Input Level; Input: Mono Vs. Stereo - Fractal VP4 Owner's Manual

VP4 OWNER'S MANUAL

Input Level

The VP4 features an adjustable input pad that allows it to accept signals
ranging from very quiet vintage guitars to loud pedals, effects sends, or
modelers.
The Input Pad setting can be adjusted from 0 dB (for low-level input signals)
to 6 dB, 12 dB, or 18 dB (for progressively louder input signals). The default
Input Pad setting is 12 dB, which is ideal for guitars with hot pickups.
When the input clips, a red "IN CLIP" warning appears in the title bar,
indicating the need to increase the Input Pad setting.
Automatic Input Pad Adjustment
If the input of the VP4 clips persistently, the unit will automatically increase
the Input Pad setting. When this occurs, the word "Auto" will appear next to
the Input Pad value, for example: "12 dB (Auto)", indicating that the pad was
automatically increased to 12 dB. When you reboot the VP4, the automatic
setting is cleared, and the last manually selected value is restored. If you
want to make the automatic pad setting permanent, just turn the Input Pad
knob one "click" to clear "Auto".
ADJUST THE INPUT PAD:
 Open SETUP > Audio > Input Pad.
 Play loudly and watch the meter. If clipping occurs, the input
meter will turn red and "IN CLIP" will appear in the title barset.
 Increase the Input Pad setting as high as necessary to prevent
clipping. Be aware that increasing the pad setting also raises
the noise floor, so set it as low as possible without clipping.
If input clipping still occurs with the Input Pad setting at the
maximum value of 18dB, decrease levels upstream from the VP4.
Note that while 4CM Routing is enabled, the Input Pad setting applies to both
Left (Pre) and Right (Post) inputs.
INTRODUCTION

Input: Mono vs. Stereo

MONO INPUT
The VP4 defaults to "MONO" input mode,
with SETUP > Audio > Input Mode set to
"MONO". Use only the Left/Mono input for
mono signals.
NOTE: SPDIF and USB inputs always operate
in stereo, regardless of settings.
STEREO INPUT
For stereo input signals, always connect to
both Left and Right inputs and change
SETUP > Audio > Input Mode to "STEREO".
NOTE: SPDIF and USB outputs are tapped after the setting for SETUP > Audio > Output Mode.
These outputs use a stereo format, but the signal may be heard in mono depending on the above setting.
NOTE: The Input Mode setting is overridden when the global 4CM Routing
option is "ENABLED". 4CM routing passes the signal from Input L/Mono to
"Pre" effects and the signal from Input R to "Post" effects.
FAQ: Are the Effects Mono or Stereo?
Most of the Effect Blocks in the VP4 process full stereo, in and out: Chorus,
Compressor, Enhancer, Filter, Flanger, Formant, Gate, GEQ, PEQ, Phaser,
Resonator, Tremolo/Panner Volume/Pan, Wah.
Some blocks sum the input signal to mono internally and then produce a
stereo output: Multitap Delay, Plex, Reverb, Rotary, Synth.
Drive always processes the input in mono and outputs a mono signal.
Ringmod produces a mono effect but the dry signal remains stereo.
Delay, Pitch, and some others offer a combination of mono and stereo types
but always pass the dry signal in stereo.
Note 1: Some stereo effects contain internal settings such as "Stereo Spread" that can
be used to collapse a stereo signal back to mono.
Note 2: Stereo versions of mono effects are possible using two parallel blocks with
expert settings for Input Select and Balance.
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