Jon, I agree with Nicky, it will be difficult without auditioning some amps as the impact of cabs, guitars etc all play a part, so any advice we give will be difficult.
If you can't get access to his but can access someone elses, then obviously you can port these across onto his Kemper. If you are in the UK and near me, I would help 
Otherwise just scroll through what is on his Kemper and look for something like a JCM800, there are a few out there.
I tend to have my poweramp boost fairly high but not maxed. Not for any specific reason as its a fairly clean and powerful amp.
Yes you need cab off.
You need to set your FOH output level ( Main output) , most people have it at around -18db.
You also need to check volumes are not linked, so you can control the cab volume with the master and the output volume to FOH stays fixed.
One other thing, make sure you have checked your profiles through an FRFR cab before going direct to FOH. I found profiles that sounded good through a cab sounded awful through FRFR/FOH.
..and you can also switch off the poweramp, but this is not necessary if you use the other outputs..
Display MoreYes, don't get me wrong - totally aware that it's a ridiculous set up that's both very gluttonous and a waste of time and resources.
The desired effect IS stereo to the front of house mix but only when the 2nd amp is brought in. A fairly common comparison situation is in two guitarist bands where the vocalist/guitarist just jumps in the play on the chorus of the song - if I was mixed to the left of the mix and he comes in mixed to the right its quite a big contribution to the mix.
I'm wanting to accomplish that effect without the 2nd guitarist. So for examples sake: amp 1 (mixed left) plays the verse and I add in amp 2 (mixed right) for the chorus - I'd probably have to delay the signal to the second amp to get the effect of it not just being mono but I think the result could get close to the "two guitarist" sound.
- Again this is mostly just an in theory and fantasy rig situation.
Fair enough, just sounds like it will need to be trial and error..the only concern I have is the stereo part because it will be unbalanced that's all. When you have the singer picking up a guitar, both guitars are usually centre panned. It also won't be true stereo as such, just 2 mono feeds panned left and right.
Let us know ow you get on.
Or just get your singer to play guitar...having said that, seeing one of my old singers play, avoid
Depends what you want from the cab if you do want to gig live. I switched from guitar cab to FRFR by getting a "regular" unpowered monitor ( I tried a few, using the DXR10 as a benchmark) and bought a 1x12 unpowered wedge for £180.
The reason I ask what are you using it for, I have mine facing me/band like a regular monitor, so doesn't give out much FOH, I use the PA for that.
I do sometimes use a guitar cab as well but you definitely get a smoothed out sound so I'd go FRFR if you can. With the powerhead you have loads of options.
I also have one of these which is also very good...
Hey, they're not my presets, brother; I'm just not that-talented!
Kudos to all on the forum who've contributed.
Sorry yes, I did know that, I will adjust my kudos to you for pulling it together and pointing me int he right direction
If you are unsure if the Kemper can do it, in my experience, it nearly always can!
Its also pretty user friendly, there are just so many options.
The manual is also very good...:)
Just to add, many large profile guitarists will use 2 amps, mainly to switch between a clean sound ( say a fender twin) and heavy ( say a Dual rectifier)..
But the Kemper does this so still at a loss really with why go to that amount of hassle - not clear if it stereo you really want ( which you need from stereo effects e.g. delays) or 2 different sounds or mixing clean and overdrive sound??
Fantastic, welcome to our world.
I love the versatility and ease of the KPA. Like you I had a big valve Amp (ENGL) and massive pedal board, 4 cables ( effects loop, power and guitar in ), a right mess.
I also hope you thanked Tom Petty for such a great song
Gosh, is it really worth that?
There were a number of conversations on Stereo. Personally I think you'll get so many issues managing the balance between sounds. Sound engineers will hate you
Is it stereo on stage or Stereo out front you want?
To be honest I'm a bit confused on your signal chain..running both will of course not be stereo, so you'd be stereo when running the JCM but mono with the Kemper? Sounds like sometimes you'll be just left mix and sometimes both ?
Am I missing something?
I currently use a modified cry baby (as an expression pedal so bypassing the wah circuit and no switch) with a couple of Nicky's Wah presets....I challenge anyone to tell the difference, plus other options there as well...very happy!
Many apologies for the derail.
I was experimenting with morph/boost yesterday. I think I might use that.
I'm an IT manager so no worries on the derail
As the guys mention its an interesting option. I use in the same way as Finally does, just to increase a bit of gain and volume and in some cases effects.
Initially I saw no value in Morphing because the progressive addition is of no interest but I use it to extend my options within a performance. In performance mode ( if you've not found this yet) you set up your amps etc as with most other multi-effects units, with a number of banks. Within each bank you have 5 sounds that you can add switch stomps on or off. With Morph, you can effectively double the number of sounds to 10, by changing the parameters on each ( adding volume, a bit more cut, some delay etc) with the touch of a button.
For example I have a solo preset but press it again ( morph) and it adds a bit more delay and reverb so I have a effectively 2 variations on my solo sound without taking up one of the 5 slots or changing banks..
