VP4 - Firmware Updates Schedule

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Bob G

Bob G

Inspired
One of the main complaints and reasons why I left Fractal Audio Land is because I eventually found it tiresome and maddening to have bought a product that's design was incomplete.

Working daily as a professional - studio musician/mixing/mastering engineer, I rely on my gear working in a consistent and predictable manner daily, weekly, monthly. I cannot afford to rework my custom programs every couple of months because of changes in sound caused by firmware updates. If I have to perform recalls, I need to be able to bring back the exact same sound for a client. There were Axe-Fx firmware updates that changed the sound of my custom programs so much that I had to spend days on rework and checking thoroughly to verify whether or not changes occurred in every one of my custom programs.

When the Axe-Fx II got replaced by the Axe-Fx III and the firmware updates for the Axe-Fx II stopped, I had a sudden sigh of relief and was happy to work for the next couple of years with a device that was finally complete in it's design!

If this is the reason why the Axe-Fx IV hasn't come out yet, congratulations to Fractal Audio on finally figuring out that the product should be complete when it comes out. I remember when the Axe-Fx III came out, and initially it really wasn't that much different from the Axe-Fx II in terms of what sounds it offered. R&D work should be done by the company before they release a new product. I'll stop there.

If you love all the firmware updates you're not the same type of customer as I am, and there's no point in debating because these are my opinions and not necessarily a view shared by others. My job is to help people make music. I require gear for that mission that doesn't inhibit workflow.

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VP4 hopes for firmware updating

VP4 is just effects and there's no amp modeling race for it to be engaged in. Because of this, my big hope for the VP4 is that the factory shipped firmware is solid and updates forthcoming are infrequent. When updates must occur, how about major updates rather than trickling down many small updates every month or two that fiddle with the sounds?

Dear Fractal Audio: please accumulate software modifications for a 6 - 12 month period, and then release a proper update, if you must.

I'll put in my firmware update requests now: I would prefer to position the GEQ at the very beginning of the effects chain. It makes way more sense there.
Also, please add a 5th block that can load NAM profiles, or just a 5th block, to have that one extra effect in the chain.

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The fine line between field updating and spamming

Companies using less than significant firmware updates to "engage" customers with marketing emails is a bad business practice. It's no different than spamming. I would prefer to get an email newsletter from Fractal Audio a few times a year telling me about someone super creative using Fractal Audio equipment and doing really cool things with it, rather than getting vexing firmware updates that tamper with my workflow.

This is the reason why The Edge uses the Axe-Fx II and not the Axe-Fx III in his live rigs. U2 refuse to have something break their show because of field updating a product. They need a product that is complete in it's design, predictable in operation, and reliable from day to day, week to week and month to month.
 
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unscarred said:
Y’know, nobody is forcing u to update right? If you’re happy with whatever firmware you’re in and don’t wanna rework your presets, then u don’t have to update. My .02
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I never update unless I've got some vacation time to putter around with my custom presets.
 
I have yet to see any Fractal product released that was not complete when it came to design, function and capability. Part of the allure of Fractal is their dedication to their products and constantly seeking to make them the best on the market. Fractal has separated themselves from the competition by listening to their customers and implementing some ideas while also giving them any new advancements that will work with the current hardware. Most other companies would freeze the functionality and launch a new device whenever improvements are made to the hardware, modeling platform or effect algorithms.

You do have the ability to wait for 6-12 months to update whichever device you have, there is nothing stated that you must update whenever a new FW version is released. I've been on the Fractal train since 2015 and seen many, many firmware version releases over a number of products. Each update was entirely my choice to load and there were times I waited a few FW versions before updating.

To the best of my knowledge, professionals don't typically update their devices during tours or recording sessions. There are also many professionals using the Axe III, FM9 and FM3 live on a consistent basis.
 
JoKeR III said:
I have yet to see any Fractal product released that was not complete when it came to design, function and capability. Part of the allure of Fractal is their dedication to their products and constantly seeking to make them the best on the market. Fractal has separated themselves from the competition by listening to their customers and implementing some ideas while also giving them any new advancements that will work with the current hardware. Most other companies would freeze the functionality and launch a new device whenever improvements are made to the hardware, modeling platform or effect algorithms.

You do have the ability to wait for 6-12 months to update whichever device you have, there is nothing stated that you must update whenever a new FW version is released. I've been on the Fractal train since 2015 and seen many, many firmware version releases over a number of products. Each update was entirely my choice to load and there were times I waited a few FW versions before updating.

