Posts by raphaelnano

Quote from Monkey_Man

I must say that it's fantastic and refreshing that Raphael is so open to listening to all the suggestions we've thrown at him. Kudos to you, Raphael!

Two things jump out at me about this thread:

1) It shows how willing we all are to help in any way we can.
2) If the recipient is keen to learn it makes for the perfect collaboration.

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Quote from Monkey_Man

You're a gem, mate.

Thank you so much for your kind words my brother! Much appreciated!

I totally agree with you, mate, I noticed that this forum's members are much kinder and really want to help even tho you guys had to re-explain some very basic things that are boring.

I thank everyone who took the time to read, listen and write their suggestions and tips to help.. knowing how cool you guys are here, I will definitely be more active on this forum.

Quote from V8guitar

Whilst I don't think that is totally it, its definitely a part of it..
In the past when I bought a new amp, I never tried it in the shop...why? Because I knew it would sound totally different to what I was used to and what it would be like in a band context. Therefore I could not tell if it was right...I bought mainly based upon research and reviews...crazy eh?

Then I would spend the next few months learning if I really liked it. I have the same problem with profiles...I go and try another profile that everyone says is ace and usually I quite like it....until I go back to my original which I prefer. I think that is 99% my ears

The good news is that its so flexible, the sound is in there....my biggest problem is I could never work out what was "wrong" with any sound I didn't like.

Now that's a great mindset when buying new gear I absolutely agree.. will definitely have that mindset next time I buy gear! Thank you very much for that, my friend!

Oh man, what a great forum Kemper has

Quote from 808illest

I was going to suggest swapping out some different cabs perhaps? Don't give up Raph - your playing deserves what the Kemper has to offer you, give it some time!

Thank you so much mate!! I did try some cabs just now and the difference in tone is just huge! Will be trying all the cabs! I think I heard a cover of someone using Top Jimi YJM100 with EVH 4X12 cab... he sounded just great!

I'm very happy I'm feeling more comfortable with the Kemper all because of you guys.. took me awhile to save for it since I'm 19 and a newcomer in Canada, I even didn't buy myself a car just to get a Kemper so I thought I made a big mistake when I first got it.. not anymore

Thanks a lot again my friend!

Quote from Sharry

Perhabs you could get more experience for the sound tweaking , when you start with clean sounding profiles.
And look for the parameter "gain" and the parameter in the ampsection.
Check the tutorial on the Kemper home page (support) and generell at YouTube.
Small steps are sometimes faster than large ones.

In the last few years I've read postings of ambitious guitarists here, who were struggling to find their sound with the KPA at the beginning.
The higher the requirements, the more it is necessary to consider the possibilities.
Very rarely was the shotgun thrown in the grain and many of those who seemed to despair at first are now ardent fans.
Good luck to find the trust for your sounds.

BTW: I needed 3 month to become friend with the Kemper, but I always was convinced that the problem is me and not the kemper

BTW2: Your playing is great

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Thank you very much brother! No doubt that I will definitely like the Kemper more as it can produce any guitar tone. I actually kinda started liking the profiles I have (not fully but I'm definitely not thinking about selling it anymore ). I have been studying the Kemper for about a year .. the tones I heard on YouTube and the portability when gigging just blew my mind, and even tho I wasn't happy with it when I got it, I am starting to feel MUCH better knowing it's a matter of time, all because of you guys! Thank you very much again!

Quote from GearJocke

You need to recalibrate your ears.

Hahah I'm doing my best

Quote from V8guitar

Couple of comments from me:

1) I am convinced the sound you want is in the Kemper so you will get there but
2) I think this is a definite case you being used to digital amps. The sound you love and have got used to seem more "processed" to me...not a bad thing...but less like a tube amp ( as you mentioned).

I hope you find "that tone", your playing sounds great btw:)

Thank you very much mate! you're totally right, the problem was with me not being used to playing with raw mic'd tube amp tones.

A huge problem with me is, I moved from Iraq where there was only fake Chinese gear so I didn't try any good gear, I only dreamt about playing Gibsons and Fenders.. so growing up to seeing my idols playing Gibsons and Fenders (and how they make string bends look so easy with their guitars) I expected A LOT from a good guitar so I got a Gibson Custom from Turkey and I was disappointed it didn't improve my playing (which was what I expected), it just felt nicer in the hand.. after I got used to it, and accepting the fact that it isn't what I expected, it grew on me for some reason and I love that guitar more than myself now.

