The Kemper thread

firepaulmusic · January 2022

Kemper still the best on the market in my opinion. All the fuss made about Helix, I’ve had two and couldn’t get what I wanted out of it.

crunchman · January 2022

firepaulmusic said:

Kemper still the best on the market in my opinion. All the fuss made about Helix, I’ve had two and couldn’t get what I wanted out of it.

I think I said this above, but I want to try out the Quad Cortex. I was planning on getting a Kemper Stage for playing out so I don't have to unplug my toaster from my audio interface and computer. (I have a Princeton Reverb and Strymon Iridium which should fund most of it). I do like the look of the Quad Cortex though.

At this moment in time, the Kemper is probably slightly better, but we have had 10 years of updates for the Kemper. Thinking about where the Quad Cortex will be in 3 or 4 years times does make that a serious option.

PC_Dave · January 2022

I accidentally bought a Kemper Stage that arrived today. I had a toaster quite a few years ago and I loved it but had to sell at the time. I love the form factor and layout out of the Stage, and I'm looking forward to trying it in the band (the other guitarist uses a Helix, so that will be interesting), but I forgot just how overwhelming it can be to start at the beginning and choose sounds etc. I'll get there, but my god it can be a long process.

Also, I have decided that I don't like the monitors - I remember the Kemper being a bit more "zingy" on the ones I used to have, so will look to maybe change them, or get a Kabinet.

Jonathanthomas83 · January 2022

PC_Dave said:

I accidentally bought a Kemper Stage that arrived today. I had a toaster quite a few years ago and I loved it but had to sell at the time. I love the form factor and layout out of the Stage, and I'm looking forward to trying it in the band (the other guitarist uses a Helix, so that will be interesting), but I forgot just how overwhelming it can be to start at the beginning and choose sounds etc. I'll get there, but my god it can be a long process.

Also, I have decided that I don't like the monitors - I remember the Kemper being a bit more "zingy" on the ones I used to have, so will look to maybe change them, or get a Kabinet.

The profile search is hard going, I agree! I guess it was intended to mainly be tool you profile your own gear with, but for those of us without that luxury, it's a ball ache finding profiles that match the tones in our head.

Congrats though and I look forward to hearing your thoughts! ...and what route you go with monitoring.

PC_Dave · January 2022

Jonathanthomas83 said:

PC_Dave said:

I accidentally bought a Kemper Stage that arrived today. I had a toaster quite a few years ago and I loved it but had to sell at the time. I love the form factor and layout out of the Stage, and I'm looking forward to trying it in the band (the other guitarist uses a Helix, so that will be interesting), but I forgot just how overwhelming it can be to start at the beginning and choose sounds etc. I'll get there, but my god it can be a long process.

Also, I have decided that I don't like the monitors - I remember the Kemper being a bit more "zingy" on the ones I used to have, so will look to maybe change them, or get a Kabinet.

The profile search is hard going, I agree! I guess it was intended to mainly be tool you profile your own gear with, but for those of us without that luxury, it's a ball ache finding profiles that match the tones in our head.

Congrats though and I look forward to hearing your thoughts! ...and what route you go with monitoring.

Thanks - I should have said my "studio" monitors.

Live i'm not sure what i'll be doing just yet. For the next rehearsal i'll just go direct and use my in-ears, but I think a Kabinet would be good in future.

dangriffiths · January 2022

Kemper is still by far the best bit of kit I have owned (and I have been through a lot). Had it since 2016 and I can't see myself ever getting rid of it.

grappagreen · January 2022

This may be a little controversial but for this struggling to wade through profiles let me make a suggestion (don't shoot me!).

The 'problem' with the Kemper is the fact that folks consider it a profiler and not a digital sound processor. Hear me out..

I eventually moved on my KPA Toaster as I was loosing my life to 'profile hunting'. The problem was I was reticent to play with gain, amp EQ etc. as I didn't want to 'ruin' the profile. But that meant me wading endlessly looking for 'the' profile(s).

When I got my stage I took a different approach and am happy.

