Excellent ‘meat and potatoes’ review. You captured the essence of both units and presented them in a clear unbiased explanation. I clearly get the difference of the two. I’m an Axe FX guy but I appreciate more now the ‘what and why’ of the Kemper. Good clear ‘ab’ ‘vs’ review.
This was good, non biased and informative. Covering many bases from sound, feel and usage. Details of how they're designed and work. Reviewers, take notice, love it
I like the way the AXE FX is set up, being able to create all the tones from scratch. But all the options, although great to have, seem overwhelming. I would imagine I'd be spending more time tweaking then playing. I'm currently using an Eleven Rack which I love. But when the time comes to upgrade, I believe I'll be going with an AXE FX.
There is definitely an overwhelming number of options to tweak. I find that I don't need to use a lot of it and can get the sounds I want without getting too granular. It's great to see guys like Leon Todd showing all the little tweaks they do though. It gives you some good launching points for fine tuning sounds.
Before watching this I had mostly decided to get the Axe FX (ordering soon). For all 3 samples in the beginning I liked #1 so I was pleased to hear the identification at the end.
Having owned both the Axe 3 and the Kemper, I think (as you said) it really comes down to work flow. Most sonic differences can be rectified with eq etc. Kemper is very dependent on which profile you use, Fractal models some amps better than others, and BOTH need good quality ir’s. Obviously price is a huge factor. The new FM3 is outstanding at a great price point! This is a solution that Kemper needs to remedy (a streamlined $1k option). In either case, master the kit that you buy! Great video and comparison with excellent points for consideration! Well done mate!
agree 100%. I've also owned numerous fractals and numerous kempers....at the end of the day, workflow and software is everything. Kemper BLOWS in the software department.....and their OD's suck too
Good truly unbiased review. You should have mentioned axe-exchange though, as it does what the Kemper library does. I own both, and the Kemper is up for sale...
Thanks for this video. It presents the strengths of both in an unbiased way. After watching this, I purchased the Axe FX III. I've been building and tweaking amps for almost 40 years, so it makes the most sense for me. However, for others that just want to pick a great sounding amp and play, the Kemper certainly fills that need.
@@MusicWithMarky I receive it Monday, and I'm taking the next day off to play with it. Eventually I want to get into Tone Match. i have a 1987 Marshall Silver Jubilee that I want to Tone Match and share.
Kemper sounds more amp like, which I want. The best amps are older classics, like guitars. It’s not showing it’s age, it’s a killer creation that holds its value and is renewed with updates, instead of version 2, 3, 4, FM, etc and making the last model useless and draining my wallet! I don’t feel the need for the latest thing, I look for what I can sink my teeth into and grow with.
Been using Fractal products for over a decade now and have owned all three of the flagship models as they've come out. I've literally made probably 20 patches combined on all three units. I'm sure that some people would say that was kind of a waste, but for me it's not about having a bazillion sounds or going in and spending months tweaking patches, it's about being able to create my own tone/rig from scratch and it sounding great. There's over 200 amps....I don't need them all, but the ones that do need are all in there. I like the Dumble amp in there. I love the Friedmans. I'm never going to own either. As for the Kemper, I really did think about buying one for a while because it is a really clever concept. The problem for me and my specific workflow is that it's just faster and easier for me to put together a patch from scratch than to go and audition 15,000 profiles that other folks made and hope that one of them is what I'm looking for. The other thing is that I can't get over the idea of relying on other people's interpretation of what a good tone would be. Maybe it was dialed in for single coils or active pickups. Maybe its got too much gain. From everything I saw as soon as you start tweaking the original profile you lose the authenticity. I think that it's basically a set tone stack that is probably more like an EQ and I've heard some funky stuff with messing with the gain structure. Plus all of the "good" profiles are made by guys who want to be paid for their work. And unfortunately the only way that I can "do it myself" is to use the actual amp and create my own profiles.....if I owned the amps I wouldn't have either. The wife can't see that I have 200 plus amps and a billion pedals and cabinets inside that little black box. With the AxeFX it's just a matter of me getting to work and making it happen. And yes it only takes minutes to create an entire rig, but part of that is because I've been using the stuff for so long now so I've gotten past most of the learning curve. With that said there are a thousand different things on the unit that I don't know how to use because I don't need them. It's as simple or as complicated as you make it. One thing that I'll suggest for some of the more "raw" and amp in the room tones is to apply some low and high cut and some room level to the speaker cab block.
Marky, regarding your comment about Kemper having a more authentic "amp in the room" quality to it, I'm sure it matters what you're listening through. What are you using: studio monitors, a FRFR cab, headphones, a guitar cab, a PA system? Thanks
Why does the Kemper has more of a "amp in the room" quality? This doesn't seem to make much sense to me, because when you run your units through studio monitors, you're hearing the sound of a mic'ed rig, and a mic'ed rig doesn't deliver an amp in the room feel. For that situation, the ideal setting would be running the unit into a SS power amp + real cab. Am I missing something here?
