Kemper Profiler MK 2

[Mongillo19]

Did you feel it (gulp) "accurately" reflected the tone you dialed in? The FR12 is VERY solid in that regard (studio monitors to FR12 to wedges to the PA).

It was awhile ago so I can't say for certain. Id say it wasn't a direct 1:1 to be honest. IIRC it also had different modes and it really tried to emulate a real 1x12 or 4x12.

It was a super sturdy piece of gear though and did sound quite good! Hard to believe they are $900 now though. I want to say I got one for about $400-$500.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

I don't know so much about the Kone. I've wanted an ""FRFR"" that feels "like a cab". Considering their stated improvements to cabinet impulses, I wonder if this can mean eventual improvements to so-called "imprints" as well.

What "FRFR" does? None. Kone comes the closest though.

I had zero interest in it until a friend I view as my worst influence told me how much he dug it.
As with all the shit because of him I got it thinking I’d return it in the 30 day window.
Hasn’t happened once.

And in this case it makes the Kemper nearly as much fun as amp n cab.

And while I’m at it (and to lazy to start a separate post) the fanboism with Kemper is nowhere near the level of L6 or Fractal around here.

 

[JiveTurkey]

What ""FRFR"" does? None. Kone comes the closest though.

I had zero interest in it until a friend I view as my worst influence told me how much he dug it.
As with all the shit because of him I got it thinking I’d return it in the 30 day window.
Hasn’t happened once.

And in this case it makes the Kemper nearly as much fun as amp n cab.

And while I’m at it (and to lazy to start a separate post) the fanboism with Kemper is nowhere near the level of L6 or Fractal around here.

Its all about the Accepted Products list, Ed!

 

[Orvillain]

FFS nobody besides the people skewing the conversation even mentioned their preference or use case, lol.
People - “There are better profilers for amp cloning available”
Kemper Huggers “OK but most people don’t even clone their own amps. Do those others have the FX? What about morph? What about Kone? What about I don’t care if it’s as accurate? What about we haven’t even heard MkII profiling? What about some people might prefer the inaccurate profile? What about this sound clip where the two sounds are so obviously different you can hear it on a phone speaker? Huh?! What about all that?!?!”
People - “Cool, there are more accurate amp profiling options available right now.”
Kemper Huggers - “BUT WHAT ABOUT……”

That is literally the conversation. Literally.

Throw a few jihadi crusading christian cunt accusations in there, and you've about got the size of it.

 

[Orvillain]

This thread.

Kemper sounds fine, it’s not 100% accurate but it’s a good complete package. I reckon the going rate for the used ones are a bit of a bargain right now.

The Mkii looks rubbish, just more of the same with a mild facelift. Why didn’t they all include Bluetooth and WiFi support and variable impedence? Lazy ass fuckers.

Interesting to see some who are happy to flog profiles even if they’re a load of inaccurate shite, mental note not to buy from them ever.

And also I know it’s a gear forum but come on, that last 5% of a bull test doesn’t really mean shit.

I agree with all of this, except the last bit. That last 5% doesn't mean shit to some people.

I fully accept if you're playing live, you probably don't give a toss. But not everyone is playing live. Some people are recording with it, and it matters more in such a scenario.

I love all that the greatest irony of all of this is, I've used the Kemper for punch-ins on two albums with my old band. But yeah sure, I'm the extremist.

 

[ian_dissonance]

Throw a few jihadi crusading christian cunt accusations in there, and you've about got the size of it.

I’m going to let y’all do your own side quests, lol. I don’t actually care about any of this, people who try to sideways a conversation to make themselves feel better about not be able to address the topic piss me off.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

I agree with all of this, except the last bit. That last 5% doesn't mean shit to some people.

I fully accept if you're playing live, you probably don't give a toss. But not everyone is playing live. Some people are recording with it, and it matters more in such a scenario.

I love all that the greatest irony of all of this is, I've used the Kemper for punch-ins on two albums with my old band. But yeah sure, I'm the extremist.

I tell you what I feel about Fractal like you do about Kemper. I’m just not nearly as vocal because the aggravation isn’t worth it.

But it’s literally the same song and dance.
And I used my numerous ones for over a decade for records, tours and local stuff.

In general all this 5% and good enough hyperbole in itself is laughable because when push comes to shove I can get the job done with a 100€ Harley Benton and a plugin.

