You've hit the nail on the head there. Kemper can never and will never move to another DSP processor. They will forever be scrambling to shoehorn things into the design they have, but their options are limited.
You've hit the nail on the head there. Kemper can never and will never move to another DSP processor. They will forever be scrambling to shoehorn things into the design they have, but their options are limited.
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It is absolutely mental, particularly when people were discussing it back in 2012, and have been ever since. He's just gaslighting people.
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It's certainly a stark difference between the transparency that exists with Line 6 and Fractal. I think I've only seen Christophe's posts 2-3x over the years at TGP and really have zero gauge on how that company runs, well, until yesterday. My outlook/opinion of the Kemper from a product stance has been "Profiles aren't my thing but I've heard great tones from them and have seen countless bands, some being a favorite of mine, sound killer with them live for as long as it's been out. There's clearly a reason they have a dedicated fan base and staying power in the pro-touring world"
None of that really changes, but I certainly have a massively different outlook on the company after the introduction of Tiers, the MK2 and the interaction I saw with that Kemper employee. Occasionally, when I come across gear companies that seem to enjoy interacting with their customers/the public, I'll hit them up and invite them here in hopes of regaining what has been lost due to shitty forum behavior (prime example being the manufacturer subforums on RigTalk which have been entirely abandoned due to the environment they're in). That interaction certainly won't have me reaching out to Kemper anytime soon and while I wouldn't deny them an account here if they signed up, if that interaction took place on this forum I'd be discussing their account status with the other owners.
None of that really changes, but I certainly have a massively different outlook on the company after the introduction of Tiers, the MK2 and the interaction I saw with that Kemper employee. Occasionally, when I come across gear companies that seem to enjoy interacting with their customers/the public, I'll hit them up and invite them here in hopes of regaining what has been lost due to shitty forum behavior (prime example being the manufacturer subforums on RigTalk which have been entirely abandoned due to the environment they're in). That interaction certainly won't have me reaching out to Kemper anytime soon and while I wouldn't deny them an account here if they signed up, if that interaction took place on this forum I'd be discussing their account status with the other owners.
Sascha Franck
Goatlord
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Absolutely. They seem to feel like kings. But that kinda matches with the little bits I know about Christoph Kemper himself. Maybe his success went a bit too far regarding his self esteem. Perhaps sorta understandable when you're the mastermind behind two pretty much revolutionary pieces of gear in the MI (Virus and KPA), but still... and he seems to gather likewise minds around him.
JiveTurkey
Goatlord
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Genius obviously. But in the few postings I have read; always came across as "Our (my) way or the highway" until it was absolutely inescapable to do otherwise. Has a good sense of humor actually and seems like he would be cool to chat with. This current "dumpster fire" of a rollout notwithstanding. Also seems like he could care less about other brands in his space without being rude about it necessarily?
I tried to find the "huge irony" emoji but couldn't. Your self proclaimed sense of neutrality and evenhandedness is a testament to your inability to be self aware.
FWIW, I don't think ANY of us could pick out one digital amp from another in a mix (not any of the decent ones anyway). The fact you proclaim you could appears to be self delusional.
Many side by sides have been done with Kemper (your favorite pissing hole) where people couldn't tell the amp from the profile even when the exercise is carried out with the guitar in isolation. In a mix, there is no way people could tell the difference.
In a live situation, this is even more true.
Funny how just when I start believing that you can have reasonable discussion, you prove me wrong.
Just out of morbid curiosity, do you believe that all the people touring with Kemper are daft .... or perhaps hearing impaired?
JiveTurkey
Goatlord
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A Kemper Stage is not an amp.
ejecta
Shredder
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It’s not a stage either.
I am struggling to find a term that covers "Modeler" and "Capture/Profiler". "Digital Preamp" perhaps?
KingsXJJ
Rock Star
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Man, I have no idea what’s going on here. I’ve never tried Kemper nor Neural but it seems as though a lot of people have issues with them. Which is ok, but to extend that to the users seems a bit over the top. In either direction.
From what I’ve seen a vocal minority has deemed that Fractal and Line 6 are acceptable choices and that Kemper and Cortexes are not.
For some, deviation from that schema proceeds to a negative opinion of the person not with the program.
Am I really wrong about this? Maybe, but it sure seems to happen frequently. And with otherwise quite intelligent folks who have shown kindness and a sense of great humor in other types of discussions. Perhaps some underlying human makeup is responsible. Reality shows with drama are popular for some reason. And please don’t attack me for stating this. I’m not subtly making a point about anyone or any product in particular. Can’t the venom just be allowed to dissipate? Is this who we are and what we need?