I implore you all to try something. Grab the infamous Morgan AC20 profile from Rig Exchange and set all of the volumes to 0db (it's not and that's one of the reasons it stands out!). Now take the gain and amp EQ knobs and tweak to get a clean, breakup, crunch, heavy and lead tones. They are all in there and can sound fab just out of one profile.

I have played a whole covers set just using these..

I think it helps break out of the 'if the profile isn't perfect it's not for me syndrome' which I found a nightmare.

You may disagree of course!

Si

Musicwolf · January 2022

I'm not gigging my Kemper at present as my Helix gives me a few more routing / MIDI options but my approach with both has been similar. There may be a hundreds of amp models (thousands of Kemper profiles) but I'm using 2 or 3 of them 90% of the time. I use a patch per song (so that I can easily rearrange setlists) but a lot of the patches are copies of one another (or at least start out that way). Sometimes the only difference between two patches is the title and the MIDI PC number (which is required for other duties).

After all - I only have one solo in my repertoir which I use on everything, why do I need more than one sound?

allen · January 2022

grappagreen said:

This may be a little controversial but for this struggling to wade through profiles let me make a suggestion (don't shoot me!).

The 'problem' with the Kemper is the fact that folks consider it a profiler and not a digital sound processor. Hear me out..

I eventually moved on my KPA Toaster as I was loosing my life to 'profile hunting'. The problem was I was reticent to play with gain, amp EQ etc. as I didn't want to 'ruin' the profile. But that meant me wading endlessly looking for 'the' profile(s).

When I got my stage I took a different approach and am happy.

I implore you all to try something. Grab the infamous Morgan AC20 profile from Rig Exchange and set all of the volumes to 0db (it's not and that's one of the reasons it stands out!). Now take the gain and amp EQ knobs and tweak to get a clean, breakup, crunch, heavy and lead tones. They are all in there and can sound fab just out of one profile.

I have played a whole covers set just using these..

I think it helps break out of the 'if the profile isn't perfect it's not for me syndrome' which I found a nightmare.

You may disagree of course!

Si

This. The Morgan AC20 is incredible. It will do everything if you tweak it.

PC_Dave · January 2022

grappagreen said:

This may be a little controversial but for this struggling to wade through profiles let me make a suggestion (don't shoot me!).

The 'problem' with the Kemper is the fact that folks consider it a profiler and not a digital sound processor. Hear me out..

I eventually moved on my KPA Toaster as I was loosing my life to 'profile hunting'. The problem was I was reticent to play with gain, amp EQ etc. as I didn't want to 'ruin' the profile. But that meant me wading endlessly looking for 'the' profile(s).

When I got my stage I took a different approach and am happy.

I implore you all to try something. Grab the infamous Morgan AC20 profile from Rig Exchange and set all of the volumes to 0db (it's not and that's one of the reasons it stands out!). Now take the gain and amp EQ knobs and tweak to get a clean, breakup, crunch, heavy and lead tones. They are all in there and can sound fab just out of one profile.

I have played a whole covers set just using these..

I think it helps break out of the 'if the profile isn't perfect it's not for me syndrome' which I found a nightmare.

You may disagree of course!

Si

Thanks Si, i'll check it out. I think just having a starting point is helpful! I was playing around with an MB /13 profile yesterday which very much floated my boat.

Jonathanthomas83 · January 2022

grappagreen said:

This may be a little controversial but for this struggling to wade through profiles let me make a suggestion (don't shoot me!).

The 'problem' with the Kemper is the fact that folks consider it a profiler and not a digital sound processor. Hear me out..

I eventually moved on my KPA Toaster as I was loosing my life to 'profile hunting'. The problem was I was reticent to play with gain, amp EQ etc. as I didn't want to 'ruin' the profile. But that meant me wading endlessly looking for 'the' profile(s).

When I got my stage I took a different approach and am happy.

I implore you all to try something. Grab the infamous Morgan AC20 profile from Rig Exchange and set all of the volumes to 0db (it's not and that's one of the reasons it stands out!). Now take the gain and amp EQ knobs and tweak to get a clean, breakup, crunch, heavy and lead tones. They are all in there and can sound fab just out of one profile.

