Kemper Profiler MK 2

[Dimiguitar]

I'm 41 next month.

Happy birthday in advance. Maybe Kemper releases the new profiling at that time just for you as a lel

 

[Tanax]

Then why read

Well you know how it goes.. I see there's an update in the thread and keep thinking "maybe some update has been announced" or "maybe there's a useful discussion going on". I guess I should know better by now...

Honestly at this point I’m just seeing how far from an honest discussion these guys will take it. The mental gymnastics to flip right over the content of the conversation through the self-adjusted goalposts has been impressive. Add in the obvious emotional component and the circular logic, it’s quite entertaining, lol. So far I haven’t seen too many people say “Kemper bad”, but nobody who likes Kemper can accept that it’s even audibly inaccurate compared to more modern options, so that’s how the discussion turns.

Wrong! We can say IT SUCKS!

Haha, I get it. I would assume the other party would always want to counter that though XD On on we go..

Nah, I'm 39 and I'm enjoying it

I'm 41 next month.

You are clearly younger (in mind) than me

TRT bro

Damn, so that's the secret sauce. Gotta try it!

 

[Jarick]

Going back 5 plus years, I would agree that Kemper beat the competition in feel. It had its issues, but for my non-high gain needs it did feel more like playing a real amp than Helix, Atomic, and prior gen Fractal. It was (and is) a digital solution where you could load a good profile and enjoy playing which made its faults worth accepting.

These days, QC, Tonex, and NAM all do that even better. I expect Proxy will as well, but obviously it is way too soon to know. I also truly hoped a next gen Kemper profiling would offer a big step up, but seeing the MKII hardware, I am highly skeptical that they can even catch the competition let alone beat them with just a software tweak.

Totally agree with the first part. Kemper was ahead of the competition for years, then the competition caught up, now they’ve gone past.

I still think there’s upside in Kemper from a plug and play standpoint of profiles and effects overall. I’ve always been more of a multi effect guy than amp and pedals though so I think more holistically.

On the amp and cab vs headphones thing I think it’s different frequencies that get highlighted. With an amp and cab you are hearing way more low end and the highs are rolled off. The focus is on amp models. With headphones you are getting way more high end and the cab block becomes a variable.

What’s been helping me is much more aggressive high cuts when using headphones. I actually went back to Beyer 880 headphones which are much brighter and a bit scooped and it seems more pleasing and consistent after I adjust to the high end (and kill the excess frequencies).

 

[Jarick]

I'm 41 next month.

Turned 42 last week. 30s weren’t bad at all but really have to work hard to keep my body from completely going to hell.

 

[DrewJD82]

And I just called deadpan "Deadman". Been playing death stranding 2, sorry for that

I didn’t know it got released already!!!!

Probably won’t see me much for a week or two, the first one if my favorite game yet.

 

[Dimiguitar]

I didn’t know it got released already!!!!

Probably won’t see me much for a week or two, the first one if my favorite game yet.

Some disliked the first, but I loved it, including the postman gameplay. Having a blast with the new one as well. More refined.

 

[AlbertA]

I didn’t know it got released already!!!!

Probably won’t see me much for a week or two, the first one if my favorite game yet.

 

[DrewJD82]

Some disliked the first, but I loved it, including the postman gameplay. Having a blast with the new one as well. More refined.

Yeah, the story was way too crazy/original for me to not enjoy it. Never had a game where the scenery and music could actually cause an emotional effect on me before but the first one definitely did it. Perfect timing, I’m starting my vacation at 4PM tomorrow.

 

[OneEng]

These days, QC, Tonex, and NAM all do that even better. I expect Proxy will as well, but obviously it is way too soon to know. I also truly hoped a next gen Kemper profiling would offer a big step up, but seeing the MKII hardware, I am highly skeptical that they can even catch the competition let alone beat them with just a software tweak.

Not to be repetitive ..... Yes, they do THAT better, but not that much better in the majority of cases, and in no case where you could tell in a mix. Meanwhile, the EFX difference, form factor offerings, ability to customize tone, switching time, performance setup, durability, etc, etc, of the other units falls way behind.

