Kemper Power rack.

[la szum]

We all got stuck there in Kemper Purgatory as Kemper owners.

 

[Frodebro]

Rig Manager; Rig Exchange. Over 20,000 entries and it goes back to the beginning every time you add one to your local library. WTF.
And they aren't numbered. WTF 2.

There were only about 6,000 rigs in the RE when I bought my own power rack. I need to dust it off and rack it up with my Axe 3, just because...

Actually, I'm planning on doing that one of these days when I have some free time. I also have a Kemper Kab, and a 4CM setup with the Fractal would be a pretty badass little rig.

 

[texhex]

Rig Manager; Rig Exchange. Over 20,000 entries and it goes back to the beginning every time you add one to your local library. WTF.
And they aren't numbered. WTF 2.

Sort it by date, makes it a little easier to navigate, also you can name your Rigs with a number in the front to make it easier to sort.

Here’s an old Rig Manager tips video I made a few years ago. Rig Manager is super easy to use and navigate once you get used to it. It’s one of my favorite things about the Kemper.

 

[Eagle]

Sort it by date, makes it a little easier to navigate, also you can name your Rigs with a number in the front to make it easier to sort.

Here’s an old Rig Manager tips video I made a few years ago. Rig Manager is super easy to use and navigate once you get used to it. It’s one of my favorite things about the Kemper.

Thanks I will check it out.

 

[Eagle]

Sort it by date, makes it a little easier to navigate, also you can name your Rigs with a number in the front to make it easier to sort.

Here’s an old Rig Manager tips video I made a few years ago. Rig Manager is super easy to use and navigate once you get used to it. It’s one of my favorite things about the Kemper.

This is probably a dumb question but how do I sort the rig exchange through rig manager by date ? I can't find the option to change it ( Mac ).

 

[texhex]

This is probably a dumb question but how do I sort the rig exchange through rig manager by date ? I can't find the option to change it ( Mac ).

You should see a column named Date. Just click on the word Date (column name at the top) and it should sort.

If you don't see Date right click on any of the column names and you should get a column header selection list. Choose Date out of the list to add it.

 

[Eagle]

You should see a column named Date. Just click on the word Date (column name at the top) and it should sort.

If you don't see Date right click on any of the column names and you should get a column header selection list. Choose Date out of the list to add it.

Much appreciated.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

It’s not a rig change it’s just another rig. To go with the other three.

That's how I ended up with the Player.
Dug it enough that I ordered the toaster now.

And I really didn't like it in the early days.

 

[timbuck3]

I have had my Kemper Stage for about 3 and a half years. I feel like I got in at the right time. The Stage has the most updated hardware since it is the newest design, outside of the new player. The updates they have rolled out in the time I have been using it have been very good. It is the digital unit that really does sound and feel the closest to my amps.

Profiling your own amps is really where it shines. You can find a ton of profiles out there. I have only purchased one set of profiles and that was because it was an amp that I wanted but couldn't find in stock anywhere at that time. I finally found one and the profiles I had purchased really match the real amp well so I didn't feel the need to reshoot them.

I did however make profiles of the other amp I had been gigging with for a good while. They came out really good. I ran the Kemper through a powered PA speaker in my room setting next to the amp and was switching between them with them setting behind me and I couldn't tell the difference between them.

For me the Stage also worked because I wanted an all in one unit instead of having to haul around the Kemper and the foot controller. I am very happy with the choice I made. I have an early FM9 as well. I use these units in different scenarios. The Kemper has the feel of the real amp, although the FM9 is getting closer to that and the new firmware that is in development may close that gap even further. The Kemper just felt right from day one. The Kemper effects IMHO are as good as the Fractal effects. The difference is the Fractal has some effects that the Kemper doesn't have. I don't use those very often but it is nice to have them when I want something different.

Would like to see a stage unit with a 2x50 watt mini tube stereo or 1x100 mono tube amp onboard like the h&k black spirit unit build but mini tube 2x50 or 1x 100

 

[OneEng]

Well I haven't tinkered with a Kemper for many years and I got the opportunity to pick up a basically unused one for cheap and the stuff I hear out of them recently seems to be a lot better than it was. Actually really good so hopefully this will be my experience . The final thing that made me want to try it again was Mark Knopfler did his last tour with one entirely and he sounded amazing. I know he and his tech spent a long time in the studio making the profiles . I should ask him if he will let me have one or two. I am a Axe 3 for digital user atm. I also a a DV multi amp which is actually as good or better for some sounds. QC I hate the form factor and Helix just sounds brash and fake imo. A good digital rig is actually the most practical these days for me because I rarely get chance to get out the full WDW Deizel VH4 rig and get it up to volume.
So Kemper users out there what is your experience ? does all the new firmware make up for the old hardware ? I have used and owned many old digital pieces that still are valid. TC2290, PCM 42, SDE3000, H3000, PCM91 to name a few, all still world class tone even if the interfaces suck and the change lag is insanely bad.

