Kemper Profiler MK 2

[GTR37]

New stuff for the KPP.

I am still confused so do I need to buy lvl3 to get additional effects slots lol
First keynote player lvl 3
I know the looper is LVL 3 but do I need that lvl for the other stuff ?

I honestly think they should ditch the levels on new and just call it $899 loaded
I

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

I am still confused so do I need to buy lvl3 to get additional effects slots lol
First keynote player lvl 3
I know the looper is LVL 3 but do I need that lvl for the other stuff ?

I honestly think they should ditch the levels on new and just call it $899 loaded
I

From their site I read the new slots are available in lvl 1

 

[paisleywookiee]

My 2012 Mac mini also looks close to the same as my current one , and my current one offered extra speed from the start, and new functionality only after installing additional software. So in my mind it’s not all that different…
From a functional perspective you buy something very different out of the box today, then you did in 2011.

What does make me wonder: no USB3, seemingly no wifi/Bluetooth on the head/toaster either.
Although today there may not be immediate need for it, IF you plan for another 15 year lifetime of hardware, wouldn’t you include that?
Together with the “mk2” label instead of Kemper II..makes me suspect they have something else in the oven also. Probably on the same innerworkings so mk2 stays relevant, but in a different box.

My Macmini looks the same as a 2012, but has a 4K monitor, and faster IO on the back, and can do way more. In other words, computer comparisons are not exactly fitting, even if this is essentially a purpose built computer.

 

[paisleywookiee]

My RME UFXII is USB2. It was released in 2017. So it's been on the market 8 years, and I see no reason why in another 10 years it won't be supported.

USB3 is not really required for a lot of audio devices.

While that’s true, a USB-C connector is a must in 2025. Plenty of audio interfaces having been essentially doing USB2.0 over the newer connector for at least 6+ years.

 

[laxu]

Yet I choose this one over the others…and would do it again.

But I bet you would enjoy it a lot more if it had e.g a smaller version of the Toaster screen. It adds a lot of visibility to what is going on.

That’s what they all do, and if your architecture is smart/component based, it’s the smart thing to do and not limiting at all.
I don’t believe any of the top modelers can afford to start from scratch, and if they do, id rather not pay for it

Sure, but there is a significant cost to developing a fresh new UI layer on top of it all, while also making for better modeling. I expect that for next gen Fractal we will get that, but the modeling will be in many ways the same at least at launch, like it has been for past generations too.

Kemper just didn't want to do the UI R&D, most likely to avoid an extra year or two of potentially declining sales as other capture boxes get better and better.

 

[Antipodes]

My point was not that it needs usb3 today…my point was: does it make sense to ommit it if you aim for a 10/15 year horizon of hardware.

USB3 is 100% backward compatible with USB2 so even if all the ports on your new devices are USB3.x or USB4 it seems likely that all USB2 hardware connections will remain supported.

 

[BenIfin]

1000% agreed.

Given what the KPA website says, if it doesn't at least match the best of NAM / Tonex, it will be a fail / own goal on Kemper's behalf. Their website is totally explicit that it -will- be the best .... period.

Hope factor = moderate

Reality and Confidence factor = low to very low

 

[PorcinePicker]

Trying to take this seriously for a second....

It looks like they added a seven effect pedalboard section before the existing 'A' effect. What I don't see is any new means of control. Still the same A-D, X, MOD, DLY, REV buttons. For the sake of consistency, you'd think they'd either go to software controls for all of the effects, or alternatively add a labeled 'shift' function to the existing buttons or (please God, no) add more buttons.

[ Edit: just watched the presentation and realized there's a lot less to the upgrade than I even thought. It's not a pedalboard section. Instead, it's kinda like a channel strip plug with added chorus effects...? ]

The phone it in and shove it into the same enclosure approach screams lazy, lazy lazy.

Same with the fragile network jack on the back that I've personally seen lots of problems with at gigs. Would it have killed them to go to etherCON?!

 

[eon]

Excellent News the KPP will be able to profile!

Has this been confirmed by someone from Kemper?

 

[Jarick]

I don’t think Kemper is trying to compete with or win people away from other brands, I think they are competing with themselves. Kemper mk2 seems to be an improvement over the original, so if you liked that hardware you should like this new one. It’s also at a lower price point which shouldn’t be ignored given inflation and I'm being a dipshit and starting a political thread.

It’s very similar to the Fractal units with mk2 where the original chips may not be available or new ones are on the market with better performance so you revise the hardware slightly.

But it does look like they have some improvements they can make based on the increased processing power like more effects and higher resolution modeling. That’s where they need to separate from the old units. It’s like if Cliff figured out how to do gapless switching but only on the Mk2 Turbo versions.

As I said the big issues I had with the Kemper were how clunky it was to use and profile rabbit holes. The latter is a personal psychological thing but the former is hardware. If the new tech is way faster and smoother I can live with that.

