Posts by Preacher

I'll be getting the Cali 76 in the mail by the end of the week. I might eventually play around with putting it in different places, but my floorboard is currently hooked up this way:

A/B box that switches between cable/wireless input -> Polytune 3 -> Digitech Whammy DT -> FreqOut -> SubZero IceCycle looper -> input.

Polytune 3 acts as a buffer. I'm putting the compressor before the Polytune 3. I don't like the idea of my signal being buffered and processed by the Whammy DT before being compressed. On a conceptual level I prefer the idea of compressing my actual signal to make it the best it can be before running it into digital effects. In my head, I can't shake the idea that compressing after digital conversion and processing runs the risk of making artifacts stick out more. I also think compressing the signal early in the chain is much better when it comes to getting good separation between your signal and the noise floor. What that'll mean is that the noise remover will be more effective at lower settings, and have less impact on your actual signal. I am considering either moving the buffer last, or just removing it entirely. From the last pedal to the input I am running a 60cm mogami cable so the total cable length from the guitar to the input is four to five meters. I just threw the Polytune in there because I happened to have it, and had heard a little bit about buffers, but I need to research them more.

Quote from chopshop777

I have the digitech whammy DT as well. do you like having separate pedals rather than using Kemper's ?

Well, I have both a Helix and a Kemper. Don't laugh but I mostly got the whammy pedal for the virtual capo feature. I have played a little with the pitch whammy in the Helix and find the DT vastly superior to the Helix version. I haven't played much with the Kemper one. So story goes, I was looking at the Drop pedal, and decided I might just get the full Whammy DT because it is a fairly high-end pedal, so I felt fairly certain it would have less artifacts in the processed signal, to which I am pretty sure I am correct even without having actually done a comparison. We're also in a price range where the difference isn't huge, and the world of pitch shifting and octavers is still new to me, so I'll want to dive into it at some point on my journey for sure. I used to collect released and unreleased music by a deceased artist, so I actually have tens if not hundreds of hours of experience comparing and sorting through different rips of songs from different cassette, vinyl and CD sources. I actually hear a very clear difference from a 128kbps mp3 to a 192, and from a 192 to a 320, and from a 320 to a raw audio file. So bad digital processing is really noticable to me. Just to have said it, even the Whammy DT isn't "perfect" and there is some obvious synthesizing of the sound. It's especially worse as the pitch changes, but even if I set it to some constant pitch and leave it there, I can still hear something unnatural going on.

I do like having a pedalboard and doing switching as I'm playing, instead of having to put the guitar down to change stuff. I am waiting for a Cali76 compressor pedal as well. I'm gonna do a deep dive into overdrive pedals as well. I'm running Strymons for reverb and delay. I do think the Kemper modeling is really, really good, and the only reason why is probably that I never owned any great amps. I'm pretty sure I would prefer the sound and feel of say a real Mesa Mark V if I ever got to mess around with one, but I would have to sell nearly my whole rig just for that one amp, so for that kinda money I'm willing to compromise. Pedals are cheaper, and I'm a sucker for high fidelity...

[Blocked Image: https://i.imgur.com/q7chLsf.jpg]

Quote from riggles

Sure thing. It’s important to remember that my PCM80 is from 1995. Limited display size and resolution, and certainly before computer editors. So all effect parameters are adjusted with the UP and DOWN buttons, and SELECT and ADJUST knobs. So, not the pinnacle of UI/UX. Coming from todays modern interfaces, you need to be really motivated to deep dive into these algorithms from the front panel. If, for instance, you think menu diving in the Strymon units is a bit much, you won’t like these.

That being said, the PCM80/81 is far from limited in effects. It can flex. The M and PCM series Lexicon algorithms are legendary for a reason. The power in these algorithms is what seperates it from pedals like the Strymon’s, etc. Not just the complexity of them, but that they are openly exposed and configurable. For instance, take a given BigSky or Timeline mode. There’s an algorithm behind it, but only a handful of parameters are exposed for you to control, the rest are fixed behind the scenes. And the parameters can’t really talk to either other, like controlling multiple feedback paths with LFOs, etc. I don’t want to nerd-out too much here, but if you’re really curious, download the PCM80 manual and check out the Algorithms chapter.