It's difficult to explain well. When you get a good recording of a loud amp in a room, you can get this sense of air being pushed even through cans or studio monitors. It's like you captured the essence of a live experience. Usually, though that's not the sound you want on a recording, because it eats up too much sonic space. With the AxeFX, I find the sounds to generally need less adjustment on the channel strip to fit in a mix. Again, they are both great... Just subtly different and require different treatment in a mix sometimes. Does that make sense?
Because I also own both units I could easily identify which one is which. Personally I prefer the AXE FX. The settings can be easily customized to fit perfect to your guitar - however, it requires some experience. The AXE FX software is much better maintained and offers tons of options - still waiting for the Kemper editor which was already announced for the middle of this year.
I had both. Though then it was an Axe FX II XL+. I needed to sell one, for financial reasons. I kept the Axe. IMHO, if you just want to deal with basic amp tones and controls, don't mind being dependent on others to make your profiles, OR have a large group of amps, you don't want to take with you on the road or gigging. Then the Kemper is a good choice. Because I could make my Axe and Kemper sound, respond and feel the same as each other. However, the Axe, particularly the III beats the kemper in almost every other way (except price), FX amounts and quality, looper, signal routing, and really ease of setting up for live use, where you need more than one tone.
Appreciate you doing this video. Im new to all this and found the information really helpful and exactly at right amount of info to help me look into an option. I preferred all the #1 sounds and after hearing who would like the device for the #1 sounds, guess I'm a tweaker.
so would you recommend anything that would function in the same manner as this but is under 1k? the line 6 options seem pretty decent. im debating on waiting until i can justify spending the 3.5k or so and just go with fractal though.
I'm waiting for the Quad Cortex which comes in at $1500 and it looks like it might be a new pack leader (www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/QuadCortex--neural-dsp-quad-cortex-quad-core-digital-effects-modeler-profiler-floorboard). Also the Positive Grid Spark amp is amazing for $250 or so. The number of user sounds on their cloud is staggering and often quite good.
@@MusicWithMarky thanks man! i was unaware of that one so very helpful. and the price being half of the fractal unit, is a major plus. means i can get a skervesen sooner lol found out my little brother is getting stationed in poland, he is a 1st lt in the army so i told him if i ordered a guitar from them while hes there it gives me a reason to go see him hehe and the fact that i can go see him gives me a reason to order it so self justifying lol for getting the wife onboard i mean (jk shes the best, automatically onboard with whatever usually)
Ha 2 independent searches to settle debates in my head and yours is best comparison once again, this is the main object in the way of my next guitar gotta get one of these (or revv g20) leaning kemper pre video so maybe this will change that lol. Thanks again my man!
My experience having owned both is this: I was able to NAIL particular sounds with the kemper easier than I did with fractal; for example, Gilmour, The Edge, Angus, etc. But I found myself endlessly auditioning different profiles and I also didn't like the way the gain jived with the volume control on my guitars with the Kemper. At the end of the day, the shit software in Kemper and the way it reacted to my volume control and overall lack of sophistication was why I went back to Fractal. Pros and Cons to both. Click my name if you want to see what I'm talking about.
Man, that is such a great gear review/comparison. First one I've seen from Music with Marky. Concise, yet comprehensive (in a reasonable amount of time) for such complex rigs and delivered with articulate and to-the-point commentary. I like that it's subdued, not flashy, and assumes the viewer has a level of understanding in the subject matter. And the diagrams at the end are a good visual representation of the different approach the two manufacturers use to reproduce the sounds and settings, a smart idea. Having watched this video, I feel like that 16 minutes quickly moved my decision process further along, considerably more so than had I watched some of the other videos out there. And I don't feel like I have to shower to wash the hype and spit off or to take a drink to calm my nerves from the overly enthusiastic shouting and opinion making. I wish more reviews were like this. Really nice job, thanks.
@@MusicWithMarky I'm a bit split. The Axe FX is appealing because I'd love to be able tinker with the nuance of effect staging, mic type and placement, and maybe try different tube configurations and run those amps through select cabinets - that kind of fits my personality. But I'm of an age where I have only so much time remaining on the planet, but more importantly, only so much patience with the tinkering process (haha). It's appealing to be able to select from a number (albeit, a huge number) of already configured setups. But the Kemper still offers a lot of choices and customizations nonetheless, more than I would probably ever use. And there is a difference, slightly it sounds like, in the sonic quality. The Axe FX has the sharper, digital like sound, really nice and crisp, I do like that. The Kemper has a rounder, seemingly more robust sound. Like you said, you get a sense of the air being moved. I still, although it's ridiculous overkill, love to play through a full stack, there's nothing quite like it. That being said, I am probably more inclined to go with the Axe FX. The main reason for me is that my writing is all over the place, some would say that's unfair because it's actually no place. It doesn't fit into genre categories - it's unusual and, I'll admit, not well received by most people. For me, the ability to craft unique sounds that would be my very own creations is most appealing. That is until someone points out to me they heard my Axe FX original tone two months beforehand on the Kemper Rig Exchange.
