Holy sh*t! That Kemper Profiling Amp is for me!

[burningyen]

LOL, Bill, you're giving me too much credit. My playing is erratic enough that it wouldn't be fair to pin any variations on the gear.

Dasein, based on statements by L6's reps, the Helix is going to be their flagship modeler for a while and the processors have enough horsepower to accommodate new models and plenty of new features. They've already released 3 firmware iterations and say they will be releasing another one today, so they're definitely focusing a ton of resources on addressing user concerns and requests. But it does seem like L6 tends to commit about 4 years to any flagship tech, whereas my sense is that Kemper is committed to their profiling tech for a longer time horizon. It's entirely possible that L6 will come out with a Helix HD in 4 years featuring quad TigerSHARC chips. Who knows? As long as my stuff works, I'm happy.

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. A was the Helix. I think it sounds better but like HHB pointed out, I played it better, and I think I tweaked that patch a little better. I'm confident that the Helix sounds "real" enough for me, so the decision is going to come down to the other factors I mentioned earlier.

I liked B better because it broke up a little at the right times, and the overtones swelled in the lower, longer-held notes more, like i associate with a good tube amp. Like i think i hear on professionally-recorded songs.

But for all i know, i may have that exactly backwards.

Still, to me, A was like a wonderfully detailed, full color, 3D digital image, amd B was like the object itself.

I wrote this on my phone, before seeing the revelation of which was which.

I'm somewhat gratified that I was able to hear a difference and choose B as the one I liked better. It fits my prejudices to prefer the Kemper over the Helix and makes me feel all sorts of smug now.

However, I agree that the Helix is more than good enough. Since the Helix had other issues (like less easy to tweak patches and worse harmonizer), is it really that the Helix is just easier to set up the stomp pedals that is making it the winner?

[burningyen]

Pluses relative to the Kemper:

• It can handle vocal FX, although I haven't test this yet.
• Footswitching and expression pedal built in. Easier to setup and break down, smaller footprint on stage.
• Scribble strips!
• More available FX
• USB audio
• The expression pedal and switches can not only be assigned to different things per patch, they can each be assigned to multiple things per patch.
• 3-oscillator synth, although that's been disappointing so far.
• Variax integration (this used to be a big attraction for me, but I haven't been playing my Variax much now that my tribute band folded)
• Dual amp models. I'm looking forward to replicating Dean DeLeo's setup!

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

Pluses relative to the Kemper:

• It can handle vocal FX, although I haven't test this yet.
• Footswitching and expression pedal built in. Easier to setup and break down, smaller footprint on stage.
• Scribble strips!
• More available FX
• USB audio
• The expression pedal and switches can not only be assigned to different things per patch, they can each be assigned to multiple things per patch.
• 3-oscillator synth, although that's been disappointing so far.
• Variax integration (this used to be a big attraction for me, but I haven't been playing my Variax much now that my tribute band folded)
• Dual amp models. I'm looking forward to replicating Dean DeLeo's setup!

The last one does seem like a little bit of a game changer.

[velorush]

This photo just popped up on Twitter:

Resolution isn't great, but it's a photo of a Strymon Big Sky and Timeline being profiled.  That gets a

ETA: how exactly would that work after profiling?  Would a particular setting on the Timeline serve as a profile with a few controls assigned to tweak? Surely the entire functionality of the pedal would not be made available.  Nah...

 

[gorch]

Sure, you are going to profile one sound or one setting and not the full tool.

[velorush]

Bumping for fun.

I was looking at a small bass amp for piddling around at the house, maybe something with a direct out that could be used on the odd occasion it and the bass left the house.  I ran across the Phil Jones Bass Suitcase and Bass Cub and thought those might be cool, small, but expandable solutions.  Then it occurred to me: can the Kemper model bass amps?  Quick search provided the answer with several videos and a great deal of discussion about it.  The Kemper into a nice set of studio monitors and, BANG! Instant practice amp (well, all of the practice amps, guitar or bass) at any volume.

One other thing: anyone used / experience with the Camplifier 290 from KPA?  Appears to be a lightweight Class D amp that fits in the upper area of the lunchbox head.

[burningyen]

Most of the top-tier modelers (AxeFX, Kemper, Helix, BIAS Head) have bass amp simulations.

Re the Camplifier, you'll get more responses over on the Kemper forum.