Kemper Profiler MK 2

[Mongillo19]

Personally, it depends most on the person refining.

See, this is where part of me thinks the choice of the word precise comes into play. I know I sound like a broken clock but if they get ride of refining, as you just said, the profiles will be more consistent (precise).....not necessarily the most accurate though

 

[Deadpan]

I doubt they will get rid of refining. For some time now they have given the option to save without refining and then do multiple refines and save along the way.

 

[norminal]

 

[MirrorProfiles]

The fact that refining is so inconsistent is a big part of the issue to begin with. And sometimes refining either won’t help, or it’ll make things worse.

You end up in a guessing state between refining and hoping for the best, and then twiddling clarity and definition without really knowing if you’re making your tone better or worse or more like the source or less.

I’ve been mixing a band this week who recorded their guitars with a kemper and it reminded me of how much they fall apart when you EQ them. I’d really prefer things went away from brute forcing with match eq because it quickly makes things weird IMO.

 

[JiveTurkey]

 

[Mongillo19]

View attachment 45050

Don't forget the new sticker on the front

 

[GTR37]

Lots of angst over at TOP
People have just learned that although the MK2 does enjoy vintage styling new profiling algorithms will NOT be compatible with Windows 98

 

[Deadpan]

The fact that refining is so inconsistent is a big part of the issue to begin with. And sometimes refining either won’t help, or it’ll make things worse.

You end up in a guessing state between refining and hoping for the best, and then twiddling clarity and definition without really knowing if you’re making your tone better or worse or more like the source or less.

I’ve been mixing a band this week who recorded their guitars with a kemper and it reminded me of how much they fall apart when you EQ them. I’d really prefer things went away from brute forcing with match eq because it quickly makes things weird IMO.

The largest issue with refining is clipping the input IMO.

 

[timbuck3]

They just forgot a couple words in the sentence:

"More than 100,000 individual frequency points meticulously analyzed for the most precise amp recreation ever achieved on a Kemper"

 

[norminal]

 

[OneEng]

It's got a bit more horse power than it used to have. My guess is that this will allow some goodness in the future (faster, more accurate profiling?); however, at this time, I would be VERY surprised if there is any difference at all between MK1 and MK2.

I am equally convinced that some of my favorite profiles (Morgan AC 20, Mesa Mark IIc, etc) will still be my favorite profiles regardless of any new tech introduced.

I think the update has a whole lot more to do with Kemper being able to produce the products (obsolescence issues), than it does with giving the consumer a better product. It also has a whole lot more to do with keeping a single binary file for all products Kemper is producing.

Sadly, I expect that MK1 users (like me) will not be seeing any more free updates moving forward . I doubt I will be selling mine though. It definitely still gets the job done week after week after week. Had it since 2013 and it has paid for itself many many times over. I think at this point in time it is a race to see if it dies before I do .

 

[OneEng]

The fact that refining is so inconsistent is a big part of the issue to begin with. And sometimes refining either won’t help, or it’ll make things worse.

You end up in a guessing state between refining and hoping for the best, and then twiddling clarity and definition without really knowing if you’re making your tone better or worse or more like the source or less.

I’ve been mixing a band this week who recorded their guitars with a kemper and it reminded me of how much they fall apart when you EQ them. I’d really prefer things went away from brute forcing with match eq because it quickly makes things weird IMO.

This particular forum seems quite fixated on capture accuracy. I suspect that <5% of Kemper owners actually profile their amp. I did ONE profile in 2013 when I got my Kemper (profiled my VHT before selling it). I later found free and purchased profiles that I liked much better than my VHT profile.

I think that NAM has the whole "capture perfectly" thing down pat. You can't get more perfect than perfect. Still, if this is so important, why don't we see NAM pedals on tour? Well, we all know why. There is much more to a gig rig than a perfect capture.

I do get it though. There are some that this is all that matters to them. For these people, I would say either stick with the real thing (Good Lord knows there is nothing wrong with a good tube amp and a pedal board), or use NAM.

