Kemper Profiler MK 2

[Chocol8]

As I never profiled anything serious myself, I absolutely can't tell whether there might be some kinda "truth" behind it, all I know is that when I tried the MBritt profiles when I had a borrowed Kemper, they just were more fun to play than pretty much any other real amp I owned. But obviously, that says pretty much nothing.

Going back 5 plus years, I would agree that Kemper beat the competition in feel. It had its issues, but for my non-high gain needs it did feel more like playing a real amp than Helix, Atomic, and prior gen Fractal. It was (and is) a digital solution where you could load a good profile and enjoy playing which made its faults worth accepting.

These days, QC, Tonex, and NAM all do that even better. I expect Proxy will as well, but obviously it is way too soon to know. I also truly hoped a next gen Kemper profiling would offer a big step up, but seeing the MKII hardware, I am highly skeptical that they can even catch the competition let alone beat them with just a software tweak.

 

[Dimiguitar]

As I never profiled anything serious myself, I absolutely can't tell whether there might be some kinda "truth" behind it, all I know is that when I tried the MBritt profiles when I had a borrowed Kemper, they just were more fun to play than pretty much any other real amp I owned. But obviously, that says pretty much nothing.

I just don't think the Kemper can be the same to amp but better-er. Because, it'd be the same, then, and shit.

About profiles, I think at times people get recorded tones they prefer to their tube amps. Different people dial in amps, whole chains differently and you can find someone who's really good at it, for your taste.

Maybe that's the case for mbritt and yourself?

 

[Eagle]

Oooh more marketing slogans!

"Kemper: makes a Fender feel like a Matchless"

"Kemper: makes a Marshall feel like a Matchless"

"Kemper: makes a Mesa feel like a Matchless"

"Kemper: makes a Soldano feel like a Matchless"

Matchless are horrible to play but you didn’t know that .

 

[Chocol8]

Matchless are horrible to play but you didn’t know that .

 

[Dimiguitar]

Going back 5 plus years, I would agree that Kemper beat the competition in feel. It had its issues, but for my non-high gain needs it did feel more like playing a real amp than Helix, Atomic, and prior gen Fractal. It was (and is) a digital solution where you could load a good profile and enjoy playing which made its faults worth accepting.

These days, QC, Tonex, and NAM all do that even better. I expect Proxy will as well, but obviously it is way too soon to know. I also truly hoped a next gen Kemper profiling would offer a big step up, but seeing the MKII hardware, I am highly skeptical that they can even catch the competition let alone beat them with just a software tweak.

Agreed with everything pretty much. At some point I think fractal eventually surpassed Kemper, but that took a while.

I don't know what to expect from the new profiling. But I wonder if what they've done is incorporated a more sophisticated EQ match, which needs computer to run, and that's it.

EQ match can go a very long way, so I still imagine results can be meaningfully better than they are now.

 

[ian_dissonance]

Matchless are horrible to play but you didn’t know that .

Oh, but what if someone likes the way it FEELS?!

 

[Tanax]

The truth is that this thread would have died if it wasn't for the constant back and forth because there's literally nothing to say about the Mk2 at the moment. The ACTUAL "Mk2" update that matters is the update to the sound, and that's not released yet. So we don't really know if it will be an improvement or not.

I feel like I've aged 10 years just reading this thread. I don't get how you all have the strength to keep arguing back and forth. One side arguing how bad Kemper sounds, that it doesn't pass a null test, that it's the least accurate out there and that the company is awful. The other side arguing how amazing Kemper is, that it's the FEEL that matters and that the inaccuracies doesn't matter.

I'm 35. I'm too old for this shit.

 

[Dimiguitar]

The truth is that this thread would have died if it wasn't for the constant back and forth because there's literally nothing to say about the Mk2 at the moment. The ACTUAL "Mk2" update that matters is the update to the sound, and that's not released yet. So we don't really know if it will be an improvement or not.

I feel like I've aged 10 years just reading this thread. I don't get how you all have the strength to keep arguing back and forth. One side arguing how bad Kemper sounds, that it doesn't pass a null test, that it's the least accurate out there and that the company is awful. The other side arguing how amazing Kemper is, that it's the FEEL that matters and that the inaccuracies doesn't matter.

I'm 35. I'm too old for this shit.

Then why read

 

[ian_dissonance]

The truth is that this thread would have died if it wasn't for the constant back and forth because there's literally nothing to say about the Mk2 at the moment. The ACTUAL "Mk2" update that matters is the update to the sound, and that's not released yet. So we don't really know if it will be an improvement or not.

