So, who's testing the Kemper Power Rack?

[PBGas]

One came into the local store, the power-rack version. It literally just arrived a couple of days ago and wasn't sold yet.....so....we hooked it up.

I've had a Kemper previously so I know my way around it. I copied a couple of my presets from my USB key that I used before with mine (I kept it in case I go back to it) to it to try with the power amp version. I ran it into a couple of different cabs and was somewhat disappointed, not totally but there was still something not right to it. I made sure that the cab emulation was off. I love the concept behind it and did enjoy it when I owned it. I would like to try the unpowered version again through a quality FRFR and see if that moves me at bit more.

 

[Gsxrbusa]

Would love to know from Dino what he use for poweramp and cabinet/drivers.

DINNNOOO ARE YOU HERE?????

I can field this. I saw Fear Factory a couple months ago. Dino was in fact using the Kemper but no cabs or power amp. He was just using powered floor monitors to hear himself and Direct FOH.

I may end up going this route. This way you can just use cab sims. This sounds much better to my ears than using a power amp and cab.

Same as the Axe FX. Just messes things up.

Steve, elaborate please. Do you mean a power amp just messes things up or?

Yes, I think so. Had better results as an overall rig using just FRFR monitors and power amp sims (with the Axe). No experience with the Kemper. This way you are polluting the Axe output with the voicing of a power amp or the issues with cabs. You would want to hear on stage, what the audience hears.

This is my opinion only.

Got it. I agree totally. I am somewhat disappointed with the eternal cab/amp tones. It sounds much better with the cab sims. It's not horrible but when a/b'd against a kick ass tube amp it losses.

Couldnt you mic the cab just like you do with a regular head/cab?

You sure can. I have never had stellar results no matter what external amp I use.

 

[steve_k]

One came into the local store, the power-rack version. It literally just arrived a couple of days ago and wasn't sold yet.....so....we hooked it up.

I've had a Kemper previously so I know my way around it. I copied a couple of my presets from my USB key that I used before with mine (I kept it in case I go back to it) to it to try with the power amp version. I ran it into a couple of different cabs and was somewhat disappointed, not totally but there was still something not right to it. I made sure that the cab emulation was off. I love the concept behind it and did enjoy it when I owned it. I would like to try the unpowered version again through a quality FRFR and see if that moves me at bit more.

shit....

 

[PBGas]

One came into the local store, the power-rack version. It literally just arrived a couple of days ago and wasn't sold yet.....so....we hooked it up.

I've had a Kemper previously so I know my way around it. I copied a couple of my presets from my USB key that I used before with mine (I kept it in case I go back to it) to it to try with the power amp version. I ran it into a couple of different cabs and was somewhat disappointed, not totally but there was still something not right to it. I made sure that the cab emulation was off. I love the concept behind it and did enjoy it when I owned it. I would like to try the unpowered version again through a quality FRFR and see if that moves me at bit more.

shit....

It's all in what one perceives as sounding good. At this point, I am super happy with my setup running with the Live, so I just wasn't as impressed with what I heard. Needless to say, someone else may be blown away by it.

 

[Gsxrbusa]

It's all in what one perceives as sounding good. At this point, I am super happy with my setup running with the Live, so I just wasn't as impressed with what I heard. Needless to say, someone else may be blown away by it.

So true. I am a tube amp snob for the most part and this Kemper is the best digital device I have tried thus far. Is it mind blowing when a/b ing it against a kick ass tube amp? Nope. Is the FOH sound with a good cab sim attached great ? Yes, yes it is. My point is it sounds great through a PA and not so great when using an external amp and cab. Actually for live use it may be more pleasing to the audience's ears than an actual amp. This Kemper would be freakin ideal in a cover band with as many tones are available. So, far my own profiled amps are my favorite and that's somewhat weird considering I own the actual amps. But, the onboard FX are pretty good and easy to operate. The whole thing is user friendly and I prefer it over the Axe FX Ultra (never tried the axe II).

All of this is just opinion and most people would think the Kemper is the best thing ever. For some things yes and other things no. I will say it has made my life a bit easier as far as setup is concerned.

 

[squank]

It's all in what one perceives as sounding good. At this point, I am super happy with my setup running with the Live, so I just wasn't as impressed with what I heard. Needless to say, someone else may be blown away by it.