I think this is the case with amps thing.. I just gotta accept it isn't the sound I expected and I will eventually get used to it and start loving it.

Quote from patrick2099

Also, I have an eq locked in the X slot, where I have low cut around 125 hz and a high cut around 8 Khz. Had it like that so long that I forgot to mention it. That may take care of some shrillness and fatten up the tone for you.

Will definitely do that as well, Patrick! Thank you for your suggestions! I believe all the tips I got here will get me much closer to the sound I'm after!

Quote from Gary_W

One more thought.

What plectrum are you using?

I started off using old Hercos and Dunlops with max .78 gauge and both were fine. I then thought I’d experiment with a thicker pick and bought one of the V-Picks Diamonds.

This plectrum turned a sound from something I was 100% happy with into something that had a fizzy, brittle, metallic edge that I did not find at all pleasant. It was like someone took my pickups and sent them through a poor quality piezo bridge! If that were my only plectrum that I ever used, I would be telling everyone that the Kemper is terrible. I wouldn’t have believed the difference was so extreme but it was.

Not saying that’s your issue but just wanted to point out that the pick itself has a profound effect on the sound and, in my case, ruined the way that I personally like it to sound..... there will be others here who happily play the strings with a tree trunk and are used to what that does... might be worth a tr6 with a thicker / thinner pick to see if you get closer.

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Oh wow! It is definitely worth a try then! Thank you Gary!

I do use thicker picks for dynamics and speed (John Pitrucci Jazz by Dunlop), these picks' size and thickness are great for my playing style, not so sure about the sound though! I will get as many picks as I can (Or go to a local music store with my Kemper) and try them all!

Quote from Monkey_Man

Ah-ha!

Turning the "Axis Off" on that unit probably eliminates the modelled "angled" mic position and turns on the "straight" (that's pointing directly at the speaker cone so the mic is the stem in a "T" (right angle).

Something I've always disliked is the... you guessed it, fizz one gets from angling a mic. Many do like it however, and that's why many Profiles are intentionally made using the technique, mainly, in my experience, 'cause it helps sounds easily cut through a mix. Problem for me is it makes them cut through my brain, and I don't need that.

Now, that effect is caused by comb filtering / phase cancellation due to the mic's being angled (frequencies arriving at the mic's membrane (diaphragm) at slightly-different times), and it's something that the Pure Cab™ feature is designed to minimise to your taste on a scale of 1 to 10.

I'd therefore run (don't walk!) to the Pure Cab™ setting in the Output menu (push the soft key to turn it on) and, starting at zero, gradually raise it, listening carefully to the "phasiness" / harshness factor you don't like, and see how you go.

There's a setting in the Cab section (I think that's where it is) for this on a per-Rig basis, but some, including myself, often simply leave the Global one at a lowish setting for good measure. It's really only those who're "allergic" to this effect who do this, and as I said, I'm one of them. IIRC, a setting of between 2.5 and 3.5 eliminates enough of it for me to be happy, but of course, YMMV, and that's only if this helps at all.

All that said, your description of "fizz" from the beginning might've had us chasing the wrong thing / symptom, 'cause this "angled-mic" effect, whilst it does cause fizziness, also affects the attack (pick sound included) as much as anything else, and I personally was listening for a more-sustained fizziness in the examples you gave. I did hear some fizz, but it tended to die down after a few seconds and thereafter the sustained power chords you played sounded great / more-organic, and closer to what you're after, I think.

HTH, mate.

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I'm very sorry for not knowing how to explain! I am a noob when it comes to amps and cabs, I was a flamenco guitarist, never dealt with all that stuff (picks, amps, pedals, cables, cabs, pickups, string gauges, you name it. Good days).. I will check the options you mentioned and I hope (/believe) that is what I am trying to fix! Thank you very much, my friend!

Quote from Monkey_Man

It might be an idea to post a clip or two of some of those examples that you say are much-worse, Raphael.

It'll be easier for us to identify the issue if you can provide exaggerated examples of it, I feel.

On my CrapMac™ mono speaker (built into the computer) I think I can hear something, but if it's a "worse" example, that'd really help I reckon.

