Kemper Profiler

D

darnright

RepententRodentologist
Does anyone have a Kemper Profiler? Are they really worth that much money? I read they are supposed to be the best "modeler-style" amp as they apparently have recording of the actual amps as opposed to modeling sounds. No one in my area carries them. I am interested in one....but not sure about the price and value. Hate to pay $2,000 for something I have never even heard.

Thanks!
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

About 50% can't tell a Kemper from the original and think it's the bee's knees.

The other half feel they usually notice it right away, post "aww lemme guess, a kemper again.... stop doing gear demos thru a kemper already, it's utterly pointless, all you can hear is kemper kemper and kemper' reviews all over youtube. They feel that it is a joke and/or an overpriced work-in-progress being sold as a finished product

Imho interesting idea, but insufficient resolution or too much approximation when fitting equations or too few sample points or something... cool toy, but not ready to be a $2k pro product.

Get a used Peavey Vypyr if you want a decently polished, albeit far more limited modelling amp --- but for muuuuch more reasonable money
 
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Re: Kemper Profiler

I'll be a counter to Adieu's argument. I haven't gotten to tinker with one in person yet but the reviews and guitarists I've heard using them on YouTube have sounded GREAT. It's all about taking the time to dial in a proper profile which can take hours but once it's dialed in, it's there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5YfCv0Iubc
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

There are lots of guys that can use any thing they want touring with them. Same can be said for the Axe-FX.

But no, I haven't tried one personally, but I do have a friend that is super picky about tone that uses one for recording.
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

Kempers are really amazing. I use a Fractal, which is a very different thing. A Kemper 'samples' an actual amp. A Fractal models the components of an amp and sort of builds it from modeled components that you can alter. Neither is something you should get if you don't use lots of different sounds. If you tend to go for just a few basic sounds, best to get an amp and a few pedals and have an easier life. But I like to experiment, and I like a ton of effects and amps (more than I have $ and space for).
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

CapoFirstFret said:
I'll be a counter to Adieu's argument. I haven't gotten to tinker with one in person yet but the reviews and guitarists I've heard using them on YouTube have sounded GREAT. It's all about taking the time to dial in a proper profile which can take hours but once it's dialed in, it's there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5YfCv0Iubc
Click to expand...

I can't say for sure how well you could dial it in. Never played Kemper.

But from listeners point of view it can be really boring. Just sounds like a record. It's too polished and lacks all the detail by imperfectness that make good guitar amp sound great.
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

Mincer said:
Kempers are really amazing. I use a Fractal, which is a very different thing. A Kemper 'samples' an actual amp. A Fractal models the components of an amp and sort of builds it from modeled components that you can alter. Neither is something you should get if you don't use lots of different sounds. If you tend to go for just a few basic sounds, best to get an amp and a few pedals and have an easier life. But I like to experiment, and I like a ton of effects and amps (more than I have $ and space for).
Click to expand...

Mincer nailed it.

I've never played a Kemper, but I have played a Fractal and they're pretty amazing. The main thing keeping me from buying one is cost; they're expensive as far as amps or processors go and basically non-repairable.
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

Thanks Guys!! I appreciate all the help, guess I will need to take a trip to Chicago and try the Kemper and a Fractal, just to see what's up.
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

A word of caution with any high end modeler.

Yes, they all sound incredible. They are amazing pieces of technology. You have to be willing to put in the time to get "your" sound, though. And you get out of them what you put in. Many times, the goal is to get a sound YOU like. Not something you hear on YouTube transposed to your rig, because 9 times out of 10, what you upload to your device won't sound anything like what it sounded like in a sound clip or on YouTube. You HAVE to be willing to tweak and also learn what tweaks are needed.

It is a bit of a steep learning curve but can be VERY rewarding if you have the patience for it. If you do, you will be simply amazed at what you can make those units sound like.
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

Old Guy said:
A word of caution with any high end modeler.

Yes, they all sound incredible. They are amazing pieces of technology. You have to be willing to put in the time to get "your" sound, though. And you get out of them what you put in. Many times, the goal is to get a sound YOU like. Not something you hear on YouTube transposed to your rig, because 9 times out of 10, what you upload to your device won't sound anything like what it sounded like in a sound clip or on YouTube. You HAVE to be willing to tweak and also learn what tweaks are needed.

It is a bit of a steep learning curve but can be VERY rewarding if you have the patience for it. If you do, you will be simply amazed at what you can make those units sound like.
Click to expand...

AGREE COMPLETELY!!!modelers are a step way down the line...best to spend a lot of time with many conventional amps to understand the "real" noise you want...with a knowledge base of "real" world amps you can then move into the modeling world and get something useful...
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

Old Guy said:
A word of caution with any high end modeler.