For people that want a great bedroom toy, NAM and Tonex are just fine.

These days, QC, Tonex, and NAM all do that even better. I expect Proxy will as well, but obviously it is way too soon to know. I also truly hoped a next gen Kemper profiling would offer a big step up, but seeing the MKII hardware, I am highly skeptical that they can even catch the competition let alone beat them with just a software tweak.

I am interested in what people would consider "Kemper catching" the competition would look like and how it would be measured. FWIW, based on the continued changes to the Kemper marketing statement, I am guessing that from a strict null test analysis, Kemper will not reach NAM accuracy. I am guessing that it gets pretty close though and it will certainly be better than the MK1 algorithm was.

Now, to get off the accuracy discussion for a minute, even if MK2 hits a home run on capture accuracy, the Ui/Ux of the unit still looks like something developed in the 90's. That will still be a marketing problem for Kemper. Also, if Kemper continues to hang their marketing hat on being the most accurate, and amp reproduction as a USP, I think they will face some pretty stiff competition even from $400 devices.... which they can't win against in price.

Kemper created the capture device for live musicians. This is a great accomplishment. When it was introduced, everyone was focused on the plethora of videos and clips showing that you couldn't really tell the difference. That was a very cool marketing tool THEN. I think that Kemper should refocus to their many other strengths as "Accurate Capture" is going to be about as special as power windows soon.

I do wonder though how Kemper managed to loose control of capture technology. I suspect their patent was not done well and got too specific .... allowing others to wiggle around the edges. Dumb. Likely the most costly mistake the company has made to date.

 

[Eagle]

Oh, but what if someone likes the way it FEELS?!

They won’t.

 

[Dimiguitar]

Yeah, the story was way too crazy/original for me to not enjoy it. Never had a game where the scenery and music could actually cause an emotional effect on me before but the first one definitely did it. Perfect timing, I’m starting my vacation at 4PM tomorrow.

Then you're in for a treat for sure. Enjoy it. I've had time off for a week now, and gf travelling. Result has been departing humanity almost entirely with the game. I've had to tone it down somewhat now to feed and sustain my physical existence lel

 

[Chocol8]

For people that want a great bedroom toy, NAM and Tonex are just fine.

Yep, and they are also great for small gigs, medium gigs, home recording, professional recording and more. I don't think too many people are doing arena or stadium tours with NAM or Toxex but there have been a couple recognizable names who have used them in mid level settings.

 

[Chocol8]

They won’t.

That's one heck of a bold statement. Yes they are stiff and unforgiving, but some people actually like amps like that, and Matchless are far from alone. They have sold a lot of amps for a LOT of money, so I am pretty sure not everyone dislikes playing them.

 

[Dimiguitar]

Not sure if I should voice this, but I used a matchless DC 30 through loadbox, IR and headphones for a while. Liked it a lot for what it did. Also liked it loud in the room, when I tried it this way, but it was only a few times.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

For people that want a great bedroom toy, NAM and Tonex are just fine.

For professional studio recording, they’re much better options than lugging a Kemper around and doing things slowly with no plugin ability whatsoever and worse sound for the extra trouble.

So if it’s a case of making dumb/meaningless accusations about gear, you could easily call Kemper a bedroom toy.

 

[DrewJD82]

Smells like TGP in here.

 

[paisleywookiee]

For people that want a great bedroom toy, NAM and Tonex are just fine.

Surely you know by now how inflammatory statements like these are, right? I mean, if that's your goal, then go for it.

 

[ian_dissonance]

Surely you know by now how inflammatory statements like these are, right? I mean, if that's your goal, then go for it.

When you take criticisms of guitar hardware personally you lose all judgement. Hurt people hurt people.

 

[paisleywookiee]

When you take criticisms of guitar hardware personally you lose all judgement. Hurt people hurt people.

It's just a fucking dumb, ignorant thing to say. But I guess if he's playing it for the laughs, then whatever.

 

[Eagle]

I don’t use modelling at all in the studio;

Then there is the amp room.