Listening to what you are saying here, I think that you would definitely enjoy the Axe FX more. Even if you have limited time, the time that you do get will be enjoyably spent. And, although the number of premade sounds on the Axe is much less, there's still plenty to choose from.
Thanks for this video, I’m old school and I’m old , but I love new tech, but I’m more of a plug and play person, I don’t have the patience for tweaking,so the Kemper would probably fit me best, But I went to an amp show last year and they had some great players demoing theAXEFX 3, it was impressive and the styling was sharp, I like others thought # 1 sounded better than # 2 so who knows which way I’ll go, anyway they’re both excellent , thanks again for the video
It does. There is a website called the Axe Exchange (axechange.fractalaudio.com/). The process on the Kemper is much more built in, but the Fractal one is fairly easy too.
After own both a Kemper and an Axe FX (2 XL+) I would say that the Fractal sounds better in a mix. I dont play live, so I cant say how they compare for live use, but if you're like me, you just want to make good sounding bedroom mixes, then the Axe Fx excels in that category. There was something about the Kemper that just bothered me when trying to record with it. I could NEVER get the low end to sound how I wanted. Its like no matter what I tried with the EQ, I just couldnt get a really beefy sound with it. Maybe it sounds better in a live application, but in a bedroom studio, the fractal performs better. Just my opinion of course
I have definitely been able to get good recorded sounds out of both, but the approach is certainly different. I spent days and days going through different Kemper patches both free and paid to find the stuff I would like, though. With the Fractal, I programmed in the stuff I wanted and it was good right there.
what a great comparison. thx i have an axe fx original. can't say i'm blown away by the sounds. one thing i do like is the ability to play live in a mix and decide on what sounds to use. this is very hard in a traditional setting (swapping mics, loud map). it's also takes a lot longer in a traditional set up and you can't make fast comparisons which is crucial imo. i have heard a kemper live and thought it sounded great. of course you have to factor in that guys guitar, cab, etc. not conclusive. but for this one case i did think it sounded more like a live amp than an amp in a mix. for my taste there are a lot of guitars that sound over mixed today. prob the reason i also prefer single coils. the way these 2 are designed reminds me of reverbs. kind of an algorithmic vs convolution thing. for the fractal i barely used the controls on the amp. it's nice they are there for live maybe...but once you use the software they seem really really slow. i also use the first tier of parameters 95% of the time. basically ignore the tweaker settings. such diminishing returns for the most part. better to just try another amp/cab etc.
I agree about it being easier to look for another amp or cab over tweaking. It's generally much quicker. I try to get real close with that to what I want and then tweak just a touch from there.
I think you’ve missed a few items quality and number of effects, routing - parallel effects better editor overall the axe give a pristine recorded album sound live and recorded - kemper live amp sound ! I still think that once you take the profiles off sample and start moving the bass mods and treble it has a weird fazed sound both great though
That's fair. I've kind of wanted to do a follow up on this and get even more granular at some point. There is SO MUCH to consider with either of these. In the end though, I agree that they both can sound great.
I wondered how that would work with Kemper. It sounds similar to BIAS Amps (pretty sure?) that works similarly in that the amps work based on a "sound," but once you tweak gain or EQ it kinda starts to sound odd compared to the original tone/sound. Interesting consideration.
Hey Marky, do you notice any feel latency on the Kemper if so, is it more so than other more modern modelers? Have you known the interface and or computer being used to contribute to said feel latency? Thanks!
I use it with the signal direct into a Motu M2 and have it set to listen to the incoming signal rather than outbound from the pc. So I have no latency at all that would be caused by the pc. As to the unit itself, I found latency in the feel whatsoever.
I think that's part of the design philosophy there. The control panel on the physical unit is very "analog' too. It's meant to be more comfortable for players who aren't all about the digital world.
Good video. I personally prefer the AxeFX especially with the latest firmware version, having used both. Additionally I would point out that not only do you have 8 scenes which can all be set to the performance tab if using the FC-12, you also have 4 different channels per device per preset. Example inside of one preset I can have 4 different amps in 1 preset, or 4 different delays, or 4 different reverbs, or a combination of all the above....inside 1 preset. So if you take the number of presets x the number of scenes and then quadruple that, well you see where I'm going with it. The other beauty with axefx, and I have been a guitar player for 40+ years is that while there is a core amp sound that I like, how many players ever leave the core sound in their rig. We are always modifying by effects or something to tweak it to what we particularly want. I find that so easy to do in axefx......and bonus......I don't have to buy all of those expensive effects anymore, which I have a large closet full of now. These are just personal opinions from having owned both, but in my opinion the axe fx is the best purchase I've ever made.
In other words the Axe-FX111 sounds and feels like a hi fi set/synthesizer (after a thousand hours of tweaking through menus) and the Kemper sounds and feels like a tube amp being blasted at loud volume through guitar speakers (without one minute of tweaking).
