Kemper Profiler MK 2

[Jarick]

If anyone still uses a Kemper, Matt Fig has a 50% off sale going on for the next couple days with "Summer25" as the code. These are the best profiles I've found yet, they're way more open and lively than the Michael Britt stuff and he's shooting a lot of amps with liquid profiling. Sonically they are up there with the best tones I've gotten from

I've got several of the packs now. The Friedman Plex is absolutely killer, although my favorite profile is also in his $1 pack. The BE-100 v2 is pretty solid, Dirty Shirley is just OK for some reason. Picked up the Shiva, AC30, and JCM800 today. The Shiva is fine, but every clean profile I try clips for some reason (not just his profiles). I need to figure that out. The AC30 sounds pretty good. But the JCM800 is absolute gold, it's just everything you want an 800 to be. Especially when you tinker with the bright cap and clean comp setting. If you keep the bright cap on full you get that icepick tear your head off bright sound when turning down, but you dial that back and it's great. Clean comp you have to take it down otherwise the volume increases when you turn the gain down.

Previously I found the Plex to do everything from AC/DC up to high gain modern Marshall, but I couldn't get it to clean up super well. The JCM800 goes from sparkly clean up to 80's rock and like an 800 you may want to not max the amp gain (sounds kind of flubby) but throw a boost pedal on instead to tighten it up and boost it to higher gain. And with the liquid profiles you just have one profile that you can adjust the gain and EQ knobs much more like a modeler.

 

[hunter]

If anyone still uses a Kemper, Matt Fig has a 50% off sale going on for the next couple days with "Summer25" as the code. These are the best profiles I've found yet, they're way more open and lively than the Michael Britt stuff and he's shooting a lot of amps with liquid profiling. Sonically they are up there with the best tones I've gotten from

I've got several of the packs now. The Friedman Plex is absolutely killer, although my favorite profile is also in his $1 pack. The BE-100 v2 is pretty solid, Dirty Shirley is just OK for some reason. Picked up the Shiva, AC30, and JCM800 today. The Shiva is fine, but every clean profile I try clips for some reason (not just his profiles). I need to figure that out. The AC30 sounds pretty good. But the JCM800 is absolute gold, it's just everything you want an 800 to be. Especially when you tinker with the bright cap and clean comp setting. If you keep the bright cap on full you get that icepick tear your head off bright sound when turning down, but you dial that back and it's great. Clean comp you have to take it down otherwise the volume increases when you turn the gain down.

Previously I found the Plex to do everything from AC/DC up to high gain modern Marshall, but I couldn't get it to clean up super well. The JCM800 goes from sparkly clean up to 80's rock and like an 800 you may want to not max the amp gain (sounds kind of flubby) but throw a boost pedal on instead to tighten it up and boost it to higher gain. And with the liquid profiles you just have one profile that you can adjust the gain and EQ knobs much more like a modeler.

Try the Gower modded JTM. It’s my fav Mattfig and I have them almost all.

 

[DrewJD82]

Just saw the slant face post and legit thought someone made it as a joke.

 

[2dor]

If anyone still uses a Kemper, Matt Fig has a 50% off sale going on for the next couple days with "Summer25" as the code. These are the best profiles I've found yet, they're way more open and lively than the Michael Britt stuff and he's shooting a lot of amps with liquid profiling. Sonically they are up there with the best tones I've gotten from

I've got several of the packs now. The Friedman Plex is absolutely killer, although my favorite profile is also in his $1 pack. The BE-100 v2 is pretty solid, Dirty Shirley is just OK for some reason. Picked up the Shiva, AC30, and JCM800 today. The Shiva is fine, but every clean profile I try clips for some reason (not just his profiles). I need to figure that out. The AC30 sounds pretty good. But the JCM800 is absolute gold, it's just everything you want an 800 to be. Especially when you tinker with the bright cap and clean comp setting. If you keep the bright cap on full you get that icepick tear your head off bright sound when turning down, but you dial that back and it's great. Clean comp you have to take it down otherwise the volume increases when you turn the gain down.

Previously I found the Plex to do everything from AC/DC up to high gain modern Marshall, but I couldn't get it to clean up super well. The JCM800 goes from sparkly clean up to 80's rock and like an 800 you may want to not max the amp gain (sounds kind of flubby) but throw a boost pedal on instead to tighten it up and boost it to higher gain. And with the liquid profiles you just have one profile that you can adjust the gain and EQ knobs much more like a modeler.

I tried his Plex pack for NAM and I wasn't impressed. His Kemper ones might be different though given the controlled reamping environment supplied by the toaster hardware.

 

[Sascha Franck]

you really think if they had something interesting coming they’d be talking about the face angle of the toaster?

They possibly even could. In case the OG face angle had been causing constant issues with owners. But I can't remember reading about it being an issue just once. Solving a non existent problem.

 

[laxu]

They possibly even could. In case the OG face angle had been causing constant issues with owners. But I can't remember reading about it being an issue just once. Solving a non existent problem.

It doesn't need to be an actual problem for something to be improved.