Yet, guys that do mostly what? act like they’re gonna record the next landmark album.

Oh there’s one other difference between the two of us.
The view times I called someone a cunt was to start a brawl. And by that I don’t mean blabbering on a guitar forum.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

It’s all about the Accepted Products list, Ed!

It really seems so, just good I have no emotional connection to it.

Actually, one of the things I really dug about getting out of MI when I decided to rather be a broke ass wannabe then working for amp companies was/is that I didn’t have to deal with idiotic gear opinions unless I wanted to.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I tell you what I feel about Fractal like you do about Kemper. I’m just not nearly as vocal because the aggravation isn’t worth it.

But it’s literally the same song and dance.
And I used my numerous ones for over a decade for records, tours and local stuff.

In general all this 5% and good enough hyperbole in itself is laughable because when push comes to shove I can get the job done with a 100€ Harley Benton and a plugin.

Yet, guys that do mostly what? act like they’re gonna record the next landmark album.

Oh there’s one other difference between the two of us.
The view times I called someone a cunt was to start a brawl. And by that I don’t mean blabbering on a guitar forum.

You heard it here, folks! Ed’s selling his Tylers and getting a Harley Benton to use with plugins!!

 

[molul]

I don't know so much about the Kone. I've wanted an ""FRFR"" that feels "like a cab". Considering their stated improvements to cabinet impulses, I wonder if this can mean eventual improvements to so-called "imprints" as well.

My ex bandmate who had the Kemper Stage, had a Kone and it sounded just great, and it moved the air perfectly in small venues gigs, unlike my Headrush FR108, which would really get lost unless I put it really loud.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

You heard it here, folks! Ed’s selling his Tylers and getting a Harley Benton to use with plugins!!

Dude, I have Harley Benton’s.
As they say hold my beer…watch the video

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

You heard it here, folks! Ed’s selling his Tylers and getting a Harley Benton to use with plugins!!

I got a story there for you.
I know this guy for 45+ year, I’d describe him as an avid guitar buyer has like 30 1500 bucks guitars.
Hasn’t played with others in decades. The kind that has the guitar store clerk demo the gear for him.

When I got back to Germany 7 years ago I had literally 200 bucks to my name, 2 guitars, and AA12 and FX8 and some clothes.

I asked that guy to loan me his Chinese Ovation that he bought used for 70 bucks, so that I could go busking.
His answer was no, I don’t loan out tools.
Mkay…

2 days ago he asks me to if I loan him my Tyler cause he wants to try them for a while. Not the JTG, the Tyler. Lol

And just to put this into perspective, first time I thought in India I left my Eggle Single cut with one of my students, my NJ Steinberger Gm1TA with another and always had friends that borrowed gear long term.
No prob.
But when you say no to a beater acoustic and want a Tyler from me it’s “never gonna happen”.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Dude, I have Harley Benton’s.
As they say hold my beer…watch the video

Sounds awesome and great playing! I was kidding about selling your Tyler‘s and such, in case it was an obvious. But yeah, Harley Bentons can do a pretty damn good job.

 

[OneEng]

Short of booking out some time at the Cern Large Hadron Collider .... a well set up and done Null Test is as good as we have for us lay-people to determine how accurate a copy of a static Amp set up is.

In this Context, there is no doubt that NAM is top of the heap ... followed very closely by Tonex .. then some distance to the QC ... and then some more distance to the current KPA MK1 Process.

So whilst music and tone definitely is subjective, NAM [and Tonex] are -objectively speaking- the best Amp copying tools currently available for static capturing .... you know, kind of like water is wet .... they just "are".

This does not though in any way devalue anyone's subjective personal ear-preferences for whatever tone they most like .... plenty of people prefer good modelers like the Axe and Helix and QC .... plenty of people love NAM/Tonex .... plenty of people love the KPA ... so in this respect, there is no objective right answer.

But the whole accuracy -vs- subjective preference in no way invalidate each other, either way.

Best post in this thread .

So it's okay for you guys to shit on people, but not me .... okay.... gotcha.

Shit on people? I said I felt sorry for them.

Move the goal post much? We are talking about Kemper MK2 right? Who uses a Kemper MK2 for a pedal board device?

Once you are talking about an all-in-one device (which for me leaves out EVERY 2 or 3 button pedal) FX matters. Workflow matters. Stage setup matters, etc.