Yes, they all sound incredible. They are amazing pieces of technology. You have to be willing to put in the time to get "your" sound, though. And you get out of them what you put in. Many times, the goal is to get a sound YOU like. Not something you hear on YouTube transposed to your rig, because 9 times out of 10, what you upload to your device won't sound anything like what it sounded like in a sound clip or on YouTube. You HAVE to be willing to tweak and also learn what tweaks are needed.

It is a bit of a steep learning curve but can be VERY rewarding if you have the patience for it. If you do, you will be simply amazed at what you can make those units sound like.
Click to expand...

Isnt that the same thing as saying "it could sound pretty cool, but if you plan to ask for a 5150 or JCM with all knobs set to noon, guess what, tough luck"??????
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

Adieu said:
Isnt that the same thing as saying "it could sound pretty cool, but if you plan to ask for a 5150 or JCM with all knobs set to noon, guess what, tough luck"??????
Click to expand...

That's not exactly the same thing. You can dial those amps to sound their best within 15 minutes. It took months for me to tweak out the best out of Fender Mustang. Though I wasn't at all as informed back then than now, definitely still wouldn't want to start that with Fractal or Kemper. I would never be happy with the result.
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

Adieu said:
Isnt that the same thing as saying "it could sound pretty cool, but if you plan to ask for a 5150 or JCM with all knobs set to noon, guess what, tough luck"??????
Click to expand...

Not, exactly no. With Modelers you have umpteen IR possibilities if you run through an FRFR system. The tone is MASSIVELY different with the exact same "amp" settings depending on which IR you chose. If you want to use a power amp and cab, the sound changes depending on the cab set up and power amp used.

When you use a convention amp, you have one set of Amp controls and one cab to deal with.

Why this matters, is that in a modeller like the Axe Fx III, the cab they pair with the amp in the system is what sounds best to the developers as well as the mic position on that Cab IR. That might sound like garbage to you or the rig you are putting it through. Many variables in there which are simply not present when using a conventional Amp/Cab set up.

So it's not "tough luck". It's "how much time do you want to invest to find that sound". My belief is, especially with the Axe Fx II I had, was that it could recreate any sound ever recorded with a guitar. You just have to be willing to invest the time and have the patience to find it.
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

justFred said:
AGREE COMPLETELY!!!modelers are a step way down the line...best to spend a lot of time with many conventional amps to understand the "real" noise you want...with a knowledge base of "real" world amps you can then move into the modeling world and get something useful...
Click to expand...

What's super cool for me is how the reverse is valuable as well. Once you tweak a modeler for years and years, getting a great sound from a conventional amp is very easy. Great sound FOR YOU, that is. Or if you then get a small little digital amp to play with, you can easily dive right in. I had a Fender Mustang GT20 for awhile and couldn't believe how many people complained that they couldn't get a great sound out of it. I think most just didn't understand what needed to be tweaked with these digital amps. Once you update the FW, which many didn't bother doing, you could really get some great sound from the little box.
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

Old Guy said:
Not, exactly no. With Modelers you have umpteen IR possibilities if you run through an FRFR system. The tone is MASSIVELY different with the exact same "amp" settings depending on which IR you chose. If you want to use a power amp and cab, the sound changes depending on the cab set up and power amp used.

When you use a convention amp, you have one set of Amp controls and one cab to deal with.

Why this matters, is that in a modeller like the Axe Fx III, the cab they pair with the amp in the system is what sounds best to the developers as well as the mic position on that Cab IR. That might sound like garbage to you or the rig you are putting it through. Many variables in there which are simply not present when using a conventional Amp/Cab set up.

So it's not "tough luck". It's "how much time do you want to invest to find that sound". My belief is, especially with the Axe Fx II I had, was that it could recreate any sound ever recorded with a guitar. You just have to be willing to invest the time and have the patience to find it.
Click to expand...

Don't they have some "negative IRs" or something to eliminate the flavor injection from whatever you're using if you wanna model a different cab?
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

Adieu said:
Don't they have some "negative IRs" or something to eliminate the flavor injection from whatever you're using if you wanna model a different cab?
Click to expand...

Not sure. Some people still use IRs with guitar cabs, but that sound was not pleasing to me personally.
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

Didn't care for the Kemper that sat in my man cave for several weeks at all. My Line 6 Helix LT has lasted the longest of any non-tube gear (18 months). It's not the same as a great tube amp, but I can tolerate it when I plug in. Still... there are glowing tubes 95% of the time that I'm playing. NOTHING gives you the amp-in-the-room feel like an amp in the room.
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

I cant really add anything to the conversation, but Ive been curious about the Kempers myself. Supposedly, unlike modeling amps, they scan the waves and responses of tube amps so the response is more similar. I have a feeling, it will take a few updates to get them exact, but I do know some guys are using them live and many use em in the studio. So Im guessing its a decent product, but probably not free of bugs yet.
 
Re: Kemper Profiler

Kempers model very specific amps, and they do it well. If the amp has many channels or modes, it has to model every single one, though.
 
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