The simplest way I can describe it is this: the PCM80 gives you the ingredients to make whatever meal you want from it. Pedals give you a ready-made meal. If all you want is that meal and you don’t much like cooking, trust me, go with the pedal. If you want to make your own meal the way you want it, or are looking to elevate your culinary skills, put your apron on.

Hope that made sense.

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Totally, great writeup, thanks! I don't think the BigSky menus are "too much", my mentality is more like, getting to know all parameters across all different engines is probably gonna take a while before I'll get to the point where I'll know which settings to go to for the effect I want. I am however motivated to do that, so maybe I should use the Strymon pedals as a stepping stone for a while. The PCM isnt that pricey anyway, but rarely pops up on auction sites in my area. But I think I'll definitely want to mess around with one. I do like cooking from scratch ?

Quote from riggles

I sold my BigSky and Timeline and got an old Lexicon PCM80. So I’m well taken care of in the reverb department. But if by chance these new reverbs are released before I order my Kemper, I wouldn’t mind one bit (my Lexicon might though).

Could you talk a little bit more about how that experience has been? I am curious about the PCM80 (and other Lexicon for that matter) but I don't know how the UI works, not sure if it's so different and difficult I'll hate it. Also very curious about specific experiences you've had with your new device, like did some reverbs sound way better than the pedals, or were there any reverbs that werent very good but you don't use them anyway? etc etc. If you would be so kind?

This got too advanced for me to follow (I'm drinking beer and just surfing at the moment) but I had an idea that might be helpful if you don't find a solution that works for you. Not sure if you can change output settings with MIDI, but if you can, get a cheap programmable MIDI stomp controller and use that to change outputs.

I just had a great idea for super lush chorus for anyone with a Line 6 Helix in their setup. I suppose it would work with two Kempers as well, but anyone using two Kempers for whatever reason probably have thought about this already.

Anyway, for Helix you could split a path in two, put two different cabs on both parts and then a separate chorus for each. The different cab sounds will create a sensation of spatiousness on its own, but you could even either a) run two of the same chorus type with slightly differing settings, or b) run two entirely different chorus effects.

For dual Kempers you could split the guitar signal and run two different rigs into two different speakers with chorus on both. But I'm thinking those people with that kinda money already tried all kinds of crazy stuff!

I am staying with my folks for a week and don't have my gear with me, I suddenly couldn't wait to go back to my appartment lol.

So ever since I bought the Big Sky and Timeline, I'm not checking back here every day. It's like I'm okay for a while now. So I guess it wasn't all for naught

Imagine being the one guy with the forethought to bring a UPS with backup power, then when the power in the whole venue goes and the band goes silent, it's only you, your amp and your guitar left in the dark for a good 15 minute while everybody's fumbling. Man, that's like a wet dream, or the start of some cheap guitar porno. I can almost feel an elevation.

Quote from Monkey_Man

Alan, what Sam said is all we "really" know at this point. CK (or was it Burkhard?) alluded to this back in July IIRC.

For me the appearance of presets relevant only to the selected effect type is a no-brainer fix, and thank God that'll be taken care of; I complained about it (politely, of course!) quite a few times here. What interests me particularly is what else might've been done in the "preset-handling / management" area...

Thank you for the update Christoph!

You're probably just gonna laugh or think I'm crazy, but I've searched all five thread pages for the name "Alan" and it does not appear anywhere. I was curious about who you were talking to because I didn't understand the context. Your post came like 2 posts after ckemper's, and there's no Alan in between. Assuming you know a member here in person or something, but you really have to clear this up for me. It's actually 5am and I actually spent like 10 minutes trying to figure this out haha

Using a Furman PL-Plus CE. I never experienced problems before getting it, but I have it connected to another, cheaper UPS with a bunch of AC purifiers in it, which is then connected to a 2-socket outlet where the other socket is also occupied by an AC purifier from iFi. For me, it's just a matter of optimizing my environment with respects to ground loop noise, power line hum, etc. If it's not a problem in this appartment, it could be in the next one. I don't gig but am hoping to one day get into that too, so then it'll probably serve me good as well. So it's an investement the way I see it, to make sure a future positive experience isn't troubled by technical problems. Reading by gigging musicians' experiences, it seems there are enough ways you can fuck up your sound so anything you can do to eliminate potential problems seems worth it to me. That way, you know where to start looking if something does pop up, like say some noise you shouldn't be hearing.