Would you recommend Tonex for an all in one solution? If someone you know asked you if they should buy a Tonex OR a Kemper Player for an all in one (not part of a pedal board), would you seriously tell them Tonex?

but it still doesn't negate the fact that the Kemper is inaccurate at what was once its USP

Now this is a problem for Kemper. They have hung their hat on something that is demonstrably NOT true (anymore). As I have stated, I think they should higher a product manager and a marketing company to help them out as the product has more strengths that are more unique today than capture accuracy.

Uhhhh. I’ve got a few Tonex ones that I put onto real pedalboards. Most of my actual pedals blow the effects in my Kemper away…the point of Tonex is to integrate it with a board, that’s how most people use it. We’re comparing different things now but the fact you’d call that pathetic says more about your unwavering love for Kemper than anything else.

Actually, I agree with you that Fractal has an edge over Kemper in efx AND in routing. Comparing Fractal to Kemper is the only real conversation I see gigging and touring musicians have.

In context, I was comparing Tonex as a stand alone device. If the company didn't mean for it to EVER be used as a stand alone device, they would not have bothered putting the pathetic verb and delay in it.

If we would like to have a discussion on why people prefer an all in one solution vs a pedal board, this thread isn't really the right topic.

Kemper is designed to be an all in one product. Comparing it to Tonex at all is just silly IMO.

I can only listen through one plus 12 phone speaker -- but in the first test deadpan posted, I think the Kemper is the one that comes in second. Both the lack of depth and presence of "tubescreamer" mid response seem to be there. It's the mosquito quality that I dislike, which shows up on all my high gain profiles.

If I'm wrong, then I certainly prefer the Kemper to the amp in that test.

The second test posted is harder to tell. It's more difficult for me to discern Kemper from source when the tone is scooped because the TS becomes less perceivable (even though in my experience it'll be easily perceivable in terms of feel). But they are certainly different. How different? Quantification is a challenge itself.

That said, I think these inaccuracies can both be exaggerated and minimized. I don't think anyone would go "oh the the live band sounds like crap because of Kemper", and correctly spot Kemper in a statistically significant manner.

But at the same time I know Kemper high gain play feel, and I don't like it.

I'm repeating myself at this point, but maybe MKII profiling fixes such issues. Hard to find much else to talk about when it comes to the new Kemper. I don't think we are to blame for that though.

Good point. No one in the audience is going to think the band sound bad because the guitar player is using a Kemper (and in fact, most guitarists that care to shell out this kind of money for a device are usually quite good musicians so it likely sounds fantastic)... but as a musician, if you don't care for the feel, you absolutely should be looking at something else.

I am also pulling for Kemper and hope the new profiling takes care of their accuracy weakness.

Shitting on Kemper = bad. Shitting on NAM players or Tonex = good. Got it.

Dude, we get it. You’re completely out of your depth with board design, MIDI, and switchers. All in ones are great for you.

I am saying I feel sorry for anyone using a NAM or Tonex player as an all in one. I don't think that is "Shitting" on those products. They have a place, but IMO it isn't the same place that a Kemper would be considered.

For those that prefer a pedal board, good for you! This thread is about Kemper MK2 .... which is quite obviously an all-in-one targeted product. Plenty of people here want to reduce the entire Kemper platform down to how accurately it captures and ignore it's prowess at being great an all-in-one solution.

I thought the Mark clip was a result of Paisley's comments on the Kemper


TBF, I personally wouldn't say the first clip sounded like ass and there's no way in hell I'd know one were an amp sim if I didn't hear them back to back. I'm still not even sure I/we were correct.

This is kind of where I am as well. I suspect that I would like the way the 1st clip sat in the mix better than the 2nd .... but that is because the mids were a bit more pronounced. The truth is, after a little channel eq on the mixer, both of them would sound great (I am a big Mesa Mark IIc fan).

I don't know so much about the Kone. I've wanted an ""FRFR"" that feels "like a cab". Considering their stated improvements to cabinet impulses, I wonder if this can mean eventual improvements to so-called "imprints" as well.

They actually should do some work here. Comparing the "real amp" to the Kemper with Kab, there is still room for improvement that I would like to see.

The Kone is better than the Powercab. But still not worth the squeeze overall.

I haven't been able to justify the cost myself .... also I think my wife would be happier if I continued to practice through head phones at home anyway. I would be happier with a Kab, but hey .... the things we do for marital bliss .

