Workflow for Getting the Most from my Kemper and Rig Manager

  • I've been using my Kemper for about a year (i.e. still a noob), and I've got a little stable of performances that I downloaded and have placed on my kemper. For the most part, all I've done is downloaded performances, tweaked them a little bit either in Rig Manager (maybe swapping or adjusting effects) or in the Kemper itself (e.g. adjusting EQ or amp parameters) and then saving the tweaked profiles as performances. Then, when I play, I just toggle between performances as needed.


    This workflow seems OK, and it has gotten me through about a year of working with my kemper. But Im stuck on something of a beginner's plateau. I feel like I don't have a good sense of how to really dial in details of the profiles I'm working with. For example, if I buy and/or download a performance and I want to make changes to it, what's the best approach to doing that? Furthermore I don't really understand the use of the kemper's "browser" mode, as opposed to "performance" mode, when it comes to auditioning profiles and building up usable tones. Lastly, I don't really understand how to venture more widely from the performances I've bought (e.g. Mbritt or Tonejunkie), building usable tones from components like profiles, effects, cabinets, etc.


    I'm not sure I'm describing this well. Basically, I just feel like I'm barely scratching the surface of the kemper's and rig manager's abilities. I'd be really curious to hear how more advanced folks do things like audition profiles, build up performances, and then use those performances either live or in the studio. Do you work mostly in rig manager or with the kemper itself? In what mode? How do you organize tones so they're available when you need them? Things like this. I hope this isn't too broad of a question. Answers relating to any part of this process, or suggestions of stuff to read or watch would be awesome. I'm basically just trying to get past this rank beginner stage that I'm stuck at.


    Thanks!

  • There’s really a lot of useful informations on the forum.


    Just try and see what it does.


    To start.
    Take a profile you like, desactivate all effects and just explore the options in the amp block. Do it with several profiles.
    same with cab block etc.

  • I think you are definitely missing something here, because you are starting with preloaded performances. So some basic pointers that might help:


    1) a performance is only a collection of rigs. You can add remove whatever you want. Its only purpose is to organize into a simple structure, mainly targeted for live.


    2) Browser mode is just the listing of the rigs on the profiler.


    You just need to make a decision on how you want to access.


    This is my approach - Your starting point should actually be what sounds you want to create. So start with " I need a solo sound - I like Mesa type sounds". Search for Mesa sounds on RM. Audition the sounds, bin quickly anything not close, tweak ones you like. Try other similar amps ( ENGL, Diezil etc) and repeat.


    Most important - save them and listen later with fresh ears :)


    I hope that helps a bit...

  • Hi, just a bunch of extra hints.

    Don't be afraid to play with certain controls like Definition, Clarity, low and high pass, EQ, etc. I find them extremely useful to match the right tone.

    Probably it will take long, so take a break once in a while to rest your ears and mind (it can be used to have fun playing guitar and forgetting about the eternal search of tone) ;)

    One last thing I've found useful: playing on your own, certain profiles might not sound perfect to your ears, but in the context of a band rehearsal it will always sound different, it might sit right in a mix and sound perfect or, on the contrary, it might sound even worst.

    I hope thats helps!

  • Hi, just a bunch of extra hints.

    Don't be afraid to play with certain controls like Definition, Clarity, low and high pass, EQ, etc. I find them extremely useful to match the right tone.

    Probably it will take long, so take a break once in a while to rest your ears and mind (it can be used to have fun playing guitar and forgetting about the eternal search of tone) ;)

    One last thing I've found useful: playing on your own, certain profiles might not sound perfect to your ears, but in the context of a band rehearsal it will always sound different, it might sit right in a mix and sound perfect or, on the contrary, it might sound even worst.

    I hope thats helps!

    Totally!!!!

  • Thanks again, everyone. Special thanks, V8guitar--your input was exactly what I needed to hear. But everyone's input has really opened my eyes.


    Using all this feedback, I just sat down for about three hours and put together a suite of performances that I'll toggle between for a particular song I'm now working on. In case folks are interested (e.g. if you're like me and looking for ideas on using the kemper)...


    I put together 4 performances, each based on profiles of a single amp. Two of the performances are meant for "lead" playing and two are for more "rhythm" work. The two lead performances started with profiles featuring high-ish gain. The rhythm performances used a single profile with very low gain. Aside from the differences in starting profiles, each performance varies in terms of how the profiles are parameterized, as well as differing in what effects sit on top of the profile.


    After all the helpful comments here, I felt pretty in command of what I was doing in this process. I'm sure there are better ways to go about this, but I finally feel like I'm getting below the surface of my kemper.


    Thanks again!

  • This is what the forum is for :).


    In terms of performances/rigs, what I do is I try to limit my performances. I currently only have 3.

    2 for one band and 1 for another. I only have 2 for one of the bands because I play vastly different guitars and I have one for each Guitar ( Les Paul and Gretsch). Each performance is made up of Clean, Rhythm and solo sounds and a couple of specialist patches for a particular song. That way its easy to switch during a gig to all the sounds I need. I have added flex by being able to switch in stomps and I use Morph ( check that out) to basically double the options.


    I avoid having a performance per song as I just don't need that level of variation.