We all share a love for music and gear. It’s a passion we have together. I’m not going to go back and edit or refine this any… because flaws and all it’s sincere. - That Guy.
From what I’ve seen a vocal minority has deemed that Fractal and Line 6 are acceptable choices and that Kemper and Cortexes are not.
For some, deviation from that schema proceeds to a negative opinion of the person not with the program.
Am I really wrong about this? Maybe, but it sure seems to happen frequently. And with otherwise quite intelligent folks who have shown kindness and a sense of great humor in other types of discussions. Perhaps some underlying human makeup is responsible. Reality shows with drama are popular for some reason. And please don’t attack me for stating this. I’m not subtly making a point about anyone or any product in particular. Can’t the venom just be allowed to dissipate? Is this who we are and what we need?
We all share a love for music and gear. It’s a passion we have together. I’m not going to go back and edit or refine this any… because flaws and all it’s sincere. - That Guy.
JiveTurkey
Goatlord
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TGF Receptiveness List 2025
Positive
- Fractal
- Line 6---ESPECIALLY STADIUM
- Minus HX One and HX One adjacent products
- Mesa
- RIP Fluff
- Marshall
- Friedman
- Minus La Szum
- Synergy
- ENGL
- Strymon
Rage
- Neural DSP
- IK Multimedia
- GearTuber’s not named Leon Todd
- Meris pedals with the bubble menus
- Chase Bliss
- Fender digital products
- Universal Audio pedals
- Boss reactive loads that don’t work with Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifiers
Meh
- Kemper II: Improved Accuracy Boogaloo
- Any additional products by Boss that are not 30 year old stomp boxes
- Everything else not explicitly covered above
Mongillo19
Rock Star
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I think this may be out of "meh" range
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JiveTurkey
Goatlord
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AlbertA
Shredder
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Fortunately, that's not what's happening.
I'd say a vocal majority of this forum see the differences between the way the companies respond to their customer base and voice their dissatisfaction when things aren't moving in the best direction for the customer.
Fractal/Line 6- two companies constantly looking to give the customer more after the initial purchase, you never have to ask for a refill and they're free.
Kemper/Neural- Don't do that at all. I started going into detail but ended up with a wall of text, you can just read through the pages in this thread to see the gripe about Kemper and any NDSP thread clearly shows where the ire there is aimed at. Your server is in the walk-in with the cook and your cup's been empty for 20 minutes. And when you do get your refill, you're paying for it.
If anyone is interpretting that as a personal attack on their own character, that's their own problem. I certainly can't change the way someone feels internally when they read someone saying "I think Kemper is doing something shitty here", or "NDSP just failed to deliver on their own word....again" and that should never be the responsbility of anyone but the person who feels such things.
KingsXJJ
Rock Star
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I appreciate the thoughtful response Drew. But let’s be honest, it often goes way beyond “Kemper or NDSP did X.” It’s not a matter of interpretation either. It’s often name calling, calling people stupid or insinuating that they must be deaf among other things. I’m not trying to start an argument or nitpick but it’s those things I don’t like. And it’s those things I was referring to trying to do so without specifics, Honest disagreement on gear or fair criticism of companies doesn’t bother me in the least. I’m not criticizing this place, I love it. I believe things could possibly be a bit kinder. That’s all.
Unfortunately the things I mentioned do happen.
Mongillo19
Rock Star
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Sascha Franck
Goatlord
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Well, "at all" isn't really true. Kemper has delivered quite some not exactly expected updates for free over the years.
NDSP not so much (the free updates still don't get them to what they promised at launch).
Until the introduction of MKII, (From 2012 until now), Kemper provided a host of free updates and capabilities for Toaster, Rack, and Stage. It wasn't until the Player that the concept of a paid update was introduced.
I have an itching feeling that the entire purpose of MKII was to justify a paid update to MK1 users. The only reason Player users are being given the "free update" is because they already pay for Level II and III (my speculation).
I also have seen unusual behavior with respect to the Kemper forum where the powers that be aren't always tolerant of negative opinions.
Certainly the latest business model changes at Kemper invite some criticism; however, it seems to be a pattern. In vehicles, there are now many OEM's that offer paid activation of hardware features that are already on the vehicle.
MS Office no longer offers anything but a subscription as I understand it.
As for the attacks (if you want to categorize this as an "attack"), I firmly stand by my skepticism that no one can hear the difference between top end products we are all talking about here in the context of a full band in a live venue. I would further defend my disbelief that any of these products actually sound "bad", especially in the context of a live band or even in a recording of a full mix.
The criticism of MKII for its lack of .... well anything much really is absolutely well founded as is the praise of the new Stadium and its litany of new features and astounding Ui/Ux improvements.