There are restrictions with morph, it does change the profile just parameters within a profile, or switch effects on or off ( but you can achieve the same by having an effect on but set to zero mix).
Its the best function that I thought I didn't need
Great story ( except the telco bit )...
The remote is great, perfect live tool, combined with the pedals. Volume pedal when set to zero automatically goes to tuner, you can set either a wah ( I use touch so no button to click) or even whammy features.
You can activate multiple stomps with one press, memorizing settings is so easy, one cable to connect including power...the list goes on...
Morph I don;t use to morph per se but to selectively boost/instant changes...so for my rhythm sound I have a little more volume for riffs set to morph instantly without taking up a separate slot.
I switched from guitar cab to FRFR...and all the profiles I loved sounded pants through the FRFR.
I only then relaised how much the guitar cab smooths everything out, which means average profiles sound pretty good....but...
Really good profiles sound brilliant through FRFR and sound mediocre through a cab..
The morale of the story....you have to find the right profiles, just using what you had before will probably not work because the cab has disguised the true sound of the profile..
yeah this guy was one exception...every other place loves it.
I went powered because I was going to play live, started with a regular guitar cab then switched to an unpowered monitor.
If you have DXR and powered Kemper, you'll have fab sound, extreme portability and total versatility
Erm, dean_R, I'm being stupid...where is the guitar in the profiling signal chain? When I profiled, I plugged profiler ( direct output) into the amp input, mike in front of the cab, into the return to create the "loop", then weird sounds, job done.
I thought you only connect the guitar to A/B ??
Not done it for ages...someone please correct me
Display MoreHey
I'm having a little rethink, not about the Kemper but more whether I need a powered version or not as I have ordered the dxr10.
Part of me thinks if I need it it's there, the other part things the difference could be a top quality 6u rack.
It's great when people compliment the sound......the JVM has that when people hear the OD1 orange channel.
I use the AIC wah pedal but I believe there are settings for this wah on the forum....that may be sold too,
Mike
Powered version comes in handy...played a venue where the sound guy refused to let me go direct...he'd had bad experiences with Line 6 pod in the very distant past. There was a 4 x12 hanging around so I just plugged in...done...useful at festivals if you have to share backlines...
Couple of comments from me:
Profiles are not created with a guitar in the chain ( some have setting better suited to a type of guitar), it is a profile of the amp, Cab ( assuming its not a direct profile) and mike
All amps respond differently to guitars and thr Kemper is no different.
So will you be restricted to what guitar will sound good? Absolutely not. I play everything from a Gretsch to a charvel, active and passive pickups, blues to metal.
Do you need an amp? Many people like to profile their own amp but I don;t use my amp profiles. I've use a combination of Kempers amp packs ( you get with the Kemper), those of the rig exchange ( over 10,000 to choose from...free) and commercially bought ones. You will find a sound you like...but...
the Axe and Kemper are the same that they can take time to find your sound although many get it striaght out the box...
I've never owned an Axe FX but the pros and cons have seemed to be that the Kemper can sound a bit more natural but the Axe has the edge on effects. This is a really basic summary so someone else might be better placed to comment on that.
Axe FX and Kemper are both excellent devices, I went Kemper for ease of set up ( built in power amp, minimal fiddling required)...
Hope that helps!
Sorry I'm rack as well for all the reasons above.
Nice and safe, I have a power conditioner and wireless all in one convenient box. So easy to set up as all leads plugged in, patch panal for XLR to connect to FOH...
Its all personal preference though..
Don't worry man; this thing doesn't disappoint. The typical reaction for many after playing just a few notes is, "Holy shit!".
In cases where first-time users aren't impressed, which are rare, 90% of those involve "operator error", where ignorance of routing and available parameters, appropriate monitoring or the use of "bad" / inappropriate Profiles are often to blame.
The good news is that for all intents and purposes it should be a simple matter of plug-and-play for you. Start with the factory (in-built) Profiles and then check out the Rig Exchange ones (over 10 000) via the Rig Manager app. Install the app (downloadable from the main site) and hook your Kemper up to your 'puter with a USB cable. Its operation is self-explanatory / logical / simple, and I highly recommend you get into it as soon as you've listened to the factory Rigs and had a little fun playing them.
I was one of the 10% who it took time to get really happy , partially because I used mine with a guitar cab which was a compromise but also I convinced myself that a digital amp coldn;t sound good ( un valve my thinking). But I do't trust my own ears, so I now take the feedback from people who see me play...I have never had some many positive comments on my sound...
I use mine with an unpowered monitor ( I looked for something close to a DXR 10 as I didn't need the amp) so I know you will be happy....might take a little fiddling but alsothe Kemper is o easy to use. I'm an IT guy but get frustrated with poorly designed interfaces. The Kemper is really logical and simple to use.
Also defo on the remote for live work, makes it so easy. Just for interest for Wah I took an old Crybaby and modified it to act as a controller...now it feels like a crybaby too, but without the annoying switch (touch sensitive)!
Let us know how you get on!!
