Kemper Amps Forum

Yesterday at the Musikmesse I spoke with Christoph Kemper, Davide (guitarnet70) and Marcus (MarcPepper) about the Kemper Foot Controller and how it should be laid out.
It was very clear from the beginning that CK wants a smart controller with a footprint as small as possible.
When he asked me about how many instant access switches the controller I would want/need I said: "eight" (one for each FX slot). He laughed and stated that with inversion and such much less switches would be necessary.
I strongly disagreed.
For example I hardly ever use compressor in conjunction with a distortion box, so I could imagine an inversion switch for compressor and distortion. BUT: What if I want to play my rig without compressor, without distortion? Not possible this way. So, while the inversion possibility is a smart thing it has too many inherent compromises for me.

So he asked me to open up this thread where we, the users, can state what's important for us in the upcoming Kemper Foot Controller.
CK can chime in as the discussion evolves and can tell us what's feasible or not and about alternatives we possibly haven't thought of yet.

So I'll make a start here:
1. For changing rigs I would want 4 switches in a row. 5 is not necessary IMO (CK initially talked about 5 rig switches). Here is why: I would want my amp at different settings of its possible gain structure, i.e. one for clean, crunch and overdrive, and one for a pre- programmed solo rig with higher volume. I could also live with 3 switches IF a second stomp on a switch brings me to an alternative rig.
2. For changing FX I have to elaborate a bit: In my rigs I usually throw in a wah in slot one. I have Compressor in 2, Distortion in 3, Tremolo in 4, Vibrato in X, Mod, Delay and Reverb.
I wouldn't need a switch for Slot 1 as the wah is switchable by the pedal. I also wouldn't need a switch for the delay IF delay mix is controllable by a pedal (controllability for more parameters as we have now will be another thread). Remain 6 switches that I need.
3. Certain parameters that are controllable as of now should have an instant access as well: TAP, TUNER, ROTARY SPEAKER Slow/Fast.

So in summary: 4 (at least 3) switches for rig change + 6 switches for FX on/off + 3 switches for other miscellaneous instant access. Plus 2 switches for bank up and down. Makes: 15 SWITCHES.

Layout could be:
- bottom row 4 rig switches + TAP (=5),
- middle row 4 FX switches + BANK DOWN (=5),
- top row 2 FX switches + Rotary Speaker (or miscellaneous instant access) + TUNER + BANK UP (=5 switches).

Still a small footprint compared to the FAS MFC-101 which has 21 switches.

That's my vote. Curious about yours. Keep the suggestions coming!

Yes, that's true but I'm not yet convinced that performance mode will be a real paradigm shift for me.
According to the manual performance mode will allow me to group 5 rigs together for a song.
Fair enough but it´s still rig switching then and I wouldn't want to switch a rig only to turn on/off a stomp box/FX.

@Grorig: Thanks for your work. Lots of good ideas and looks very good.