Posts by fourstrk

Quote from lightbox

Just for the record:

You don't even need to have the Remote connected when you update the Profiler. You can keep the Remote unused in a closet for months and skip multiple Profiler updates. Once you connect the Remote, it will automatically be updated.

TLDR: Yes

To explain what may be going on under the hood: most probably, the profiler and the remote do kind of a "handshake" and compare their software versions for compatibility. Again, most probably, the firmware flash file itself is stored in the memory of the profiler and is copied over ethernet to the uC of the remote, where it is flashed. After successful flashing the remote reboots, does the handshake again and the profiler recognizes the remote's firmware to be compatible with the one on the profiler. This means that the profiler kind of "carries" the flash file for the remote within itself until a remote is connected which requires to be flashed. As I said: pure speculation and educated guessing.

Quote from yeky83

FYI there's a WiFi module in the Kemper Stage, see photos here: https://www.thegearpage.net/bo…ge-this-and-that.2190614/

Wow, indeed, I did not know.

Quote from Wheresthedug

Mine works perfectly. I've binned my other tuners.

Dito.

Quote from OneEng1

To be clear to those who are not embedded firmware engineers .....

The FC likely does not do any DSP. It doesn't pass signal as the head unit does.

It very much has a build of code (firmware) that runs on it to achieve its purpose. Since it is a fairly complex piece of gear, it is likely a non-trivial set of firmware that drives it.

"Operating System" is generally a term that describes a backbone that the rest of the code operates under. Windows, Linux, FreeRTOS, iOS, etc, etc are examples of "Operating Systems". My guess is that the FC operates an operating system identical to the OS in the head unit so that the code can be shared.

Kemper (and many other device manufacturers) frequently use the term "Operating System" to mean a version of firmware for the device that contains BOTH an operating system and the application code that makes the device do what it does.

Under that definition, the FC would also have an "Operating System" binary that it needs to run.

Reguardless, as Burkhard stated, the FC firmware update is handled by the head unit update, so all this technical mumbo-jumbo is irrelevant ;). None of us need to worry about it.

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Most probably, the Remote is driven by microcontrollers which have ethernet capability (obviously), some GPIOs for the switches (obviously), some analogue ones (for the contrast poti and the connectors for expression pedals) and can drive a LCD display (maybe via I2C or similar). Most probably, the brightness is even done in software since the display seems to be the one as in the Profiler, where the contrast is done in software.

I think one uC handles ethernet RX/TX and some E2E stuff and flashes another uC which is the one driving the unit. Maybe it’s all in one SoC. These are just some educated guesses from the behavior I‘ve seen during updating. I won‘t ever open up the units to find out until I work at Kemper itself, since I am here for guitar playing!

In summary, I think it‘s so cool to have such a flexible hardware design that still can be worked with since 2012 and that‘s still competitive. Sometimes, you have to keep it simple to keep it manageable.

Quote from OneEng1

Well, you are right in many respects.

My assumption is that all companies desire to move up in the food chain and that even private companies with a single owner want to maximize their profit.

Honestly, I have been doing this so long that it is alien to me to think about any other strategy than market dominance ;).

My only concern with WiFi is that it requires more knowledge to setup. You can get a combo wifi/bt module (embedded) today for around $15.00, you can get just a wifi or just a bluetooth for about half that though. Bluetooth is really simple to pair with.

I hadn't thought of making an attachment for the existing rack and head units though ;). That might be a nice bonus since there is a large existing customer base that would flock to buy the adapter ;).

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I didn‘t talk about an adapter. This is too far away from the core business and can be done with standard 3rd party hardware.

I meant that the app would also work with modelers being connected to an existing network using ethernet cables. Most mixers are connected to switches / WiFi access points and are controlled via ethernet-based protocols. So could the Kemper be, the Kemper Mini could use a built-in WiFi module, whereas older hardware could be connected to a WiFi access point. It does not matter internally as long as there is an ethernet SOCKET. The physical layer, the ethernet INTERFACE uses does not matter for the implementation of the protocol itself.

However, if they do it, I hope they work TCP based, otherwise syncing / handshaking is a pain. Maybe they even build upon a standard communication protocol that can be consumed by other hardware. Why reinvent the wheel ...

Quote from Burkhard

We are shipping OS 7.5.5 with new units. It makes a difference in our production environment. Beyond that, it is identical to the OS 7.5.4 publicly available.

Stay tuned for OS 8.0!

Is that due to changed low-level hardware (end-of-life of some components)? Just asking out of technical interest ...

Quote from OneEng1

If CK is reading this, I am a professional product manager (and a weekend warrior musician ).

If I worked for Kemper (and that would sure be a fun job to have), I would absolutely be advocating a Kemper Mini as the next piece of hardware in the series.

Requirements:

1. ~$700 MAP
2. No profiling capability
3. Same LCD on current FC (economy of scale and less code rework)
4. Same DSP and electrical architecture as current products
5. No looper
6. 2 rows of 4 buttons ([top]Perf up, Perf Dn, Tuner on/off, Slot 5 [bottom] slot 1, slot2, slot3, slot 4 in performance)
7. Compatible with current Rig Manager GUI editor and librarian
8. ****** bluetooth interface to a phone or tablet app for any on-stage editing *************

My rationale is that there are likely MANY times more people willing to pay $700 for the Kemper than there are those willing to pay $1700 (stage) or $2100 for a KPA Rack/head with a foot controller. There really is a massive product gap in the lineup with respect to the market.

My idea behind the Mini would be that it is intended to be setup at home for gigs, then used only for rig and performance switching on-stage. It would also be targeted at a lower priced market and would be a higher volume product.