I have played a whole covers set just using these..

I think it helps break out of the 'if the profile isn't perfect it's not for me syndrome' which I found a nightmare.

You may disagree of course!

Si

Just tried this and I'm embarrassed to say that I really should have tried this sooner. It really does tick many boxes and probably takes a lot of the weight out of finding very specific profiles, doesn't it. Superb post, @grappagreen!

grappagreen · January 2022

For those that want to dig a bit deeper after the AC20 experiment..

Take note of some of the amp parameters in the AC20 profile;

Amp Definition
Amp Compression

Create presets for the studio/graphic EQ stomps that are in the AC20 profile so that these are available when you insert these effects into another profile.

Take another profile that sounds, well, OK'ish and insert the stomps (get rid of any existing for this experiment). Mess with the definition/compression..

You may now like that profile a bit more than you did when you first loaded it. Now tweak to get some different tones..

It may also sound rubbish but that's fine too! I give no guarantees..

And one more point that's been stated a million(ish) times over the years. If you crank the Kemper loud you will have to change the EQ as the top/bottom end will be very different at volume due to the way your ears work. I generally have two profiles for each sound - one for home levels and one for gigs..

The other thing about taking the 'one profile and tweaking' approach is that you get a bit more consistency in your sound (if you're playing live). Using lots of different profiles that jump around sonically isn't always a good thing.

Have fun.

Si

PC_Dave · January 2022

grappagreen said:

For those that want to dig a bit deeper after the AC20 experiment..

Take note of some of the amp parameters in the AC20 profile;
Amp Definition
Amp Compression
Create presets for the studio/graphic EQ stomps that are in the AC20 profile so that these are available when you insert these effects into another profile.

Take another profile that sounds, well, OK'ish and insert the stomps (get rid of any existing for this experiment). Mess with the definition/compression..

You may now like that profile a bit more than you did when you first loaded it. Now tweak to get some different tones..

It may also sound rubbish but that's fine too! I give no guarantees..

And one more point that's been stated a million(ish) times over the years. If you crank the Kemper loud you will have to change the EQ as the top/bottom end will be very different at volume due to the way your ears work. I generally have two profiles for each sound - one for home levels and one for gigs..

The other thing about taking the 'one profile and tweaking' approach is that you get a bit more consistency in your sound (if you're playing live). Using lots of different profiles that jump around sonically isn't always a good thing.

Have fun.

Si

Brilliant, thank you for the tips - I have a Kabinet on the way so i'll wait until that arrives before trying too much so I don't have to duplicate everything

grappagreen · January 2022

PC_Dave said:

grappagreen said:

For those that want to dig a bit deeper after the AC20 experiment..

Take note of some of the amp parameters in the AC20 profile;
Amp Definition
Amp Compression
Create presets for the studio/graphic EQ stomps that are in the AC20 profile so that these are available when you insert these effects into another profile.

Take another profile that sounds, well, OK'ish and insert the stomps (get rid of any existing for this experiment). Mess with the definition/compression..

You may now like that profile a bit more than you did when you first loaded it. Now tweak to get some different tones..

It may also sound rubbish but that's fine too! I give no guarantees..

And one more point that's been stated a million(ish) times over the years. If you crank the Kemper loud you will have to change the EQ as the top/bottom end will be very different at volume due to the way your ears work. I generally have two profiles for each sound - one for home levels and one for gigs..

The other thing about taking the 'one profile and tweaking' approach is that you get a bit more consistency in your sound (if you're playing live). Using lots of different profiles that jump around sonically isn't always a good thing.

Have fun.

Si

Brilliant, thank you for the tips - I have a Kabinet on the way so i'll wait until that arrives before trying too much so I don't have to duplicate everything

Good stuff Dave. I've ordered a powered Kemper Kabinet as well and am looking forward to having a go..