Quote from Bommel

I added a Frequency curve of a marshall headphone at the bottom, i chose just one (Marshall Major II) to show the highs because headphones always have a distorted spectrum in the highs since they most of the time only have one driver for all frequencies so even the gutiar sounds i like sound not so good on headphones because the spikes will always pronounce some hizz or harshness. you can check that out at kopfhoerer.de even the most expensive headphones have that since it is mor of a physical problem. So i always recommend twaeking with monitors -> just as a side note

I listened to the track and i get what you mean, the 87jub was the best sounding imo but yeah maybe if simply comes down to the profiles itself

wanna try my profiles ? maybe you find something you like, they are all free
i don't have the Elevenrack anymore but here is the eleven rack folder
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tvu…8eXcE-o0LtS8dGaWx4ra?dl=0
maybe this works for you

the link to all of my profiles is in my signature.

In case you want to stick to the profiles you use right now try adding a studio eq after the amp and take a midband with a very high q nad look for the hiss in you signal, most of the time that is around 4-5kHz this could help
you can always use the body rez or a real compressor pedal in front of the kemper that also works wonders as i showed here

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and try in the amp section turning clarity and definition a bit down

maybe this helps cheers and good luck man! i can take some time to get used to the kemper imo

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Quote from Monkey_Man

Especially Clarity. That'll often exaggerate unwanted fizz, IMHO, especially as one approaches higher settings.
EDIT:
Raphael, it's worth noting for your benefit, I feel, that there's never been an issue with fizz using the Kemper. There've been "legitimate" criticisms about a very-slight roll-off of low frequencies (below 100Hz, which TBH shouldn't matter for guitar, and even then, I and many others find the unit stellar for bass guitar), and a "cocked-wah" effect that some with good ears have detected in the mid range of some Profiles (subtle, but there for some nevertheless). The point being that excessive fizz is something that's always been able to be put down to "user error", meaning that it's the choice of guitar, PU's, settings on the unit, monitoring or one or some of the many potential pitfalls others have pointed out.

Thank you very much guys!

Monkey_Man, thank you for your tips and infos! I recorded some clips using my Gibson Les Paul Custom, for some reason, I just can't sound like the YouTube demos which is why I bought the Kemper. Maybe I'm not used to work with tube amps and how they sound "raw". I only used digital units. It's crazy I prefer my very cheap DigiTech RP255 lead sound (Click Here).

Bommel, thank you for taking the time to explain and for your presets! You'll find some worse clips now and check the video I linked in this post (Here) .. This is a DigiTech RP255 and I prefer this for lead work and I am mainly a soloist. I will try your 11Rack profiles, thank you again for that!

Guys, I apologize if I am not making any sense, I'm trying to love the sounds from my Kemper and trying to jam without thinking. I just can't like the sounds

NOTE: The way I liked my 11 Rack was turning "Axis" Off.. I don't know what's that since I have never mic'd a cab, but it took the harshness away, It had the harshness I am experiencing with the Kemper now, but when I turned Axis off, it was much smoother.

Quote from Sharry

What guitar do you use?
I solved a part of a similar trouble by changing the positoon of the Pick ups of my strat. They were to close to the string.

As I have PU's with a littel higher output I still have to reduce the gain of most of the profiles and have to check if definition in the Amp-Parameter has to be reduced.
The clean sense in the input parameter I have set to - 1

Thank you Sharry! I use a Gibson Les Paul, it is kinda sounding like a strat now TBH I posted the "good" profiles clips.. many others were much fizzier and snappier and some were dull. I am even thinking of selling my Kemper, getting an eleven rack, buying a bass and another guitar, but knowing this is the best digital unit. I am sure the problem is with me so I am trying to get used to it and trying to find so many ways before I sell it and regret.

Quote from patrick2099

also, check the Pure Cab settings, in the output. I think more people prefer it off than on. Checking for locked settings was a good suggestion, as well.

Thank you Patrick! Nothing made it sweet sounding at least for me Check the clips I posted, I am thinking this is how it's supposed to sound like

Quote from danel59

Agree with backup/reset and headphones directly from Kemper, but also try plugging your monitors(if you use them) directly from the Kemper as well

Thank you Danel! I guess it is my ears are used to that amount of snappiness.. I posted some clips

Quote from Zapman

Welcome! +1 on the reset.... I would plug some headphones directly into the KPA and see if the sounds you speak of are still there, do this before and after a reset.

Thank you Zapman! So I think this is how it's supposed to sound like... my ears are so used to digital for over 9 years to the point tube tones are sounding digital to me I posted some clips

Quote from 808illest

Welcome Raph! Make sure you do a backup - before reset, you don't want to lose those rigs!