Oh, and it just looks sexy in a rack. The voltage meter is another tool that can help a bit with troubleshooting as well, so added bonus there.

Quote from dickjonesify

This is a popular sentiment. Although, after trying Helix extensively, I think Kemper’s Hall reverb is already better. Deeper and more realistic.

These new ones will just be icing on the cake for me haha.

I even agree with the sentiment, but with that said, I think it's wrong. This is a proposition, I'm not telling, by the way.

The term "realistic" is imprecise in this context. It's not about realism. If you try to quantisize realism you will understand the problem right away. If we're talking about harmonic content, I think it's fair to say that any sound made from a Helix has the same amount of harmonic content as a Kemper. It's just that a Kemper sounds exactly like the actual amp, where the Helix amps represent the general "ballpark". There are lots of AC30 with different kinds of speakers and probably woods in the cabinet and whatever have you. Between them all there is a certain quality that makes them AC30. The distinct "AC30 sound". If you think of "the AC30 sound" as the sound coming out of a single, specific AC30, Helix probably misses. If you think of the "AC 30 sound" as whatever regularity makes them all sound sorta similar, I think the Helix nails the quality. It's just that it's more of a median of all AC30s, while Kemper profiles are exact representations of exact single chains resulting in a single, or several, specific AC30s. If you think about it the other way around, you could probably make a real AC30 sound like the Helix version somehow if you made it a priority.

If that makes sense.

Co-sign your side-suggestion. I think we're asking for the same thing, just the details are different. More freedom in arranging the signal chain, where the hardware allows for it.

Do you mean the virtual signal chain, or the actual hardware signal chain inside the Kemper? If it's the latter, I understand. So the S/PDIF signal is summed to mono when run into the input?

I connected a Line 6 Helix to the Kemper with S/PDIF. I connected my guitar to Helix, sent the signal to the Kemper via S/PDIF, then back to the Helix again. I was monitoring through the Helix. I could only get sound in one channel, which implies that the S/PDIF is not summed to mono when it goes into the input. Which suggests the possibility of sending a stereo signal through the stack, although I could be mistaken. But that is the basis for my suggestion.

I could not get anything but a clean, unprocessed sound when I tried to use S/PDIF this way, and only in one ear. The output S/PDIF setting was set to "Stereo Master" and everything was set up as it should, so maybe what I actually need is to do some troubleshooting.

I don't know if this suggestion is rendered impossible by technical limitations, but I wish for two additional input options:

1) the option to send the signal from the stereo return inputs through the entire rig, and to retain the stereo signal throughout as well

2) the option to use the S/PDIF input as a stereo "front" input similar to my first suggestion, and send it through the entire rig. in stereo preferably, but even if it were summed to mono before going into the stomps that would still be a good option.

I've already stumbled across a suggestion for an S/PDIF FX loop but I am not sure if this has been requested or even denied.

Quote from Gforce guitar

LOL I'm not married to my Kemper . I got external effects in the back send and return. I tried to buy better guitars and then buy better picks up . I am waiting to 500$ humbuckers now . I got Immerse neunaber linked to the kemper... But great sounds is A CHAIN that cost a lot of $$$$ And the Kemper is only a part of this chain ONLY A PART. Thats my message. So continue to write here as much as you want without permission. Thats OK with me!!! anyway I am too busy working and putting money aside to buy better equipment to complete my CHAIN !

