Figuring Out Live Setup

    I am getting the Kemper Profiler Power Rack with Remote soon, next few weeks, maybe as soon as next week, and am trying to figure out how to use it in my band. Everyone uses their own amp (lead guitar, rhythm guitar, and bass) and only vocals go through the PA. So I will be using the Kemper like an amp head it won't be going through the PA. I don't know yet if the band will be amenable to sending my guitar through the PA or if that would even sound right if I'm the only one going through the PA. So for now I intend to use the Kemper like a guitar amp head with a cabinet on stage. The Kemper itself will be a very large investment and to add a DXR10 or CLR or other new FRFR would absolutely be too much for me right now.


    So here is what I have available.

    • QSC K10 (2)
    • JBL One (10" sub with speaker array)
    • 2x12 cabinet that is loaded right now with Celestion Cream Alnico and Celestion Gold Alnico. I have other speakers I can put in there if other speakers might be better.

    Which would you choose?


    I am assuming an FRFR would always be the preference over a guitar cabinet.


    In looking at FRFR for the specific purpose of using with the Kemper I have read about these, there are likely more it's just that these keep coming up.

    From what I've read people really like the CLR because it sounds the same whether at low volumes or high volumes. The DXR10 has been described as good but perhaps more boomy and not the same sound from low to high. There is a lot to consider. I don't want to buy something I don't need (she laughs out loud) and I don't want to buy something I'm eventually going to replace. So I'm trying to do my due diligence before spending more money. I'm also selling gear to finance my addiction gear.


    I'm also a bit self-conscious about how weird it is going to look, but I'm trying not to think about that part, telling myself as long as it sounds good, I'm good.


    I use a VoiceLive 3 Extreme (VL3x) for harmonies and connect my IEMs from the headphone out of the VL3x so I can hear my vocals good, cause right now, at least in our rehearsal space I can't hear myself clear enough. Plus the IEMs will help protect my ears as everyone tends to keep turning up as the night progresses. I have the ambient monitors from Westone so hoping I won't need more than vocals coming through them. Tomorrow will be my first time using the IEMs in the rehearsal space.

    From what you have available I would choose the QSC. Why? Because I think the Kemper should be used with FRFR speakers because the sound of a guitar cab is a very important part of the overall sound and the Kemper can replicate the sound of many different cabs. Using the Kemper with a guitar cab would lose you a lot of tonal possibilities. I don't know the JBL thingy which so the QSC is left. I have no personal expirience with them but i see no reason why they shouldn't give you good results. I am using the DXR10 for over 4 years now and I am still very pleased with it. Others may sound a bit better, but the DXR10 is already sounding great and it is cheaper und lighter than many other speakers so I think it's the best bang for the buck.

    Well I did it! Just made ordered the power rack and remote are coming next week!


    UPDATE: I will be going through the PA which means I can use my IEMs as the monitor, but still may want to use it like a regular guitar head so still interested in getting a decent cab for it.

    I think I am more inclined to get the coaxial type cabinet like one of the Geminis or the XiTone. Looks like a guitar cabinet and apparently doesn't have the disconnected sound that other FRFR type cabinet have with the separate speakers. Mission has a rack cabinet that would go nice with one of their cabs too. For portability I like the 1x12, but that km-2x12 looks real nice.


    The XiTone comes with the "Eminence Beta 12CX coaxial drivers for full range operation" could I just put that speaker in a guitar cabinet and call the it a day or is there something special going on with the cabinet build?

    Quote from whippinpost91850

    I've been gigging with an Atomic CLR neo for about 4 years. No issues anfd I love it

    There is a reserve list like they aren't making these cabinets anymore. Anybody know what is going on?


    Looks like the CLR only has a powered version. Passive cabinets are cheaper than powered. I don't need powered so would love to save money by going passive. Doesn't look like CLR has a passive option.

    So after researching and researching I'm going to wait for the Atomic CLR Neo MKii and just use my QSC K10 until then. It will give me some time to save up money for it. I do realize any tweaking I do to get the K10 to sound good will have to be done again with any new speaker.

    Quote from dragonfly66

    I do realize any tweaking I do to get the K10 to sound good will have to be done again with any new speaker.

    Your best bet here would be to create and save an output profile for each of your speakers that you might use.
    That way you won't mess up the front end of your profiles too much.
    Don't get too hung up on Guitar vs FRFR. If it sounds good to you, it doesn't matter what it is!

    Quote from Andy_T-V

    Your best bet here would be to create and save an output profile for each of your speakers that you might use.That way you won't mess up the front end of your profiles too much.
    Don't get too hung up on Guitar vs FRFR. If it sounds good to you, it doesn't matter what it is!


    My Kemper gets here on Wednesday. Right now I do not know what an "output profile" is, LOL. Thank you for the tip.

    I bought an Alto TS210 to play around with until the CLR is available. Gotta good sale for the holiday. If I don't like with the Kemper I can just use it as a floor monitor. It is 10lbs lighter than the K10.

    I originally ran my Kemper for 18 months through a regular 4x12 and its been great, Now switched to FRFR and its better and generally I prefer it...


    BUT...I use it differently. Using a cab the emphasis was more on using it for front line sound as well as backline. I liked the spread of the 4 x12.


    Now I go direct into the PA and just use a monitor and ow my monitor faces the band not the audience and I rely on the FOH fully for front line. I didn;t want to spend big money so I compared Yamaha DXR10 to other on stage monitors including the Alto and bought an unbranded passive monitor for £180 because it was very close to the Yamaha sound wise but massively cheaper than any other option.


    The point here is that for me, it was just making sure I could hear myself and get a good enough sound to be able to play, knowing the out front sound is sorted - its not used for the front line at all. I've never used a CLR or equiv but they are big investments so I would check first.


    BTW the band should be happy you use the PA because its so quick and simple to set up, you don't blast everyone on stage ( because you are covering the backline as well and it will sound better :)

    My Kemper is on the truck for delivery. In preparation I've downloaded the manual and Rig Manager! So excited! Our bass players is out of the country for a couple of weeks so I'll have plenty of time to play with it before our next practice.