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I actually prefer the workflow of the Kemper where a "Performance" contains all the rigs I need for a specific song and I can switch between them instantly with the verbs and delays carrying over between rigs. The way Kemper currently has it, I have 5 amps, 20 drives, 20 delays, and 20 modulations (not all at once
). It seems pretty comprehensive for gigging. Currently I don't even wish for those added "fixed effects". I still have empty slots in every rig I have.There have been several people that have asked for multiple amps (captures) to be used at the same time. I am good with a single amp myself, but understand those that want this (as Fractal can do this already).
I think that Kemper's method of handling multiple sounds in a song is easier to setup and route. YMMV.
What I was really hoping for in an MK2 is a better UI. That's really it. I would love for them to have more accurate captures, but I don't capture, so it isn't that much use to me.
The current Kemper design has an application processor and a DSP processor. I am fine with the DSP as it is. All they would have needed to do to make me a happy camper (and buy a new unit) is to get rid of the old UI (on the unit AND the FC ..... so actually, I would have purchased a new FC too). This would have been a fairly easy upgrade IMO.
Since they went through the trouble to replace the application processor, I just feel it was flat out lazy not to update the UI and FC.
In essence, I think that this is basically what Line 6 did with Stadium. It's mostly a face lift (a very good one at that). I think they also added a more capable DSP, but out the gate, it's just doing what Helix could do with the DSP it already had. They also added a ton of features .... but most are related to the application layer vs the DSP layer. It's also a really nice looking FC... again, nothing that Kemper COULDN'T have done. They just didn't.
BenIfin
Shredder
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I think your kind of missing the main point of Stadium ..... it is a whole brand new ground up modeling methodology and process ...... a bit more than a "very good facelift"
MY reality is a little different now though.
I have automated my show using Band Helper and wireless MIDI. The only thing I use the FC for now is to change sounds in the middle of the song (boost, clean patch vs dirty patch, etc). Moving from song to song in the setlist on my tablet makes the change between songs for me now.
Since the MIDI is associated with the song, all I have to do is create a setlist from the songs we play and all my changes happen automatically at the gig.
Honestly, this is the biggest upgrade to my show that I have had since I bought my Kemper in 2013.
I would still prefer a color UI on the FC.
I have automated my show using Band Helper and wireless MIDI. The only thing I use the FC for now is to change sounds in the middle of the song (boost, clean patch vs dirty patch, etc). Moving from song to song in the setlist on my tablet makes the change between songs for me now.
Since the MIDI is associated with the song, all I have to do is create a setlist from the songs we play and all my changes happen automatically at the gig.
Honestly, this is the biggest upgrade to my show that I have had since I bought my Kemper in 2013.
I would still prefer a color UI on the FC
.There is thatI think your kind of missing the main point of Stadium ..... it is a whole brand new ground up modeling methodology and process ...... a bit more than a "very good facelift"
. I am looking forward to hearing the A/B reviews when it comes out and gets tested in the wild!
Chocol8
Shredder
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I think your kind of missing the main point of Stadium ..... it is a whole brand new ground up modeling methodology and process ...... a bit more than a "very good facelift"
I thought the main point of Stadium was how well it pairs with e-drums?
paisleywookiee
Rock Star
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I spent about a week there before I quit. It’s more of a cult than a forum.
Eagle
Rock Star
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I thought it was a face lift so they made an opportunity to sell the Helix to you again the exact same but “ better “.
paisleywookiee
Rock Star
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No, it’s not the Kemper MkII with its sweet black paint job.
You keep saying this in all your replies. After using all of the top units in this space I simply don’t find this to be true. There are things kemper does well and things it doesn’t. They all have similar tradeoffs. There’s no mic drop feature that kemper has that puts it clearly ahead in this situation.
You can do this with an FM9…except with 2 amp blocks and 4 channels in each you can have 8 amps and any combination of routing for the 4x4. Same with delays, reverbs, drives, etc. with full Axe 3 you get even more blocks in a preset. The 8 scenes you get also can be any combination of these. Footswitching options are light years ahead of Kemper.I actually prefer the workflow of the Kemper where a "Performance" contains all the rigs I need for a specific song and I can switch between them instantly with the verbs and delays carrying over between rigs. The way Kemper currently has it, I have 5 amps, 20 drives, 20 delays, and 20 modulations (not all at once
FM3 has 1 amp blocks so still 4 amps in any combination with 2 delay, verb, drives, mods, all having 4 channels and 8 scenes in a preset. You can do more than you can with the competing Kemper product which would be the player. The 3 footswitch options also make the ones on the player laughable
- Kemper has no noticeable delay between rig changes in performance mode (~15-20mSec last time I measured mine).
- Kemper tone does not change when firmware is updated
- Foot controller is exactly the right combination of small, and functional
- Rack version with a single Ethercon connector to both communicate and power the foot controller is perfect for gigging.
- The ease of creating a specific sound heard on a specific song is industry leading
- Kemper is physically built like a brick shit house.
- Kemper Rack is small enough to fit in a shallow 3 space rack
While Fractal has great tone in it and the efx are unrivaled in general, for my use, the Kemper is still a better option for the reasons I listed here.
Up until a few weeks ago, I would argue that no 3 footswitch device was good for gigging, not even as a backup.
Now that I am using wireless MIDI and BandHelper to organize my song list and do MIDI switching for each song, I might be willing to use a 3 switch device as a backup, but I still prefer having my full Kemper foot controller.
I know Kemper isn't everyone's cup of tea, but as of now, it's still got my vote for the best gig rig on the market.
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