I feel like I've aged 10 years just reading this thread. I don't get how you all have the strength to keep arguing back and forth. One side arguing how bad Kemper sounds, that it doesn't pass a null test, that it's the least accurate out there and that the company is awful. The other side arguing how amazing Kemper is, that it's the FEEL that matters and that the inaccuracies doesn't matter.

I'm 35. I'm too old for this shit.

Honestly at this point I’m just seeing how far from an honest discussion these guys will take it. The mental gymnastics to flip right over the content of the conversation through the self-adjusted goalposts has been impressive. Add in the obvious emotional component and the circular logic, it’s quite entertaining, lol. So far I haven’t seen too many people say “Kemper bad”, but nobody who likes Kemper can accept that it’s even audibly inaccurate compared to more modern options, so that’s how the discussion turns.

 

[Deleted member 490]

I'm 35. I'm too old for this shit

Nah, I'm 39 and I'm enjoying it

 

[Orvillain]

I don't get how you all have the strength to keep arguing back and forth.

TRT bro

 

[Orvillain]

I'm 41 next month.

 

[Dimiguitar]

So far I haven’t seen too many people say “Kemper bad”, but nobody who likes Kemper can accept that it’s even audibly inaccurate compared to more modern options, so that’s how the discussion turns.

I even posted a mix comparison earlier on this thread where it's pretty damn hard for me to tell Kemper from amp. And I took part in the blind test from Deadman, getting it wrong.

If I thought Kemper was just simply a turd, wouldn't bother much. It's just that tests and differences between these units and software invites for some relatively nuanced discussion.

That is interesting for me, understanding others and developing my own views, changing my mind after reflection when it seems reasonable.

 

[Dimiguitar]

And I just called deadpan "Deadman". Been playing death stranding 2, sorry for that

 

[Orvillain]

And I just called deadpan "Deadman". Been playing death stranding 2, sorry for that

Better than "bedpan" or "snorevillain"

 

[nicolasrivera]

The truth is that this thread would have died if it wasn't for the constant back and forth because there's literally nothing to say about the Mk2 at the moment.

Wrong! We can say IT SUCKS!

 

[Dimiguitar]

I'm 41 next month.

Happy birthday in advance. Maybe Kemper releases the new profiling at that time just for you as a lel

 

[Tanax]

Then why read

Well you know how it goes.. I see there's an update in the thread and keep thinking "maybe some update has been announced" or "maybe there's a useful discussion going on". I guess I should know better by now...

Honestly at this point I’m just seeing how far from an honest discussion these guys will take it. The mental gymnastics to flip right over the content of the conversation through the self-adjusted goalposts has been impressive. Add in the obvious emotional component and the circular logic, it’s quite entertaining, lol. So far I haven’t seen too many people say “Kemper bad”, but nobody who likes Kemper can accept that it’s even audibly inaccurate compared to more modern options, so that’s how the discussion turns.

Wrong! We can say IT SUCKS!

Haha, I get it. I would assume the other party would always want to counter that though XD On on we go..

Nah, I'm 39 and I'm enjoying it

I'm 41 next month.

You are clearly younger (in mind) than me

TRT bro

Damn, so that's the secret sauce. Gotta try it!

 

[Jarick]

Going back 5 plus years, I would agree that Kemper beat the competition in feel. It had its issues, but for my non-high gain needs it did feel more like playing a real amp than Helix, Atomic, and prior gen Fractal. It was (and is) a digital solution where you could load a good profile and enjoy playing which made its faults worth accepting.

These days, QC, Tonex, and NAM all do that even better. I expect Proxy will as well, but obviously it is way too soon to know. I also truly hoped a next gen Kemper profiling would offer a big step up, but seeing the MKII hardware, I am highly skeptical that they can even catch the competition let alone beat them with just a software tweak.

Totally agree with the first part. Kemper was ahead of the competition for years, then the competition caught up, now they’ve gone past.

I still think there’s upside in Kemper from a plug and play standpoint of profiles and effects overall. I’ve always been more of a multi effect guy than amp and pedals though so I think more holistically.

On the amp and cab vs headphones thing I think it’s different frequencies that get highlighted. With an amp and cab you are hearing way more low end and the highs are rolled off. The focus is on amp models. With headphones you are getting way more high end and the cab block becomes a variable.

What’s been helping me is much more aggressive high cuts when using headphones. I actually went back to Beyer 880 headphones which are much brighter and a bit scooped and it seems more pleasing and consistent after I adjust to the high end (and kill the excess frequencies).

 

[Jarick]

I'm 41 next month.

Turned 42 last week. 30s weren’t bad at all but really have to work hard to keep my body from completely going to hell.