Kemper Profiler MK 2

[[Nathan]]

Good to see the “no one tracks with headphones in a control room” gaslighting attempt has been put to rest .

Always the problem with these sweeping statements. I’ve never seen an AC/DC cover band wearing crocs but I’d like to think there’s at least one out there. Just cause YOU don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

Anyway the headphone thing really stumped me for a minute but funny to see how common it is.

 

[ian_dissonance]

This is a good conversation to show that everyone has a different idea of workflow, for sure. Access to everything live doesn’t even come into account for me. If I’m not dialed in before I hit the stage then I fucked up somewhere. If I’m not getting an inspiring tone tracking in headphones then the mic or channel or the amp or the guitar are wrong.
Even with $40k monitoring I’d rather track in headphones specifically to NOT interact with anything besides the music during that part of the process.

 

[paisleywookiee]

And bedroom. The only time I have ever had gear or played in my bedroom was when I was in college and I only had one room! Do forum guitarists really play in their bedrooms all the time?

I have a Secret Underground Lair.

 

[ian_dissonance]

And bedroom. The only time I have ever had gear or played in my bedroom was when I was in college and I only had one room! Do forum guitarists really play in their bedrooms all the time?

And it’s always the “pros” (or pro adjacent) that like to make fun of the “bedroom” players, but 9/10 times the “bedroom” guys have some sort of media out there to show they at least play and the “pro (adjacent)” guys “don’t record”.

 

[Deadpan]

Ok, now for a SLO100.

 

[Dimiguitar]

Agree to disagree

For fun, I asked GPT question about session players.

 

[paisleywookiee]

One of the greatest prog rock guitar solos ever recorded, by one of the greatest guitarists ever, on one of the greatest ever prog musician's album. All but Guthrie wearing headphones.

 

[[Nathan]]

One of the greatest prog rock guitar solos ever recorded, by one of the greatest guitarists ever, on one of the greatest ever prog musician's album. All but Guthrie wearing headphones.

Me watching Guthrie must be what it’s like when my nephew watches me play Mario Kart, an absolute masterclass.

 

[OneEng]

Yep, and they are also great for small gigs, medium gigs, home recording, professional recording and more. I don't think too many people are doing arena or stadium tours with NAM or Toxex but there have been a couple recognizable names who have used them in mid level settings.

No doubt. I can't see how these solutions would compete with an MK2 for a live setup head to head though.

For professional studio recording, they’re much better options than lugging a Kemper around and doing things slowly with no plugin ability whatsoever and worse sound for the extra trouble.

So if it’s a case of making dumb/meaningless accusations about gear, you could easily call Kemper a bedroom toy.

As I don't do much professional recording, or know anyone who does, I can't argue one way or the other for a Kemper. For live performance, Kemper is easily a better tool to recommend than NAM or Tonex.

Surely you know by now how inflammatory statements like these are, right? I mean, if that's your goal, then go for it.

My goal is to ensure anyone reading this thread for information about the utility of the new MK2 Kemper understands that the product is one of the best, if not THE best live gigging devices money can buy.

I don’t use modelling at all in the studio;
View attachment 48459
Then there is the amp room.

OMG! Love the Egnator plug-in stack! I had a friend that owned one. He had an issue with one of his modules and literally went to Bruce's house in Michigan to get it fixed. Those were some great modules and the Egnator was a great brand.

They probably patented “profiling” and detailed their specific approach to the process. You can’t zoom out and claim all cloning approaches. New approaches mean no stepping on toes to their patent.

Not really much else they could do unless they constantly predicted how other approaches could be done, and swoop in with new patent after patent before someone else did it.

AFAIK there wasn't anyone doing capture at that time. A broader patent target would have been much better. Unfortunately, most engineers make terrible patents. Good patent attorneys are absorbently expensive.... so I suspect they cheeped out. I just finished my 7th patent. They are a major PITA to get through.

I still think Kemper is an amazing tool for live work. Maybe the best of any digital modeler/profiler once you adapt to its workflow.

That’s where it really shines for me

.... and this is where I live as well.

There is so much negativity on this particular forum over Kemper's relative lack of accuracy between NAM and Tonex that the casual reader may easily overlook the fact that Kemper the best live solution on the market.

 

[paisleywookiee]

My goal is to ensure anyone reading this thread for information about the utility of the new MK2 Kemper understands that the product is one of the best, if not THE best live gigging devices money can buy.

Then you should tone down your douchey posts about other products, lest you lose whatever credibility you still cling onto. Especially when you've proven to know jack shit about rig design.

 

[dws2384]

My goal is to ensure anyone reading this thread for information about the utility of the new MK2 Kemper understands that the product is one of the best, if not THE best live gigging devices money can buy.

