Kemper Profiler MK 2

[Gary_W]

Just saying hello here! After 10 years as an active member on the Kemper forum...I got a permanent ban there
I am back on OS 13 on my Mk1 - too much trouble with my workflow on OS14 and new Rig Manager version.

I have just too many good rigs to let my Toaster go (also like the Noise Gates and a few other features).

But not going the Mk2 road any time soon - my wife can’t quite believe it and has already mentally spent the money elsewhere...

Hi lbot39

Welcome to this place - I remember your handle from the Kemper forum :). Afaik I’m not permanently banned over there but I did get a ban for a week for asking an on-topic question. I haven’t tried to log in since as I’m afraid it set off my justice sensors.

Anyway, I have a Stadium XL now and (imo) it’s fabulous. That’s not me slagging Kemper - I really enjoyed my mk1 over many years but no regrets in jumping; I’m preferring the sound, workflow, the features, the regular updates and the fact that there are regular drop ins on forums from folks who work at L6 that engage with *the question asked* rather than getting pissy because you’ve asked it.

I hope you enjoy it here :)

 

[Eagle]

Mk1 with 14 is absolutely fine. I would still take it over Helix for the tones I like.

 

[BenIfin]

Initial Micro Review / Thoughts / Comments [still awaiting my Mbritt Pack MK2 LP Pack to try and make a final call].

As such, these comments based on MBritt MK1 Liquid Profiles only - fuck they still sound amazing !!

The Bad

- RM 4 Software is very flaky - perfect for a while and then it just crashes
- IR Imports sound just as terrible as they always have - like just forget about using them
- I loaded NAD IR with my fav. IR in my DAW and recorded a DI MK1 LP Profile - IR sounded and felt fine
- exact same DI MK1 LP Profile with same IR loaded in Kemper - just. all. fucked. up.
- the MK2 V2 Rig Exchange Profiles are almost all terrible - do people even know how to dial in an Amp anymore ? or has everyone's hearing been permanently fucked-up by wearing Ear Pods for the last 10 years !!! Even for "studio" MK2 V2 Profiles ..... Mic Placement (?) .... hello McFly ... anybody there !!!!
- every single Profile has a GARGANTUAN Low end that needs huge "pre-the-amp" EQ cutting - not hard, but WHY !!!!! I never has to do this with these same Profiles when I used them with my MK1 Stage ????

The Better

- even with MK1 LP's, the signature blanket Kemper Compression is gone = good
- even with MK1 LP's, the signature Kemper un-avoidable-mid-range-hump is gone = good
- even with MK1 LP's, the weird Kemper pick-attack thing is gone = good
- so even if you stick with your MK1 Profiles, and eq-out the mountain of low end, you will get a much more "honest" sound
- accuracy aside ..... once dialed-in you can get just fantastic tones with just MK1 LP's on a MK2 unit

Summary / Conclusion

- still awaiting my Mbritt Pack MK2 LP Pack to try and make a final decision

Will report back when they release.

 

[NightWalker]

- the MK2 V2 Rig Exchange Profiles are almost all terrible - do people even know how to dial in an Amp anymore ? or has everyone's hearing been permanently fucked-up by wearing Ear Pods for the last 10 years !!! Even for "studio" MK2 V2 Profiles

are you using a Kemper MK 2 to test those mk2 rigs in the RE?the Dill and Matt Fig rigs sound pretty good on my Kemper Player

 

[BenIfin]

are you using a Kemper MK 2 to test those mk2 rigs in the RE?the Dill and Matt Fig rigs sound pretty good on my Kemper Player

Yep. Kemper Player with the latest RM4.x and OS 14.x Personal preference - for me either too much gain .... way too much top end .... or both ...y.m.m.v :)

 

[Antipodes]

Are you testing liquid profiles? They are intended to be adjusted to taste. If they are profiled with the controls dimed, the intention is that you will not necessarily use them as delivered but rather dial in the gain and Eq settings you prefer.

 

[Ibot39]

Initial Micro Review / Thoughts / Comments [still awaiting my Mbritt Pack MK2 LP Pack to try and make a final call].

As such, these comments based on MBritt MK1 Liquid Profiles only - fuck they still sound amazing !!

The Bad

- RM 4 Software is very flaky - perfect for a while and then it just crashes
- IR Imports sound just as terrible as they always have - like just forget about using them
- I loaded NAD IR with my fav. IR in my DAW and recorded a DI MK1 LP Profile - IR sounded and felt fine
- exact same DI MK1 LP Profile with same IR loaded in Kemper - just. all. fucked. up.
- the MK2 V2 Rig Exchange Profiles are almost all terrible - do people even know how to dial in an Amp anymore ? or has everyone's hearing been permanently fucked-up by wearing Ear Pods for the last 10 years !!! Even for "studio" MK2 V2 Profiles ..... Mic Placement (?) .... hello McFly ... anybody there !!!!
- every single Profile has a GARGANTUAN Low end that needs huge "pre-the-amp" EQ cutting - not hard, but WHY !!!!! I never has to do this with these same Profiles when I used them with my MK1 Stage ????

