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Extending the KPA via effects/modelers

viabcroce

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Occupation: Personal Trainer for Musicians \ Performance Engineer

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31

Sunday, June 17th 2012, 2:15am

Well, we already know that the KPA's algorithm can't be used to profile other than gain stages.
While I find that I can cope with an amp whose tonestack is "almost fixed", should a profiled flanger ever be available I'd find not practical to have to deal with just a snapshot of its.
It might be just me, but in my mind amps and fx are not in the same category.

OTOH, an fx is much more easily modelled than an amp, so I believe that the main way for cloning fx will be modelling in the next few years as well :)

gianfranco di mare

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carydad

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Tuesday, June 19th 2012, 3:04pm

I dropped a zoom G5 in front of the KPA the other night. Really quick way to make it a full rig. And the G5 doesnt cost much for what equates to a full backup for the kpa.

zerocrossing

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33

Tuesday, June 19th 2012, 9:51pm

Quoted from "Spid"

Quoted from "zerocrossing"

If I were you though, I wouldn't buy a thing until you get your hands on a KPA though. The included effects are very good.


Thanks for the feedback but I'm not gonna buy the KPA "Head" right now.
I'm waiting for the rack version and it might not happen before end of the year I guess (Winter NAMM?).
If the Rack is available in July (Summer NAMM?), that's another story. It's typically a trade show more guitar oriented, so I'm gonna wait until then before to buy anything.

I'm also having a look on some small amps (Orange Dark Terror, Egnater Tweaker, Mesa Mini Rectifier and TA-15) that could be a good temp solution and "B-Rig". I'm also considering the DT25 just because I like the concept and Bogner (we have a Shiva at the studio and I like it too). But again Line6 and Amp... The only Line6 products I liked really so far was the DL4, FM4, MM4, etc... And that's why I'm looking at the M13, they're supposed to have these effects too. Does anyone actually tried and compare a DL4 and a M13/M9 for these effects?

If they worked well with the KPA like it might be the case from everything I read here, that might be a good solution (I like the 3x5 layout, very "stomps" approach, and not "foot controller" like the HD500 thought, but it doesn't matter much). Thanks for the feedbacks anyway, I appreciate it.

I'm still gonna keep some pedal, and even buy some new ones... I'm lately keeping an eye on the Strymon and the Tech 21 Sansamp series. (I tried the Oxford and Liverpool and I liked them). That's also because I'm gonna keep them (for sure for home and studio use), even when I'll get the KPA Rack, that I'm looking at them *right now*.

The main question is: Will I keep them for stage situation?

Sorry for being talkative, but it's really a point I'm struggling because now I know what the KPA is capable of, I wish I could use it live too and get some benefits we can get in studio. But I have hard time to be sure of it, for both stomps/effects, as well as the power-amp and cab situation (i.e. my other post). I'm a "modern" kind of guy, who likes digital, VST plugins and all modern technologies... but when it comes to guitar territory, I don't know why, but I always have been a kind of "tube amp snob" and "analog stomps only".

And from everything I tried so far, I had a good reason to be. The KPA is really the first device I'm really liking for "Tube Amp Simulation"...

I wish someone would release a "Stomps/Effects Rack" that can profile, clone, model (whatever technology would be used) to reproduce at 99.9% any stomps and/or effects on the market... typically, having what the KPA does for the Amp... but for the Stomps/Effects.

My 2.5 cents :)
Phil
When I was shopping and considering everything it came down to the KPA and the "Line6 Dream Rig" sans Variax. So basically the HD500 coupled with the DT25. I think if I could have found the Randal Isolation Cab for sale locally I would have gone the Line6 route. In a sense I think the HD500/DT25-50 is a better sounding solution especially for live shows.

...but I'm glad I didn't. When I couldn't find the Randal, I looked into the Jet City. Crappy. Then I looked at the Silent Sister. That seemed to sound great, but put me out of my $2k budget. Again, I'm a studio bound guy at this point. My days of dragging amps around are over. Nothing in it for me and I finally admitted to myself that I never really liked it much. But that's me. If you're looking for a "B" rig I'd highly recommend getting a HD500/DT25 set up. Check it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9E2eXXwW28


Now, the issue for me is that either I'd go with an iso cab which would be a) costly, b) expensive and c) still audible or find a truly silent solution. Enter the KPA. Trust me, I was worried that I wouldn't be satisfied by anything that didn't have a real tube in it. :S But I kept hearing demos that blew me away. Like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAuY9OyMsdg&feature=plcp


(I wish I lived in England, I'd totally shop at Anderton's just to goof with those guys) Can't help but love that sound... but would I love it in person? I did, of course. Best part of it was that there was no fuss for me. Plug and play. For you, though, I'd go for the Line6 now, and then get the Kemper for the studio.

If that's too rich for your blood, or seems unnecessary, (it does to me, but I'm different) you could get a ton of use just out of the HD500 alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ3QA4sEl0k&feature=fvwrel


Then add the Kemper when the rack version comes out. Frankly that's probably how I'd go as tbh I could care less about "pristine" tone in a live show. For me it just has to be good and I think a well made patch on an HD500 is going to sound a hell of a lot better than even a decently mic'd amp in a wonky room. In fact, I think at this point if someone asked me to do a live show and I was in the mood to do it, I'd leave the KPA home anyway and just go lean and portable. Do I still want the DT25. Yes. :huh:


:lol:

Spid

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34

Wednesday, June 20th 2012, 2:42am

Thanks Zerocrossing for your great feedback.

One constant I'm sure: I'm gonna get the Kemper when it will be available in rack format.

Another constant: I'm not quite convinced with the Pod HD500 pedalboard format. I do prefer the M13 (even if I loose the Amp & Cab simulation... no big deal, mainly later when I'll get the KPA), or even the Pod HD Pro.

I really love the Mesa Mini Rectifier and TransAtlantic... but I'm gonna still give a try to the DT25 because I really do love the concept (and Bogner stuff). But I'm waiting Summer NAMM... just in case, it's less than 1 month from now. It can't hurt... I still have to bring my PRS to the luthier for some mods (P-Rails, ToneStyler and some wiring :)).

So I guess, once again, I just need to be patient... (I hate to be patient :) :) :))

Phil

sorefingers

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Friday, June 22nd 2012, 8:07pm

Quoted from "viabcroce"

Well, we already know that the KPA's algorithm can't be used to profile other than gain stages.
While I find that I can cope with an amp whose tonestack is "almost fixed", should a profiled flanger ever be available I'd find not practical to have to deal with just a snapshot of its.
It might be just me, but in my mind amps and fx are not in the same category.

OTOH, an fx is much more easily modelled than an amp, so I believe that the main way for cloning fx will be modelling in the next few years as well :)


I recently bought a Line 6 M13 for my Kemper. I feel like between the two, I've got all bases covered. I do not play live anymore, only at home through studio monitors, so your experience might be different if you gig a lot.

The KPA has most of the standard effects anyone might usually use, but I needed/wanted more versatility in that area.

I wish guitar modelling was at the level of effects and amp modelling these days. I tried a JTV Variax guitar over a weekend recently, and I was very underwhelmed. To me, most of the modeled guitars didn't sound that different from one another, with the exception of the acoustics and the sitar/ banjo type sounds. I used it with a Line 6 HD500, and really liked how well the two worked together but not enough to overcome my issues with the Variax guitar itself and the amp sims on the HD500.

Maybe Chris Kemper could put his expertise to work on a guitar Profiler one day. :whistling:

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