I have many friends that gig (as do I). Most still use a tube amp and pedal board. For them, I have had a few purchase a Kemper after I gigged with them and they got to hear first hand how good it sounded live, and also how easy it was for me to setup and take down :). I have a KPA Rack and foot controller. For me, the FC is ideal since only a single cable comes out on stage to my mic position which keeps my foot area uncluttered .... and makes setup soooo easy :).

I have spent an entire day with a friend of mine that gigs with an Axe III Fx. Our conclusion at the end of a long 10 hour marathon of switching guitars, amps, cabs, and trying to tweak to get sounds for songs was that both units can get really great live tone, but the KPA can get there faster and easier (at least for the cover songs we were working on sounds for). The Axe III Fx editor is light years more advanced than the Kemper Rig manager as is the routing capabilities of the Axe III Fx; however, the Kemper has the ability to do the vast majority of routing needed to achieve the vast majority of sounds .... but it is clunky to do it unless it is a standard 4 efx plus gate before, amp, 4 efx after and cab. While alternate routing paths can be achieved, it isn't pretty on the KPA and it is limited.

Having said that, setting up the KPA foot controller and performances for sets and gigs is a breeze and the gigging results are outstanding.

I don't personally do anything that complex with my efx. The most complex rig I think I have is for U2 Streets Have No Name where I have a treble boost pre, 3 delays post with feedback between the delays and some reverb with a boost at the end.

I no longer profile real amps though. I did this for my VHT UL before I sold it, but found that I can find free and commercial rigs that I like better than what I profiled, and I have found some profiles of amps that I had never even heard of before that I really like (Morgan AC20).

My use case is that I play covers. I find it is pretty easy for me to look up the original equipment used for the song, get an amp on the Kemper that is close, tweak the eq, definition, clarity, and add some pure cab, then put efx on. I can generally have something that is darned near identical to the original within 15 to 30 minutes of work.

For those that spend lots of time (and enjoy this part of the work) tweaking, I don't think anything on the planet matches the Axe III Fx, but for getting a specific tone from a song and matching it quickly, and then setting up for a performance, the KPA workflow is much faster IMO.

 

[Orvillain]

Everyone knows my opinion already.

 

[dk_ace]

This was an old thread, but I don’t know that I heard the verdict on it. @Eagle how did this work out for you and compare to your other rigs?

D

 

[GTR37]

I hear it on stage with world class artists quite often and it certainly is not lost. The Mark Knopfler tones were amazing. I don’t know how the interface could be simpler either . I have an Axe3 as well and people complain about the interface on that too . I don’t know why because it would be practically impossible to get around the parameters it has more easily. They both have good computer interface solutions and iOS for Kemper. Kemper also sounds great if the profile is good and the liquid functionality is present. Both units are a world better than at launch of the hardware.

I went and say Halestorm / Evanescence here in October
The Warning opened up
The Halestorm tones was some sort of Fender combo and it sounded like crap to be honest

Evanescence was your typical Rectos , way to much low end and lack of clarity

The Warning opened up and the guitarist Danny had a Kemper stage through a little an orange power amp
Best tone of the night by a long shot , clear , loudAF
Tons of punch. It made me research what she was using as her sound was just fantastic, and surprised it was a Kemper stage killed the tube amps that night TBH

 

[Eagle]

I went and say Halestorm / Evanescence here in October
The Warning opened up
The Halestorm tones was some sort of Fender combo and it sounded like crap to be honest

Evanescence was your typical Rectos , way to much low end and lack of clarity

The Warning opened up and the guitarist Danny had a Kemper stage through a little an orange power amp
Best tone of the night by a long shot , clear , loudAF
Tons of punch. It made me research what she was using as her sound was just fantastic, and surprised it was a Kemper stage killed the tube amps that night TBH

Make good profiles and it is still world class. Danny makes her own profiles using her amps and the Mesa cab she gigs . This IME is the best results.

 

[Jarick]

I think the delays and reverbs on the Kemper were really good. They had a really sweet organic warmth to them. Modulation was hit or miss though.

 

[Eagle]

I think the delays and reverbs on the Kemper were really good. They had a really sweet organic warmth to them. Modulation was hit or miss though.

When did you last try one? The updates can be transformational.

 

[GTR37]

Make good profiles and it is still world class. Danny makes her own profiles using her amps and the Mesa cab she gigs . This IME is the best results.

Ya I can’t recall which pack she used it was a producer
Howard Benson?

Edit : it was Dave Benath

 

[Eagle]

Ya I can’t recall which pack she used it was a producer
Howard Benson?

Edit : it was Dave Benath

I thought she made her own.

 

[Jarick]

When did you last try one? The updates can be transformational.

I sold my toaster last spring I think? It was before the last update. For me I'm all about chorus and there's a couple good options but not quite there. If the prices of Stages or Players drop down I may pick another up sometime.

 

[JasonE]

I sold my toaster last spring I think? It was before the last update. For me I'm all about chorus and there's a couple good options but not quite there. If the prices of Stages or Players drop down I may pick another up sometime.

Watch the used market. I have seen more than a few Stages sell for much less than I would ever let mine go for.