Kemper Profiler Amp (kpa) - Impressions |
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Kemper Profiler Amp (kpa) - Impressions |
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Sep 24 2014, 01:31 PM |
Hi guys,
I have had this unit since February and I wanted to share some impressions with you. For those of you who don't know what it is - it's a digital amp but not a modelling amp. Instead of modelling it does "profiling", which means taking a digital snapshot of a real tube amp (or any amp for that matter). It is often described as an Axe FX competitor although it does something quite unique. When I got the unit I just couldn't make it sound like my tube amp, all profiles seemed too bright to me. After some research i understood I was looking for the so called "amp in the room" sound, basically an amp standing on the floor vibrating the whole room and causing lots of room reverberations. The KPA, on the other hand, I was monitoring through near field monitors. Eventually I got used to the new type of monitoring, and I no longer strive for "amp in the room" - since it is kinda hard to mix with the sound coming from my DAW. If I did want to get that sound with the KPA, I would need to put my monitors on the floor and crank it up - alternatively get a so called FRFR solution (a 'flat rate frequency response' powered monitor, the kpa works amazingly well with these). Now after 6 months I am completely floored by this unit. I know there is a discussion whether digital amp technology has 'caught up' - and if you ask me then YES, this is the real thing. Every week I can download new profiles from the "Rig Exchange" - and the ones I like are most of the time ready to use out-of-the-box without any tweaking. I have found extremely cool profiles pretty much from all famous guitar amplification brands, covering all possible musical genres. There is an incredible amount of tweaking possible - I especially like some parameters like pick dynamics and power sagging. It also features pretty much all common effects (and these are modelled) - except for spring reverb. These are extremely powerful and tweakable. If you got the skills, you can also emulate lots of other high end pedals with simple means (example). In the beginning I was not very convinced by these effects, for example I couldn't make their tube screamer sound like the real thing. But after having downloaded other people's rigs, I realised this was solely a "user error" . The kemper effects are often much more versatile than the pedals they model, and the downside is that this demands a little more from the user (although it does come with presets). In many cases they have even solved limitations of the analog counterpart - so if you ask me its actually better than the real thing I should also add that I have realised I have a lot of learning to do as far as tweaking my guitar sound goes, this is something I have neglected for a long time. With the kemper I get instant access to thousands of incredible profiles - but still I would need to get better at tweaking/profiling on my own to develop originality. Like I said more work is needed for me! To add some legitimacy, here you can see how legendary guitar producer Michael Wagener ( Extreme, Megadeth, Dokken, White Lion, Accept, Skid Row, Metallica, Poison, Alice Cooper, Janet Jackson, Queen, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne etc ) prefers Kemper before his amps! Or rather, he has switched to using his own profiles: I love technology when it works |
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Sep 24 2014, 02:51 PM |
Ufff totally agree with this unit. I tested using reamping Online and i was totally impressed!!!
i'm saving money for this......next peace of gear for shure! |
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Sep 24 2014, 03:12 PM |
I have had my KPA awhile now I have one of the original run lunch boxes.
I just upgraded my interface within the last week so now I can do S/PDIF and reamp. So far it's helping my mixing a lot as I can tweak a dry track. But a tip I came across in the last week deals with cabinets. http://www.kemper-amps.com/forum/index.php...p;threadID=3009 This has made some profiles I don't like the way it sounds way better. Because just like the real deal we may not like the speakers being used! -------------------- Guitars:
Ibanez S770PB (Natural Flat) , Ibanez XPT700 (Chameleon) , Sterling J Richardson Signature , Squire IV Jazz Bass (Sunburst) Gear: Neural DSP Plugins My YouTube Page. |
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Sep 24 2014, 03:16 PM |
But a tip I came across in the last week deals with cabinets. http://www.kemper-amps.com/forum/index.php...p;threadID=3009 This has made some profiles I don't like the way it sounds way better. Because just like the real deal we may not like the speakers being used! Yes some people swear by this. However I found that the cabs make up such an important part of a profile/rig - so when I start swapping I am basically hearing the amp from the original cab. It's like the amp part of the sound is a slight coloration compared to the cab. However this is certainly a very powerful feature, and a really cool thing to do between your favorite profiles. |
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Sep 24 2014, 03:18 PM |
see I like rack mounted things because things break during transport and no one likes a broken knob
-------------------- I don't suffer from insanity, I love every minute of it
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Sep 24 2014, 03:23 PM |
I just upgraded my interface within the last week so now I can do S/PDIF and reamp. So far it's helping my mixing a lot as I can tweak a dry track. But a tip I came across in the last week deals with cabinets. Yes I would like to use S/PDIF as well, but so far I have not yet found a simultaneous two-way converter (so I can re-amp using only s/spdif) for the optical input on my mac (related thread). What did you buy? see I like rack mounted things because things break during transport and no one likes a broken knob yes for sure, when I said "easier to transport" I meant you can take it with you for a short trip without any rack case. But like you said, you will run a risk of breaking a knob! |
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Sep 24 2014, 05:39 PM |
Yes I would like to use S/PDIF as well, but so far I have not yet found a simultaneous two-way converter (so I can re-amp using only s/spdif) for the optical input on my mac (related thread). What did you buy? I picked up a Focusrite Scarlett 6i6. I previously had a Presonus Audiobox, so it's quite the upgrade. The recording aspect sound better to me, but the headphone volume doesn't get quite as loud. -------------------- Guitars:
Ibanez S770PB (Natural Flat) , Ibanez XPT700 (Chameleon) , Sterling J Richardson Signature , Squire IV Jazz Bass (Sunburst) Gear: Neural DSP Plugins My YouTube Page. |
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Sep 24 2014, 06:20 PM |
this is so depressing, and cool all at the same time.