This thread.

Kemper sounds fine, it’s not 100% accurate but it’s a good complete package. I reckon the going rate for the used ones are a bit of a bargain right now.

The Mkii looks rubbish, just more of the same with a mild facelift. Why didn’t they all include Bluetooth and WiFi support and variable impedence? Lazy ass fuckers.

Interesting to see some who are happy to flog profiles even if they’re a load of inaccurate shite, mental note not to buy from them ever.

And also I know it’s a gear forum but come on, that last 5% of a bull test doesn’t really mean shit.

I totally agree for MOST people. There are some (many in this thread) that cherish accuracy above everything else. I don't understand it myself, but then, it isn't necessary for me to understand in order to accept it.

agree with all of this, except the last bit. That last 5% doesn't mean shit to some people.

Not that many at the end of the day .... which is why I find it baffling that Kemper hangs their hat on that arguement.

My ex bandmate who had the Kemper Stage, had a Kone and it sounded just great, and it moved the air perfectly in small venues gigs, unlike my Headrush FR108, which would really get lost unless I put it really loud.

This is the same experience I have had with my friends Kemper rig. He was using a DXR10 and moved to the Kab.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Sounds awesome and great playing! I was kidding about selling your Tyler‘s and such, in case it was an obvious. But yeah, Harley Bentons can do a pretty damn good job.

Oh it was quite clear. But I just had to lol

As for HB, it used to an embarrassment for a brand.
My first one I got was a wanna be 335 that then was like 250 bucks I’d say 6 years ago. And they had a B stick and something went sideways with DHL I got that for like 165 bucks and it actually was fun to play. I think before the fire I had like 9 of them.

 

[Dimiguitar]

Oh it was quite clear. But I just had to lol

As for HB, it used to an embarrassment for a brand.
My first one I got was a wanna be 335 that then was like 250 bucks I’d say 6 years ago. And they had a B stick and something went sideways with DHL I got that for like 165 bucks and it actually was fun to play. I think before the fire I had like 9 of them.

Here's my Harley Benton :) I refretted with jescar 58118 stainless and scalloped. They're often good guitars.

 

[quadgear]

I think my wife would be happier if I continued to practice through head phones at home anyway. I would be happier with a Kab

For practice volumes, I suspect a reasonable set of studio monitors would work better than a Kab.
Just a guess. Never used one.

I played a FR12 in a studio and found it just ok at lower volumes and it needed a balanced signal to drive it the loudest.

I am looking for something lightweight to play gigs with, and I wonder if I'll regret getting a Kab versus FR10 (both now with the Kemper ... and perhaps later if move to some other modeler/profiler that cannot use the Kab in all its glory).

I suspect we may see more fr's like the fr12 from other companies. Sooner or later Line6 will ship some magic device to replace the Power Cab

 

[Chocol8]

If the company didn't mean for it to EVER be used as a stand alone device, they would not have bothered putting the pathetic verb and delay in it.

You seem to have no clue how the vast majority of musicians use gear.

The effects are basically a free add-on which allows the device to stand alone for things like practice at home, casual jams, rehearsals, or even small gigs where a full high quality rig is completely unnecessary. Tonex was never meant to replace a full rig for studio or major live use. That’s pretty obvious.

 

[Chocol8]

Kemper is designed to be an all in one product. Comparing it to Tonex at all is just silly IMO.

Tonex plus a VP4 or Tonex plus one of several Helix devices makes an all in 2 solution that IMHO is a major step up from Kemper as an all in one.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

You seem to have no clue how the vast majority of musicians use gear.

The effects are basically a free add-on which allows the device to stand alone for things like practice at home, casual jams, rehearsals, or even small gigs where a full high quality rig is completely unnecessary. Tonex was never meant to replace a full rig for studio or major live use. That’s pretty obvious.

I gotta ask…full high quality rig?
My first tour in Asia in 2010 was a guitar (no back-up), Emma Reeza MIAB OD. Into an apogee whatever was their cheapie thing at the time running delay and verb off Apple MainStage in the loop return of any crap Backline amp, and if it didn’t have a loop in the front.

Next tour had an Axe-Fx and because of a power surge was rendered useless. The remaining gigs where a Bogner Red pedal into a Hughes and Kettner Red Box into the board.

You guys make such a big deal about gear it’s scary.