Kemper Profiler MK 2

[Dimiguitar]

In other news, I was doing some tonex captures today. Actually impressed with the improvements to the capturing workflow. The results of "V2" are also meaningfully better than V1, especially in terms of feel.

But here's something I think current Kemper profiling does better than tonex: getting the gain levels closer to the source tone. With tonex, I always -- always -- have to increase the gain by 2 points or so, give and take. It doesn't matter whether I use virtual cables and capture plugins or whether it's real amps.

I've also spoken to a couple of captures sellers who say the same thing, even if they don't adjust the gain themselves. Additionally, I think differences between tonex vs amp that people hear in blind tests often have to do with these gain mismatches.

I tend to forget about this.. because it's not a big deal for me to match the gain levels. It's fairly easy. BUT it's something that imo Kemper does considerably better automatically. And that's old tech by today's standards.

 

[Dimiguitar]

I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect a manufacturer funded forum to openly allow discussion of competing products either way, that’s what forums like this are for. The manufacturers forums are primarily for product support.

It's a big plus in my eyes, depending on the nature of the conversations.

 

[Frodebro]

It's a big plus in my eyes, depending on the nature of the conversations.

It can be, especially for the sake of competition and staying on top of things. But I guess it has to be taken on a thread by thread basis.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I.m.h.o .... nope. He knew exactly what he was saying .... there was huge discussion ... both pro / con on that thread re: the Stadium .... and it was his way of "settling the acolytes" / minimizing "potential crossover sales"

Its far from a new thing .... just another sort of F.U.D.

It was a piss-poor comment - that's my view - clearly we disagree - its all good.

I definitely disagree. It wasn't a piss poor comment, and I think it's lame to frame it that way.

 

[laxu]

I think you’re taking what Cliff said completely out of context. He said that what they’re planning for the next generation will make every unit currently on the market seem like a GameBoy in comparison. That’s not embarrassing in the least, do recall that the Axe FX 3 clobbered everything else when it was released as well, and still has way more power than most units out there.

When the Axe-Fx 3 released, it wasn't that different from the latest Axe-Fx 2 firmware from what I remember. This has been true for Fractal with Axe-Fx Ultra -> II as well. Just having more power means little if you can just build more complex signal chains rather than everything truly sounding better.

For my needs, the FM3 is almost good enough. FM9 is definitely good enough, and Axe-Fx 3 was more horsepower than I knew what to do with. It only meant that I didn't have to play any "block Tetris" to fit everything I want into a preset. But I also didn't make very good use of its capabilities, which is part of why I ended up selling the Axe-Fx 3.

Coming from Fractal..."makes everything else look like a Gameboy" is honestly not exciting because it most likely refers to its processing capabilities. Which was never much of a problem with Fractal, they have always been some of the most capable units on the market.

I'll be interested when they start saying "next gen Fractal makes everything else feel like using a Gameboy". I'm unlikely to go back to Fractal until they overhaul their workflow to something much more user friendly.

 

[dws2384]

First day of fall. Where’s the V2

 

[Dimiguitar]

When the Axe-Fx 3 released, it wasn't that different from the latest Axe-Fx 2 firmware from what I remember. This has been true for Fractal with Axe-Fx Ultra -> II as well. Just having more power means little if you can just build more complex signal chains rather than everything truly sounding better.

For my needs, the FM3 is almost good enough. FM9 is definitely good enough, and Axe-Fx 3 was more horsepower than I knew what to do with. It only meant that I didn't have to play any "block Tetris" to fit everything I want into a preset. But I also didn't make very good use of its capabilities, which is part of why I ended up selling the Axe-Fx 3.

Coming from Fractal..."makes everything else look like a Gameboy" is honestly not exciting because it most likely refers to its processing capabilities. Which was never much of a problem with Fractal, they have always been some of the most capable units on the market.

I'll be interested when they start saying "next gen Fractal makes everything else feel like using a Gameboy". I'm unlikely to go back to Fractal until they overhaul their workflow to something much more user friendly.

Absolutely this (but then again, I don't do crazy chains, just simple stuff).

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

When the Axe-Fx 3 released, it wasn't that different from the latest Axe-Fx 2 firmware from what I remember. This has been true for Fractal with Axe-Fx Ultra -> II as well. Just having more power means little if you can just build more complex signal chains rather than everything truly sounding better.

For my needs, the FM3 is almost good enough. FM9 is definitely good enough, and Axe-Fx 3 was more horsepower than I knew what to do with. It only meant that I didn't have to play any "block Tetris" to fit everything I want into a preset. But I also didn't make very good use of its capabilities, which is part of why I ended up selling the Axe-Fx 3.

Coming from Fractal..."makes everything else look like a Gameboy" is honestly not exciting because it most likely refers to its processing capabilities. Which was never much of a problem with Fractal, they have always been some of the most capable units on the market.

