I have come to the dark-side. Kemper help please.

[Gsxrbusa]

I just got the rack mount Kemper. I also got a Matrix Amplification GT1000FX to go with it.

I have only had a couple minutes to mess with it but it's impressive so far. I made a quick profile of one of my amps but didn't have time to mess with it. It sounded great but I have a couple questions.

Do you make a profile at the volume where the amp sounds best(really fucking loud)? I made a profile at my normal volume and I noticed how loud those strange sounds it makes are. It was annoying as fuck.

Can anyone point me in the direction of some good RT threads on profiling? Tips or tricks? Dummy's guide to profiling?

Overall I found it pretty user friendly without too much reading the manual. I am very ADD and found it didn't piss me off instantly so that's good. Really I just like quick and to the point answers. If I have to force myself to read the entire manual I will but it will take some time.


Thanks for any help and feel free to PM me if any of you can.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

Do you make a profile at the volume where the amp sounds best(really fucking loud)? I made a profile at my normal volume and I noticed how loud those strange sounds it makes are. It was annoying as fuck.

Can anyone point me in the direction of some good RT threads on profiling? Tips or tricks? Dummy's guide to profiling?

Random tips:

Yes, you definitely want the amp where it sounds best, LOUD (if possible). The sounds are kind of comical, I always imagine my neighbors hearing the sounds and saying WTF is that?

As for profiling, typical studio expertise needed: a good sounding room, get the amp dialed in at it's best, great mic placement. You can get into multi mics and external preamps through a mixer, but it's totally doable to get a kick ass sound with (1) 57 going through the KPA. The hardest part for me is trying to figure out the labeling so I can know in 6 months all of the variables I used.

Pay close attention to the refine process, lots of big chords all over the neck. I also include lots of heavy muted 1st fret stuff as I can hear changes happening there. Spend lots of time (at least 1 minute) on refine and avoid that feeling to get it done with in 5 seconds because you're excited to jam.

I love a clean OD boost on all my amps, but I'm beginning to realize I should just get the sound I like with the boost, then turn it off, profile it, then add a Greenscreamer or pure boost within the KPA. This way I have more flexibility, as opposed to burning the profile withe the boost on then having to do another with the boost off.

I also noted how the studio eq in KPA after the amp sounds way more effective than the PT stock eq plugin.

I just started noticing how effective the Gate 2:1 can be first in the KPA chain. For certain hi gain riffage, it's stunning.

Happy profiling!

 

[smdb]

Your going to find your best answers at the Kemper forum.

 

[Dimebag11]

You've made a wise decision

 

[Gsxrbusa]

When I get a new piece of gear I love reading the manual. NOT!

Do you make a profile at the volume where the amp sounds best(really fucking loud)? I made a profile at my normal volume and I noticed how loud those strange sounds it makes are. It was annoying as fuck.

Can anyone point me in the direction of some good RT threads on profiling? Tips or tricks? Dummy's guide to profiling?

Random tips:

Yes, you definitely want the amp where it sounds best, LOUD (if possible). The sounds are kind of comical, I always imagine my neighbors hearing the sounds and saying WTF is that?

As for profiling, typical studio expertise needed: a good sounding room, get the amp dialed in at it's best, great mic placement. You can get into multi mics and external preamps through a mixer, but it's totally doable to get a kick ass sound with (1) 57 going through the KPA. The hardest part for me is trying to figure out the labeling so I can know in 6 months all of the variables I used.

Pay close attention to the refine process, lots of big chords all over the neck. I also include lots of heavy muted 1st fret stuff as I can hear changes happening there. Spend lots of time (at least 1 minute) on refine and avoid that feeling to get it done with in 5 seconds because you're excited to jam.

I love a clean OD boost on all my amps, but I'm beginning to realize I should just get the sound I like with the boost, then turn it off, profile it, then add a Greenscreamer or pure boost within the KPA. This way I have more flexibility, as opposed to burning the profile withe the boost on then having to do another with the boost off.

I also noted how the studio eq in KPA after the amp sounds way more effective than the PT stock eq plugin.

I just started noticing how effective the Gate 2:1 can be first in the KPA chain. For certain hi gain riffage, it's stunning.

Happy profiling!

Thank you very much fine sir. Exactly what I wanted to hear.

Your going to find your best answers at the Kemper forum.

Thank you.

You've made a wise decision

Why thank you sir. I can't wait to really dive into it this weekend. It will be nice to leave my expensive hand built amps safe at home on gig nights too. Not to mention the fact that my back will thank me for leaving the heavy eqip at home.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

Hit up Fluff if he don't see this, he's done the best with the Kemper for your kind of stuff.

 

[Ventura]

When I get a new piece of gear I love reading the manual. NOT!

 

[Gsxrbusa]

Hit up Fluff if he don't see this, he's done the best with the Kemper for your kind of stuff.

I will hit him up when I can.