The Better

- even with MK1 LP's, the signature blanket Kemper Compression is gone = good
- even with MK1 LP's, the signature Kemper un-avoidable-mid-range-hump is gone = good
- even with MK1 LP's, the weird Kemper pick-attack thing is gone = good
- so even if you stick with your MK1 Profiles, and eq-out the mountain of low end, you will get a much more "honest" sound
- accuracy aside ..... once dialed-in you can get just fantastic tones with just MK1 LP's on a MK2 unit

Summary / Conclusion

- still awaiting my Mbritt Pack MK2 LP Pack to try and make a final decision

Will report back when they release.

Kemper converts and truncates IRs when importing. Still they sound very close to the original. Be careful how you set external IR loaders, some can sound very different in default settings (resonance, IR length...). For me using good direct amp profiles with IRs is still the best way. And why I still use my Kemper ( Mk1). Compared to external IR loader Kemper with IR can sound a tiny bit more focused, what I actually like.

I also make my own profiles by shooting a direct amp profile and some IRs of the cab mic setup. By refining a DI profile I often get closer to the real amp (sometimes it is harder, depending on amp). And with imported IRs it usually sounds spot on, with less lower mid congestion. Just my experience of course.

 

[OneEng]

Just saying hello here! After 10 years as an active member on the Kemper forum...I got a permanent ban there
I am back on OS 13 on my Mk1 - too much trouble with my workflow on OS14 and new Rig Manager version.

I have just too many good rigs to let my Toaster go (also like the Noise Gates and a few other features).

But not going the Mk2 road any time soon - my wife can’t quite believe it and has already mentally spent the money elsewhere...

Yea, me too. Permanently banned. I could signup with another email address, but honestly, I just think it's better not to contribute to that forum.

I don't see their logic over there, but wish them well.

Sorry to hear about the ban. I also have a Mk1 rack and I have no plans of installing 14 or ever buying a Mk2. My son was using the rack this weekend and listening to him play it still sounds good (great actually) for clean tones with the buit in effects and the looper. It's a tough combo to beat (rack + foot controller) for clean tones.

Good luck to them on 14 and the Mk2.

My Quad Cortex just continues to deliver (God, I never though I'd end up saying THAT!).

There are too many reports of issues on 14 for me. I'll wait it out until things stabilize. This is very un-Kemper like to make a release with problems like this.

Anyway, I have a Stadium XL now and (imo) it’s fabulous. That’s not me slagging Kemper - I really enjoyed my mk1 over many years but no regrets in jumping; I’m preferring the sound, workflow, the features, the regular updates and the fact that there are regular drop ins on forums from folks who work at L6 that engage with *the question asked* rather than getting pissy because you’ve asked it.

I am thinking maybe middle of next year. Still waiting on Stadium to mature a little and perhaps come down in price a bit? Also would love to see a rack and FC version pretty please :).

Mk1 with 14 is absolutely fine. I would still take it over Helix for the tones I like.

Lots of issues being flagged with the new rig manager. Also, there is evidentially a volume decrease with MK1 profiles. I'm going to see if they can iron out these things before I update my MK1.

Another interesting take here:

Amp Capture Comparison

If you go to the very end, the conclusion is what I found most interesting. Basically he states that they are all audibly so close that other things matter more to him and that Stadium is his preference because it does everything else so well.

 

[Orvillain]

- even with MK1 LP's, the signature blanket Kemper Compression is gone = good
- even with MK1 LP's, the signature Kemper un-avoidable-mid-range-hump is gone = good
- even with MK1 LP's, the weird Kemper pick-attack thing is gone = good

lmao, all those things that Kemperites told us weren't real problems over the last decade. Niiiiice.

 

[Gary_W]

I am thinking maybe middle of next year. Still waiting on Stadium to mature a little and perhaps come down in price a bit? Also would love to see a rack and FC version pretty please :).

The position on these that Digital Igloo (Eric Klein, one of the main guys on Stadium at Line 6) has communicated is along the lines of ‘racks aren’t viable these days’ and ‘there are other helix products in the ladder that are still there priced below stadium - this is the flagship’.

Of course, neither of those is a blanket ‘that won’t happen’ but the current messaging isn’t corresponding with your hoped-for timescale. Black Friday might be kind momentarily though?

