Posts by hoth

Quote from Armin

1)
Clone an Amp:
-------------------
AxeFx:
In the AxeFx you depend on the amp models provided by the manufacturer.
The latest version of the AxeFx features some matching options to match real amp tones closer - but IMHO it's not this easy and accurate as the Kemper.

Kemper:
Allmost perfect match

EQ Match
-------------
The AxeFx has a great feature to match the tone of a recorded guitar track.
KPA can't do it

Use of IR's
--------------
Both units can use speaker impulses - the AxeFx out of the box - the KPA via a new toolkit.

Amp Tweaking
-------------------
If you don't like what you get from the AxeFx (or like to try something new) then your have A LOT of parameters to tweak - by this can you get closer to your dream tone - or spend a lot of time and tweak instead of playing the guitar.

The KPA has only a few but easy and powerful parameters to tweak an amp or cabinet sound.

2)
Effect quality and tweak ability
-------------------------------------
The effects and the quality of the effects in the Kemper are great sounding and easy to use - there are even dedicated knobs for common parameters - to tweak while playing.
If you like to deep edit the effects - all fine with the Kemper.

The effects and even the amp parameters can not be tweaked this easy on the AxeFx - you need to dive (deep) into the menus and submenus of the AxeFx.

Effect routing
-----------------
The number of effects and routing options in the AxeFx are WAY more advanced then in the Kemper.
Kemper has max 4 effects before the amp and max 4 effects after it (the last two delay and reverb are at a fix position).

AxeFx has a 4x12 matrix, you can run effects in all kinds of combinations - much more options.

If you just like some wah, compressor, distortion, chorus, delay, reverb and stuff like this - then the KPA's effects are fine - but if you want more than one delay or reverb effect at once or strange routing options - then the AxeFx is better.
AxeFx can e.g. use a SpringReverb and a room effect at the same time.

Missing effects
-------------------
The AxeFx effect repository is almost perfect - all kinds of effects are available.

The number of effects in the KPA has increased but there are still some basic things missing:

1) No Spring Reverb effect
2) (Generic) Amp Stack (EQ) always after the amp (AxeFx has many stack types and can be set before or after the amp block)
3) No pitch effects
4) Only one delay effect (an this one can't be placed before the amp)

..... so if you compare the features - then the AxeFx is the clear winner.
I have owned an AxeFx Ultra and the AxeFx II - now I use the Kemper - and the reason is the IMHO much better amp sound.
... still hoping that some missing effects/options will be added in the future.

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This post should be wiki'ed. Armin is an authority on all things KPA (including very very small nuances of the almost unhearable by anyone except dogs presence end of the spectrum) so I would trust him. And if you do get a KPA, be sure to check out some of his profiles.

+1 Still in love one year later

I (thankfully) don't hear or feel a difference and I feel bad for those that do as I know how these ghosts can drive one crazy. I wonder if this is one of those situations where people who play the same profile get something different out of the kpa. Hasn't that happened in the past in some situations like if someone had corrupt settings or a corrupt profile?

Disclaimer: I am mostly deaf, completely tonedeaf and not too experienced. I am just some random person on the internet posting my personal opinion.

Oooh. That looks like fun. I'm going to do my best to be there.

Love it! Great tonality and feel. I think JP would be proud.

deleted

Sorry, my bad for not reading the first post completely

Happy Holidays!!!

Wow. Just wow. I feel like a schoolgirl when you and Armin come around. I was having so much fun with his Harvard profiles I thought I had died and gone to heaven. And then I break down in a moment of weakness and by this bundle. I flip around and hit the Vibrolux cranked profile and my jaw dropped. I still have not lifted it from the ground.

Ugh. I was meaning to try out some of these Bundle IV profiles last night but I started noodling with the Harvard M02 Crunch+ profile and just couldn't get to the new profiles. This is the Fender nirvana that I had always searched for in a modeler. There's a snappy high end, great string clarity and a nice grit when pushed. Have. to. pull. myself. away.

I jumped in on this Bundle #4 too. Looks killer. If these amps are done to your usual standards, I would say this is a must have for KPA'ers that like the harder side of things. Can't wait till Share-It clears the payment!

Edit: By the way, I love your pics of the amps and gear. Extremely professional looking. Do you take them yourself?

Quote from Gizmo

I have to say that I'm still disappointed. I've had the Kemper for about 2 months now...sold my 11r to get it.

I was initially overwhelmed at the number of rigs available so it has taken some time to really listen and tweak (just a little). I play blues, surf and rockabilly...no metal or really heavy stuff, mostly clean with light crunch.