Dan_Halen · January 2022

I find that quite interesting. I had literally the opposite experience with my Kemper stage after using a Helix.

Gone was the pick an amp model and then spending hours trying to get it to sound like I thought that amp should… often despite never having used the amp it was modelling.

If I wanted a Plexi, search the rig exchange for Plexi and then double click on a bunch until I found the sound in my head. Then it was just a case of tweak to taste or add the right pedals to the foot switches. So much quicker and easier.

I’m using at at the moment with a set of Genelecs in the spare room rather than gig volume but couldn’t be happier.

I also find mid gain tones sound fabulous. The Helix seemed great for low and high gain but never got an e.g. tweed or vox sound I was happy with.

Dan_Halen · January 2022

Should add - no pissing about with IRs, comps after the cab, high/low cuts etc anymore like I always did with Helix. Unless I want to obviously.

Just a case of pick a sound, try a few then inevitably I find a profile that’s 90% there already.

Jonathanthomas83 · January 2022

Dan_Halen said:

I find that quite interesting. I had literally the opposite experience with my Kemper stage after using a Helix.

Gone was the pick an amp model and then spending hours trying to get it to sound like I thought that amp should… often despite never having used the amp it was modelling.

If I wanted a Plexi, search the rig exchange for Plexi and then double click on a bunch until I found the sound in my head. Then it was just a case of tweak to taste or add the right pedals to the foot switches. So much quicker and easier.

I’m using at at the moment with a set of Genelecs in the spare room rather than gig volume but couldn’t be happier.

I also find mid gain tones sound fabulous. The Helix seemed great for low and high gain but never got an e.g. tweed or vox sound I was happy with.

That's always been my approach, too. But finding that sound in my head always leads to finding something and then settling, for a time, then wanting to try more things. Not a bad thing, but can be draining...it's OCD, no doubt, in my case.

That said, I loved the approach of just getting a profile and being able to treat it like a real amp, one that plays nicely and doesn't fuck up your volumes as you tweak gain and EQ. So that experiment yesterday really ticked a shed load of boxes for me. Being a Morgan AC20, it had that Vox sound...so there's nothing to stop anyone trying the very same thing with a Plexi profile or a Tweed style profile :-)

Out of curiosity, as you mentioned them, what Tweed and Vox style profiles did you end up settling with? :-)

sweepy · January 2022

I ended up physically deleting every single profile from my Kemper and only installed the ones I liked/wanted, quite liberating tbh

Dan_Halen · January 2022

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Dan_Halen said:

That's always been my approach, too. But finding that sound in my head always leads to finding something and then settling, for a time, then wanting to try more things. Not a bad thing, but can be draining...it's OCD, no doubt, in my case.

That said, I loved the approach of just getting a profile and being able to treat it like a real amp, one that plays nicely and doesn't fuck up your volumes as you tweak gain and EQ. So that experiment yesterday really ticked a shed load of boxes for me. Being a Morgan AC20, it had that Vox sound...so there's nothing to stop anyone trying the very same thing with a Plexi profile or a Tweed style profile :-)

Out of curiosity, as you mentioned them, what Tweed and Vox style profiles did you end up settling with? :-)

I did similar to Sweepy where I removed all the profiles from the device then just added a bunch I like. Probably up to about 80/90 now on the device itself but I've favorited maybe a dozen that I really like that cover most sounds I'd ever use. That way, if I just want to use it to practice/jam to backing tracks I just pick a favorite. If I'm feeling more adventurous I've got a load of others saved that I know work for me. Then if I feel like exploring I can just scroll through the rig exchange and try other stuff. I find just meandering through profiles for an hour or so, discovering new stuff, quite fun in itself.

