OK so to the guys that have both. Kemper or Axe II

[GtarLover]

Already have an Axe II, waiting on the Kemper. Soon I will have a chance to compare. I have had Fractal from the beginning and just am amazed at the progression and keep getting blown away.

I hope the Kemper gives me something more as well. Can't wait...let's hear more from the guys that have actually spent time with each. This could be a fun thread.

Hey Steve, can you pass the popcorn?

 

[stratotone]

Axe 2,

I don't like my modelers to be user friendly, today user friendly means optionless.
I like total control of every single parameter and the axe gives me that.

And the aliasing I am sensitive to and can't get over. Internal sample rate 22.5 goes totally against nuyquist (for the geeks.)

Enjoy your Axe 2, but the internal sampling rate thing (and aliasing) as an excuse for why you don't care for the Kemper doesn't hold water.

Quote from Kemper interview back in 2011:

The global sampling rate is 44.1 kHz, while the internal sampling rate is partially much higher. The algorithm for the tube simulation runs on more than 700 kHz sampling rate (!).

A CD sampling rate is 44.1khz, There are things on CDs that I hear that are well out of guitar range. Just sayin'...

I'm sure you didn't know they fixed the aliasing and the big issue with the sampling rate (and aliasing, and kemper reliability issues, and how profiling in general sucks) was started by Cliff, the CEO of Fractal during one of his less than lucid moments. Amazing how Christoph Kemper has stayed quiet while Cliff comes up with some new issue on the Kemper now and then to spread Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt on people who might consider a Kemper. Then his acolytes take this info from Cliff and throw it into threads where the Kemper is mentioned.

Bottom line - either works great, if you can, check both out because one will probably be a better fit. But I could gig with an Axe II or a Kemper and be happy as a clam.

 

[ejecta]

Internal sample rate 22.5 goes totally against nuyquist (for the geeks.)

Don't drink Cliff's Kool Aid.

 

[ratter]

Kemper guys, is there a good tape echo and a good tremolo?

Ejecta, what effects are you filling in with the HD500?

I'm drinking the toaster kool-aid...

Especially now that the new Atomics have landed. Seems like a good time to jump in.

 

[ejecta]

Kemper guys, is there a good tape echo and a good tremolo?

Ejecta, what effects are you filling in with the HD500?

I'm drinking the toaster kool-aid...

Especially now that the new Atomics have landed. Seems like a good time to jump in.

FX wise use it for the Whammy, vibe, and weirder reverb, synth and particle verb stuff that I sometimes use when I do atmospheric pad sounds while looping which I also use the HD500 for. Kemper seem to be adding more effects as time goes on though. My main purpose for getting the HD500 was for the money I thought it was a good foot controller for the KPA and a decent back up unit..... the rest was gravy.

 

[tweed]

From what I played and heard at NAMM, Kemper hands down.

 

[gbsmusic]

Bump

 

[Mudder]

Pocket pod. All those controls and options just get in the way of TONE!!!

 

[Greg Riley]

 

[stratotone]

Kemper guys, is there a good tape echo and a good tremolo?

Mike - There's an analog delay, and a good tremolo that also includes a ducking parameter.

One of the spots that they do have room for improvement are with the effects. Right now, you get an A,B,C and D slot that are called stompboxes. these are before the amp in the signal path. A feeds B feeds C etc. Almost all the effects can go here EXCEPT delay and reverb, those are always last. So you could have a tube screamer in all four, or a phaser in A, Tube screamer in B, phaser again in C, etc.

There are four more slots post amp - X, Mod, delay and reverb. Delay and reverb are fixed and can only be populated with delay and reverb. X and Mod can have anything placed in them - tube screamers, EQ, phaser, flange, tremolo, etc. It will affect the tone differently because it's post amp, or basically in a fx loop.

Speaking of which, there is an fx loop 'effect' so you could take say a real analog delay, and put it via the loop in any slot.

The way it limits you on effects is the biggest downer on the Kemper, but they have stated there will be changes on updates. I'm hoping for a good intelligent harmonizer, a tape delay, and the ability to put delays anywhere in the signal path. One nice thing is that effects are color coded, red is overdrive/distortions, purple is flange/modulation, yellow are EQs, etc. You can glance at the LEDs over your stomp or fx slots and tell by the color what's in there. You can also temporarily 'lock' effects, so for example I could dial in a reverb I liked with a weird echo, 'lock' them, then if I change patches it keeps those settings. You get the feeling they haven't done a lot of guitar stuff, but in many ways it's for the better.

If there's anything you wanted to hear in particular regarding the tremolo or delays, let me know and I'd be glad to do a really quick clip.

Pete

 

[MichaelG]

http://forum.fractalaudio.com/lounge/62331-any-kemper-users-here.html


This thread has a few double owners. Fractal site but some seem pretty unbiased. Just ignore the obviously biased posts.

I think I ended up ignoring about 98% It's Fractal's forum and that is to be expected though since guys there love the AxeFX and it works for them the best. And yes to be fair some of the same shit happens in the Kemper forum IMHO. I tell you what... one of most fascinating things about forums dedicated to a specific tool that people use to get something done is they are an interesting thing to watch from a human behavior stand point. I'm a 3D CG artists and I've seen heavy fan boyism in forums comparing software like Maya, XSI, 3D Max etc. That said the digital modeling realm of guitar gear has taken that to whole new level IMHO.

It's fascinating when you watch the fanboy-ism being conducted by the average Joe.

It's sad when you watch the fanboy-ism being conducted by a seasoned professional.

 

[gtr31]

I am waiting for Steve K to weigh in .
He has praised the Axe setup cant wait to hear his take on the Kemper..
there are some serious wicked players getting these things .