So true. I am a tube amp snob for the most part and this Kemper is the best digital device I have tried thus far. Is it mind blowing when a/b ing it against a kick ass tube amp? Nope. Is the FOH sound with a good cab sim attached great ? Yes, yes it is. My point is it sounds great through a PA and not so great when using an external amp and cab. Actually for live use it may be more pleasing to the audience's ears than an actual amp. This Kemper would be freakin ideal in a cover band with as many tones are available. So, far my own profiled amps are my favorite and that's somewhat weird considering I own the actual amps. But, the onboard FX are pretty good and easy to operate. The whole thing is user friendly and I prefer it over the Axe FX Ultra (never tried the axe II).

All of this is just opinion and most people would think the Kemper is the best thing ever. For some things yes and other things no. I will say it has made my life a bit easier as far as setup is concerned.

Yep. Live sound is almost NEVER great, regardless of your rig. It's usually mediocre due to the sound man (or his gear), even with the best gear on stage. For live players, there's simply no reason tonally not to use an Axe or Kemper. Hell, I've got a Line 6 Pod XT Pro (the rack version) that is almost 10 years old, and it can sound great through FOH or recorded.

 

[tlingen]

Kemper released 25 preamp profiles today. Maybe they will work out better for live. That's the way Wolf Hoffman supposedly runs his live. Feeding into his Wizard head for a power amp. I gotta try it this weekend.

"All profiles have been directly profiled after the amplifiers' preamp stages (using the send output).
All profiles have been left completely unaltered in gain, eq and any other parameters. No effects have been added. Exception: The noise gate might have been set.
The cabinet simulation has been left turned on since, although no cabinets are present, it still affects the sound.
All sounds are intended to run into a tube power amp with an attached guitar speaker cabinet. You may of course use the return input of your self-contained amplifier."

1 2205 Pre 17 Marshall 2205, Boost Channel Type: Crunch
2 2205 Pre 23 Marshall 2205, Boost Channel Type: Fat Lead
3 2205 Pre Cln 04 Marshall 2205, Normal Channel Type: Clean
4 TI15-112 Pre 12 Laney TI15-112 Tony Iommi Signature Type: High Gain
5 MTS Plex Pre 11 Randall RM100, Plex Module Type: Crunch
6 MTS JTM Pre 05 Randall RM100, JTM Module Type: Crunch
7 MTS Deluxe Pre 04 Randall RM100, Deluxe Module Type: Clean
8 Trirec Inf Pre Md 06 Bugera Trirec Infinum, Modern Setting Type: High Gain
9 VL-1002 Pre Ld 08 Ampeg VL-1002, Lead Channel Type: High Gain
10 VL-1002 Pre Cl 05 Ampeg VL-1002, Clean Channel Type: Crunch
11 KR7 Pre Ch3 05 Rivera KR-7 (Mick Thomson Signature), Channel 3 Type: High Gain
12 KR7 Pre Ch2 02 Rivera KR-7 (Knucklehead Mick Thomson Signature), Channel 2 Type: Crunch
13 Mark V Pre Mark1 03 Mesa Boogie Mark V, Channel 2/Mark I Type: Fat Lead
14 PB-UL Pre LD 11 Fryette Pittbull Ultralead, Lead Channel Type: High Gain
15 PB-UL Pre Rhy 11 Fryette Pittbull Ultralead, Rhythm Channel Type: Crunch
16 JVM1 Pre OD 02 Marshall JVM 1 (Jubilee Model), OD-Channel Type: High Gain
17 JVM1 Pre Cln 02 Marshall JVM 1 (Jubilee Model), Clean Channel Type: Clean
18 Gus G 200 Pre Fire 06 Blackstar Gus G 200 (Gus G Signature), Fire Channel Type: High Gain
19 JVM410JS Pre OD1 03 Marshall JVM 410JS (Joe Satriani Signature), OD1 Channel Type: High Gain
20 JVM410 Pre CRC 02 Marshall JVM 410, Crunch Channel Type: Crunch
21 VH100R Pre CR 03 Laney VH-100R, Crunch Channel Type: Crunch
22 Butcher Pre CL 05 Peavey Butcher, Clean Channel Type: Clean
23 E670 Pre 3 HG 07 Engl E670, Channel 3/High Gain Type: High Gain
24 Invader Pre 2 HG 07 Engl Invader 100, Channel 2/High Gain Type: High Gain
25 Invader Pre 1 05 Engl Invader 100, Channel 1 Type: Clean