Without doing the market research, I would guess that Kemper would sell 5 to 10 Mini's for every full KPA.

Anyway ..... that would be my next move

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I would go for WiFi all the time over BT. Why?

a) The KPA ethernet spec is potentially already existing (see Remote)

b) WiFi is more stable than Bluetooth and can be easily repeated

c) The KPA could be included into existing ethernet networks (e.g. at stage, at home, in studios) - since a lot of guys for sure use digital mixers, there is a network existing in most bands anyway

d) A potential app would be compatible with the classic profilers (not with the stage due to the lack of an ethernet interface - I still do not get why they "optimized" it away ... ethernet is always good to have on a future proof hardware these days which is intended to get several software updates enlarging functionality)

Just my 2 cents as someone working with product designers. Working on this piece of hardware would be indeed a cool job, I second you.

Hmm, with the acoustic simulator and the XLR input which is used for profiling for voice, the KPA could be a crazy good unit for singer / songwriter gigs (and of course other vocalists who play guitar).

Wow, this would be awesome.

Who else would be interested?

Did anyone try the effects in the Kemper with a voice signal?

Quote from Crookster

Is there anything the Kemper cant do!

Yes, tons. For example expose itself as a class-compliant USB audio interface.

You can use the AUX input functionality of the KPA.

Can you upload the a/b comparisons with the rig and the exact software versions you are using?

If you were happy 4 years ago, why did you update and did not stay with the old software version or revert to it?

For fail-safe operation, every performance and slots would need a UUID, e.g. hashed from the parameters to point to. If you just point to the performance slot ID, changing the order of the performances or changing performances itself will only be noteable once you have the wrong sound loaded on stage and the drummer is already counting in. Then, there‘s no way to avoid embarassement on stage.

Hence, the „pointer performance“ would have to validate all its pointers on load and give a warning in case of a mismatch.

BTW: I think now that this thread is in the "Feature Requests", to back this, you'd have to "like" my initial 1st post.

A couple of days ago, I think 1-2 days after upgrading to the newest release version, I discovered an issue with my KPA rack + remote. I did not try to recreate the issue (since I was playing live), but luckily this happened only during sound check.

Here's what I did:

• Booted the KPA in the Performance mode.
• Played about 5min in the Performance mode.
• Switched to Browse mode to show my band mates the awesomeness of the Acoustic Simulator.
• Browsed to the rig containing the Acoustic Simulator.
• Played 1 song with the Acoustic Simulator rig.
• Tried to go back to the Performance mode my moving the chicken-head knob.
• The KPA did not react.
• There was no reaction on any input command, neither Remote nor any button on the KPA rack unit itself.
• However, the signal path still worked, I could play with the rig without any issues.
• Then, I turned the KPA off with the chicken-head knob.
• Nothing happened (no shutdown procedure).
• Switched back to Browse.
• Switched back to "Off".
• Then, the KPA turned off.
• Booted again in Performance Mode.
• Played without issues in Performance Mode.
• After some hours, I moved back to the Acoustic rig (it was selected directly from before).
• Played with the Acoustic Simulator rig.
• Turned the KPA off with normal behaviour.

Did someone else discover something similar?

Quote from paults

In response to this discussion, I have added a Rig to the Rig Exchange, named "EMPTY + ACOUSTIC SIM"

I profiled a guitar cable, and then turned off the amp and cabinet sections. They are labelled EMPTY.

The EQ is active.

The Acoustic Sim is active in the X slot, with the Default settings.

There is a small amount of Natural Reverb active in the Reverb slot.

Anyone who creates an Acoustic Simulator Rig from this Rig is more than welcome to share it

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I think that's a cool workaround -

Since this thread has been moved to the feature requests by DonPetersen I assume that

(a) there is no smarter way indeed and

(b) the request has been heard over in the Ruhrgebiet.

So let's see how this evolves and be happy with the overall sound / audio quality of the Acoustic Simulator.

May they fix the cosmetics in a later release.

Have a good day guys!

Quote from Ingolf

What’s the use of empty vs deactivated?

Sound-wise none, you‘re right. But if one builds up an acoustic rig, it‘s not needed.

Imagine every rig would have a deactivated transposed stomp in. It‘s just an aesthetical drawback in the clean architecture the KPA has.

The problem originated from me wanting to upload an acoustic profile to rig exchange. I „branched“ from a profile that I was not sure if it was free or commercial. So I tried to „empty“ the stack section, which seems not to be possible. I could have copied an arbitrary rig there (e.g. „Crunch“) but I thought there may be a smarter way.

I ask the other way around: which advantages does the „not empty“ stack section have?

I can second that. I tried it with a HK Audio System a couple of days ago. Having the Acoustic Simulator now I feel I won‘t ever need an acoustic guitar again on stage (except for Acoustic only gigs of course ...).

Quote from paults

Deactivating the stack (Amp/Cab) is the same thing as it being empty.

If you want it to indicate “Empty”, you can profile a guitar cable, and update the Amp and cab tags of your new Profile to “Empty”.

Thanks for your answer, but it is not. As far as I understand, with the KPA, the only way of initially creating a rig is through profiling. Then, you can copy / change it. Therefore, a new rig always has to have a „Stack“ section. For the Acoustic Simulator, there is no „Stack“ section needed but I do not see a way to „empty“ it.

Therefore, acoustic rigs are always kind of „dirty“. I‘d like to have an opportunity to delete the stack section in a rig completely as you can do it with all of the stomp slots.

ckemper Did I oversee something or is this the expected behavior? If yes, is there something on the roadmap to pull this straight?

Don‘t shout at me!