Profile to dark - Profile to bright - Profile get lost in the mix - How to fix it

  • So you got some profiles you would like to love more - but there seams to be something wrong with it?


    It could be your guitar, your speaker - or both


    Or just your preference.


    What can be done?


    Let's lock at the KPA - what is the KPA?
    Basically it's like this:
    Input - Some Effects - Stack - Some Effects - Output


    Let's beam into the Stack:
    It can be like this:


    1)
    AMP Block - EQ - CAB Block


    or like this:


    2)
    EQ - AMP Block - CAB Block



    Different cases:
    A)
    If your profiles is for a distorted tone and you like the distortion but miss a little bit of bass, treble or whatever - or you feel there is a little bit to much of it...
    Use the (default) setup - 1) from above = EQ at the end of the Stack - adjust bass, mid, treble, presence
    done :)


    B)
    In case you get a very boomy sound - don't blame the profile - it may be the combination of your guitar and this profile - and this can be fixed as well.
    Put the EQ at the front of the Stack - 2) from above
    Adjust (reduce) bass - and or increase mid/treble - try until you like the sound.
    done :)


    btw.
    old Vintage amps like Fender work like 2) EQ before the overdriven tubes
    Marshall amps work like 1) EQ after the overdriven tubes
    And the Mesa Boogies uses both - tone stack before the overdriven tubes - 5 band EQ after the overdriven tubes.



    Still like to do more tone shaping?
    Ready for the next level?


    Do like this:
    Put an EQ block before the Stack (Slot D) and another EQ block after the Stack (Slot X).
    Now you get much more detailed options to shape your tone.


    You'll find that a lot of your profiles can be improved by this!
    Why?
    Because the whole profiling thing - and also the differences between real tube amps - are in fact EQ's
    Sometimes highly complicated EQ's - compared to the simple tone stacks in some amps.


    A tube amp is basically something like this:
    EQ - Distortion - EQ


    and the Kemper is basically something like this:
    EQ1 - Distortion - EQ2


    The EQ1 is in the AMP block
    EQ2 is in the CAB block
    They were ‚set‘ during the profiling and can‘t be changed later.


    But in case you put additional EQ's before and after the stack you get this:


    EQ - (EQ1 - Distortion - EQ2) - EQ


    Enjoy experimenting :)




    So wait - what's about 'getting lost in the mix'?
    You just may have a to much scooped sound (a lot of bass and treble - very little mids).
    This may sound great when you play at home in your bedroom - but as soon as your bandmates play - you disappear.


    Solution:
    Increase the mids - and/or reduce bass/treble

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    Edited 3 times, last by Armin ().

  • Yes. I am pretty sure you are right.


    I believe the EQ is moved pre or post amp (distortion) to influence the distortion characteristics in a similar way to different real amps. This can be done by selecting Pre or Post in the Stack EQ without the need to insert another EQ in a Stop or Effect slot. Obviously additional EQs can also be added if required but the first thing I would always try is just changing the position of the Stack EQ.


    An EQ before the amp block doesn't make a massive difference to the tone of the overall output but does change the characteristics of the distortion. For example, a Mesa Mark series amp with the EQ pre distortion typically has the bass set super low (or even off) too stop it flubbing out by getting to much low end distortion. Turning up the treble with high gain levels doesn't really make the sound brighter but instead makes the top end smoother and tighter (a bit like adding a treble booster in front of an old amp). Which is why they often have a GEQ after the distortion stage to shape the final tone.


    On the other hand a Rectifier series amp has a Marshal style tone after distortion set up. Here, changing tone control settings has no effect on the distortion characteristics (unless the power amp is being driven really hard into distortion) but does make a more dramatic difference to the final tone - hence the reason they don't have GEQ.


    Obviously this will never be exactly the same as a real amp tone stack because the Kemper stack has fixed frequency ranges which can both cut and boost frequencies whereas virtually all valve amp tone stacks have their own specific tone ranges, control tapers and can only cut - but the principle is the same. Also the post position in the Kemper is post both pre-amp and power-amp but in a real valve amp it would be between pre-amp and power amp.


    Either way, great post @Armin and a useful way to get experimenting with the almost limitless potential of the KPA :)


    Also, a very important observation about drastically cutting mids and getting lost in the mix. I always wonder how people manage to run their Boogies with the really extreme V shape on the GEQ. There is a lot of power in the 750hz area that cuts through like a knife. Aggressively boosting the bass on a Boogie GEQ also swallows up power amp headroom.

  • You'll find that a lot of your profiles can be improved by this!
    Why?
    Because the whole profiling thing - and also the differences between real tube amps - are in fact EQ's
    Sometimes highly complicated EQ's - compared to the simple tone stacks in some amps.


    Good post - not sure it's correct to see profiling as advanced EQ's though. It's a very (too) broad definition at least :)

    Kemper PowerRack |Kemper Stage| Rivera 4x12 V30 cab | Yamaha DXR10 pair | UA Apollo Twin Duo | Adam A7X | Cubase DAW
    Fender Telecaster 62 re-issue chambered mahogany | Kramer! (1988 or so...) | Gibson Les Paul R7 | Fender Stratocaster HBS-1 Classic Relic Custom Shop | LTD EC-1000 Evertune | 1988 Desert Yellow JEM

  • Yes, you are right - but the result is the same

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    Great Profiles --> soundside.de