I'll be interested when they start saying "next gen Fractal makes everything else feel like using a Gameboy". I'm unlikely to go back to Fractal until they overhaul their workflow to something much more user friendly.

IIRC when I went from Ultra to 2 the gain sounds were different enough to give me unhappy face.

 

[Jarick]

It's technically first day of fall so Kemper is on the clock. Very intrigued if the new profiling is worth keeping the Kemper Player around.

I'm in one of those "not happy with the Fractal at all" periods. Wiped everything off my Axe 3 and trying to just get a good amp+cab sound at high gain and not all that excited about it. I love the super high fidelity clean tones but the heavy stuff just hits my ears wrong.

Honestly I've been digging the HX Stomp Placater a fair amount even with the stock cab. After watching the Stephen Carpenter rig rundown I'm keeping an eye out for good prices on Floors (run 4CM with my Friedman JJ Junior).

 

[Mongillo19]

Honestly I've been digging the HX Stomp Placater a fair amount even with the stock cab. After watching the Stephen Carpenter rig rundown I'm keeping an eye out for good prices on Floors (run 4CM with my Friedman JJ Junior).

Why not just go the stadium route then? Probably "only" $700 more

 

[BenIfin]

Why not just go the stadium route then? Probably "only" $700 more

I'm down under, but wouldn't the difference between a 2nd hand excellent condition Helix Floor be a lot more than $700 as compared to the new Stadium or Stadium XL (?)

Hard to envisage any 2nd hand Stadiums / XL's showing up any time soon after they are out in the wild ?

Just curious.

 

[Jarick]

Why not just go the stadium route then? Probably "only" $700 more

I'll eventually get a Stadium (non-XL), although I have no idea when they'll be available since I didn't pre-order. Maybe early next year? If I find a Helix Floor for really cheap though it may be worth jumping on.

I'm actually intrigued by the Fender TMP as well The big thing is being able to build a virtual pedalboard and be able to switch channels on the amp.

80% sure I'll end up selling the Kemper Player at some point, right now 50/50 on selling the Fractal, and some other stuff too. I may just drag a bunch of crap into Guitar Center at some point and trade it all in towards the new Helix.

 

[Mongillo19]

I'm down under, but wouldn't the difference between a 2nd hand excellent condition Helix Floor be a lot more than $700 as compared to the new Stadium or Stadium XL (?)

Hard to envisage any 2nd hand Stadiums / XL's showing up any time soon after they are out in the wild ?

Just curious.

Used Helix Floor is probably going to cost around $1000. Maybe you can find one cheaper but I'm just looking at Reverb.

Stadium (non XL) is $1800 so after taxes I guess it's probably about $900 more ....which is nothing to scoff at.

However, if you can get it through Musicians Friend with their coupon, you can get the Stadium for about $1600.

I'd pay the upcharge to have a brand new generation, personally

 

[BenIfin]

.. I'd pay the upcharge to have a brand new generation, personally

Thanks. Was just curious ^As would I^.

 

[LP59]

More drama at the Kemper forum this week. They are threatening to ban paying customers from their support forum for the grievous offense of posting messages that Kemper judges to be tangential to the topic of a thread. SMH.

 

[Dimiguitar]

More drama at the Kemper forum this week. They are threatening to ban paying customers from their support forum for the grievous offense of posting messages that Kemper judges to be tangential to the topic of a thread. SMH.

I think they should focus more on new features. Then maybe this micro management wouldn't be as necessary.

 

[LP59]

There's an interesting video on Kemper's FB page today about the new profiling. A couple of things of interest.

* It was shown to Thomas Dill for the first time today. That means it has not reached any beta testers or profile makers yet, so it's probably not close to release.

* It requires a new audio driver. That might mean the profiling operation runs at a higher sample rate than the current profiling.

 

[PorcinePicker]

More drama at the Kemper forum this week. They are threatening to ban paying customers from their support forum for the grievous offense of posting messages that Kemper judges to be tangential to the topic of a thread. SMH.

Not surprised. Not even a little bit. Sad, though.

When I picked up my toaster back in 2019, I thought very highly of the company. Now I'm kinda embarrassed to own one.

 

[dws2384]

There's an interesting video on Kemper's FB page today about the new profiling. A couple of things of interest.

* It was shown to Thomas Dill for the first time today. That means it has not reached any beta testers or profile makers yet, so it's probably not close to release.

* It requires a new audio driver. That might mean the profiling operation runs at a higher sample rate than the current profiling.

I watched it. They didnt explain anything at all lol. They showed theres a new tab for 2.0 and then rambled for 2 minutes about nothing and then it ended. I saw it on Instagram though, unless the FB one was longer

 

[BenIfin]

Hmmmm ....... I dont know why but I still think we'll see this in Beta form in the next 4 - 6 weeks (?) (!)