New Kemper, Sounds thin and awful! [solved]

Crullovich · Aug 23rd 2013

Help!!

Today I got my Kemper, VERY exiting... but when I hook it up with my RCF Ayra Five monitors and my ESP Horizon Seymore Duncan guitar it sounds so thin, bad and awful!
What is wrong!?
I have downloaded like 40 profiles (some 5 star rated, some ola englund, and a FastRedPonyCar bogner profile). I have studied the kemper for like 8 months and I know that it's not supposed to sound like this. I have also recorded guitar in studios before, so I know it's not going to sound like a "in-room-amp"... but every distorted sound sounds so thin and it almost hurts in my ears from treble and high mids (and lack of any kind of bass)... What can be wrong!? I know this is an awesome product!!

Thanks! David

Ingolf · Aug 24th 2013

Welcome!

Quick troubleshooting:
Which output do you use?
Is it possible you clip the input of your monitors?
Make sure cab is on.
Check the output or monitor EQ depending on what you use (master/output menu).
Switch off any EQ slots in the rigs you are evaluating.

Maurizio70 · Aug 24th 2013

Check if accidentally there are some slot locked

Rispsira · Aug 24th 2013

Welcome David!

The best help we could give would be if you could give us some samples? If you could record and post it it would be helpful,
Cheers!

mDan · Aug 24th 2013

Did you use the monitor out? Maybe "cab off" was switched on?

nakedzen · Aug 24th 2013

Are you judging the guitar sound on its own, or in a mix? A lot of the profiles that have been tweaked to work in a mix without any post eq sound very thin and trebly on their own, to leave room for the kick drum and bass guitar.

jamesnorth · Aug 24th 2013

Quote

Did you use the monitor out? Maybe "cab off" was switched on?

This would describe the behaviour you're experiencing, I think?

londonjeepster · Aug 24th 2013

and dont panic,you will get it sorted,its early days with the machine.

Crullovich · Aug 24th 2013

Thank you for the feedback! I am using monitor out and I am sure that the cab is on... I have discovered that it sounds better in earphones than in my monitors.. In earphones it has alot more bass and warmth (still not satisfied though.. haha). Today my guitar started !"glitching", but my experiense with that is that it doesent affect the sound so much so that cant be the reason!

I recorded a quick track playing a "Mark4 lead, by Mill A"... Does it sound strange to you or is it something with me!?
https://soundcloud.com/user246…kemper-test-mark4-lead-by

Again, thanks alot for all the feedback! This is a really good forum!

nakedzen · Aug 24th 2013

Well it definitely sounds like something is clipping badly. Make sure the Kemper is not clipping your inputs?

lightbox · Aug 24th 2013

Might not be the most helpful comment of the day, but the profile you mentioned is not a profile of the actual amp but a profile of a 3rd party modeler's version of this amp. Maybe you want to listen to the TAF Mesa Boogie Mark V profiles demo and in case you like it just get them? There's a Mark V pack at soundside.de as well, but the demo clip is just unbelievably bad playing.

Crullovich · Aug 24th 2013

Okey Thanks! How do i correct that? I try to lower the volume so the output doesn't go "red" but it still sounds the same. I have downloaded The Amp Factorys EVH5150 patch! It sounds awesome on their webside, but when i try it... it sounds just screamy (not in a good way) and "fuzzy" (like there is something fuzzy in the sound"). I have also tried to change the EQ.

Btw nakedzen, I am judging it alone and not in a mix. The thing that I'm confused with is that it doesent sound the same on the amp factorys website as I does when im laying the same patches!?

Crullovich · Aug 24th 2013

Quote from lightbox

Might not be the most helpful comment of the day, but the profile you mentioned is not a profile of the actual amp but a profile of a 3rd party modeler's version of this amp. Maybe you want to listen to the TAF Mesa Boogie Mark V profiles demo and in case you like it just get them? There's a Mark V pack at soundside.de as well, but the demo clip is just unbelievably bad playing.

Okey! Yeah I've heard that sample. It sound good! The thing is that this goes for every sound i have yet played with the kemper. I've now downloaded The Amp Factorys EVH5150 profiles. The Cleans are good, but the distorted ones are still aweful! hmm...

Armin · Aug 24th 2013

Is there a sound-difference when you switch the cab block on and off?

Crullovich · Aug 24th 2013

Armin. yes there is a small difference. Cab on= a little darker than cab off.
Here is another quick example! This a EVH5150 profile from The Amp Factory...
https://soundcloud.com/crullovich/kemper-evh5150-od

Could maybe bad cables be the reason? But i play with these cables all the time and it sounds good. They are cheap fender/ supreme cables.

mdeeRocks · Aug 24th 2013

That's weird. Really heavy clipping. I don't think cables would do that.
If you've got Skype I can have a look via Skype, just message me with your skype name.

Crullovich · Aug 24th 2013

I have now played through my marshall 4x12 cab witch the kemper (power rack)... it really sounds awesome!! So what is wrong with the direct option?...hmm

Guitartone · Aug 24th 2013

That is not clipping, that's Cab "OFF".

Check your Monitor Out settings, the cab is OFF and it should be ON.

lef38 · Aug 24th 2013

Go to the output section, page 3/5 and check Monitor cab off is not turned on.

Edit: Guitartone you got me

nakedzen · Aug 24th 2013

Quote from Guitartone

That is not clipping, that's Cab "OFF".

Check your Monitor Out settings, the cab is OFF and it should be ON.

Yeah after listening to the second clip it's pretty obvious this is the case here.

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