But it's sad for marketing to devote a post for the change. That's more like a bullet point in a list of improvements. But instead it's "Yay, we made this one thing a bit better, while completely ignoring all the other things that we could have improved, but didn't because that was much harder."

That's the kind of stuff you post after you have put out the new modeling tech.

 

[Sascha Franck]

It doesn't need to be an actual problem for something to be improved.

Of course not. But...

But it's sad for marketing to devote a post for the change. That's more like a bullet point in a list of improvements. But instead it's "Yay, we made this one thing a bit better, while completely ignoring all the other things that we could have improved, but didn't because that was much harder."

This.

I mean, instead of touting the new feature horn, as is the case with anyone releasing a MkII version of whatever it is, they need to resort to the improved front plate angle being a great thing.

Given how long the thing is announced and even available already, there should be a truckload of demos featuring the new features in full glory (even without the new profiling), but apart from a handful of QOL improvements there's absolutely zero.

It's really weird that apparently it either didn't occur to them or has simply been ignored that there's been plenty of other improvements that could've (and should've) been done apart from the (still mystical) new profiling. And given that by now there's several other capturing options around, you need to create more USPs. A better face plate angle certainly doesn't qualify as a USP. The option to run some rather utilitarian FX in addition to what's there, doesn't either.

But then, we've discussed all that already. Possibly the worst new product revision launch of all times (at least in this very market).

 

[laxu]

It's really weird that apparently it either didn't occur to them or has simply been ignored that there's been plenty of other improvements that could've (and should've) been done apart from the (still mystical) new profiling. And given that by now there's several other capturing options around, you need to create more USPs. A better face plate angle certainly doesn't qualify as a USP. The option to run some rather utilitarian FX in addition to what's there, doesn't either.

But then, we've discussed all that already. Possibly the worst new product revision launch of all times (at least in this very market).

I think they are fully aware of it and just didn't consider it worth the time and money investment. Let's say they keep the processors of the Kemper MK2 and overhaul the usability of it. That's:

• New hardware design
• New front panels
• New parts
• New PCB designs
• New (presumably) touchscreen interface
• New UI design to do what it did before, and more, in a more user-friendly manner.
• Tons of new software development to make it do the above.
• New editors to reflect the new hardware.
• Testing, testing testing.

At that point you might start to ask yourself if you should redo the DSP as well.

So what do you do? You make a minor "MK2" revision and promise "new and improved" modeling to keep up with the market that's moving past you at breakneck speed.

All this is of course Kemper having painted themselves into a corner themselves by relying on the same DSP for so long, apparently with a custom programming language/tooling so you don't need to write it all in Assembler. Which then means it's not easily portable to something else.

Let's say Kemper does manage to release new modeling that is everything they originally advertised. What then? You still have all the old behavior everywhere else. I can't help but think many would feel some FOMO when they see the other band on the bill get new tones in seconds by using Focus mode on their HX Stadium, or reconfiguring their presets in a few minutes, or correcting the output EQ to the PA because the venue sucks and there's no soundman.

 

[Orvillain]

Does anyone really give a shit about the new front plate?

 

[Sascha Franck]

I can't help but think many would feel some FOMO when they see the other band on the bill get new tones in seconds by using Focus mode on their HX Stadium, or reconfiguring their presets in a few minutes, or correcting the output EQ to the PA because the venue sucks and there's no soundman.

Defenitely. I think the MkII really only is interesting for existing users who have kinda grown into Kemper's (admittedly pretty mature) platform.
Personally, I could still imagine snagging a 2nd hand Stage one day when they pop up on the used market for cheap, simply because it still makes up for a pretty capable live rig - and I could do with two full live rigs sort of regularly (right now my small rig isn't too competent and doesn't do certain gigs too well). I already know that the sound quality will be more than sufficient for my needs and I guess they will soon be available for <700 regularly.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Does anyone really give a shit about the new front plate?

Kemper does! So you better be with them.

 

[GuitarJon]

View attachment 51109

Came here to post that too .
Huge face palm!

 

[laxu]

Defenitely. I think the MkII really only is interesting for existing users who have kinda grown into Kemper's (admittedly pretty mature) platform.
Personally, I could still imagine snagging a 2nd hand Stage one day when they pop up on the used market for cheap, simply because it still makes up for a pretty capable live rig - and I could do with two full live rigs sort of regularly (right now my small rig isn't too competent and doesn't do certain gigs too well). I already know that the sound quality will be more than sufficient for my needs and I guess they will soon be available for <700 regularly.

Yeah I have never owned one, just tried a few people's Kemper rigs and heard it live many times, but I have never thought it sounded bad in a live situation at least. Playing it myself, it was always "Well I like my Axe-Fx II and my friend likes his Kemper" type deal where both had their rigs and liked how those worked.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Does anyone really give a shit about the new front plate?

I bet it’s easier to read at golf courses.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Came here to post that too .
Huge face palm!

Did you keep your MkII Stage? I know you weren’t exactly glowing about it in your video.

