Michael Nielson agrees with me: the FTT Flight Time is the best delay pedal ever created

[SonVolt]

Bob Bradshaw was on Tone Talk a few years back and said he was able to get the Axe-Fx so close to the 2290 that neither him nor The Edge could tell the difference when A/B'd. With that I've gone the Fractal VP4 route.

 

[ChurchHill]

Bob Bradshaw was on Tone Talk a few years back and said he was able to get the Axe-Fx so close to the 2290 that neither him nor The Edge could tell the difference when A/B'd. With that I've gone the Fractal VP4 route.

For the effect, I'm sure that's true. For the sound of just running the signal through it, not quite, at least in my experience. I was using a 2290 as a split with the delay outs feeding the wet sends and wanted to find out if I liked it better that way, or just on a send and mixed with the dry. So, I A/B'd mine and I could tell a difference, with the caveat that it was using my rig and for my playing. Others may not hear the difference, but I did.

FWIW, I love the 2290, but I shot it out in that usage, as a split with the delay bypassed, with a PCM41, and I liked the PCM41 better, but not by much, and again, for my rig.

 

[jabps]

I have also been messing with my SA Collider. It also seems better at sitting behind the high gain tone in a subtle way.

Yep, why I like the Nemesis. Timeline does a good job of that as well. It's kinda of a toss up between the Timeline and Nemesis for me. Nemesis is more pristine on the digital part but the Timeline has the readout and the ability to tap through presets better. I have the Collider as well as I was going to build a super small board around it but just to side tracked the last few years with all these "board" plans lol.

 

[jabps]

FWIW, the VP4 is a great little pedal. It'll get pretty close to the 2290, but the sonics aren't quite the same. By that, I mean the sound of the un-effected signal is sweetened by the 2290 in a distinct way that the VP4 doesn't do and the Flight Time is the closest to. But the VP4 more than makes up for that in versatility and can do a lot more than just delays.

If I go with the VP4 I'm focusing on digital delays and some verbs running into the loop. If it can do a great digital delay like the Nemesis and Timeline, then that is what I'm looking for. Also not running stereo either, just don't have the time for all that anymore.

Rest of the front end stuff ala Chorus, Flanger, Vibe etc.. will be dedicated pedals. If some of the modulation stuff is good on the VP4, then it'll just be icing on the cake.

My biggest fear with the Fractal stuff is the programming, I did not get on with the FX-8 at all and I have programmed alot of rack units through the years.

 

[japetus]

I am into pedal delays that each do one delay. The Line 6 4 switch one changed my mind in some senses.

 

[ChurchHill]

If I go with the VP4 I'm focusing on digital delays and some verbs running into the loop. If it can do a great digital delay like the Nemesis and Timeline, then that is what I'm looking for. Also not running stereo either, just don't have the time for all that anymore.

Rest of the front end stuff ala Chorus, Flanger, Vibe etc.. will be dedicated pedals. If some of the modulation stuff is good on the VP4, then it'll just be icing on the cake.

My biggest fear with the Fractal stuff is the programming, I did not get on with the FX-8 at all and I have programmed alot of rack units through the year.

IMO, the delays and reverbs on the VP4 are really good. The modulation is also really good. The only thing I don't like about it is that, if you use it in front of the amp, you only get a mono loop to use in the loop. It has two inputs and two outputs and you can use them as two separate loops, but using it that way, both are limited to mono. If that last part was stereo, like 2 inputs and 3 outputs, it'd be just about perfect.

As for programming, I think it's easy, but I only use the computer-based editor. I would hate it if I was limited to just the pedal itself. They were trying to keep the form factor small, so I get it, but it would be much more usable if it had a wireless editor for a tablet or a phone instead just USB.

 

[Shask]

If I go with the VP4 I'm focusing on digital delays and some verbs running into the loop. If it can do a great digital delay like the Nemesis and Timeline, then that is what I'm looking for. Also not running stereo either, just don't have the time for all that anymore.

Rest of the front end stuff ala Chorus, Flanger, Vibe etc.. will be dedicated pedals. If some of the modulation stuff is good on the VP4, then it'll just be icing on the cake.

My biggest fear with the Fractal stuff is the programming, I did not get on with the FX-8 at all and I have programmed alot of rack units through the years.

I have thought about a VP4 also, as I have an Axe 2 and FM3. They sound great, but the idea of the pedals is to have something simple. I also want analog dry through, and the VP4 + mixer starts getting very non- simple.

 

[DanTravis62]

I have thought about a VP4 also, as I have an Axe 2 and FM3. They sound great, but the idea of the pedals is to have something simple. I also want analog dry through, and the VP4 + mixer starts getting very non- simple.

Yep. This is precisely why I went the FT route.

I used to have a midi setup with both a rack and a pedalboard for my wet/dry rig, and it was glorious but just too much

The whole idea was trying to get as close to that tone as I could and making it simple enough to be easy to set up and gig with

 

[Shask]

Yep, why I like the Nemesis. Timeline does a good job of that as well. It's kinda of a toss up between the Timeline and Nemesis for me. Nemesis is more pristine on the digital part but the Timeline has the readout and the ability to tap through presets better. I have the Collider as well as I was going to build a super small board around it but just to side tracked the last few years with all these "board" plans lol.

I am glad I am not crazy and not the only one hearing this, lol.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Is it expensive? Yes.

Is it complicated? Yes.

Does it sound like god? Ohhhh yes.

Does it look like the cockpit of a jet fighter from top gun? Also yes.

Michael Nielson joins me, @itsgoodnow , and a few others in the chad FTT Flight Time enjoyer club

That thing looks terrifying..

 

[DanTravis62]

That thing looks terrifying..

It's the best delay pedal ever

 

[SonVolt]

I also want analog dry through, and the VP4 + mixer starts getting very non- simple.

The struggle is real.

 

[Shask]

The struggle is real.

View attachment 447168

Yeah, I have a rack mixer I run with my old Axe 2, and I have a FM3 I could hook up in there also. If I got a VP4, my goal would be smaller and simpler, not the same mess on the floor, lol.

I dont like what running straight through the Axe 2 or FM3 does to the dynamics, so I don't trust the VP4 would be better for me.

 

[lol]

Dang, that thing looks nuts. Good thing I’m not all that into delay. I’ve got a boss dm2w I’ll engage for like 2 minutes before I turn it off lol.