Kemper Profiler MK 2

[Jarick]

Existing Player can create Profiles or can it just use the "new" Profiles? I hate to say it but after the paid unlocks for Player, I don't trust Kemper Marketing copy. WTF is this?

Players can't make profiles, it doesn't have the hardware for it.

$1348 for the Head
$1398 for the Rack
$1498 for the Stage

All available for sale on the Kemper site right now.

No way this is new hardware boys. Maybe a new faster chip?

Faster chips = new hardware.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Don't know about you, but if I was to upgrade whatever it is, I appreciate it being compatible with what I'm already familiar with and what might even fit into my pedalboard seemlessly.

Anyhow, from all info that is available so far, it doesn't seem that you can run multiple captures with this new version, let alone dual amps. Given that other modelers/profilers can do that, this isn't too great.

"Hey guys, let's make a device that is only appealing to people that want to upgrade from our previous device" isn't a whole lot better.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

$1348 for the Head
$1398 for the Rack
$1498 for the Stage

All available for sale on the Kemper site right now.

Maybe a new faster chip, so technically yes I guess.

I think i paid 1600 for my toaster about 10 years ago…

 

[texhex]

Players can't make profiles, it doesn't have the hardware for it.



Faster chips = new hardware.

I get it now.. Mk. 2 similar to AXE Mk. 2.

What I wanted was a Kemper VERSION 2.

 

[Jarick]

I get it now.. Mk. 2 similar to AXE Mk. 2.

What I wanted was a Kemper VERSION 2.

Yeah I was hoping to see the Kemper tech with like a big color touch screen. The old Kemper seemed way beyond maxed out, so I'm curious if they do a lot of development with the new processing power.

 

[molul]

If any tone needs the Boss of Captures to capture it, it is definitely this:

Watching 70's rock gods in the 80s is so painful. How could we let that happen?

 

[Sascha Franck]

"Hey guys, let's make a device that is only appealing to people that want to upgrade from our previous device" isn't a whole lot better.

"Hey, let's keep the form factor of a super successful device intact!"

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

Yeah I was hoping to see the Kemper tech with like a big color touch screen. The old Kemper seemed way beyond maxed out, so I'm curious if they do a lot of development with the new processing power.

Why do you think a screen is limiting for development? Worse case is that some things are only reasonably accesable via the editor right? UI from unit seems to be the only thing set in stone imho.

 

[laxu]

Ewwww Powerstage! It's an Ice power module. Not sure what their secret sauce is but it does a great job with a real speaker cabinet.

Kemper uses a more powerful ICEpower module than the SD Powerstage stuff. Not sure if they do anything else to the sound.

 

[laxu]

9 hours ago the leaked copy was:

• Precise analysis of over 100,000 frequency points: the most accurate speaker simulation in history
• Dynamic Box Resonance Capture: The industry's longest and most complex impulse response technology is used to restore the real dynamics

But on the Kemper site it is:

• More than 100,000 individual frequency points meticulously analyzed for the most precise amp recreation ever achieved.
• Next-Level Speaker & Dynamically adjustable Cabinet Resonance – Capturing the true dynamics of your setup with the longest and most complex impulse responses in an amp capturing device.

That is a bit fishy.

I think that's just more accurate marketing on the Kemper site. Note the wording longest and most complex impulse responses in an amp capturing device. That's basically saying "...but not as long as the Axe-Fx 3"

 

[laxu]

Why do you think a screen is limiting for development? Worse case is that some things are only reasonably accesable via the editor right? UI from unit seems to be the only thing set in stone imho.

I think keeping the overall front panel the same is a major limitation considering all the new block options. So you have to use the screen to access those, and its small size, lack of color etc will make it more complicated to operate.

But they did manage to keep the price point the same so that's likely to help.

 

[Jarick]

Why do you think a screen is limiting for development? Worse case is that some things are only reasonably accesable via the editor right? UI from unit seems to be the only thing set in stone imho.

Not limiting for development, but can be limiting for usage. If you have 500 profiles on your device but using a screen that's lower resolution than an Apple Watch it's not going to be a great experience. Even a slightly bigger monochrome screen with higher resolution would have been an improvement. Not the end of the world but it's a missed opportunity when you're releasing new hardware IMO.