Hey man thanks for the video! What is the your signal chain in the studio looks like there was a Focusrite Scarlett in the desk? How do you listen to your sounds while in the the room? Through monitors? I tried various amps sim through studio monitors (decent models as well) but found the sound kind of meh. Thinking about a Kemper so researching at the moment. Just have some good headphones so would have to further invest in some type of speakers (unless by guitar cabs would work).
I go into a patch bay and then from there to the focusrite. I never was a guy who needed to hear myself cranked through an amp, so I'm prefectly happy hearing the direct signal through studio monitors or my headphones. I have Adam monitors, which sound really well balanced and true. If you're like most players, though and want that punch in the chest a good amp gives you, then you are going to want to run it into a power amp and then a set of cabinets. The main thing then is to realize that you have to turn off the cabinet part in the simulator so that you're not basically playing cabinet to another cabinet. Then it gets kind of mushy.
@@MusicWithMarky Thank you for the information! Actually lower volume - small room is my thing. Need something other than my headphones. Might have to re-think the monitor situation. Have tried some good ones but things never sounded good to my ears.
@@mookytc We have a pair of Genelecs in the big studio and then I have these Adam a7x ones in my room. The Genelecs are a good 3x the cost and I would say I am just as happy with the Adam speakers as those. So for the price you might definitely want to check them out.
I definitely thought my sound upgraded when I bought an Axe FX FM3 compared to using Amplitube5 and Helix LT (both great too), but after watching many comparison videos, I'm content to stay with my FM3 (plan on upgrading to FM9). The Kemper definitely sounds great, but I wouldn't consider it an upgrade to Axe FX.
Well I have both and NOT being a fan boy of any brand my go-to unit is always the AXEFX 3 its just so much better in every way. I think I might sell the Kemper since it just sits in my studio.
So many guys think the Axe sounds sterile and the Kemper sounds warmer. I don't hear it. Both have great and the occasional not so great sounds/patches/rigs.
@@MusicWithMarky I find relying on profiles of other peoples amps boring. At least with the AX3 I can find my own tones that I'm looking for and the fx are a lot better imo but everyone has opinions :) All I can say is, so many big names swear by the AXEFX and there is a reason for that.
@@r.llynch4124 that's a valid point. Being able to dial in what you want from the ground up is a huge factor of you're the type of person willing to put the time in. I both enjoy doing that and just finding sounds already made and seeing what music they inspire me to create. I think the one thing that really really jumps out to me is the enormous amount of effects options on the Axe over anything else.
Have both and generally fire up the Axe over the Kemper. For one thing, it is faster. Wait till you have to reboot during a show to see how important that is. Also, Fractal support is top notch but having dealt with G-String at Kemper, I can't recommend them as a company. If you get a profile of your amp and that is the sound you want or have a profile you like, then there is value to the Kemper else you are searching thousands of profiles to find a sound. The Axe has the whole amp in the box, not just one snapshot and better routing and effects too. On balance for me, Axe wins as the complete solution.
First mistake is downloading rigs from the Rig Exchange. I've been disappointed with 99% of what I have downloaded there. It is worth investing in some properly made commercial profiles. The Michael Britt profile packs are excellent across the board. As a Kemper owner and user (unlike most of the folks commenting here) it really makes a big difference in the end result. My Kemper sounds worlds better than what I am hearing here. If I had made my purchase decision based on this video I probably would never have bought one.
I had to go back and look. The 3 rigs I used where not all from Rig Exchange. I was simply showing what is available out there in the software so people could compare. The Jazz Chorus was, the Plexi was a Michael Wagener patch, and the Splawn was in apaid pack. You are right though, the purchased packs like Big Hairy Profiles, for instance, are really worth it!
nice reviews!!!! would love to know what you think about the virtual Kemper inside Overloud TH-U (Rig Player), as you have some choptone profiles and they make some juicy ones for the Rig Player (which is basically a only profile player module, but with all the tweaks available I love on my Kemper) what I love with TH-U is the ability to offer both technology, modeling and profiling in one plugin, as I'm working on studio projects only
There's is news of one that's due to be released, but I haven't seen it happen yet. All that is out there thus far is what I show in the video for selecting and organizing the rigs.
Very good job! Honestly both are good! I own both. You really can’t go wrong with either. I do think the Axe has much better effects then the Kempner. However this is all subjective. I don’t think you could go wrong with either. Thanks for the video! Well done 😀🎸
I'm shocked. I was pretty positive that 1 was the kemper and 2 was the Axe. 1 sounds more natural to my ears and I always felt the Kemper sounded more natural than the Axe 1 and 2, they really stepped their game up with the 3.
Wow! First of all, excellent review. Totally objective, concise, as you promised, yet completely informative. Bravo! But I say, "Wow!" because I'd have bet my mother's house that #2 was the Ax. It was way tighter, and #1 was way muddier. It was distinctly noticeable. And I'd begun to think I might have to give up on the more simple Kemper, and go with the more complicated Ax. Everybody seems to be leaning that way lately. But I swear to Christ, the Kemper sounded better. Like not even close. WTF!? I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! I GIVE UP! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! 🤯
Thanks for checking it out! I still think both of these have soooooo many great sounds that you would always find something that works. My sample size here is small. For me, I'd be making the purchasing decision on which one I think would fit my workflow and usability needs more.
