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[Fordman65]

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[stratjacket]

I think the biggest thing to invest in are FRFR speakers. I wouldn't skimp there as it'll help the most. I went through a few and there are some good ones. But I'm currently using the Mission Engineering Gemini 2. I would research those a little if I were you. It's around the size of a little oversized 2x12 cab and can go mono or stereo. It is also USB, so you can use it like a computer audio monitor if you're routing through a PC for any reason.

But the best thing about it is that it has the ability (based on your settings in the kemper/axe-fx) to bring back the "live cab in the room" feel which to me helps make better presets.

 

[Mattfig]

Do it! You'll be damn glad you did....

The best profiles come from www.mattfig.com and also MBritt, SinMix, and The AmpFactory among others...

I also did extensive research and played all the FRFRs I could....Ended with the Mission Gemini 2 active....It is great but FRFR doesn't move air like a cab so I have it coupled with an Egnater 2x12 cab that takes a DI signal while giving the IR signal to the Mission Cab for the best of both worlds....



Hit me up if you have any specific questions...

 

[Mattfig]

I think the biggest thing to invest in are FRFR speakers. I wouldn't skimp there as it'll help the most. I went through a few and there are some good ones. But I'm currently using the Mission Engineering Gemini 2. I would research those a little if I were you. It's around the size of a little oversized 2x12 cab and can go mono or stereo. It is also USB, so you can use it like a computer audio monitor if you're routing through a PC for any reason.

But the best thing about it is that it has the ability (based on your settings in the kemper/axe-fx) to bring back the "live cab in the room" feel which to me helps make better presets.

Thanks for the reply. So you're saying the FRFR, so long as you invest in a quality box is better than or equal to having multiple cab configurations and leaving the Cab sims off?

Do it! You'll be damn glad you did....

The best profiles come from <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">http://www.mattfig.com</span> and also MBritt, SinMix, and The AmpFactory among others...

I also did extensive research and played all the FRFRs I could....Ended with the Mission Gemini 2 active....It is great but FRFR doesn't move air like a cab so I have it coupled with an Egnater 2x12 cab that takes a DI signal while giving the IR signal to the Mission Cab for the best of both worlds....



Hit me up if you have any specific questions...

Thanks for your reply. When using the FRFR and the cab do you experience any tone-suck/volume change because your using a real cab and a cab sim at the same time? Say the cab sim going through the FRFR is a 4x12 greenback and the real cab is a 2x12 V30. Any issue with volume or mixing the two?

Nah, the Mission has an independent volume control but the Kemper makes it easy anyway even if it didn't have it....No tone suck at all, but honestly, I prefer the true cab over the FRFR any day....Having both is just an added bonus for me....

 

[thiswaythatway]

Damm, the Mission is $1500! Not cheap. There's the Friedman ASM, Xitone, and Atomic CLR. You guys prefer the Mission over those?

 

[ibzprestige]

Have you considered other modelers? How did you decide on the Kemper? Only asking because I'm in the same boat. Never owned an axe, but when I had a Kemper with the Friedman asm-12 I couldn't have been happier, IR's to me sound just as good as cabs when at home or recording level.

 

[stratjacket]

With any FRFR speaker system, you'll still need cab sims (IR's). But with the Axe and Kemper, it's a complete rig inside there, meaning pedals, amp, cabs, routing, mics and everything you need in there to make a complete rig. So it has more of a finished polished sound. To get that cab in the room feeling (or at least very close), I figured out that setting it up with no mic and a good 4x12 cab sim mix, the same way you would if you were playing through a cab works pretty good. It is still subjective though, so YMMV. The Mission Eng II is a 2x12 cab and turned up it can push air pretty good.

But as pointed out, it's expensive but the OP said "best of the best". The other FRFR systems listed above are great also.

 

[Smac77]

Damm, the Mission is $1500! Not cheap. There's the Friedman ASM, Xitone, and Atomic CLR. You guys prefer the Mission over those?

ouch...

 

[Mattfig]

Yeah, the Mission is the best FRFR to my ear but a traditional cab is still more honest though you don't get all the speaker sims....

As I mentioned, I blend both and love it that way.....But it was a very expensive rig...I set out to get the best right off the bat....

If I had to do it again, I would....It's the bomb!