I do think that Kemper is kind a butt hurt over losing their claim to fame in profiling to pretty much all new comers. Perhaps the new profiling algorithms will fix this. Won't mean anything to me though.

 

[norminal]

I do think that Kemper is kind a butt hurt over losing their claim to fame in profiling to pretty much all new comers. Perhaps the new profiling algorithms will fix this. Won't mean anything to me though.

That’s just the thing. 31 pages and we just don’t know yet until someone like Leo gets his hands on one and is able to compare it to the competition. Until then, we can only speculate.

I just honestly can’t see Kemper releasing a new product that’s inferior to the other products that are currently available. We shall see.

 

[PorcinePicker]

Like I said earlier, it’s as if Kemper marches to the beat of their own drum. That’s said, Kemper would have to be going full-retard if they weren’t to at least “catch up” to the current competition in regards to capture accuracy.

Kemper is stuck between the line in the sand that they drew: "our first and only design is the perfectest thing ever made and so we haven't changed a thing in 15 centuries" and the trout slap obvious reality that the world has moved past them. I guess this is their way of straddling the fence and likely snagging their junk on the barbed wire in the bargain.

Thing is, I'm actually a fan of the company....but I'm not going to defend the indefensible.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

That’s just the thing. 31 pages and we just don’t know yet until someone like Leo gets his hands on one and is able to compare it to the competition. Until then, we can only speculate.

I just honestly can’t see Kemper releasing a new product that’s inferior to the other products that are currently available. We shall see.

The fact that null test is needed to prove a point is telling enough
In my mind capture tech is no longer the equivalent of putting a man on the moon, other brands have cracked the code, it’s available as open source even…1 to 2 years from now every brand will offer competitive capture tech, also the very cheap ones.

Hardware, ecosystem, utilities,architecture price, EFX!!!….i think that’s where the race is gonna be run!

 

[Orvillain]

This is absolutely not Representatieve for Kempers profiling. No clue what they did here….
There are countless other shootouts where not a soul on earth could tell what is what,

Yes it is. Kemper sounds like a used tampon.

I can hear a difference. Nearly 100% of the time. The fact you and others can't doesn't reflect poorly on me. Rather the opposite.

 

[Orvillain]

Personally, it depends most on the person refining.

No it doesn't. The technology is limited and has flaws. Period. Every profile you sell is innaccurate.

 

[Orvillain]

I do think that Kemper is kind a butt hurt over losing their claim to fame in profiling to pretty much all new comers. Perhaps the new profiling algorithms will fix this. Won't mean anything to me though.

I don't believe you.

If Kemper bring out sexy new profiling that is way more accurate, you'll be one of the first to sing its praises.

 

[Orvillain]

"It doesn't matter."
"The audience will never know."
“No one can tell in a mix anyway.”
“If it sounds good, it is good.”
“Nobody cares but guitar players.”
“It’s 95% there—good enough.”
“You’re just being too picky.”
“You’re supposed to tweak it after profiling.”
“It’s not meant to be exact, just close.”
“That amp had bad tubes or a weird mic position anyway.”
“Try profiling it again—maybe something went wrong.”
“It’s close enough for live shows.”
“Why lug around 80 lbs of gear for a 5% difference?”
“I sold all my amps and don’t miss them.”
“You can’t beat the convenience.”
“Tone is in the fingers.”
“Music is about emotion, not fidelity.”
“Chasing tone is a waste of time.”
“You're just romanticizing analog gear.”
“I A/B’d them and couldn’t tell the difference.”
“You’re imagining the difference.”
“Placebo effect—Kemper wins blind tests.”
“You must not know how to dial it in.”


Apologia for dogshit.

 

[Deadpan]

No it doesn't. The technology is limited and has flaws. Period. Every profile you sell is innaccurate.

No one ever said any profile or capture was 100% accurate.