Static distortion when roling back volume knob.

  • I've always applauded the Kemper's ability to clean up like a tube amp when the volume knob is rolled back on an overdriven sound. I have noticed something occasionally on some rigs. I do not detect this through the live cab, but the main outs signal to the board sometimes gets an unnatural "static" like distortion that sits with the sound when you roll the volume back kind of like the old PODS would or when you roll the volume knob back when using a distortion pedal. I has some artifact like scratchy sound with it. I wish I could explain it better. I don't detect it in all rigs, but that may just be because I haven't rolled the volume down on all while recording. It's scratchy and unnatural similar to the scratchy sound a dirty pot makes but goes along with the sound not random. Has anyone else noticed this? I wish there was a way to attach a clip. At first I though it may be a studio connection but it isn't. If I switch in and out of the particular rig that does it it will cease and return with that same rig. I don't do any real drastic altering to the rigs I've purchased. The best I can describe it is strange artifacts in the distortion when rolling back the volume knob on some rigs.

  • That sounds strange. I haven’t personally noticed anything like this. A clip would be helpful.


    As it only happens in certain rigs I would start troubleshooting one of those by turning off everything except the Stack Section. If it is still there then I would go through each parameter to try and isolate what is causing it.


    Some ideas that spring to mind include,


    Noise Gate in the input section might be higher in those rigs and is getting confused with the lower input of a rolled back volume.


    Definition,Pick or Clarity set very high


    I’m just thinking out loud at this stage but might be worth starting there.

  • Thanks. I haven't stated troubleshooting it yet but will next time it produces itself. I didn't check the gate, but generally don't use it too much. I like to hear a little noise when volume full on for constant recognition that it's not too high. When I want it on, I bump my volume back to 8. I don't believe the problem is with the Kemper itself but something else that I haven't figured out. Is there a way to upload a clip directly here? I don't have soundcloud etc.

  • clp.zip I am attempting to share this like this. Notice at the very end when the clip fades there is a "crackle" that goes along with it. I could record a clip where this was more noticeable but this was just the first thing I did quickly and it was there. the noise gate is off. It's like there is this alias or artifact overlaid or built in at the very end fade. It will do that same thing if I have the volume knob down and am playing a mid distortion sound softly

  • I'm going to check some other guitars to see if it is an artifact of the guitar itself. I can't hear any fret buzzing when unplugged, but want to eliminate the possibility it is the instrument. Usually a mild fret buzz wouldn't show up like this but I believe kemper "reads" guitar signals differently than a regular amp.