Steve Henning. Pete Turley.Gainfreak

 

[rupe]

And the aliasing I am sensitive to and can't get over. Internal sample rate 22.5 goes totally against nuyquist (for the geeks.)

Enjoy your Axe 2, but the internal sampling rate thing (and aliasing) as an excuse for why you don't care for the Kemper doesn't hold water.

But he can hear it!

 

[ejecta]

And the aliasing I am sensitive to and can't get over. Internal sample rate 22.5 goes totally against nuyquist (for the geeks.)

Enjoy your Axe 2, but the internal sampling rate thing (and aliasing) as an excuse for why you don't care for the Kemper doesn't hold water.

But he can hear it!

Like Pete said the aliasing was fixed in 1.6 out now. It only seemed to bother a few super high gain guys. The 22.5 sample rate is a lie propagated by Cliff from Fractal...... the thing is even if it were true, that would just mean to me that Chris Kemper can get better tones than Fractal with less than half the sampling rate they use.

 

[Ari]

I'm sorry to interject, and I'm perfectly willing to accept that the Kemper is a better mousetrap, but I just have to say that over the last 4 years I have owned an AXE FX Standard and and now a II, and If anyone here has spent any real time with Cliff (I have had many extended conversations with him over the phone, as well as Matt), they wouldn't peg him as a guy who spins lies about the Kemper. He's had a wealth of patience with me, and always happy to share his info and experiences, as well as listen to mine. Lighting fast customer service and parts replacement when needed. Not a guy interested in destroying the competition.
He's an all-ears tech guy, and has been the first guy to tell me when ANOTHER product sounds great. Even if he was mistaken about the alias thing, and some on the forum obsess and play fanboi for sure, but having gotten to know him over the last few years, he's simply not the liar and spin doctor many here are making him out to be. YMMV but these are my findings...

 

[rupe]

And the aliasing I am sensitive to and can't get over. Internal sample rate 22.5 goes totally against nuyquist (for the geeks.)

Enjoy your Axe 2, but the internal sampling rate thing (and aliasing) as an excuse for why you don't care for the Kemper doesn't hold water.

But he can hear it!

Like Pete said the aliasing was fixed in 1.6 out now. It only seemed to bother a few super high gain guys. The 22.5 sample rate is a lie propagated by Cliff from Fractal...... the thing is even if it were true, that would just mean to me that Chris Kemper can get better tones than Fractal with less than half the sampling rate they use.

But he can hear it even though it's not true!

 

[BYTOR]

Got both units. They both can sound great. The Axe II is more fun overall to me because you can get more squishy saturated sustaining '80s tones out of it. The KPA is more stiff sounding and is great for AC/DC type stuff & lower gain tones.

It's great having them both but the Axe gets the majority of the playtime in my man cave.
I'm a '80s & classic rock guy with some '90s grunge thrown in.
The Axe II just nails this stuff, & the effects and MFC foot controller integration is seamless.

The KPA is still very young in its development but has had an impressive start for sure.

Owning both is a great thing, but if I had to choose the Axe would stay for sure!!!

 

[stephen sawall]

What about this one ...

https://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/I ... rtAmp.aspx

 

[stratotone]

I'm sorry to interject, and I'm perfectly willing to accept that the Kemper is a better mousetrap, but I just have to say that over the last 4 years I have owned an AXE FX Standard and and now a II, and If anyone here has spent any real time with Cliff (I have had many extended conversations with him over the phone, as well as Matt), they wouldn't peg him as a guy who spins lies about the Kemper. He's had a wealth of patience with me, and always happy to share his info and experiences, as well as listen to mine. Lighting fast customer service and parts replacement when needed. Not a guy interested in destroying the competition.
He's an all-ears tech guy, and has been the first guy to tell me when ANOTHER product sounds great. Even if he was mistaken about the alias thing, and some on the forum obsess and play fanboi for sure, but having gotten to know him over the last few years, he's simply not the liar and spin doctor many here are making him out to be. YMMV but these are my findings...

Ari, Cliff's a brilliant guy. He's also a CEO who engages in activities that are beneath him, at least in that capacity. I can't think of another company CEO that talks as much trash about his competition, denigrates and argues with people on his company's message board, and generally comes across poorly because of it.

We can discuss fanbois of either side - Kemper or Fractal, but only one side has a CEO that acts as bad or worse than all of them. If you don't see that, then you're either uninformed at best or blind. Just because Cliff is nice to you doesn't mean anything other than he was nice to you. I don't care if you guys were sharing hot soapy showers and scented oils, it doesn't keep him from posting all sorts of crap, some of which he posted before the Kemper was even released.

And for the record - I even posted here that I could easily use either device, and for someone considering one to try both and see what fit best. I didn't say Kemper was a better mousetrap, it just works better for me and someone else can find equal happiness with the Fractal offerings. I also owned an Axe Standard for four years - from 2007 to 2011.

 

[stratotone]

What about this one ...

https://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/I ... rtAmp.aspx

Really cool idea! Biggest issue I see is it doesn't matter what circuit you use, you're still stuck with whatever power tubes are in there and what transformers you have. It's like the Randall MTS stuff - I modded those modules for years, and enjoyed them and could get close to some stuff, but it's just not going to be the same without the correct transformers and power tubes. If you had a PERFECT AC30 schematic loaded into the MI flex smart amp, you're still fucked because you aren't running EL84s. Or the right transformer for 4xEL84s.

I'm not saying it wouldn't be cool, but you aren't going to get quite as far when you're stuck with the same transformers and power tubes.