 

[GuitarJon]

Did you keep your MkII Stage? I know you weren’t exactly glowing about it in your video.

Yeah, I want to try the new profiling. If it ever comes....

 

[Gary_W]

I’m a long time member on the official Kemper forum and their social media post focusing on the new panel as a benefit caused me to ask a direct question over there - ‘can you please confirm if a any of the electronics inside is different’.

I think it’s a fair question to ask - they’re saying on the website that there’s processing advantages with mk2 which give the benefits of faster boot up, the fixed fx slots, the new profiling (when it comes). On the forum, they’ve said none of this is possible within the Mk1. If you put two and two together in a friendly way, that *should* mean that something inside has changed. I really hope it has and I really hope they actually say ‘we’ve upgraded *this chip and this chip so it’s now x amount faster’. Then everyone could move on from the belief that it’s 100% the same…. If it *is* 100% the same, that makes it a business choice to not make these things available to mk1 owners rather than ‘we cannot because of hardware constraints’. Entirely fair enough but again say clearly that you’ve chosen not to rather than ‘it can’t be done’.

I’m still really hoping something inside has changed because the truth will out at some point and the optics of it being identical would be pretty awful. I know they’re legendarily stoic in their communication style but, if they have indeed updated *anything* inside electronically they really do need to say so asap. Every further day of silence (boosted by social media posts waxing lyrical about a slightly more sloped front) is another day of potential customers believing the worst. It would be so easy to put an end to that by simply saying something.

 

[Dimiguitar]

I’m a long time member on the official Kemper forum and their social media post focusing on the new panel as a benefit caused me to ask a direct question over there - ‘can you please confirm if a any of the electronics inside is different’.

I think it’s a fair question to ask - they’re saying on the website that there’s processing advantages with mk2 which give the benefits of faster boot up, the fixed fx slots, the new profiling (when it comes). On the forum, they’ve said none of this is possible within the Mk1. If you put two and two together in a friendly way, that *should* mean that something inside has changed. I really hope it has and I really hope they actually say ‘we’ve upgraded *this chip and this chip so it’s now x amount faster’. Then everyone could move on from the belief that it’s 100% the same…. If it *is* 100% the same, that makes it a business choice to not make these things available to mk1 owners rather than ‘we cannot because of hardware constraints’. Entirely fair enough but again say clearly that you’ve chosen not to rather than ‘it can’t be done’.

I’m still really hoping something inside has changed because the truth will out at some point and the optics of it being identical would be pretty awful. I know they’re legendarily stoic in their communication style but, if they have indeed updated *anything* inside electronically they really do need to say so asap. Every further day of silence (boosted by social media posts waxing lyrical about a slightly more sloped front) is another day of potential customers believing the worst. It would be so easy to put an end to that by simply saying something.

I wouldn't expect a meaningful answer, if I was you, but who knows.

 

[LP59]

I’m a long time member on the official Kemper forum and their social media post focusing on the new panel as a benefit caused me to ask a direct question over there - ‘can you please confirm if a any of the electronics inside is different’.

I think it’s a fair question to ask - they’re saying on the website that there’s processing advantages with mk2 which give the benefits of faster boot up, the fixed fx slots, the new profiling (when it comes). On the forum, they’ve said none of this is possible within the Mk1. If you put two and two together in a friendly way, that *should* mean that something inside has changed. I really hope it has and I really hope they actually say ‘we’ve upgraded *this chip and this chip so it’s now x amount faster’. Then everyone could move on from the belief that it’s 100% the same…. If it *is* 100% the same, that makes it a business choice to not make these things available to mk1 owners rather than ‘we cannot because of hardware constraints’. Entirely fair enough but again say clearly that you’ve chosen not to rather than ‘it can’t be done’.

I’m still really hoping something inside has changed because the truth will out at some point and the optics of it being identical would be pretty awful. I know they’re legendarily stoic in their communication style but, if they have indeed updated *anything* inside electronically they really do need to say so asap. Every further day of silence (boosted by social media posts waxing lyrical about a slightly more sloped front) is another day of potential customers believing the worst. It would be so easy to put an end to that by simply saying something.

There's no need to ask Kemper that question. All you have to do is look inside your Mk2, or watch a teardown video.

It is not 100% the same. The controller co-processor has changed and that's why you get faster boot time and 2 more usb channels. Those benefits are only on the toaster though, the Stage already had that. I think what you're really asking about is the DSP processor used for effects and profiling. That has not changed, and probably never will, because Kemper is so tightly tied to that architecture.

As for whether the Mk1 could run fixed effects and the new profiling, they haven't exactly said it "can't" do it, only that it "won't". If you're looking for some independent way to confirm that it can't, I don't see how that's possible. You'll have to trust whatever Kemper tells you about that specific issue.

 

[BenIfin]

All I'm really saying is lets hear and compare and then judge the new system once it out ... as opposed to saying its "going to be shit" before anyone has even demo'd it or played it or reported on it.

But I do get all the ribbing they are getting in the meantime ..... which is all of their own doing.