Thats your goal because it's pretty obvious you might be the biggest Kemper fanboy thats existed.

There's nothing that puts a Kemper stage clearly above an FM3/9, Helix, or QC, they will all do the job in a live context. I think kemper would be my 3rd or 4th choice on that list but everyone will have a different opinion, that is all it is, an opinion. Different workflows work for different people.

 

[Jarick]

And bedroom. The only time I have ever had gear or played in my bedroom was when I was in college and I only had one room! Do forum guitarists really play in their bedrooms all the time?

It's a pejorative generalization, but there's some truth behind it. Bedroom volumes could mean volume levels that are acceptable in a home where you aren't bothering other people. There's a ton of us who only ever play at homes nowadays because gigging days are far in the past.

As a kid I mostly played in my parents' basement. In college and after when living in small apartments I had to play with modelers and headphones because that's the only option. I stopped playing for several years too because at the time the modelers weren't great and I didn't have many other options.

Started playing again right around 30 years old when I bought my first house and my own space again. By then I had small kids so it was a lot easier to play with headphones, and that's right around when the Helix and AX8 came out. Now I've got a home office in the basement with some great studio monitors and all kinds of gear everywhere but I still really like headphones! I can turn stuff up so it sounds loud to me but not others.

 

[Jarick]

Ok, now for a SLO100.

Where's the null test graph? Everyone knows you're supposed to use eyes and not ears to compare audio clips!

Guessing the second is the Kemper? A little less highs/lows and a bit more congested in the mids. Very subtle difference though.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Where's the null test graph? Everyone knows you're supposed to use eyes and not ears to compare audio clips!

Guessing the second is the Kemper? A little less highs/lows and a bit more congested in the mids. Very subtle difference though.

Second is Kemper.

 

[Dimiguitar]

There is so much negativity on this particular forum over Kemper's relative lack of accuracy between NAM and Tonex that the casual reader may easily overlook the fact that Kemper the best live solution on the market.

I think it's a great live solution but not necessarily the best for everybody. I suspect there's maybe relevant reasons why metallica, for example, use axe fx live and not Kemper.

I understand you want to underline cool features of the Kemper. I myself like most of these non-profiling features of these units. Switching to fractal way back, for example, for tonal reasons, brought a few pains for me that were non-issues with the Kemper.

I believe I remember you from Kemper forum and think you're quite reasonable and open minded towards contradicting viewpoints. But also calling tonex, nam "toys" doesn't seem fair to me, when they arguably beat Kemper at its core function.

 

[Jarick]

I believe I remember you from Kemper forum and think you're quite reasonable and open minded towards contradicting viewpoints. But also calling other tonex, nam "toys" doesn't seem the most fair to me, when they arguably beat Kemper at its core function.

I think after 100+ pages of bickering a lot of otherwise reasonable posters got a bit unraveled.

 

[dws2384]

I think after 100+ pages of bickering a lot of otherwise reasonable posters got a bit unraveled.

We wouldn't really have to bicker if there were meaningful things added to talk about...

 

[metropolis_4]

To distinguish from pub players and collectors.
Some of the collectors I work with are the most critical. It totally depends on your perspective. All the digital solutions are easily good enough for commercial use.

I guess I never understood why it’s important to make the distinction and try to stuff everyone into boxes.

But maybe it’s because of perspective, as you say. None of the people I work with fit into the categories of “touring musician”, pub player, or collector

 

[Sascha Franck]

One of the greatest prog rock guitar solos ever recorded, by one of the greatest guitarists ever, on one of the greatest ever prog musician's album. All but Guthrie wearing headphones.

Hah - I once noodled over a backing of that (for a noodling-fun based FB group). Didn't wear headphones either. If that isn't enough proof, I don't know what is.

Fwiw, I think I was blasting the backing over my little rehearsal PA with the MKIV behind me (recorded the speaker out with a DI box, then used an IR on playback). Huge fun recording that way (unfortunately I couldn't keep renting that space as the owner wanted it back).
Still have that video, but I possibly shouldn't post it as the last person on earth I'd want to compete with would be Govan (let alone there's no competing with him possible).

Whatever. As far as monitoring goes, you use what feels best. Sometimes it's sitting next to the amp /w headphones to get some feedback, sometimes its monitors and no HPs, sometimes it's HPs in the "control room" (or whatever one calls it in case it's a mere home studio).

 

[metropolis_4]

There's nothing that puts a Kemper stage clearly above an FM3/9, Helix, or QC, they will all do the job in a live context.

Depends on your needs and the live context. There are certain things that, for me, still put the QC far below the others you listed as a viable live performance tool option.

I could easily play any gig with a Fractal, Kemper, or Helix, but I would be worried about having to use a QC for some gigs.