Posts by Deadlock

I FINALLY found where it goes wrong, and why it always has been an issue.

I cranked up my speakers so I could hear both speakers well. I had them on one at a time, to listen. They sounded different. I found it strange, and actually feared it was the speakers themselves.
But I was happy to find out its the cheapest link in my setup: the interface.

I A/B tested the sound of each speaker through each output. I unplugged one cable from the output of my interface, and listened to the same speaker on each output. One was always different. Same result with the other speaker.
Simply put: the Output 1 of my 2i2 has an issue with the sound, while Output 2 is way better. Output 2 has that crunchy treble and the tight bass. Output 1? Flubby bass, muddled mids and treble that just disappears in the mess of the rest.

With both speakers on, I've never been able to compensate for it settings wise because of the vast difference. It's always too much on one, or too little on the other.

So I'll be looking at a new interface now I guess

@pbfoot
That's interesting actually! But I monitor directly from the 2i2 device itself, before the sound goes through USB to the computer.

Settings on monitors does confuse me a bit. I have a pair of Focal CMS40. They have fairly flat EQs with -2dB, neutral and +2dB options for treble and bass respectively. The 'tricky' part is the input setting, which I'm not sure does anything for sound quality. The input sensitivity can be changed between +4dB, 0 dB or -10dB. Combined with XLR connection from the 2i2, I've not been able to find any appropriate way of setting it up anywhere.

@viabcroce
I'll give the link a read some time soon, thanks! Also will try monitoring directly from Kemper soon.

Good call on ear sensitivity! What kind of volume is the expected 'minimum' for being able to hear said goodness on headphones and even speakers? That's probably very depending on the device itself, but having read that some people need to listen to their mix at volumes I find uncomfortable and possible causing hearing loss over prolonged periods, I might just ask and get it over with

Sorry about all my questions, I really appreciate the time you guys put into answering all my crazy questions

@viabcroce
During this round of testing, I haven't run Kemper directly to monitors yet. Though I used my headphones through both Kempers HP output, and my 2i2's HP out. To me there is a big difference in the tonal qualities right there.

I'm careful not to clip my interface. Though it gets a little difficult to compare the two, since I need to drive my headphones at a certain level to bring out all the goodness. And I feel I can't drive the HP output of my 2i2 enough to reach the same level. So I have to match my Kemper down to the level the 2i2 tolerates without clipping, since the 2i2 (mine at least) doesn't play very loudly with HP monitor volume at max while input the is matched to just under the point of clipping.

Eh, I'll keep on trying stuff. Ultimately, I haven't spent a lot of time with the Kemper, which may be the biggest problem. I can't say for sure that my findings are 100% true, as there are different variables at play.
Anyway, thanks for giving feedback

@Bilbosmeggins
It's funny to find someone with the same experience - have you had luck getting your sound on anything but the headphones?

Good call on the acoustic properties regarding the monitors, they definitely aren't in an optimal environment.

But the difference between the headphones tests are quite large. I feel there is a huge loss in dynamics through my 2i2. It definitely doesn't amplify as much either so the headphones monitor setting is full tilt while input is matched to not clip. And even then it doesn't play as loud as the kemper needs to run the headphones, in order to get the fullest sound.

A part of my findings was that running too low a signal from kemper to my headphones would result it that sound too. But running output at around -15dB seems to play loud enough to get the juicy details. Much lower and it sounds flubby.

How sensitive is the device to signal levels I wonder? Since it makes the largest difference to me, which I find funny since I thought that was less the case with a digital unit

Alright I'm back to post more gibberish Sorry for the delay.

I'm continuously frustrated that I cannot get the same feel of the rig through speakers compared to what I get from my headphones. I believe the rigs are functioning correctly, but somewhere along the signal path, it takes a hit. Does the headphone out get any special treatment to the signal, if the 'Space' parameter is disabled?

After all my tinkering, I'm somewhat convinced that my interface, a Scarlett 2i2, is doing a great deal of tone sucking. This conclusion is based on:

- The headphone out of the Kemper sounds amazing.
- Listening to headphone out on my interface has that 'box-y' sound. Highs not so lively, bass is boomy, overall not interesting.
- If the same signal is being fed to my monitors, I can imagine why they seem lackluster as well.
- The monitors seem generally 'boomy' sounding when playing content from my PC, which may be explained by the quality of the interface.

I'm reluctant doing more testing by running Kemper directly to monitors, since they are connected by XLR to TRS cables. Will the Kemper tolerate balanced TRS cables in the main 1/4" outputs, when the other end is XLR?

Overall I think it all points to the interface. Does it sound plausible to expect this from a unit like the 2i2? At the price I wouldn't expect it to be 'very good', but most people praise it for being good and not having much quality loss. Which contradicts my statements here. Any ideas?

I updated the firmware again to the newest, and also made a system reset of the Kemper again (did this before without any luck).

It seems that this time it changed something, and changed the character of pretty much everything. The patches I had set up with the aforementioned treble boosts, now sounds very trebly and needs to be dialed down to around 0 (neutral) or +0.5 to sound as trebly as before (+2). This is good, and will need to tinker more to see how it all works out

I was on my way to edit it to pure cabinet, so yes, that was absolutely what I meant

Alright, I will save time testing for that then, haha!
Is there anything else that affects the individual output sources, like global EQ, cab on/off, etc?

Yeah that's right viabcroce, also through studio monitors.

I read something about a 'true cab' setting, which I'm not familiar with. I don't know if that one is in play with the main outs. Maybe I'll check that out

I spent some time doing A/B comparison between using headphones and my studio monitors.

It hit me that I have always found the sound when using headphones to be very good. It has a great feel, a good response, dynamic and expressive - overall sounds fantastic and its so much fun to play.

But when I play and output to external sources, it's as if the character of the whole thing just disappears. It still sounds good, but no way the same feel, the same response and dynamic that I love, and only get when putting on my headphones.
I tried putting on some global EQ for the main output, and it does liven up the sound. But it doesn't bring out the character (dare I say the soul ) of the rig I've loaded up.

It even sounds like the gain levels are different. Like this Fender Twin-ish I use, seems very clean and somewhat stale in the monitors. But sounds livelier, more driven and its a pretty hot sound in headphones, as if the gain setting was given a bump.

This is the kind of difference I'm talking, and it's driving me crazy

Eep, I forgot to reply!

Paul, I have tried different setups:
- running the Kemper (with integrated power amp) into a guitar cab with the appropriate settings for that
- through studio monitors, which is my current setup

Both seemed to have the quality that it needs a bunch of treble in order to sound like decent. As for your comment Viabcroce, I have 3 pretty different guitars, so I run between the guitars to make sure the characteristics I get is a general thing and not from the particular guitar I use

I have also used headphones in the past, and I remember that as a different sound compared to the other two I mentioned. I will be testing this soon, maybe that will give me a lead on what I'm experiencing

Hey people!

I bought a Kemper last year, unfortunately I haven't spent as much time with it as I have hoped to do.

Anyway, I'm somewhat familiar with most of the parameters, menus etc, though between all the patches, settings, parameters, rig types, I could use a little advice on a basic setup of things.
I ask this because I find that I have to bump the treble on almost every rig I load on the Kemper, and find that I have little other choice than to run it at +2 or so, else it sounds either dull or too trebly.

Maybe I'm missing something, or a little treble boost is what any patch needs, I don't know Some feedback would be appreciated!

Thanks!