@@MusicWithMarky I'm not a tweaker. So I'll probably stick with the plug and play. I've got basically one tone I'm pretty married to on my Boss GT100, so I should probably expect myself to behave somewhat similarly with any device. 😅
You know I think the kemper is easer to use. Personally I like to plug in and go. I don’t have time to be exploring them to run them properly. I have a number of amps cabs stomp boxes. I can cover almost anything with a foot switch. Plus I have a nice collection of amps.
I was hoping I preferred the Kemper as the stage is cheaper.. but I liked 1 more. Of course. Mind you this is only 3 of many possible sounds and presets
Honestly they both sound great. There's too many sounds to compare deeply in a reasonably lengthed video. That's why I focused on the work flow. I think that difference is more significant.
Christophe Kemper could have added dozens more tweaking parameter options inside extra menus if he wanted to make tweaking possibilities much more complicated, but he didn't need to because his Profiling algorithm nails the tube amp tone and feel without hours of tweaking.
Certainly. And, I wasn't implying that one sounds better than another. Just different. I love them both in different situations and I think either is more than enough for any reasonable use case.
He didn’t put any other tweaking on them because when you try to change a profile they go all out of phase weird sounding stick to a straight profile you’ll be fine
Hands down in my opinion is the AXE FX3.... Overall tonality in the signal is so much warmer and in your face. Kemper has a great idea on the profiling aspect but, Fractal Labs killed the Kemper on tone and quality of sound! But as you said in the video, it "comes down to personal taste".... Great review Marky!
I am surprised! I loved the sounds of #1 in the test pieces. I didn't expect it to be the Axe Effect3.... Now I just need to save up 3,000,000.00 to buy it...lol
@@MusicWithMarky But, realistically you are buying a specialized computer with software. The hardware is maybe 100.00 from a manufacturing point of view... The software is just that, software! There are a lot of amps now with modeling in them and they are very inexpensive. I think that there is a big premium set on these types of devices because of their flexibility and upgradeability! Think what pcs would be like if they did the same thing with them?
That's a fair comparison. But we don't know is what they spent in R&D for these things. With computers and widely used software the number of people buying them is so great that they can recoup their investment costs. This is a much smaller market, so spreading the cost out is to a much lower denominator.
@@MusicWithMarky I think the cost of getting into an instrument is still very prohibitive on a families budget, just like hockey and other high end sports. If we want a bigger market to sell to then we have to make it affordable to the masses! Maybe make an entry level unit with bare bones models and amps. Allow owners to buy what they want from the company site and they can download the rest from the community.
@@johnnyq1233 that does exist though. The Fractal fm3 or ax8. You also have the Positive Grid stuff which is all software. There's definitely affordable, quality options for what you are looking for. What I meant by the size of the market is the size of the entire market. A PC can sell to a market of over a billion buyers. Guitarists are more in the millions.
This video is really helpful, thank you for putting it up. As someone who owns both units, do you personally prefer one over the other in certain situations? Like maybe the Kemper live and the Axe III in the studio, or vice versa? I’ve been a Kemper guy for a while but I’m considering selling it to pick up an Axe fx. Any more insight you have is greatly appreciated, thank you!
Thanks for checking out the vid! For me, I like that I can program every aspect of the effects and sound on the Axe FX. I do a ton of studio work and that kind of flexibility is so useful. That said, I use the Kemper for all my bass tracks (I just can't find Axe FX bass sounds I like nearly as much) and there are a handful of Kemper patches that I like so much that I go to them for certain types of songs. If I had to do just one in a studio though, it's going to be the Axe FX.
These units are way too expensive for me. I'm in a local cover band and play small clubs. I own a few old Marshall's. For my band it's cheaper to use something like a Fractal Audio Load Box with a Torpedo Two Notes cab simulator for about $600, Then I can still use my amps and plug into front of house or use my cabinets. But if I had the money I would get the AxeFX III.
Yeah this stuff isn't cheap, but when you record other bands in a studio, you can have 100s of unique amp sounds for what amounts to a tiny fraction of the cost. It's all about what your usage is.
If Randy Rhoads was still alive (we wish) and he had to decide between the 2 what would he pick? I know the question is completely irrelevant but I always ask myself “what would Randy do”?
Dave61 - Sadly, they discontinued the Marshall Dumbass in ‘86 or ‘87. They pop up occasionally on Craigslist or Reverb but fetch upwards of $4,000. Check out the Marshall Knucklehead. Almost the same features, same wattage, and (arguably) better quality at a fraction of the cost new. That’s probably what Randy would do.
@@kgmessier These comments are ridiculous, I agree. Jimi Hendrix would probably mess with an Axe Fx for some of his stuff, people really think people would have stuck with their gear if they were still alive 100%...
I liked number one for all three samples. It seemed more dimensional and organic. The local acts around were I live definitely favor the axe fx too... haven’t seen anybody playing the Kemper live yet.
