The HARD truth about Helix

Check out some demos for Strymon Mobius and Timeline stomps. The range of modulation and delay effects is pretty broad - even just the variety of trem effects is quite impressive. I don't mind the FX on the KPA - and use them a lot but there is definitely some scope to develop them further.

If the KPA eventually gets a proper computer based editor there are some interesting possibilities. You could have dedicated GUIs for individual FX - just like we use for VST or AU plugins in DAWs. So, instead of paging through 12 pages of parameters as we do on the KPA you could have a large well designed GUI for delays or verbs with the various models (eg room, spring, plate etc) and parameters all in one easily viewable display. You might be able to switch models and retain your basic parameters - eg reverb time etc.

This last is possibly a stretch but, given that GUIs like these and DSP code have been developed by many plugin developers already, perhaps they could be adapted to the KPA. ie some third party involvement/licensing of algorithms so that not all of is has to be done in house. Of course, if CK and the guys can do it better there is no need. Coding for Intel processors is obviously not going to be instantly translatable to DSP chips either.

The other side of the argument is along the lines of the saying..."there is no pleasing some people".

Or similarly,
"You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”. -- Abraham Lincoln

The KPA should be considered, first and foremost, as a device which records a digital snapshot of a tube amplifier. Effectively, "capturing the soul" of an amp, and making a digital clone. The fact that it also incorporates world class effects, is simply proverbial icing on the cake.

Whenever you have such a powerful, sophisticated device, there always is a strong temptation to look for what is missing. I think it is a testament to the Kemper Profiling Amp, that even vocal critics (and fan-boys of a competing product) concede the fidelity of the amp profiling...instead focusing on either missing effects (e.g. dual delays), or a perceived limitation with a few effects here or there.

Yes, there are certain big "feature requests" that are highly requested, and hopefully will be addressed...such as dual delays, a true spring reverb, etc. However, the fundamental principle will always remain...there is no pleasing some people.

In any event, this post if firmly tongue in cheek.

EDIT: Sorry for the multiple edits. I tried a bazillion different ways to embed this YouTube video such that it would selectively begin the playback (start time) at time stamp 01:06, en lieu of playing the full clip. Nothing worked.

The post Tritium responded to used dedicated FX boxes as a comparison, which is simply not fair.

Of course there'd be deeper editing and more FX on offer if the KPA was just a whopping-big multi-FX unit, but it's not. Nor does it pretend or need to be.

That said, it's obvious that over time we'll see incremental enhancements to both the range and editability of FX, Antipodes, so I wouldn't worry too much. It'd be nice to have it all now, but then there'd be nothing to look forward to, no? LOL

Quote from Antipodes

You might be able to switch models and retain your basic parameters - eg reverb time etc.
This last is possibly a stretch but, given that GUIs like these and DSP code have been developed by many plugin developers already, perhaps they could be adapted to the KPA.

If I'm getting you right, this is already implemented: when you switch between different incarnations of the same effect the shared parameters' values are kept.

Quote from Antipodes

Check out some demos for Strymon Mobius and Timeline stomps. The range of modulation and delay effects is pretty broad - even just the variety of trem effects is quite impressive. I don't mind the FX on the KPA - and use them a lot but there is definitely some scope to develop them further.....

But you have to admit that these effect boxes are extremely limited, you might even want to say they're crippled, because they don't have amp models, drives, good Graphic or studio equalizers etc.

Quote from Dean_R

But you have to admit that these effect boxes are extremely limited, you might even want to say they're crippled, because they don't have amp models, drives, good Graphic or studio equalizers etc.

Of course you are correct. I don't suggest these as substitutes for the KPA - just as examples of some of the other DSP based FX programming around the traps. I would much prefer to keep the whole shebang in one box and in one patch - ie would prefer not to use FX boxes in the FX loop.

Quote from Antipodes

You might be able to switch models and retain your basic parameters - eg reverb time etc.

This last is possibly a stretch but

this already is and always has been the case.
switch between the different Reverb types and the settings of the parameters are kept.
This is also true for - as an example - the Depth control of various MOD effects.

Are you still going on about this?

Again, I believe that the only opinion that matters is your own.

Are you going to accept that I just don't agree or like your 'review' or are you going to make me repeat this until the end of time?

Appearance? I've never seen you before in my life.

please get back to topic and discuss the Helix here.

Quote from AlienSexGod

I highlight many years of experience and my background

best to be a little humble, many of our users here have quite impressive professional backgrounds.