I thought you were trying to make a point that I was asking a stupid question. There are a lot of camps in the online scene, and I thought you were in the "all you need is your guitar and an amplifier" camp and was trying to make a point at my expense. I've now retorted to reading your post a little more literally and you are right, lol.

Quote from Monkey_Man

Dude, apart from post #2, which you already said this about, I don't see anybody kicking you.

You said this following my post, so I can only assume that you took the "I wish we could erase this myth that the Kemper effects aren't up-to-par somehow; it's just not true." comment the wrong way.

I went on to talk about the analogue-like vibe of the time-based effects (chorus, flanger, phaser...) and why I think it's important, but my opening statement, quoted above, was a logical preface to my argument in favour of Kemper's effects given the "myth" I referred to, which is IMHO just an impression many have gained based upon comparisons with the "fidelity" / accuracy / heavy-DSP-driven power some other units possess. I specifically referred to this 'cause it's been an "issue" that raises its head periodically here in the forum, and indeed one that fuels the creation of threads similar to this one.

Oh lol I'm sorry, I was unclear, I was still butthurt about and arguing towards the original second post lol. Letting go is hard. But I actually think I misunderstood his point altogether. English isn't my first either. Had a rough morning. Ah, the awkward, lol.

Just to be clear, I am not under the impression that the Kemper actually is better or worse than anything else. I have no impression, that's why I asked. The only opinions I have heard repeatedly are that reverbs and boost/overdrive stomps aren't great, but it has good delays. Didn't they do a delay pass a while ago, reworking them all? So that seems to make sense. I have a Helix and I seem to prefer the boosts on that. They're not necessarily better, but it's easier to cycle through them and listen for distinct qualities. With Kemper it seems the variety in sound textures comes from adjusting settings within a few select stomps, while the Helix has a longer list but they all have less parameters. If I don't know what I'm looking for, but I know I'll know when I hear it, the Helix stomps are easier to navigate. That said, I think the Kemper boosts have a fuzz-like quality to them, even the non fuzz ones. I remember really liking one of them, though, so it's not all bad either. We should be able to discuss these practical details without s bunch of emotions, honestly. I am trying to solve a concieved problem, so why kick at me? Makes no sense to me, I'm not a bad guy lol.

I am very happy with the product. I got it primarily for amp sounds and am more than happy with that choice. Trying to find its strengths and flaws because I have a multi-device setup so it actually matters to me and shortens the tinkering time before I can play. I am trying to develop a gefühl for what should be my go-to effects across several devices, and doing an A/B comparison seems like a daunting task. Then there are renowned effects so there is a bit of gear history to be learned, too. I like it to read people's thoughts about what they choose or decide, and why.

Wow. Just wow, what, are you married to your Kemper and thought I was calling it a bitch, or what's your deal?

I am wondering what the best Kemper effects are in other people's opinion, and possibly what people consider the worst ones. Does that bother you? Am I OK to wonder that or can you drop me you e-mail so I can consult you prior next time and we can avoid this farce?

I'm so sorry if you thought I was trying to personally and consciously belittle your possessions.

Im about 90% happy with my rig. Down the line I'm gonna wanna buy a Powerstage 700 and a 412 cab just to have that experience too, at that point I'll run W/D/W, but we're talking maybe some years down the line. Kemper in the first stereo fx loop of the Helix, G10 Relay to AUX, Migami cable to front input, all Mogami patch cables, ferrite cores on every cable, strymon zuma power supply with Palmer MI Purifier on everyvpower plug, good separate routing of power and audio cables, Korg rack tuner, Furman power conditioner, Strymon Timeline and Big Sky in the second stereo fx loop, custom server-grade power coord from Supra for the Furman, a shock rack from gator to install it in, music controlled LEDs to put around the inner edge of the rack, and a little pedalboard with a Whammy DT, Freqout, simple looper and a buffer at the start of the chain. Two powercab plus' for speakers.

I can only think of three points of improvement. Find someone that makes better power coords with C13 to C14 plug (help finding those would be welcome) from the Furman to each device, a G90 instead of G10, and a Mimiq pedal on my pedalboard. Then I'm done ?