I might be adding another modeler soon
 

I won't be getting rid of the Eleven Rack. I'm keeping that for as long as it serves my needs...

I've been eyeing the Kemper Profiler for about a year. I said I'd reconsider it when:

1) they do a rackmount version
2) they implement performance mode
3) they have a dedicated controller

Point 1 was satisfied at Winter NAMM.

Point 2 is close to being satisfied: KPA firmware 2.0 is in public beta; it includes performance mode.

Point 3, it turns out, is satisfied not by Kemper (although they're saying their own floorboard will probably see the light of day this fall) but by FAMC. FAMC and Kemper have collaborated on integrating the KPA and the LF+. It takes less than a minute to sync the two units (a one-time operation) after which the LF+ buttons and displays automatically track what's programmed on the KPA. Also, the KPA's tuner displays on the LF+.

By the time I scrape together the $$, the KPA 2.0 firmware should be finalized... :cool:

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

cool man. That Kemper does look sweet.

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

TDD, I'm very much looking forward to hearing about your eventual Kemper purchase.

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

I'll keep you posted. At this point it looks like it'll be a week or two until I'm up and running.

I have some of the smaller bits (power supply, breakout panel, cables) already ordered. I'm expecting word soon on delivery time of the Kemper Rack to my local dealer.

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

If you can, post up some pics and tones too :cool:

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

I got to spend some time on it at NAMM the year they introduced it, and I fell in love. I was as well waiting for the rackmount and get some firmware updates as there has been quite a few issues still and no windows editor. Things are slowly moving forward on it. I am getting my rig together now for a small tour this summer and have decided to go with my Mark V (I love this amp) instead of any modeling for now as the shows are backlined, so dont need to haul my cabinets, just head and pedals. But when i move back into the studio this fall, I will be making this decision for sure!!! I sold a Les Paul custom today and deciding between an Ernie Ball guitar I want really bad, or the Kemper.

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

Man, you know more about the current status of Kemper than I do - and I've owned it for over a year! :-)

I had no idea there was any collaboration between LF and Kemper. I've been wanting a LF JR+ for a while now.

Having owned an 11R from its release and the Kemper from its release, I think both are great boxes. I prefer the Kemper, but it's significantly more expensive so one would expect it to be better.

It's very nice to be on the cutting edge of a supported product rather than at the bottom of a downward spiral of an unsupported product. (unsupported is my assessment (and the common assessment) -not Avid's party line).

I haven't looked around at the Tweed Deluxe profiles - which I recall you loved about the 11R. But if you keep the 11R, you still got those sounds. It'll only cost about $15 to get a bunch of Tweed profiles from The Amp Factory and see if you like those.

Over the last year I have missed some very specific patches I had on the 11R. I profiled a couple of them into the Kemper. But now, I find that most of the patches I missed, when I go back and play them on the 11R, I usually can find or make something better on the Kemper. But that's been an evolution - not something I heard right off the bat.

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

and FWIW, I prefer the reverb and delays on the 11R - they are much easier to set up to get the sound I want. I _think_ all the adjustments are there on the Kemper, but the 11R just has those things sounding "right" from the beginning.

WARNING: Kemper's SPDIF only works at 44.1kHz! So don't got and hire out a day at your local studio tracking drums at 48kHz and then not be able to digitally record your Kemper - like I _just_ did.

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

I was one of the early adopters of the LF+, blewis. I follow new developments on the FAMC forum; that's how I learned about the Kemper support.

I'm waiting to find out what profiles ship with the Kemper. I'll buy TAF's Tweed Deluxe if it's not already included.

It looks as if I'll be receiving my Kemper Rack around mid-July. I could have had it already had I ordered from Sweetwater. However, I have a standing rule that I'll buy locally whenever I can; I have a local Kemper dealer. (And really: this is not a time-critical purchase...) It just happens that the US Kemper distributor has nothing in stock at the moment, so I'll have to wait for the next batch from Germany. On the plus side, that might be long enough for the 2.0 firmware to be out of beta... (BTW, I have no complaints about Sweetwater, with whom I've done plenty of business. I'd certainly order from Sweetwater if there was no local dealer.)

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

blewis, a quick question:

Do you ever run the XLR outputs of the Kemper into a mixing desk? If so, do you find that you need to set the Kemper's output level really low to keep the mixer's channel strips out of clipping?

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

I've never been asked to turn it down for a club. I usually run it about about 8/10.

Last time I was in the studio, the guy asked me to turn it way down: 5/10.

At my computer interface, I found myself doing fine at 8 or 9/10, but then I realized I had the 20db pad on.

They must be using a pad when we play live if they've never complained.

Brandon

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

Would this not depend on whether the console had a line/instrument/mic level input?