They both have so so many options that I can't imagine someone being unhappy with one or the other. To me the real difference is the workflow and programming / access to sounds style.
@@RezaKhan2024 I feel like the Kemper gives more of that "in the room" kind of feel. I only use either unit through studio monitors though, so I don't have a useful opinion about what speakers to plug them into.
@@RezaKhan2024 If you run any of them through a real cab, both will give you 100% "amp in the room" feel because "amp in the room" is all about a cab. Through Studio Monitors you're hearing the sound of a mic'ed cab, so no amp in the room.
I've only made it 30 seconds into the video... You said "it's not like you can walk into the local guitar center and try these out". That's exactly how I tested them. Sweetwater set them both up for me and I toyed with them for over an hour. Guitar center let me play with them also. Your local store must not want to make a sale.
Where are you located that a GC had one of these? I've never seen one in a Guitar Center... New York, Boston, Hollywood, and New Jersey. It would be so cool to have things like this stocked.
@@MusicWithMarky I'm just south of Detroit. Two of three GCs have them here. Sweetwater is a two hour drive but they have literally everything. What a drag that the stores aren't stocking one. Hard to sell what you don't stock. I'd be terrified to drop that much cash on something I couldn't play with.
@@jimmpanik3402 I wonder if they have them by you because Sweetwater is so close? I've always had great experience with Sweetwater, too. Great company.
From listening to the 3 samples, I thought the 1's were the best overall sounding. Though the 2's were a bit less bassy, which might be better in a mix. Despite this, I'd personally just go with plugins for recording. Here you can see a couple (well 3) vids, where plugins do a great (if not even better) than the axe fx iii. Check them out! th-cam.com/video/FbrS3fKAhtg/w-d-xo.html Peavy 6505 + 11 amp modelers. th-cam.com/video/jAZFLYvKrIM/w-d-xo.html Marshall JCM 800 + 14 amp modelers th-cam.com/video/gaQ-IBYcn1Y/w-d-xo.html Mesa Dual Rectifier + 13 amp modelers Enjoy!
You must enjoy stepping into the firing line! I went with Kemper because I was treated rudely by the Fractal owner, and I learned it has happened to others. Tried to resolve, but Cliif and moderators unwilling. They were rude and unwilling to discuss... Blessing in the end. Was definitely going to get the FM3, but after the issue, I fell in love with Kemper and even if I had no issue, I feel the Kemper is significantly better.
Well, it's funny... I had the impression the other way around, that your test of sample 1 sounded more like "the amp in the room", more beefy, thick and presence than sample 2. But it's a matter of few seconds of Eq/tweaking and they will sound almost exactly the same. It's both great units with excellent sound, but totally different technology..
Interesting. I certainly find that people's opinions on the sounds/units can be as varied as their personalities. You are right though, they are both really high quality products and I can't imagine you could really go wrong either way.
@Doss Koont Thats why I like the AxeFx III can put the cab IR's on a different output to the board with balanced XLR and use another set of outputs with 1/4" with no cab IR's to my matrix power amp and into a real cab. That works for me both live and in the studio. Thats the only way I get a real amp sound in a room with a modeling unit.
@Doss Koont The CAE clean is my go to clean in the Axe III also, But I still have a Mesa Tri-Axis and that to my ears is the best clean tone ever made. I use the Tri-Axis into the Axe III for the post effects. I use the Axe III for all my dirt tones I'm using them through a couple 2:90 power amps (one is redundant for back up). My Matrix power amp is now for my grab and go set up because its so light. I'm just waiting on an FM3 invitation. I have owned alot of Strymon pedals. But now my rig is real simple. I still use analog effects in front of the Tri-Axis and everything else is the Axe III. I use a RJM effects Gizmo to help with the switching. Just a side note I played some of Tony Krank's stuff when he used to mod amps amps here in Phoenix in the 90's at Central Music.
@@MusicWithMarky mine has a 7 next to the other numbers and that's supposed to tell the year when I was made but when I matched the numbers with the book it was a 88 not an 87 if that helps you figure it out what yours is
@@wayney.387 Looking at what that level of model goes for now... Amazing, right?! I like the new ones too, but I think the early ones compare to what they consider their ultra-high end models now. It certainly feels that way when playing them.
Absolutely loved your video, thank you! Your analysis of the difference between the axe fx3 and Kemper matches what I think and right away I could feel that 1 was axe fx and 2 was Kemper. I have the helix but prefer both the axe and Kemper but very happy to have the helix, it’s still a great piece of equipment. I have eq’d the Helix to sound more like an Axe 3 but can’t get it to sound like a Kemper. The Kemper has this softer attack on the transients to my ears that’s very pleasing, don’t know how to replicate that... to me, the helix has a harsher tone compared to the fractal but would have a harder time describing precisely the eq of the Kemper. The Kemper tone seems less “sculpted” than Axe fx. The highs don’t seem as pronounced... if you could shed some light that would be fantastic.