@ AlienSexGod: You should buy a Kemper and try it first hand if you're looking for the best amp modeling by a huge margin. Some try to be politically correct when comparing gear, I personally don't think political correctness should apply to comparing gear.

If you buy the KPA and try it first hand, you will hear and feel the huge upgrade over every single modeler out there. I tried almost every single one of them except the Helix and I hear a staggering difference. Many will tell you AXE this, ELeven that etc just to be politically correct. To be politically correct we can all say that even POD 2.0 comes close, but the actual facts that you will realize after first hand trying that Even the AXE FX II doesn't even come close. An experienced producer might get a good useable sound with Amplitube, POD, AXE FX II, but you give that producer a KPA and he might no longer want to bury those guitar tracks in the Mix.

I completely understand where you're coming from and I know that anything can be argued and discussed ad nauseam, but I want to finish by saying, you don't have to buy the KPA, but you owe it to yourself to try it for a good week and play around with it to know what the fuss is all about and why all the other competing companies are trying so hard to copy it, even its rotary knob with leds are copied in a future product by a company that shall remain anonymous.

Actually let me finish by quoting an independent review from Sound-on-sound that sums up why many still buy the KPA:

"There are plenty of amp simulators around in both hardware and software, but when it comes to doing what the Profiling Amplifier can do, the KPA is out there on its own."

That comes under the heading "Alternatives" in this link below :what they're saying is that there's NO alternative for Kemper, before you accuse me of being a fan boy in a honey moon stage.

http://www.soundonsound.com/so…/kemper-profiling-amp.htm

It's nice to see that you're still proving me right.

Quote from AlienSexGod

Yet you abused and undermined me based on my username here and made shallow judgements. Maybe you are the one who should stop not me since I am the OP?

....... Helix have been largely by bedroom players with only a few years learning experience like Chad Boston with zero exposure to high end tube amps and since I am no ta Kemper owner I cannot PM or see the background of the other participants. Frankly I believe I have been unfairly judged...

It's conversations my friend, no one is judging you and you're not judging anyone. It's conversation about digital devices.

Don't underestimate the market segment of "Bedroom Players" or their listening skills either!

Bedroom Players generally might have more disposable income than many professional working musicians no offense to either side.

The KPA wisely realized this and added a special feature that Bedroom Players benefit tremendously from, it's an effect called space and it can also be set globally to make playing through headphone more pleasurable. I'm telling you, you really need to try the Kemper, if you're in the market for a digital amp simulator, you can't ignore the KPA, I highly recommend that you get one as one of the additional fringe benefits, you will be able to PM and check out everyone's profile in this forum

Quote from Dean_R

If you buy the KPA and try it first hand, you will hear and feel the huge upgrade over every single modeler out there. I tried almost every single one of them except the Helix and I hear a staggering difference. Many will tell you AXE this, ELeven that etc just to be politically correct. To be politically correct we can all say that even POD 2.0 comes close,

No, we can not.

Quote

but the actual facts that you will realize after first hand trying that Even the AXE FX II doesn't even come close.

It does. I own both the AXE FX II and KPA, and I honestly can't say one is "better" than the other. Both can produce great tones.

Quote from dpavel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWOWIUOiq4

Ouch... not a Helix fault though. It's usable tone.

Quote from fredrikn

No, we can not.

....

Well. other long time users of AXE FX II could hear the clear huge upgrade in the amp modeling when using the Kemper and couldn't come up or point anywhere that the AXE FX came even close based on sound clips alone in another thread where I pointed this comparison as an example.

If you have the AXE II and can honestly say that the AXE II Bognar is anywhere near this one in the kemper, then you got my interest and I will consider buying an AXE FX II,

Just point me to any clip of anyone that demonstrates the AXE II Bognar, so far I believe everyone can clearly hear the massive difference and advantage of the Kemper (Heck the AXE II Bognar sounds like a toy in comparison). If you still can't hear it, that's fine too.....For AXE II Bogar go to 4:59.

I look forward to hearing any clips from the AXE FX II , HElix or any other modeler that can get this close.

Kemper Bogner XTC

Quote from zentman

External Content soundcloud.com

Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent.

Display all external content

Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.

Any time I hear a power chord in this clip, it shows how far off from a Bognar due the harshness that can't even be masked with loads of reverb. Does this really sound like a Bognar for anyone who actually owned the amp. Sorry but the reverb can't mask how sterile and harsh it sounds and how it doesn't respond realistically specially to hard strumming!

I've heard more natural sounding clips from the Eleven Rack which to me still confirms that the AXE FX II is in the same league as the Eleven Rack and Pod HD in terms of modeling but at 5 times the price.