 

[Mongillo19]

Not limiting for development, but can be limiting for usage. If you have 500 profiles on your device but using a screen that's lower resolution than an Apple Watch it's not going to be a great experience. Even a slightly bigger monochrome screen with higher resolution would have been an improvement. Not the end of the world but it's a missed opportunity when you're releasing new hardware IMO.

Did they mention if you can use the phone app on the MK2 outside the stage?

 

[texhex]

Did they mention if you can use the phone app on the MK2 outside the stage?

As long as you put those devices on the same network as your phone, etc. network they can be accessed via the app.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

I think keeping the overall front panel the same is a major limitation considering all the new block options. So you have to use the screen to access those, and its small size, lack of color etc will make it more complicated to operate.

But they did manage to keep the price point the same so that's likely to help.

Not limiting for development, but can be limiting for usage. If you have 500 profiles on your device but using a screen that's lower resolution than an Apple Watch it's not going to be a great experience. Even a slightly bigger monochrome screen with higher resolution would have been an improvement. Not the end of the world but it's a missed opportunity when you're releasing new hardware IMO.

That can all be dealt with by using the editor isn’t it?
I would also prefer a touchscreen ala QC when I look at it isolated, but maybe not at additional cost or having to let go of physical knobs.

 

[laxu]

That can all be dealt with by using the editor isn’t it?
I would also prefer a touchscreen ala QC when I look at it isolated, but maybe not at additional cost or having to let go of physical knobs.

That means you will need to have a secondary device for that editor with you at all times.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

They specifically said there's new hardware in place that improves overall performance significantly and that there is new higher resolution profiling as well. I'm still digging through the manual but a lot of the improvements aren't supported by the old hardware.

Kind of like Axe FX 3 Mk 2...that was a processor upgrade that allowed for more capabilities.

Right. But the processor upgrade on the Axe Fx III was significant (and had a corresponding screen upgrade because leveraging that new processor on the old green screen would have been a nightmare). This seems like "oh, man, we finally ran out of that chip that went EOL years ago. What's the cheapest drop-in replacement we can use that requires the least change to everything?"

I have had my moments of Kemper fanboy-ism and I do still love the dedication to direct-hardware-access-to-menu-locations like its 1998. And a Kemper is still a GREAT tool that can sound killer with solid functionality.

But at this price point, even used...the functionality just isn't there anymore. Four amp channels per preset in Fractal land makes the lock feature seem quaint. Gapless preset switching is great...but I'd MUCH rather have a device that just easily does everything from a single preset and who gives a toss about gaps. Also, everybody has it now. Glad the patent kept people out of the market of amp capturing for as long as it did, but clearly there is not a ton of faith in that patent given the complete lack of any real legal battles against all the other capture devices that have hit the market in recent years (and I think the patent is done now anyway? Wasn't it 2005?)

The Player form factor is pretty cool, especially for folks already in the Kemper ecosystem. And the powered versions are cool. But everything else...no offense those that own and love their Kempers because they're great...there is just NOTHING compelling about this product line to someone that isn't already a Kemper user.

 

[timbuck3]

Everything about this feels like a quick pivot because they are constantly behind in any accuracy comparisons even against much cheaper boxes.

They can reduce R&D, tooling etc needed by upgrading the internals and keeping everything else the same. Faster processors would allow Kemper to overhaul the engine underneath to a machine learning based one.

Basically replacing the parts of the modeling with a hopefully more accurate process combined with their existing tools like stuffing a known tone stack in between ("Liquid profiling").

I wouldn't be surprised if this can also run both the old modeling and the new in tandem so you don't lose that vast pool of profiles already available.

But same outdated screen?

 

[GTR37]

So since I have not had enough coffee and my reading comprehension sucks before 10 am
The player will be compatible but the OG toaster and Rack hardware will not , so they are essentially EOL is that correct?

Based on the player LVL fiasco I doubt this is going to go over well with some
I mean I get it , it’s been 15 years but still I expect some backlash

 

[Dom Mcsweeney]

Kemper mk2 can load the longest impulse response?
~

You can load 2 IRs in series on the Dimehead, the 2nd slot can be upto 60 seconds in length.

Just saaaaayin, you know.