal user, but thinking about giving digital multi-effects units a try. It appears I'm the target market for the VP4, as I could likely use it to replace some (likely most or even all) of my discrete pedals with a single unit.

However, I'm also looking at the AM4. I know it's a (somewhat) different use-case, as it includes the amp and cabinet modeling (but a reduced set of effects). I would have some use for the amp/cabinet modeling. And the amount of effects I need is pretty modest. So maybe the AM4's reduced effect set would work for me?

It seems like the only way I can determine if the AM4 effects are sufficient is with an actual list of all the effects in both units. I see the manual and wiki list the effect types, but I haven't been able to find actual lists of specific, individual effects. Is this published somewhere that I'm overlooking?
 
A big one will also be how many you need. If you stack delays a vp4 may be better suited.

the first effects list link shows how many of the same block you can have within the same preset.

Am4 can do 2 drives but one of everything else. VP4 is quite different in this regard and can get much more out there if you will.
 
The VP4 is incredible. I wound up purchasing 2 of them (1 to run pre- and another post). I don't always run 2, as I still have a number of great analog drives and some other analog pedals.

The AM4 is very high up on my list.
 
Thanks! To make sure I'm interpreting this correctly, say I'm looking at the chorus block (I can't post links yet) page. Unless I'm missing something, this implies that the VP4 and AM4 have the same chorus effects available (since I don't see anything on that page that says anything about VP4 vs AM4 differences)? And more specifically, the actual chorus effects are listed under the "Chorus types" section, i.e. 18 chorus types and two vibratos?

I haven't looked at the pages for each individual effect type, but is the chorus typical of the actual effects that are supported by both units? That is, assuming both units support a given block type, that the actual effects within that block group are the same between VP4 and AM4?

I currently only ever stack drives (and only two at that), so having e.g. four active effects of the same type, while it sounds fun, isn't something I see myself ever using. I'm more focused on gigging simplicity and practicality. On the other hand, I do occasionally use a DigiTech Drop, so having the Virtual Capo is a huge plus for the VP4... I need to de-tune more often than I think I'd need the amp/cab sims.
 
DadBandJammer said:
I am currently a discrete analog pedal user, but thinking about giving digital multi-effects units a try. It appears I'm the target market for the VP4, as I could likely use it to replace some (likely most or even all) of my discrete pedals with a single unit.

However, I'm also looking at the AM4. I know it's a (somewhat) different use-case, as it includes the amp and cabinet modeling (but a reduced set of effects). I would have some use for the amp/cabinet modeling. And the amount of effects I need is pretty modest. So maybe the AM4's reduced effect set would work for me?

It seems like the only way I can determine if the AM4 effects are sufficient is with an actual list of all the effects in both units. I see the manual and wiki list the effect types, but I haven't been able to find actual lists of specific, individual effects. Is this published somewhere that I'm overlooking?
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One thing to take into consideration is what you'll be plugging into. If you plan on using it in front of an amp (which is what I do) you'll want the VP4. It has a lot more effects although the AM4 has a couple of reverbs that the VP4 doesn't have. This said the output level of the VP4 is instrument level out and the AM4 is line level out as it is designed to run into an FRFR cabinet or PA system with line level input. I have not used the AM4 as I don't need a modeler but I did own an Axe-Fx III and an FM9 but had to sell them to pay for one of my pets surgeries and some dental work. I have found that the VP4 is perfect for my needs and don't miss the other units as they were overkill for me.
 
DadBandJammer said:
Thanks! To make sure I'm interpreting this correctly, say I'm looking at the chorus block (I can't post links yet) page. Unless I'm missing something, this implies that the VP4 and AM4 have the same chorus effects available (since I don't see anything on that page that says anything about VP4 vs AM4 differences)? And more specifically, the actual chorus effects are listed under the "Chorus types" section, i.e. 18 chorus types and two vibratos?

I haven't looked at the pages for each individual effect type, but is the chorus typical of the actual effects that are supported by both units? That is, assuming both units support a given block type, that the actual effects within that block group are the same between VP4 and AM4?

I currently only ever stack drives (and only two at that), so having e.g. four active effects of the same type, while it sounds fun, isn't something I see myself ever using. I'm more focused on gigging simplicity and practicality. On the other hand, I do occasionally use a DigiTech Drop, so having the Virtual Capo is a huge plus for the VP4... I need to de-tune more often than I think I'd need the amp/cab sims.
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Yes. My understanding is that once you have access to a block, it has all the types across products. So drives on the AM4 are the same as available on the VP4, which are the same as fm3,fm9 and axe fx3.

It’s the number of instances of said block that differ.
bebaldwin said:
One thing to take into consideration is what you'll be plugging into. If you plan on using it in front of an amp (which is what I do) you'll want the VP4. It has a lot more effects although the AM4 has a couple of reverbs that the VP4 doesn't have. This said the output level of the VP4 is instrument level out and the AM4 is line level out as it is designed to run into an FRFR cabinet or PA system with line level input. I have not used the AM4 as I don't need a modeler but I did own an Axe-Fx III and an FM9 but had to sell them to pay for one of my pets surgeries and some dental work. I have found that the VP4 is perfect for my needs and don't miss the other units as they were overkill for me.
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The only consideration about output to make is that the VP4 is fixed unity gain while the AM4 is variable up to line level.

The level you put into the VP4 comes out. The level you put into the AM4 can be amplified.

just turn down the am4 if it’s too hot for your amp like you would any other pedal with level control.
 
nomoretubes said:
The only consideration about output to make is that the VP4 is fixed unity gain while the AM4 is variable up to line level.

