So, something to bring in the new year for you - I read a lot of threads about people wanting to 'give up' the Kemper and being overwhelmed by choice. This sort of thing is not exclusive to Kemper. It is something which is the paradox of choice we have with modern gear. Too many options.
I don't know about you all but I find these things about myself:
- I like some choice but I find too many options spoil my workflow
- I am a visual person and find abstract patches and saved data to muddle my mind
I realised that I was most productive when I had very little money to spend on gear and I would make the best use of the tools I had. I wrote lots of songs during this time. Using a cheap amp and a couple of pedals. My band got a record deal with those songs. Many years later I got more and more gear and then I had lots of options and patching and re patching stompboxes became the creativity killer. So I wanted something with convenience.
Before I got the Kemper I always wanted the sound of my gear with the added convenience of no patch cables and easy switching between sounds. Line 6 never gave me that, Digitech never gave me that, Eleven rack didn't give me that. You see I could go on. It was always about the sound.
With the Kemper I have the sound and convenience now. But I also have the other thing which comes with rack or multi effects units - options. Oh dear. The options.I hear many people complain that there are too many options.
So convenience and options can kind of cancel themselves out productivity wise.
But....with that in mind I have chosen to limit myself to a handful of actual amps rather than flick through thousands of profiles. I thought I would look at this as an actual amp collection.
Since I have had the Kemper I have started writing several songs in a short space of time because of the convenience and sound quality combined. But I have also done so because I have chosen to limit myself within the Kemper.
So I thought. I would like particular amps in my collection to write songs with. But no more than about 5 guitar amps. And one bass amp. If I had a physical collection of amps I would never have over this many anyway. So why should I have more? Because I can? Is that a good reason?
Really it is great that there are potentially thousands of profiles - but that is only so you can get your collection of amps. Not a reason to flick through and try more and try more and try more etc. Think about it - if you went and bought an amp from a store you wouldn't go and return it and get another one a few days later when you got 'bored' with it. The paradox of choice stifles your creativity. At least it does mine.
So I went and I found the best profile of each of those amps for my small self enforced 'collection' and saved those to my favourites. When I say the 'best' did I try hundreds of each amp? No - I tested a handful then picked a keeper. Then I created a locked stompbox chain. In reality I would not change my stompboxes every time I plug in to a new amp. So why would I do this on the Kemper?
Now bear in mind. I am not talking about covers bands here. I can understand you would need totally different chains for different styles and songs. I am talking about all you songwriters and original bands out there. Sticking to your rig - your sound.By all means you can use the Kemper to go on a history lesson and a fun covers session now and again - but when you want to write songs you don't need that distraction of so many amps.
So I got my handful of amps and my locked stomp box chain. So I also thought that I am a visual person - how do I deal with that - I want to be able to see those amps and stomps so I can at a glance know what my options are. So I created this:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_La-Dzy2mQAZlJnSjRBY2wwM28/view?usp=sharing
It may seem silly to some but I like to see what I have at my disposal. I am a visual person - a preset name or lights do not do it for me - I want an at a glance guide. As if I had a room of gear ready to use. I may update the picture with preset numbers for the pre amps.
Now I don't feel as overwhelmed by the number of profiles etc. You may think this is silly but I am a strong believer in making the best use of the tools you have and not going too far down a rabbit hole of tweaking and options.
This is not to say I will not try other amps in future, or not switch stomps in and out now and again - but I will try and keep to my core 'collection' in the main - at least for now while I attempt to get this EP finished!!
So if any of you are struggling with your writing and recording - try and look at the Kemper a bit differently. Try and limit yourself. It certainly helps me and I hope it will help you.
Now if I can keep the guitar GAS in check I will really be making progress....
I hope this shared experience has been useful for at least one of you. Once the KFC comes out my setup will be complete!