Thank you my friend! I reset it yesterday and I didn't take the time to backup it up since I exported all the profiles from Rig Manager (The original owner was kind enough to put all the rigs in a USB for me!).. Now I lost all my effects .. I think I will just download a firmware from Kemper and they'll all be back (I hope) I posted some clips

Quote from Bommel

if you want to check out my profiles i'm pretty happy with my kraken profiles most of the time

what do you use when listening to your sounds ? what monitor speakers or headphones?

oh and you mentioned you like the elevenrack more i profiled all amps of the evenrack btw.

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for me that is close enough but i know your problem, the most important thing will be finding a fitting cabinet and the settings in the amp section are important if you turn definition and clarity down
it will sound more like old modelers just like the elevenrack and so on ...

can you post a sound file of a recording with the kemper ? ( a reset i a good idea btw.)

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Hi Bommel! Thanks a lot for your clips and your suggestions! Your profiles are very well profiled! I tried everything but I am still not really feeling it I use Marshall Headphones which are good quality. Here are the clips.. (I am sorry for my sloppy playing and timing)

This is a project I made with the eleven rack, it was one-take thing and decided to redo it with the Kemper but the sounds are making this sound too thin IMO.

A solo using JCM800 in Eleven Rack is linked above in case none haven't heard it yet

Oh and, I am lucky enough to have my Eleven Rack preset with me, if you want, I will send it to you, and you profile it and I will buy it from you for as much as you want

Quote from Monkey_Man

I'd start with that for sure, Gaz. I mean, that'd cover possible crazy input or output-level settings as well.
Welcome, Raphael!

Thank you, my friend! I did reset it but it is still the same I will post some clips in a moment

Quote from Gary_W

Welcome to the forum

It’s hard to say what the problem is but something isn’t right; you shouldn’t be experiencing harshness / fizziness in the top end. If you’ve been happy with other digital products you can get to a good place with a Kemper as it’s the best of them (IMO) for the tone of the amps.

First thing to be sure of is the output volume; if you’re clipping your interface that will do it. If you keep between -12 and -18dB using a VU meter plugin within Logic that would be plenty. Clipping can certainly cause harshness. Also worth noting, if you are using any plugins within logic, is that you’re not clipping the inputs of any of them.

Next look at clipping the input on the Kemper and also any locked settings.... if you bought this unit second hand it might be worth doing a reset? Previous owner might have done something unusual with clean sense / distortion sense / pure cab etc. Might even have locked in a reverb with a boosted high end - who knows? Back up your rigs first though.

I’m sure others will come in with further ideas and I hope you fix it. It’s probably something simple but it’s just finding it

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Thank you very much, Gary! I did reset it yesterday, checked the output, all the cabs options (In output menu and in the stack) and my audio interface input is not clipping. I believe this is how it is supposed to sound like, and this is why I said "Problem with ME" in the title. It could be my ears being used to darker sound and not THAT snappy. But the fizz is clear.. another way to explain what I'm hearing is, it's like an extra layer of fizziness on top of a good Marshall tone. I will post clips of the Kemper compared to my old Eleven rack in a second!

Hi guys, hope you're all enjoying your day with your Kemper.

This will be a detailed post so I will summarize it first. I will post more details below if you need them.

My Kemper just doesn't sound nice with distortion profiles, I have high end profiles, cab is on, it is connected correctly but somehow sounds fizzy and never organic to my ears.. I much prefer my presets in my eleven rack! My kemper "kinda" doesn't sound like the demos. And I kinda regret buying my Kemper TBH.

If you know profiles with clear organic distortion PLEASE let me know! ( Something that sounds like Hotel California lead tone by Felder, Joe Bonamassa, or even my tone that I linked)

Now to more details if you wanna read them.

First of all, I have never used a tube amp.. I lived in iraq and we didn't have good gear there so I am not experienced with the "real" thing. Now that I have moved to Canada, I got my Kemper, got it a week ago and it had a lot of high end profiles (M Britt, tone junkie, and many). I love Marshall tones so I got 4 packs from Top Jimi. I got a bogner profile too (the amp that Steve Lukather uses). I connect it to Focusrite 2i4 MKii with 2 mono cables from Main Outs (Stereo selected on Kemper.. and it does work as stereo!). On my audio interface, "line" is selected and I am using logic pro but for some reason it sounds harsh and I can clearly hear fizziness and it's really annoying me.. and yes I tried the definition, EQ and clarity controls, didn't do much .. I owned eleven rack and it just sounded more organic and full, and JCM800 was much clearer (Here are clips). Kemper demos sound great, but it just has more fizziness when I use it.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read!