 

[Mattfig]

Playing my amps, I'm struggling with making the move. I don't have to sell them to buy the Kemper setup, but not sure I'm quite ready to dump the kind of cash required to possibly sell it right away if I'm not happy. Still thinking it over. They seem to pop for sale fairly often, so not in a big rush.

With so many reviews, it's hard to tell what is what. Some people feel the need to defend their position not matter what. "feels like the real thing", feels lifeless and fake" yada yada yada. I just need to figure out a way to get in front of one.

Thanks for all the replies.

Dude, you don't need FRFR and all that jazz....Keep your cab and get the Kemper....You'll be glad you did IMHO...BTW, I have fooled the vast majority of people as to which is which....It's odd but they almost always say the Kemper is the real thing when bouncing between amp and Kemper on the same cab...It's not dull and lifeless at all....Unless you played dull and lifeless profiles...

 

[Metlupass2]

If you play at home try a nice set of studio monitors. I've got a pair of Yamaha HS5 and the subwoofer. I almost never use my Atomic CLR.

You will only need the power head or rack if you're playing through non powered speakers. Most all nice FRFR cabs and studio monitors are active/powered so you don't need the powered Kemper.

If you're planning on playing through your 4x12 then you'll need the power amp.

 

[Monkey Man]

So what say you?

1. Best profilers in your experience?
4. Best software to interface with PC?
6. Any new versions coming out that I should wait for?

1. Bert Meulendijk, Michael Britt, Guido Bungenstock, Top Jimi, Amp Factory, ChopTones, SinMix...

4. The free Rig Manager app from the Kemper site. I keep just one "dummy" Rig on the machine, with a wah locked into FX slot 1, and browse the Rig Exchange, the free stuff from the forum and the stuff I've bought via the app. Entire library lives on the Mac (or PC, in your case).

6. People have been asking this since 2013. I'd say "no", 'cause the forward-planning by the devs was exceptional, as evidenced by the continual FW updates that add new features and the fact that the Profiling engine itself hasn't changed. No update will alter the way a Profile sounds. Major bonus, that.

Worst-case scenario is a new model comes out, and you'll be "stuck" with thousands of great-feeling, believable amp "sims".

 

[keennay]

Hmm, I didn't know there was a 'powered' version of the Kemper that allowed a feed to 4x12 cabs.

So in the scenario where a player (myself) already has a ton of 4x12 cabs with various Celestion speaker configs + a nice set of Yamaha HS8 studio monitors, there isn't really a need to invest in any FRFR monitors?

 

[Metlupass2]

Hmm, I didn't know there was a 'powered' version of the Kemper that allowed a feed to 4x12 cabs.

So in the scenario where a player (myself) already has a ton of 4x12 cabs with various Celestion speaker configs + a nice set of Yamaha HS8 studio monitors, there isn't really a need to invest in any FRFR monitors?

only if you want to utilize the cab sim, but you can turn that off and use your 4x12. You plug in a power amp into the kemper head or rack if you find a nice deal on a cheap unpowered version which 99% of the time is what you will find vs a powered version.

 

[vultures]

1. Best profilers in your experience?

I really enjoy Origin Audio's profiles, specifically their PRS Archon pack, I haven't been able to stop playing with one of them. I've got tons from The Amp Factory, really great Marshall tones/amps. I have a Mark IIC+ pack by Djemass which is absolute insanity, it sounds incredible.

Necessary gear? Besides your normal guitar cables and speaker cables, I have two XLR cables for Main Output. One TS cable for Monitor Output. Another TS cable for Direct Output/Send. If you want to reamp some things grab two S/PDIF cables, a TS for the Return. A rather long and decent quality USB A to B type cable so you can plug your Kemper into your computer/laptop for updates or Rig Manager.

 

[Mattfig]

Hmm, I didn't know there was a 'powered' version of the Kemper that allowed a feed to 4x12 cabs.

So in the scenario where a player (myself) already has a ton of 4x12 cabs with various Celestion speaker configs + a nice set of Yamaha HS8 studio monitors, there isn't really a need to invest in any FRFR monitors?

I'd say no need for FRFR....You have enough cabs to try and I usually settle on one for each profile anyway...

 

[Mattfig]

A Kemper with the right profiles can do this all day long....