Proxy is already really nice - depending who you listen to, it’s already out-doing Kemper mk2 profiling in raw ability (I can’t a/b so can’t comment) but the fact you can have up to four captures in one preset is already a massive functional improvement as you can independently use a couple of captured distortion pedals with a captured amp. And they’re still improving it. However, I’m mostly using the amp models with focus mode….. I find it easier getting what’s on my mind with that than I ever did going through tons of profiles.

 

[BenIfin]

lmao, all those things that Kemperites told us weren't real problems over the last decade. Niiiiice.

Yep - agreed - and despite being a previous very long time MK1 KPA user - I was never a Kemperite and was always very aware of its good and bad ... as recent as here I was pointing this shit out to whomever would listen

It is good to see some of this stuff finally being addressed - but I have to be honest and say at the moment, my Player is getting closer and closer to FB M/Place

 

[OneEng]

The position on these that Digital Igloo (Eric Klein, one of the main guys on Stadium at Line 6) has communicated is along the lines of ‘racks aren’t viable these days’ and ‘there are other helix products in the ladder that are still there priced below stadium - this is the flagship’.

Of course, neither of those is a blanket ‘that won’t happen’ but the current messaging isn’t corresponding with your hoped-for timescale. Black Friday might be kind momentarily though?

Proxy is already really nice - depending who you listen to, it’s already out-doing Kemper mk2 profiling in raw ability (I can’t a/b so can’t comment) but the fact you can have up to four captures in one preset is already a massive functional improvement as you can independently use a couple of captured distortion pedals with a captured amp. And they’re still improving it. However, I’m mostly using the amp models with focus mode….. I find it easier getting what’s on my mind with that than I ever did going through tons of profiles.

Yea, I hear him. For people that gig A LOT or tour (but to his point, this is a fairly small percentage of the buying public), the rack and foot controller combination is the gold standard as it lets you put your rack out of the way on stage, and have only a single cable going out to the foot controller making your stage area very clean. It's also easier to setup and tear down.

Line 6 has always had a rack version in their lineup I believe. I was hoping that they would continue with it in the Stadium generation. I do get going with the all-in-one foot controller first though. The rack and foot controller combo will most certainly be more expensive than their current XL offering.

 

[Chocol8]

The problem with the rack and foot controller idea is that it doesn't sell well. It is not worth it for L6 to put time and development effort into a product they don't expect to sell well, when the have other things in the pipeline that they expect will have much higher demand.

That means even if a rack does eventually come out, it could be 5 years away.

 

[OneEng]

The problem with the rack and foot controller idea is that it doesn't sell well. It is not worth it for L6 to put time and development effort into a product they don't expect to sell well, when the have other things in the pipeline that they expect will have much higher demand.

That means even if a rack does eventually come out, it could be 5 years away.

Oh man, you and reality are bumming me out .

You are likely correct. There aren't enough people that are willing to pay more for a two piece solution just because it is more road worthy and stage friendly.

 

[guitarsandcoffee]

Just saying hello here! After 10 years as an active member on the Kemper forum...I got a permanent ban there
I am back on OS 13 on my Mk1 - too much trouble with my workflow on OS14 and new Rig Manager version.

I have just too many good rigs to let my Toaster go (also like the Noise Gates and a few other features).

But not going the Mk2 road any time soon - my wife can’t quite believe it and has already mentally spent the money elsewhere...

I was banned for a couple weeks because I called out a moderator for gas-lighting (and he was), and for simply asking - if all they changed is one chip and it's not even a new production chip, how is it possible that MK1 cannot run 2.0 profiles at full resolution. Apparently that was enough.

I have griped for a long time on their forums about the UI and workflow deciding how people buy now because all the platforms tones and sounds are "good enough" for most things. I also have griped about the utter stupidity behind the Player design and rollout with the paid upgrades and purposefully crippling a unit for more money.

Fast forward, I recently bought a QC and am loving it. The UI and workflow is so much better and easier. One example - the para-eq it has is way better than Kemper's.

Is Neural perfect? No. The decision came when I looked at the MK2 Stage at Sweetwater and couldn't bring myself to buy another Stage that looks and acts identical to mine. Would I really buy a 2015 truck again in 2026? So, I decided it was time to move on.

Needless to say, I am phasing out the Kemper from my rig line up and by the end of summer should be all QC.

Yes, Kemper MK1 still sounds good if not great. But so does QC, so does Stadium, etc.

 

[guitarsandcoffee]

There are too many reports of issues on 14 for me. I'll wait it out until things stabilize. This is very un-Kemper like to make a release with problems like this.

I am thinking maybe middle of next year. Still waiting on Stadium to mature a little and perhaps come down in price a bit? Also would love to see a rack and FC version pretty please :).