The level you put into the VP4 comes out. The level you put into the AM4 can be amplified.
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So currently I have a discrete analog EQ pedal I use as a lead boost. It mostly boosts mid frequencies around 800 Hz, but it also boosts the overall level just a bit. Is this something I wouldn't be able to do in the VP4?
 
DadBandJammer said:
So currently I have a discrete analog EQ pedal I use as a lead boost. It mostly boosts mid frequencies around 800 Hz, but it also boosts the overall level just a bit. Is this something I wouldn't be able to do in the VP4?
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You can use one of the effects blocks to boost the signal. There's a clean boost or you can use one of the compressors as a boost. I do this on one of my guitars that has lower output pickups but it isn't the same as having a variable output. When I used my Axe-Fx III and FM9 I used that but I found with the VP4, because it is unity gain I didn't have to do that. What you put in is what you get out. It's much more like an analog pedal that you plug straight into the input of your amp. I'm not a big fan of effects loops in amplifiers so I don't like doing that even though a lot of players do.
 
One thing you can do is watch some YouTube videos of people using the AM9 and the VP4 and see which one fits your needs better. There's some good ones out there. Leon Todd, John Cordy and I think Cooper Carter has one too. Some people use them both. One of the weird things that I found is that for some reason I think that the effects in the VP4 sound better than they do in the FM9 or the Axe-Fx III. I don't know if it's just me or there really is a difference.
 
bebaldwin said:
One thing you can do is watch some YouTube videos of people using the AM9 and the VP4 and see which one fits your needs better. There's some good ones out there. Leon Todd, John Cordy and I think Cooper Carter has one too. Some people use them both. One of the weird things that I found is that for some reason I think that the effects in the VP4 sound better than they do in the FM9 or the Axe-Fx III. I don't know if it's just me or there really is a difference.
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Iirc this is because there is a slightly different mix law.
 
bebaldwin said:
What you put in is what you get out. It's much more like an analog pedal that you plug straight into the input of your amp. I'm not a big fan of effects loops in amplifiers so I don't like doing that even though a lot of players do.
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Sorry, I guess I still don't follow. What I'm doing now is indeed an analog pedal that plugs straight into the input of the amp (it's my only option, my amp doesn't have an effects loop). But in this case, what goes into the pedal is not the same as what comes out, unless it's in bypass mode. Say I'm using a Boss GE-7, set completely flat (i.e. all the EQ sliders at zero), but with a slight boost via setting the "Level" slider up above zero. When it's engaged, the outgoing signal will be different than the incoming signal. Specifically, the amplitude of the signal should be higher. (The only case where that wouldn't be true is when the incoming signal is already at roughly 9v peak-to-peak.)
 
DadBandJammer said:
Sorry, I guess I still don't follow. What I'm doing now is indeed an analog pedal that plugs straight into the input of the amp (it's my only option, my amp doesn't have an effects loop). But in this case, what goes into the pedal is not the same as what comes out, unless it's in bypass mode. Say I'm using a Boss GE-7, set completely flat (i.e. all the EQ sliders at zero), but with a slight boost via setting the "Level" slider up above zero. When it's engaged, the outgoing signal will be different than the incoming signal. Specifically, the amplitude of the signal should be higher. (The only case where that wouldn't be true is when the incoming signal is already at roughly 9v peak-to-peak.)
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The level you feed into the vp4 is what comes out. It’s fixed unity gain.

So if you toggle a boost into the input of the vp4, the output from the vp4 will reflect this boosted state.
 
nomoretubes said:
The level you feed into the vp4 is what comes out. It’s fixed unity gain.

So if you toggle a boost into the input of the vp4, the output from the vp4 will reflect this boosted state.
Click to expand...

What I'm asking is, can I replace my discrete analog boost with the VP4? In other words, in the GE-7 flat setting with Level > 0 example above: can I replicate that with the VP4?

Basically, if I envision myself using the VP4 as a complete replacement for my analog board, I can see a common preset using only two blocks: drive and boost. Within that preset, I'd have two scenes, one with only the drive engaged, and the other with both the drive and boost engaged. I'd expect these to be the same, except one is noticeably louder. But it sounds like that's not actually possible?

I guess another way to put it is, in my thinking, fixed unity gain and boost are mutually exclusive terms.
 
DadBandJammer said:
Sorry, I guess I still don't follow. What I'm doing now is indeed an analog pedal that plugs straight into the input of the amp (it's my only option, my amp doesn't have an effects loop). But in this case, what goes into the pedal is not the same as what comes out, unless it's in bypass mode. Say I'm using a Boss GE-7, set completely flat (i.e. all the EQ sliders at zero), but with a slight boost via setting the "Level" slider up above zero. When it's engaged, the outgoing signal will be different than the incoming signal. Specifically, the amplitude of the signal should be higher. (The only case where that wouldn't be true is when the incoming signal is already at roughly 9v peak-to-peak.)
Click to expand...
Yes, the GE7 is adding signal to the guitar so you're getting a slight boost at the input of the amp. The VP4 is unity gain which means that what goes in comes out unless you boost the signal with the effects. All the effects in the unit work much like an analog pedal in that they have a level control at the output of the effect. For instance if you were running reverb or delay you would probably want the output at 100% (this is not to be confused with the mix control which is your wet/dry) but if you were running an overdrive or distortion effect you would probably not want the level at 100% because it would be way too hot. There are also global parameters that can be set up too. Many of the good videos like the ones I mentioned above show how these guys set the effects up. They sound really good and considering that it's on YouTube that's quite the accomplishment because of the algorithms that YouTube uses which destroy the sound. It will sound much better though your amp/s. I forgot to mention that there is a VP4 bypass so you can completely bypass the pedal to set up how you want it to act in comparison to when it's on or just your guitar going straight into the amp and this helps in setting the overall level.
 
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