To the best of my knowledge, professionals don't typically update their devices during tours or recording sessions. There are also many professionals using the Axe III, FM9 and FM3 live on a consistent basis.
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My point is that there are too many small and frequent updates, rather than just releasing a few good major updates a couple times a year.

The small and frequent updates are a marketing strategy to keep customers constantly engaged and that is what I find unnecessary.
 
Bob G said:
My point is that there are too many small and frequent updates, rather than just releasing a few good major updates a couple times a year.

The small and frequent updates are a marketing strategy to keep customers constantly engaged and that is what I find unnecessary.
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I don’t think the frequent updates are a marketing strategy at all. Customers find bugs all the time that even beta testers missed, or people suggest an idea that Cliff might think a great feature or addition.
 
Hey man,
You ok?

I mean this is the only official Fractal forum. And you seem to want less firmware updates .. but also a NAM module? Meow?

This thing is gonna do what it does
.. and it runs on gratitude and excellence.

So many of us would be happy to help you to find the most amazing tone. Myself included. Bet the folks coding this thing and the hardware guys and everyone behind the internet text box ... are all just people like you.

We all want the same thing. Great tone. And maybe a little kindness
 
WKSmith said:
Hey man,
You ok?

I mean this is the only official Fractal forum. And you seem to want less firmware updates .. but also a NAM module? Meow?

This thing is gonna do what it does
.. and it runs on gratitude and excellence.

So many of us would be happy to help you to find the most amazing tone. Myself included. Bet the folks coding this thing and the hardware guys and everyone behind the internet text box ... are all just people like you.

We all want the same thing. Great tone. And maybe a little kindness
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The VP4 isn't like other Fractal Audio products. It's not an amp modeler. Others have already requested NAM loading, long before me. NAM is not amp modeling. It amp capturing. I would love to capture my amps and keep those stored in the VP4. So would you!

Customer feedback is not unkind, it's helpful. Gratitude is for my morning meditation, not for my music equipment.

Fractal seem to love doing firmware updates, so if they must do them, then perhaps they can do them in a way that is more effective and less of a disruption.
 
Bob G said:
Dear Fractal Audio: please accumulate software modifications for a 6 - 12 month period, and then release a proper update, if you must.
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Cracking Up Lol GIF by HULU

Awkward Topher Grace GIF by ABC Network



Easily done on your end - ignore all updates and schedule a look every 6-12 months.
 
Bob G said:
The VP4 isn't like other Fractal Audio products. It's not an amp modeler. Others have already requested NAM loading, long before me. NAM is not amp modeling. It amp capturing. I would love to capture my amps and keep those stored in the VP4. So would you!

Customer feedback is not unkind, it's helpful. Gratitude is for my morning meditation, not for my music equipment.

Fractal seem to love doing firmware updates, so if they must do them, then perhaps they can do them in a way that is more effective and less of a disruption.
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Again, nobody forces you to update and updates are cumulative.

It's very easy to only require 1 update every 6 months:

  • Wait 6 months
  • Update to the latest (or whichever) firmware
  • Repeat
There's no need for Fractal to change their methods and you still get what you want. You just require the willpower...

I will never understand this type of post.
 
Epiphanies are good. Adding value to an existing product by improving it's sound and performance is a good thing. My opinion is that the best way to do that is in larger and less frequent steps.

I appreciate that Cliff might have been standing in his bathroom having a pee with one sock on and then run to his lab to modify some code and suddenly become ecstatic about having achieved the perfect non-linear decay of an all analog feedback path. I'm grateful for his passion.

That's not what this post is about.
 
I agree
I would love to have my amps live inside the VP4. I have the tonex stuff and will probably try the two notes captor X also. Just to keep from miking amps again.

It is a big plus for me though ..when FAS issues new FW or beta. Especially without a subscription. The code of the other guys "modeling" won't allow that.

I'm not coming at you with some zen BS. Just keeping us all mindful of the humans behind our interactions here.
 
Knowing that new firmware updates exist on a regular basis and not being able to do anything about it is the problem for me.
I don't expect anyone else to understand this.

The reason is because it leaves me wondering what I'm missing, when I'm trying to get work done, which is a distraction for me.

It takes up mental real estate. It's like someone coming to your door and delivering a new product that you're not allowed to open
or use, until the project you're working on is done. When someone comes to your door every month to drop off a new piece of gear that
you can't use, it starts to drive one mental. I don't expect anyone else feels this way.
 
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