Voxy/Tweedy ones I've got saved and use quite a bit are (think they're all stock/free) -

2011 More Gain AC20
Tele Morgan AC20
57 Tweed Band FI 4
ACE 30 KOT OD Dist
Match Avenge G2
BM CC D’lux crunch 2
TAF - FAN Tweed CRK2
TAF - Match HC30 Clean
5E3 Deluxe B1
Gondwana Fan2
GRS FSR 21

There's every chance people who own/use the real thing might think differently but ultimately they work for me. Not done much to the above apart from usually bring the level of some of the quieter ones up a bit, adjust the gain a touch for the guitar in hand, maybe change the reverb/delay/overdrive to what I'd use and that's about it. A lot of the low>mid gain stuff I find is very quiet and you need to hike the volume a bit for it to open up and show it's character.

I'm really not a Kemper expert BTW - I've barely touched scenes, not purchased any profiles, never profiled an amp myself. I just find it sounds great and the format is perfect for me.

crunchman · January 2022

I did cut down on the number I had on the device. I had quite a large number and didn't use a lot of them. It seems to boot a bit quicker with less profiles on it. I think I have round 60 at the moment including a few bass amps that I use for recording. I'm thinking of going through and culling a few more.

firepaulmusic · January 2022

Is the AC20 profile free on Rig Exchange or is it part of a commercially available pack?

PC_Dave · January 2022

firepaulmusic said:

Is the AC20 profile free on Rig Exchange or is it part of a commercially available pack?

It's a free one

Jonathanthomas83 · January 2022

firepaulmusic said:

Is the AC20 profile free on Rig Exchange or is it part of a commercially available pack?

Search for Rmpacheco

grappagreen · January 2022

firepaulmusic said:

Is the AC20 profile free on Rig Exchange or is it part of a commercially available pack?

Just sort Rig Exchange by most votes and it will be at the top..

firepaulmusic · January 2022

To all of you who recommended the AC20 profile...thank you! One profile covering a whole gigs worth of sounds by varying gain levels, great stuff, looking forward to trying them out this weekend...

PC_Dave · January 2022

Well, my Kabinet has arrived (just in time for them to announce a new Neo version....) and I picked up a power amp last night, so all being well tomorrow I can start getting some profiles sorted for rehearsal on Sunday.

Dan_Halen · January 2022

PC_Dave said:

Well, my Kabinet has arrived (just in time for them to announce a new Neo version....) and I picked up a power amp last night, so all being well tomorrow I can start getting some profiles sorted for rehearsal on Sunday.

Let us know how you get on. I remember from using modellers with a FRFR speaker that it was a pain getting the EQ right with a band. Patches disappeared in the mix and all that. Definitely interested in whether a designed for purpose ‘make loud’ solution such as the Kabinet works.

PC_Dave · January 2022

Update from the rehearsal - initially I was pretty stressed, as at home I just couldn't find any sounds I liked, both using studio monitors and headphones. By the time I found something semi ok, i'd try something different, then go back to the previous one and it all just sounded pretty 'meh'. Got to the rehearsal, set up the poweramp and Kabinet, plugged in the Stage, turned it on and selected the first profile, played a chord and I was blown away. I took two core sounds with me - a Deluxe Reverb and one of Burt whatshisnames Bogner EC profiles, and they were really really good. The other guitarist uses a Helix and 2x12 Powercab, and my set up sounded better to my ears.

The one thing I did struggle with was a volume boost for solos - I tried a boost pedal in the Kemper, but it wasn't really loud enough, and just seemed to push the amp more. What's the best way to get a boost? Is it a separate block in performance mode with the volume increased? Or should I use a physical boost pedal in the loop?

Lots more to come, i'm sure.

Musicwolf · January 2022

PC_Dave said:

What's the best way to get a boost? Is it a separate block in performance mode with the volume increased?

That's the way that I would do it.

I prefer an expression pedal to a footswitch (much easier to hit if I'm also on the mic). With my Helix this brings in a second amp path but, when I gigged my Kemper, I used the expression pedal as a 'morph' so that I could not only boost the vol but also change effects settings. This can sound a bit strange in isolation but within the context of a mix it was fine (and certainly better than me hitting the wrong footswitch going into a solo).

Dan_Halen · January 2022

Boost pedal or maybe an EQ block post amp? Depends if you want purely volume boost or to hit the pre-amp harder I guess.

Glad it sounds good!

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