 

[halebox]

If the PA mix sounds great then it shouldnt matter if your cab doesn't sound perfect as it is just your monitor at that point. If the cab sounds really bad then I get it but if its still decent then I'm up for the trade off. Also with a little direct signal through your actual monitor then your good to go. As people start using the powered ones more maybe there will be certain cabs or speakers that sound better. Ive never tried a Kemper but I want one for the convenience aspect so I'm being hopeful. Or maybe there is a certain power amp that will work the best with this. I have not loved any Matrix/Kemper clips even though everyone raves about those.

 

[Gsxrbusa]

Kemper released 25 preamp profiles today. Maybe they will work out better for live

Wow! Some of those look great. Thanks for bringing that to my attention bro. I'm horrible about going to the site to check updates.

If the PA mix sounds great then it shouldnt matter if your cab doesn't sound perfect as it is just your monitor at that point. If the cab sounds really bad then I get it but if its still decent then I'm up for the trade off. Also with a little direct signal through your actual monitor then your good to go. As people start using the powered ones more maybe there will be certain cabs or speakers that sound better. Ive never tried a Kemper but I want one for the convenience aspect so I'm being hopeful. Or maybe there is a certain power amp that will work the best with this. I have not loved any Matrix/Kemper clips even though everyone raves about those.

Those are all very good points. It would be awesome if all aspects of the Kemper could sound as perfect as I think they should. Lol. Fact is there is a little give and take but as you stated, as long as the FOH sounds great I can live with the rest. It's still a lot of fun having so many amps/tones on hand. I think with updates, certain aspects will be better. I wish I could have two different profiles for FOH and for the external amp/cab. That would be the ultimate.

 

[steve_k]

Kemper released 25 preamp profiles today. Maybe they will work out better for live

Wow! Some of those look great. Thanks for bringing that to my attention bro. I'm horrible about going to the site to check updates.

If the PA mix sounds great then it shouldnt matter if your cab doesn't sound perfect as it is just your monitor at that point. If the cab sounds really bad then I get it but if its still decent then I'm up for the trade off. Also with a little direct signal through your actual monitor then your good to go. As people start using the powered ones more maybe there will be certain cabs or speakers that sound better. Ive never tried a Kemper but I want one for the convenience aspect so I'm being hopeful. Or maybe there is a certain power amp that will work the best with this. I have not loved any Matrix/Kemper clips even though everyone raves about those.

Those are all very good points. It would be awesome if all aspects of the Kemper could sound as perfect as I think they should. Lol. Fact is there is a little give and take but as you stated, as long as the FOH sounds great I can live with the rest. It's still a lot of fun having so many amps/tones on hand. I think with updates, certain aspects will be better. I wish I could have two different profiles for FOH and for the external amp/cab. That would be the ultimate.

So, with the Power rack, you can split and send the same great unpowered signal to the FOH (as on the unpowered Kemper) plus use the internal power amp for a cab or passive monitors on stage for stage volume? If so, this should be acceptable and minimize the gear haul.

 

[magh8]

keep us updated Tom

 

[Gsxrbusa]

So, with the Power rack, you can split and send the same great unpowered signal to the FOH (as on the unpowered Kemper) plus use the internal power amp for a cab or passive monitors on stage for stage volume? If so, this should be acceptable and minimize the gear haul.

Sure can bro.

keep us updated Tom

No problem my friend.

 

[stratotone]

LOL, funny thing about Kemper releasing this is last night I put up a set of 60 profiles from a Mesa Quad Preamp that were direct out only. I just read this thread about Kemper doing that. Crazy man!

 

[stratotone]

Oh, and while I'm thinking about it - if you're doing this with an amp head, shouldn't you use a Hotplate and take a line out from it since you would get the sound of the power tubes too?

 

[Gsxrbusa]

LOL, funny thing about Kemper releasing this is last night I put up a set of 60 profiles from a Mesa Quad Preamp that were direct out only. I just read this thread about Kemper doing that. Crazy man!

60 more? Holy crap man!

 

[PBGas]

Those are some great profiles that they released. Have fun Kemper owners!