When I hear you can get a tube sound out of technology, I get a gag reflex - mostly because I'm old school and don't want to admit it yet. sigh... I love the features, but I hate the idea of going on stage without my Mesa, even though is heavier haha. Chris This post has been edited by SirJamsalot: Sep 24 2014, 06:20 PM -------------------- The more I practice, the more I wish I had time to practice!
My Band Forum: http://passionfly.site/chat |
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Sep 24 2014, 11:48 PM |
Congrats on your KEMPER!! I have to agree all the way. The kemper really does make it possible to have any amp on earth at your fingertips which has been the promise of "modeling" for years. Other processors like the axe fx do something similar, but none to it quite the same or as well as the kemper in terms of recreating all of the subtle bits that make an amp unique. Even hard core, cork sniffing, tube snobs, have been turned to the "Dark Side" and gone digital in recent years after spending some time with "The other woman" and falling for the Kemper. There are those who have an emotional attachment to their amps and I get that, I have an emotional attachment to my Ibby's The Deans I could watch burn. So some folks are just not gonna get it cause they don't want to. But yeah, it's here. There's officially no actual reason to hold on to those amps other than the emotional attachment imho. I never bonded with any particular amp so it's probably easier for me to see it objectively. Just dont try to "Profile" my RG560!!! Todd you'll eat those words they day they replace guitars with touchscreens!! muahahaha This post has been edited by SirJamsalot: Sep 24 2014, 11:48 PM -------------------- The more I practice, the more I wish I had time to practice!
My Band Forum: http://passionfly.site/chat |
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Sep 25 2014, 11:00 PM |
As old school aNaLoG as I am, the next high-end big ticket music gear purchase I make will most probably be a Kemper (rack version with power amp). I haven't bought a new amp in 3 years. I have enough vintage and boutique tube gear for two lifetimes at this point.
-------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Sep 26 2014, 11:12 AM |
Are you sure you need the power amp version btw? From what I gather people seem more happy with the non powered one using FRFR powered speakers like yamaha dxr12 or even better atomic clr. I have six cabinets of various speaker combinations that all sound great. I wouldn't be looking for a 'full range' type of sound. Just standard guitar amp profiles. If I do get one I guarantee you that I'll only end up actually using 5 or 6 profiles - Deluxe Reverb, Super Lead, AC 30, Supro and a Bassman. -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Sep 27 2014, 09:19 PM |
But full range sound here means you will hear the profiled amp and cab exactly the way they were meant to be. That is not true if you use your guitar cab, although I am sure your cabs sound amazing. FRFR will basically allow you to profile all your cabs, and bring them all with you to a gig using just one FRFR speaker. It is still not possible to eliminate the cab from a profile with good results (although that is something I believe Christoph Kemper is working on). So your best bet using guitar cabs, would be to find profiles that have been created using direct out jacks on the profiled amp. Of course if you do get the power amp version, you have still have the option of going FRFR if you should change your mind. So it might not be a bad thing after all, if you are willing to spend the extra bucks. I was running my KPA via a Mesa Triple Recto into a 1960s Marshall 4x12 cab loaded with V30s. It got me by but it really didn't make the unit shine at all for me. Could have been the serial loop on the Mesa as they are known to be different, but it just didn't help it at all. I actually bought a low end priced FRFR my Alto, it's what a lot of people recommend to try if you are unsure of what route you wish to go. I am actually thinking of trying to get what you mentioned Kris the Yamaha DXR series, but I'm thinking of going with (2) 10" models if they aren't super large in size. This way I can run my interface out and be able to jam without headphones using my DAW and I will get a stereo sound out of it. klasaine, it really comes down to personal taste. I bet if I had my old Egnator Renegade 65w amp it may have worked out and sounded great as that amp took a POD HD and made it sound amazing through the cab. -------------------- Guitars:
Ibanez S770PB (Natural Flat) , Ibanez XPT700 (Chameleon) , Sterling J Richardson Signature , Squire IV Jazz Bass (Sunburst) Gear: Neural DSP Plugins My YouTube Page. |
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