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

Thanks, blewis.

That's why I asked. Occasionally you'll either run into a console that doesn't have a pad on the channel strip or a sound guy who'd prefer to not have line-level signals on the snake.

I have a 20 dB pad inline on my 11R setup; I'll probably do the same with the Kemper.

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

Well... I haven't run into any issues that can't be solved with the volume knobs.

TDD, I had a look at the LF forum and saw the LF+Kemper videos. Looks really nice.

I've had my eye on a LF JR+ for a while now, but seeing these videos makes me worry that a LF 12+ might be a more future proof solution.

Even the LF 12+ is small compared to my GCP. I need something that sends MIDI note messages which the GCP doesn't.

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

There's no doubt I'll own a Kemper at some point. TTD had some features he was waiting for and I've had three features I must have; Rack mount, dedicated foot controller and looper. Granted, I imagine I could get by with my midi rocktron on the floor but when I go in the direction of Kemper I might sell my tube amp and therefore most of my pedals which means I'd sell my TC Flashback x4 which I love and depend on for one song our dive bar cover band covers. I need a looper and hauling around the rather largish Flashback to use with a Kemper would be ridiculous.

With my Kemper plans I'm depending on the fact a tech 21 power engine 60 (or some other relatively flat response combo) as my stage monitor would give me a tube vibe while playing - while concurrently running the Kemper to the PA/FOH.

I'll add the only reason I'd buy a Kemper is for recording. I don't need it for playing out, as a matter of fact I prefer a mic'd amp because it's the best of all worlds. Maybe with a Kemper live I'd just mic the Power Engine lol. Anyhow, the Kemper could add amp variety live - but more amp variety live is something I really don't need.

The one thing I'd depend on with the Kemper live is that instead of distortion pedals (both physical pedals in front of the Kemper and Distortion FX within Kemper) I'd dial in amp profiles that had the varying degrees of crunch and distortion (both on neck and bridge pickups) that I need gigging.

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

I was one of the early adopters of the 12+. IIUC, I have one of the first 100 production units.

I came across the LF+ while Googling for my "fantasy" controller that'd have per-button displays and lots of stateful programming capabilities. I was seriously at the point where I was either going to try to built something myself or find someone willing to design and build to my spec. Finding FAMC was a godsend. I have never been happier with a product.

The 12+ is, IMO, pretty much the sweet spot. IMO, going to the JR+ doesn't save enough space to justify the loss of switches, and the Pro+ is too big for my needs.

I take full advantage of the pages functionality. With my current programming, I have nearly 60 IAs in use. I haven't yet delved into the new software that supports up to 180 IAs.

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

I'm a fan of loopers. For me, the "gold standard" is the full-blown Boomerang III rig: the III, the Sidecar and the Wholly Roller.

I have a Looperlative LP1 in my Eleven Rack rig. It's pretty good, but there are some issues regarding loop quality and noise floor.

For the KPA rig, I'll probably just wait until they implement a looper. If that's not enough, I can always run a Boomerang III package in the KPA's loop.

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

I'm also a fan of looping. Our drummer refers to looping live as in the same classification as lip syncing. I think he's only half kidding - I can see that it's "cheating" but I only need it to cover rhythm for a solo in one song, is looping a big sin? Interesting subject actually.

I'm still looking forward vicariously for TDD to get his Kemper! :-)

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

I've heard some really creative uses of live looping. One of my favorites is the way Jim Thomas of The Mermen uses it to build intros for their tunes. It's almost unnoticeable until you suddenly have to ask yourself: "Hey, where did those three other guitar parts come from?"

Me, too. I decided to order through the local dealer rather than Sweetwater, so I'm looking at a mid-July delivery.

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

TDD, I have a question about the liquid foot.

In Song Mode, it looks like I can program 24 presets per song.

Let's say I have a Song with Presets 1, 12, 48, 9 and I have Song programmed to start with Preset 1.

Assuming, for each Preset, I have a button programmed with Preset Up Function. (Which I believe I would ensure via Page programming):

Will the Preset Up function increment through Presets 1, 12, 48, 9 (the presets associated with this Song) or will it cause an increment of Presets 1, 2, 3, 4.

The Function Preset Up mentions that it works in Preset/Direct mode which makes me suspicious it might not work in Song mode as I would like.

Basically trying to build a "Performance Mode" into the controller to minimize buttons needed to switch Presets.

Re: I might be adding another modeler soon
 

blewis, I'm afraid that Song Mode is something with which I have no experience. I rely heavily on Pages. I only use presets to change amps, and then usually only at the start of a session.

If you're not already familiar with the FAMC board, check out http://liquidfoot.setbb.com/ . Several folks there are getting deeply into Song Mode.