I profiled one of my precious amps this weekend with 3 different speaker/cab combinations. I think it turned out pretty damn good. I also read most of the manual (once I put my mind to it,lol).

This thing is pretty neato btw. Pretty user friendly all in all. There are some things I would change or do thing differently but it's not a deal breaker.

A friend of mine hooked me up with some pretty killer profiles too!

 

[stratotone]

Couple of tips...

1) have your amp and kemper in one room, cabinet your amp is plugged into in another room. This cuts down on leakage. Trying to profile in the same room as the cab is a pain in the ass and you're never going to hear things right.

2) Whatever you play your kemper through, use that to monitor/dial in the amp you're profiling. If you usually hear it through another 4x12 and your Matrix, use that as your monitor. You should be able to capture into the kemper what your hearing through the mic.

3) Watch the master light, it shouldn't get red much while you're getting levels for profiling. If so, then you are going to be screwed if you need to boost that profile for leads live. Try to keep it as green/on the edge of red as possible.

4) My personal favorite mics for distorted guitars right now are a Heil PR20, Audix i5 and SM57, in that order. SM57 can be made to work, but the Heil and Audix are much nicer IMHO.

5) you can always hook up a mixer between several mics on your cab and the kemper, then use the mixer to adjust the blend.

6) be sure the noise gate is off when you are profiling. After profiling, you may need to refine the profile - try to play something that has palm mutes, wide open chords and some extended chords like 7s and 9s. Don't be afraid to refine more than one or two times if necessary.

I have a ton of profiles on my page below. Headed into a real recording studio in the next week or two - taking at least a Cameron modded marshall and a 70 or 72 superlead, and probably a '72 straight cab. Going to see how good of a profile I can get when I let a pro drive.

Pete

 

[Gsxrbusa]

Couple of tips...

1) have your amp and kemper in one room, cabinet your amp is plugged into in another room. This cuts down on leakage. Trying to profile in the same room as the cab is a pain in the ass and you're never going to hear things right.

2) Whatever you play your kemper through, use that to monitor/dial in the amp you're profiling. If you usually hear it through another 4x12 and your Matrix, use that as your monitor. You should be able to capture into the kemper what your hearing through the mic.

3) Watch the master light, it shouldn't get red much while you're getting levels for profiling. If so, then you are going to be screwed if you need to boost that profile for leads live. Try to keep it as green/on the edge of red as possible.

4) My personal favorite mics for distorted guitars right now are a Heil PR20, Audix i5 and SM57, in that order. SM57 can be made to work, but the Heil and Audix are much nicer IMHO.

5) you can always hook up a mixer between several mics on your cab and the kemper, then use the mixer to adjust the blend.

6) be sure the noise gate is off when you are profiling. After profiling, you may need to refine the profile - try to play something that has palm mutes, wide open chords and some extended chords like 7s and 9s. Don't be afraid to refine more than one or two times if necessary.

I have a ton of profiles on my page below. Headed into a real recording studio in the next week or two - taking at least a Cameron modded marshall and a 70 or 72 superlead, and probably a '72 straight cab. Going to see how good of a profile I can get when I let a pro drive.

Pete

Wow! Thanks Pete. I will try and return the favor when I know a little better wth I'm doing. Some KILLER profiles you have there.

On a side note I was pleased with how easy it was to program midi changes. Thank God for that!

Thanks again Pete.

 

[stratotone]

Couple of tips...

1) have your amp and kemper in one room, cabinet your amp is plugged into in another room. This cuts down on leakage. Trying to profile in the same room as the cab is a pain in the ass and you're never going to hear things right.

2) Whatever you play your kemper through, use that to monitor/dial in the amp you're profiling. If you usually hear it through another 4x12 and your Matrix, use that as your monitor. You should be able to capture into the kemper what your hearing through the mic.

3) Watch the master light, it shouldn't get red much while you're getting levels for profiling. If so, then you are going to be screwed if you need to boost that profile for leads live. Try to keep it as green/on the edge of red as possible.

4) My personal favorite mics for distorted guitars right now are a Heil PR20, Audix i5 and SM57, in that order. SM57 can be made to work, but the Heil and Audix are much nicer IMHO.

5) you can always hook up a mixer between several mics on your cab and the kemper, then use the mixer to adjust the blend.

6) be sure the noise gate is off when you are profiling. After profiling, you may need to refine the profile - try to play something that has palm mutes, wide open chords and some extended chords like 7s and 9s. Don't be afraid to refine more than one or two times if necessary.

I have a ton of profiles on my page below. Headed into a real recording studio in the next week or two - taking at least a Cameron modded marshall and a 70 or 72 superlead, and probably a '72 straight cab. Going to see how good of a profile I can get when I let a pro drive.

Pete

Wow! Thanks Pete. I will try and return the favor when I know a little better wth I'm doing. Some KILLER profiles you have there.

On a side note I was pleased with how easy it was to program midi changes. Thank God for that!

Thanks again Pete.

No prob, ever have any questions feel free to email or PM me.