Everything seems to sound the same with just different gain, fx and eq settings...that's what I go to bed thinking.

I'm listening through Samson Resolv monitors but I've tried it through JBL Eons as well. Admittedly not the best gear, but then how much should that really matter. If I'm trying to replace my tube amps for gigging, I can't always assume the FOH speakers are the best either and I don't want to lay out a fortune for a high end coaxial monitor until I'm happier than I am now.

I REALLY want to love this thing as much as I love my Access Virus, (I think CK is a brilliant designer) but so far I'm still waiting for that magic moment.

I've tweaked and tried commercial rigs (all of which sounded way better on the web sites than they do when I play them)...and I'm using pro level guitars.

I know I'll keep pushing and maybe I'll get there...maybe not. Maybe I'm just too wedded to tubes but for now the KPA still sits next to my computer and I still take two tube amps to gigs.

Maybe I need counseling

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When I had this issue the fix for me was turning down the treble and presence a lot. Also, for some reason I have never gotten along with the headphone out so I monitor from the monitor out instead.

I had sent back my first unit that I bought the week the KPA came out here in the US. Most of that was because of user error and expecting it to work the way I wanted it to work. I thought I would try it again a few months later after reading some glowing testimonials from people I trusted. This time around I was more open to letting it guide me to its magic rather than forcing it to be what I wanted. It has been a bit of a bumpy road though, as to be expected with any cutting edge gear. But I have been really happy with he KPA for many months and have absolutely no regrets with my purchase.

Quote from VESmedic1

Hey hoth, do you find these profiles too scooped sounding? Hearing conflicting reports on this pack, so just really tryin to get as much info as I can before I buy . Also Andy, not trying to sound like a cheapass, but do previous purchasers of your profiles get a discount for the metal pack as well! Thanks!

They are not too scooped, at least for my taste.

I bought the metal pack and was all set to test out a bunch of profiles tonight. I started with the Fortin - big mistake. I got a couple profiles into it and hit the Forten 3 C3. At that point I stopped and just played that profile for the next few hours. It was everything I think a hotrodded Marshall should sound like. It played like butter and sounded like molten steel. I am consistently amazed by the quality of Andy's work and this pack is no different. There was even this moment when i caught myself with my eyes closed making the cheesy guitar face. I literally just turned to that profile (did not tweak any settings) and started to play. Bliss. Period.

More than happy to throw something in the kitty for this TW goodness. Thanks man!

Quote from and44

Sure there are about 87 (I think) profiles to this pack.
So there are about 4 or so variations per cab. 3 cabs each, all different voicing, with amp+Mic placement. - some amps captured with TS, scooped No-TS, Metal-clean - x 7 amps = 87 or so..is all designed for Metal Production, so big sound, and full of growl. its a different approach to profiling a normal amp.. so the pricing is as it is, due to Specialty reasons as it took a long time to produce this, every day for 2 weeks in studio,

Glad you like the profiles, Well in the AF3 thread its full of talk about this pack - and my facebook updates have been constant too. sorry bout that

I'll throw in my lot with the less aliasing less features folks. Of course a soft switch would be optimal so people could choose what they want.

Quote from DanielRigler

In my opinion "no comment" equals to a possible bad news that might affect the sales...
I hope I'm wrong though. I can hear the aliasing on my unit when I look for it specifically, but during normal use, it does not bother me much. Definitely a shortcumming for a fully grown digital unit though that needs to be eliminated if possible.

Same for me as I do not play extremely high gain music generally. The more worrisome aspect of the issue though is the radio silence from the company.

Quote from bigHF

I like the fact, that the KPA is OS independent. Let the manufacturers of the sound cards and other interfaces fight that driver war.
Yes it might seem easier at first, but then again look at all the issues that rise from driver development for new OS versions.
The way it is now, the Kemper can be integrated into any recoding situation at any given facility at any given time.

True that the KPA is OS independent and Kemper doesn't have to worry about any drivers. But that's because the KPA doesn't have any computer connectivity! Personally I think this is a big missing feature and Kemper dropped the ball. At least supporting one OS would have been very nice. Surprising omission given that just about every other product in the digital domain has this ability (even the $50 ones).

Quote from suckamc

I can get some sick industrial-type sounds from Guitar RIg. It didn't occur to me to profile them until now. Any tips from anyone who's done it?

Oh, found this: Profiling software... possible? Tips? Tricks?

I had no problem profiling Amplitube, GR and Scuffham. The biggest issue I had was making sure that levels were good but not clipping anywhere. With all the ins and outs the routing got a big complicated but otherwise the sounds were great.