Thanks for checking out the video and leaving the thoughtful commentary. The think I noticed had more to do with that quality of an amp in a room, pushing air at high volumes. With the Kemper I get the feel. With the Fractal, I get the more sculpted studio sound. I believe that is because the Kemper is modeling the sound out of the speaker and the Fractal is modeling the actual circuitry of the amps.
Music With Marky thanks for the reply. I see what you’re saying, I didn’t get it watching the video, I still thought I could eq the sound of the helix but your explanation makes total sense. I can’t justify the price of the Kemper since I don’t play in a band but it’s an amazing piece of technology. I would have never thought that this kind of things would get that close.
@@zwip778 I actually use the Fractal in my band situation, but I understand what you're saying. Unless you are doing that or studio work for pay, it's way too much $.
Well, I came back to tell this. I have a kemper and last night I was writing a metal song in my daw. I took a brake and opened TH-cam and I saw this video again. So I thought, lets match the sounds of your Axe Fx3 with my Kemper and see if the difference was like yours. My studio monitors are Presonus Eris 8. From there I heard the sound of your Axe Fx3 and also my Kemper. So I opened my kemper and I found the same "amps"...with the first try my sound was about 95% the same with your axe fx3 and at least the same quality. After that I couldn't understand why you couldn't make your Kemper sound identical to your AxeFx3..what is going on..if I was a youtuber I would upload the matched sounds and see what you would say!!
Both units offer the capability of matching other cabs and amps. The purpose of my video was not to make them sound the same, but rather to show how they operate differently. I am hoping people see what it's like to use each one daily and get a feel for what they would like better for themselves. It's my firm belief that anyone could find numerous sounds on each that they really enjoy for their own playing. How you get to those sounds and how you use the units is where the big divergence happens.
I had to revisit this after several months. And, to be fair, I haven't changed my mind much. However, on the third patch battle (Metal tone) I feel like I have to give the Axe the edge. It was just a mean tone, and it deserves a nod. But the Kemper still sounded great. On the first two patches though, the Kemper was clearly the winner. Especially on #2. Fuck, that was a muddy tone on the Axe. Just hideous. And while the Axe sounded great on the JC 120 patch, or whatever it was, the Kemper just sparkled and jangled more. Nice and glassy. And all the way through, the Kemper had the tighter bottom end. Needless to say, we're comparing a minute or two total, of just 3 patches. That proves nothing. The sample size is too small, and there are too many variables. Nevertheless, in this specific challenge, the Kemper won the tone battle. At least as far as avoiding any sound that sounded like two dying cats fucking in a mud pit. The Axe wasn't able to miss that obstacle.
I've been trying to do a series of vids analyzing specific amps on each. I'm still perfecting the nuances, but I did post the Marshall one. With this vid I was hoping to do a bit more showcasing the way each unit works from a workflow standpoint. Thanks for checking the vid out!
Well, a tube amp sounds better of course. Big part of that is playing trough speakers and controlling live current wich is hard to emulate 🤘 But my neighbours do not think so. And using a tube amp at home/studio work with my Mac, attenuators and stuff, well I’m done with that. All kinds of trouble. Is if it’s good enough with Kemper or Fx? Well it seems so all considered...
Wakemusic wakemusic In the fingers When it comes to neighbours ???? Well not sure they care. 😇 But I cant make up my mind about tubes or fx The wizard amp I tried the other day sounds like it’s bleeding - man that was soo good, and the master is working really well. For sure better at full volume, but putting a mic in front at low volume reatians most of that tube magic at bedroom volume when recording. I dont know 🧐
@@sopasopasson5563 I'm talking about how it sounds, not really how loud it is. You could always use something like an OX or two-notes to bring the "cranked" level down on a tube amp. I love both tube amps and modeling but to say one sounds better is just really an opinion. I play my Axe III through a Mesa 2 Ninety, so I guess it's a combination of both technologies. I guess it really comes down to what inspires you when you plug in. I've never played on a Wizard, sounds like it must be pretty good though.
Wakemusic wakemusic well I have not yet been able to try the fxiii. The benifits are obvious in recording with all the amps mods end effects. And playing though attanuators has been a pretty bad experinence. I probably need to step up to a powerstation or OX or something similar to get it working well. And thats about 1K. Recorded Im sure the fxiii sounds fine. But how would tou desceibe playing it ? Plenty of Wizard clips on TH-cam. Some say it is like a Marshall sound with the Hiwatt push. Awesome I’d say. You dial ACDC very easily. Bit unsure of clean sounds, but my guess is that they are good though.
The only reason to get Kemper over Fractal is to profile amps if you have a lot of old tube amps. Otherwise Fractal wins for me. The Kemper has an ancient horrid user interface from 1990. Fractal has a color LCD better user interface.
I have not found anything that plays or sounds as good. Even when I try the really expensive and newer PRS guitars in a store, they still don't seem as good as this one. Do you find that to be the same?