Lots of issues being flagged with the new rig manager. Also, there is evidentially a volume decrease with MK1 profiles. I'm going to see if they can iron out these things before I update my MK1.

Kemper came out on the forums and stated the volume drop was intentional to match up to 2.0 profiles. I would've left the 1.0 profiles alone since all of us have spent a lot of time honing them. But hey, what do I know.

 

[guitarsandcoffee]

Yea, I hear him. For people that gig A LOT or tour (but to his point, this is a fairly small percentage of the buying public), the rack and foot controller combination is the gold standard as it lets you put your rack out of the way on stage, and have only a single cable going out to the foot controller making your stage area very clean. It's also easier to setup and tear down.

Line 6 has always had a rack version in their lineup I believe. I was hoping that they would continue with it in the Stadium generation. I do get going with the all-in-one foot controller first though. The rack and foot controller combo will most certainly be more expensive than their current XL offering.

I wonder if the next generation of guitar players are so used to a footboard for everything plus click tracks and midi handling changes if they even think about a rack unit. And I wonder how many actually have a tube amp where you fiddle with the knobs. I honestly don't know. I do know a lot of rig rundown videos I see the guitarist has a QC sitting in a rack drawer. I also see a lot of hybrid boards with multiple guitar pedals feeding a QC or Tonex.

I myself (40 years old) don't really think about rack units...ever. I'm so used to a Kemper Stage and now QC that it just never comes up. In one of the groups I am in, we have a video production with coordinated lights and midi handling all my changes. I literally only engage footswitches for tuning and if something goes wrong and midi doesn't change the patch.

 

[ian_dissonance]

A rack means another thing to cart, still needs a footboard for control (unless you’re sequencing your switching), then you gotta have the rack accoutrements like power and cable management. Someone mentioned one cable on the floor. With my modeler floorboard powered off a portable power bank I have one cable to my FR and then a split out to IEMs and FOH from there, still one cable.

 

[OneEng]

I was banned for a couple weeks because I called out a moderator for gas-lighting (and he was), and for simply asking - if all they changed is one chip and it's not even a new production chip, how is it possible that MK1 cannot run 2.0 profiles at full resolution. Apparently that was enough.

I have griped for a long time on their forums about the UI and workflow deciding how people buy now because all the platforms tones and sounds are "good enough" for most things. I also have griped about the utter stupidity behind the Player design and rollout with the paid upgrades and purposefully crippling a unit for more money.

Yea, that line of questioning got me banned permanently. I don't think that their methods are a good idea though.

I wonder if the next generation of guitar players are so used to a footboard for everything plus click tracks and midi handling changes if they even think about a rack unit. And I wonder how many actually have a tube amp where you fiddle with the knobs. I honestly don't know. I do know a lot of rig rundown videos I see the guitarist has a QC sitting in a rack drawer. I also see a lot of hybrid boards with multiple guitar pedals feeding a QC or Tonex.

I myself (40 years old) don't really think about rack units...ever. I'm so used to a Kemper Stage and now QC that it just never comes up. In one of the groups I am in, we have a video production with coordinated lights and midi handling all my changes. I literally only engage footswitches for tuning and if something goes wrong and midi doesn't change the patch.

Next generation? I'm 60 and have my Kemper setup with wireless MIDI and Bandhelper to do changes with a set list manager. I have been using a foot controller with a rack since 2013. Having a single cord going out to the foot controller is amazing for setup and tear down.

It's ironic really. I think that it used to be that the all-in-one foot controller was the bargain product and the rack plus foot controller was the premium product for touring (or heavy gigging). This was true for Line 6 as well.

I would hate to think that the rack plus foot controller format is being eliminated

 

[guitarsandcoffee]

Yea, that line of questioning got me banned permanently. I don't think that their methods are a good idea though.

Next generation? I'm 60 and have my Kemper setup with wireless MIDI and Bandhelper to do changes with a set list manager. I have been using a foot controller with a rack since 2013. Having a single cord going out to the foot controller is amazing for setup and tear down.

It's ironic really. I think that it used to be that the all-in-one foot controller was the bargain product and the rack plus foot controller was the premium product for touring (or heavy gigging). This was true for Line 6 as well.

I would hate to think that the rack plus foot controller format is being eliminated

We obviously don't know what Line6 has planned, I just know we are seeing a generation of guitar players used to plugins and laptops. A lot of them don't seem to have ever played a real amp. They are used to digital everything at this point.

To me, the benefit of the Kemper head and rack units is you can access the controls on the same level you would a tube amp. But if this next batch of players have never even gigged that way, they won't really know any different. I imagine all these companies would love to have (1) product to invest in and develop as opposed to 3-5. But again, I'm no expert.