I still need to spend some time with the eq out front running some multi-track recordings back to adjust things, but since we are booked solid for the next couple of weeks, it will have to wait until things settle down. I think I may have a bit much on top still.
Setup was kind of a pain. I have my Kemper in a rack with a power supply strip and a harmonizer. The cable mess was hard to get though and cost me some time on setup. I am actually sitting here right now with my box-o-parts from parts express and making myself a nice connection panel before next weeks gig.
This rack has 8 connections total.
- 2 MIDI (in and out)
- 1 TRS footswitch for a 3 button controller for the TC Helicon harmonizer
- 1 female XLR input into the harmonizer
- 1 male XLR output out of the harmonizer and into the mixer
- 1 TS input from my guitar
- 2 XLR stereo outputs from the Kemper into the mixer.
I created a snake for the 2 MIDI cables with some black plastic conduit and just roll that up inside the rack for storage.
The other 6 inputs are going to be on the panel by tomorrow. I also ordered some longer XLR patch cables and got colored ones so that I can keep them plugged into the mixer and pack them up with it (I use an X32 Rack mixer). That way I can have the mixer face down with the plugs up and the Kemper's rack face down with the plugs up at the same time and make the connections like this before laying them one on top of the other. The 3 ft patch cables were too short to do this so I ended up on my side laying down trying to hook things up on the last gig.
The Kemper has some balls. Too much in some cases. I am finding that the other guitar player is having difficulty cutting into the mix with the Kemper since he tends to like a warm sound from his rig and lacks high mids. He is having to use less distortion to cut better.
I am not so sure I shouldn't have a bit less gain myself. It is great when you are jamming by yourself, but gets a little messy in a gig when you have too much gain.
There were some balance issues with my rig setup as well, but all in all, things really sounded good. The night went off without a hiccup.
It took me a couple of years to fine tune my VHT rig. Hopefully I can get my Kemper rig there in 6 months
It was a pleasure playing on the Kemper. It is hard not to love the tone.
.... and rumor has it that Uno4Kemper is sending me my glow in the dark stickers ...... which I really did need. The stage was dark and the foot pedals on the FCB1010 are small and hard to read in the dark.
In a bit of time, the Kemper rig is going to be very easy for me to work with. I sure didn't miss carrying my 4x12 cab and head last weekend! My back is one happy camper. My ears are pretty happy too.