Kemper Profiler MK 2

[LP59]

Kemper Rack. Going rate $500. And it’s still for sale…

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/kemper-rack-500.2682147/

If you look at the Kemper Rack and Stage price trends on Reverb, Kemper has been on a steady decline for years. The Mk2 announcement hasn't made much of a change to the used prices.

 

[OneEng]

The stage runs around 1k. Head and rack run around 800.

Personally I recommend these used over anything else. The value is incredible, especially for a gigging musician.

I just automated my show with a cme widi midi master and band helper. This and a used stage rivals even the best touring setups out there.... On the cheap!

 

[Jarick]

I would definitely look at the Stage over the Rack/Toaster. The Stage has integrated WiFi and that editor is pretty solid. Also I think as it's newer the response time is a little faster.

This thing looks really cool for the Player:

 

[OneEng]

I would definitely look at the Stage over the Rack/Toaster. The Stage has integrated WiFi and that editor is pretty solid. Also I think as it's newer the response time is a little faster.

This thing looks really cool for the Player:

That is a very cool idea. Provide the display that Kemper decided not to have!

 

[Sascha Franck]

This thing looks really cool for the Player:

Thre only thing this does is proving how utterly stupid of Kemper it was to not even include a mini screen (would fit just fine).

 

[OneEng]

Thre only thing this does is proving how utterly stupid of Kemper it was to not even include a mini screen (would fit just fine).

I agree completely. From a marketing standpoint, this is a HUGE miss IMO.

From a personal standpoint, I have decided that my band needs a remote device on each members mic stand. At a minimum, we need it for monitor levels. Some members rely on it for lyrics and cord changes (I am adamantly against this myself), and I use one to control my Kemper performance and rig setup automatically through a setlist app.

Having a remote screen with touch controls at arms reach (no bending over) is a better workflow for live gigging BUT you can't change the entire industry over night.

Do you think it is possible that in the future, all guitar devices will rely on a remote screen?

 

[Chocol8]

Do you think it is possible that in the future, all guitar devices will rely on a remote screen?

If manufacturers pull their heads out of their asses. This should have happened 10 years ago. We have all had quality touch screens in our pockets, why put a crappy one on the floor?

 

[Mongillo19]

If manufacturers pull their heads out of their asses. This should have happened 10 years ago. We have all had quality touch screens in our pockets, why put a crappy one on the floor?

Imo while it has yet to happen, I hate the idea of having only an app based interface.

What if my phone battery is low, what if it requires wifi to work, what if the app stops working, what if the company goes under and the app eventually does not function?

It just seems risky to me. I'm all for it being an additional option though

 

[paisleywookiee]

If manufacturers pull their heads out of their asses. This should have happened 10 years ago. We have all had quality touch screens in our pockets, why put a crappy one on the floor?

Because I don’t want to rely on a thing in my pocket for spur of the moment changes.

 

[Lysander]

If manufacturers pull their heads out of their asses. This should have happened 10 years ago. We have all had quality touch screens in our pockets, why put a crappy one on the floor?

Because anything relying on phones to work today will be outdated and abandonware within 5 (likely) to 10 years (assuredly).

I learned this lesson after buying hardware requiring apps to work which are no longer maintained.

 

[LP59]

Because anything relying on phones to work today will be outdated and abandonware within 5 (likely) to 10 years (assuredly).

I learned this lesson after buying hardware requiring apps to work which are no longer maintained.

Really? I have quite a few devices that rely on apps that are more than 5 years old.

In any case, if you look at Kemper Player, Tonex, etc. relying on an external editor app is the direction things are going.

 

[Lysander]

Really? I have quite a few devices that rely on apps that are more than 5 years old.

Oh, absolutely. I had to upgrade home IoTs (smart thermostats, for example) because their accompanying apps stopped receiving updates and became a PITA to operate after a couple years.

In any case, if you look at Kemper Player, Tonex, etc. relying on an external editor app is the direction things are going.

Indeed, which is why i don't buy those See also Nano Cortex, Sparks et al - and hardware requiring cloud services to work.

 

[quadgear]

Thre only thing this does is proving how utterly stupid of Kemper it was to not even include a mini screen (would fit just fine).

Had they put this screen in the device, everyone would complain it's too small, not legible, doesn't;t support feature X, it made the device too big, expensive, etc.

Still would have been better to have a good display instead of the perfect one or none.

 

[quadgear]

In other news, there's an update to the android app which might mean the Mk II profiles are getting close to release?

 

[Lysander]

In other news, there's an update to the android app which might mean the Mk II profiles are getting close to release?

Gah, i hope! Really looking forward to hear someone testing these new profiles.

 

[LP59]

Oh, absolutely. I had to upgrade home IoTs (smart thermostats, for example) because their accompanying apps stopped receiving updates and became a PITA to operate after a couple years.

My Ecobee thermostat is 7 years old and the app is still updated regularly. Even my device apps that haven't been upgraded in a long while still work fine.

At some point, you're right. An abandoned app will eventually stop working due an incompatible OS upgrade. That won't happen with an interface on the device. Realistically though, any digital amp sim will be obsolete within 10 years anyway due to advancing technology.

 

[LP59]

Had they put this screen in the device, everyone would complain it's too small, not legible, doesn't;t support feature X, it made the device too big, expensive, etc.

Still would have been better to have a good display instead of the perfect one or none.

I hate that I need a cheat sheet to make sense of the led's and colors. I think Walrus audio has done a good job with a compact display. But I know Kemper struggled to keep the price down. I wonder how much it would have added to the price.

 

[Lysander]

Realistically though, any digital amp sim will be obsolete within 10 years anyway due to advancing technology.

Funny you should mention that in a Kemper thread The toaster is now 14 years old, and going strong. There's plenty of rack gear even older than that and still in regular use.

 

[quadgear]

At some point, you're right. An abandoned app will eventually stop working due an incompatible OS upgrade. That won't happen with an interface on the device.

The Kemper has one of the most complete MIDI implementations. It still has gaps, but it's not hard to create whatever app or hardware you want to control it and view status.

 

[Sascha Franck]

If manufacturers pull their heads out of their asses. This should have happened 10 years ago. We have all had quality touch screens in our pockets, why put a crappy one on the floor?

I would actually agree, if:
- I could still attach the screen to the floor unit (to keep things compact and not lose the screen).
- It was delivered with the unit. My phone is my phone and I'm responsible for issues. My modeler is someone else's responsibility, screen issues included.
- It would charge once attached to the main unit.
- It would always be connected automatically. No stupid manual BT pairing or whatsoever.