I still think the paywall to unlock features is bullshit. I get why they do it because they want to generate some income with so many used devices. But I’d rather see them take a different approach. If you have multiple Players you need to pay for each which is nuts, and then if you sell them and buy another one you have to pay again. I’d rather see something like UAD where you buy on your account and it’s pervasive. But nobody else is charging for upgrades so then it feels like you’re taking advantage of your user base.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

I am still confused so do I need to buy lvl3 to get additional effects slots lol
First keynote player lvl 3
I know the looper is LVL 3 but do I need that lvl for the other stuff ?

I honestly think they should ditch the levels on new and just call it $899 loaded
I

For the fixed utilitarian fx? Nope but if you want the extra 4 slots to freely assign whatever then yes.

And the what’s new in os13 pdf on their site would answer that

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

But I bet you would enjoy it a lot more if it had e.g a smaller version of the Toaster screen. It adds a lot of visibility to what is going on.


Sure, but there is a significant cost to developing a fresh new UI layer on top of it all, while also making for better modeling. I expect that for next gen Fractal we will get that, but the modeling will be in many ways the same at least at launch, like it has been for past generations too.

Kemper just didn't want to do the UI R&D, most likely to avoid an extra year or two of potentially declining sales as other capture boxes get better and better.

When I do look at the toaster screen? To see what percentage of the firmware update is done.

 

[Jarick]

Has this been confirmed by someone from Kemper?

No. It does not profile. Someone took a Chinese translation and ran with it, then misinterpreted the ad copy.

It will run the new profiles. That’s what they meant. It was never intended to profile by itself.

If they can figure out how to do that or sell some type of capture add on I’d be super interested.

 

[Orvillain]

While that’s true, a USB-C connector is a must in 2025. Plenty of audio interfaces having been essentially doing USB2.0 over the newer connector for at least 6+ years.

Not sure I agree really, I don't feel super strongly either way.

 

[Jarick]

I am still confused so do I need to buy lvl3 to get additional effects slots lol
First keynote player lvl 3
I know the looper is LVL 3 but do I need that lvl for the other stuff ?

I honestly think they should ditch the levels on new and just call it $899 loaded
I

From what I see

Level 2 adds more effect types
Level 3 adds more effect blocks and a looper
Mk2 adds a bunch of fixed effects to the chain

I’ll probably get level 2 but won’t need level 3

 

[Jarick]

Not sure I agree really, I don't feel super strongly either way.

I’m fine with old USB for these things. It’s plenty rugged. For portable stuff that needs charging it should all be USB C.

Just for the love of god never again with the micro USB bullshit.

 

[Orvillain]

I’m fine with old USB for these things. It’s plenty rugged. For portable stuff that needs charging it should all be USB C.

Just for the love of god never again with the micro USB bullshit.

Anything that isn't a Source Audio "insert jack cable into pedal, then insert it into a phone that no longer has a socket.... and pray for rain...." !!!

 

[laxu]

I still think the paywall to unlock features is bullshit. I get why they do it because they want to generate some income with so many used devices. But I’d rather see them take a different approach. If you have multiple Players you need to pay for each which is nuts, and then if you sell them and buy another one you have to pay again. I’d rather see something like UAD where you buy on your account and it’s pervasive. But nobody else is charging for upgrades so then it feels like you’re taking advantage of your user base.

Another big issue is what it gets you in terms of competition. Even compared to the new fx chain, a much cheaper Hotone will do roughly similar stuff using 12 fully assignable effects slots. While technically the Kemper can run more things at once...is there a situation where you want to run all of that?

To me they should've just gone "Tada, now your 699 € Player does a lot more! We figured out how to optimize it to do this!" and offered the Level III stuff for free.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

Has this been confirmed by someone from Kemper?

No. It does not profile. Someone took a Chinese translation and ran with it, then misinterpreted the ad copy.

It will run the new profiles. That’s what they meant. It was never intended to profile by itself.

If they can figure out how to do that or sell some type of capture add on I’d be super interested.

From their site:
And yes, it will get the advanced PROFILING, too!

If they meant “abiltiy to use advanced profiles”…that would be very sloppy copy.
I think i read someone called Kemper to confirm on the Kemper forum.
If not would have expected the site to be corrected or some rectification on their forum.

At first i thought….not possible on the player…but if the new capture tech doesn’t have the refine step…one input will do right?
And if it does..they might be able to flip an output to input via software.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

But I bet you would enjoy it a lot more if it had e.g

Defenitly not a lot… i really don’t miss it.
Offcourse a screen adds value, more switches also, more IOs also…and im sure designers are aware of that…but nothing is free.

It’s about the endresult of weighing pros/cons what to put in a small unit like this, at a pricepoint..and I happen to prefer the outcome of this one over the others. I mean, im well aware of HX stomp and what Hotone offers..nice products..still the balance did not tilt their way.