Are you sure sound 1 was the Axe effects? I know you are just that I'm shocked. This is the first demo/comparison video that the kemper wasn't hands down superior. I honestly was convinced BEFORE you revealed which sound sample was which, that #1 was the kemper. The second sound sample sounded digital to me, not analogue feeling at all. Much like the Axe demos I've heard previously. This is depressing as all examples of Kemper were warm and more natural low end and the Axe was bright and processed sounding. Wonder why your demos produced such a different result? And ideas, anyone???
Only thing I can imagine is that it was just 3 samples and so it's not the widest array to make a "scientific" analysis. I wanted this to be more about the day to day use of each rather than a pure sound comparison (because there are so many of those already). It's a shame most of us don't live near a store where we could just sit down and compare these things in person.
@@MusicWithMarky So true. Lot of clams to spend on rolling the dice for tone. Yet I listened to several more and some with blind tests, similar to yours. I would always know what was the kemper and it just sounded fatter and more like an amp. Yet some players really make that Axe III sound impressive as well. It does come down to how you'd use it day in day out, as the purpose of your video demonstrated. I'm not a hardcore tweaker hate getting lost down the rabbit hole so the Kemper has the tone and enough options for my needs. Decsion made. Gr8 work on your vids.
AXE sounded better here. While I have some profiles on my kemper that I’m very satisfied with, I wouldn’t mind trying an AXE down the road. I like the idea of making your own amp from the ground up and the effects just sound better than Kemper.
I'm happy the demo gave you some insight. The pure number of choices on the AXE is staggering. For some that's a bad thing. For others, it's tweaker heaven.
Axe-fx sounded better to me in every song sample (sounds#1) and unlike Kemper, works as an audio interface as well. Also seems you have to pay extra money to actually get good profiles. No thanks. Gonna go with fractal.
problem is can you dial in both with the same skill level....so dangerous comparison... my experience with both .axe way better for effects...no doubt for the rest you can tweak yourself completely bananas...kemper much more straight forward and feels much more natural ...but getting the correct profiles that fit your taste is key for kemper...
Excellent ‘meat and potatoes’ review. You captured the essence of both units and presented them in a clear unbiased explanation. I clearly get the difference of the two. I’m an Axe FX guy but I appreciate more now the ‘what and why’ of the Kemper. Good clear ‘ab’ ‘vs’ review.
Thanks man!!
This was good, non biased and informative. Covering many bases from sound, feel and usage. Details of how they're designed and work. Reviewers, take notice, love it
Thank you!!!
Dude the Axe FX III in these examples sound amaaaazing... I kinda want one now.
I like the way the AXE FX is set up, being able to create all the tones from scratch. But all the options, although great to have, seem overwhelming. I would imagine I'd be spending more time tweaking then playing. I'm currently using an Eleven Rack which I love. But when the time comes to upgrade, I believe I'll be going with an AXE FX.
There is definitely an overwhelming number of options to tweak. I find that I don't need to use a lot of it and can get the sounds I want without getting too granular. It's great to see guys like Leon Todd showing all the little tweaks they do though. It gives you some good launching points for fine tuning sounds.
best comparison, info and conclusion EVER! thank you!
Thanks for checking it out!
Before watching this I had mostly decided to get the Axe FX (ordering soon). For all 3 samples in the beginning I liked #1 so I was pleased to hear the identification at the end.
You're going to love it!
So Kemper sounds and feels more like an amp ... ? both units look great.
I would say yes, it has more of that quality to it.
Nowadays, I feel like the Axe FX 3 is more like an amp, considering the latest firmware updates. Both very good, though.
@@viniciusbertucci is this touch and feel you are talking about? Do you own both? Thanks!
Having owned both the Axe 3 and the Kemper, I think (as you said) it really comes down to work flow. Most sonic differences can be rectified with eq etc. Kemper is very dependent on which profile you use, Fractal models some amps better than others, and BOTH need good quality ir’s. Obviously price is a huge factor. The new FM3 is outstanding at a great price point! This is a solution that Kemper needs to remedy (a streamlined $1k option). In either case, master the kit that you buy! Great video and comparison with excellent points for consideration! Well done mate!
Thanks!
agree 100%. I've also owned numerous fractals and numerous kempers....at the end of the day, workflow and software is everything. Kemper BLOWS in the software department.....and their OD's suck too
Good truly unbiased review. You should have mentioned axe-exchange though, as it does what the Kemper library does. I own both, and the Kemper is up for sale...
Thanks! I learned how to use it a bit after I did this unfortunately. I'll have to do a follow up eventually.
Thanks for this video. It presents the strengths of both in an unbiased way. After watching this, I purchased the Axe FX III. I've been building and tweaking amps for almost 40 years, so it makes the most sense for me. However, for others that just want to pick a great sounding amp and play, the Kemper certainly fills that need.
So glad you found it useful. Have you shared any of your sounds on Axe Exchange yet? I'd love to hear em.
@@MusicWithMarky I receive it Monday, and I'm taking the next day off to play with it. Eventually I want to get into Tone Match. i have a 1987 Marshall Silver Jubilee that I want to Tone Match and share.
@@problemchild799 Cool. I look forward to hearing it.
I know Kemper gear is great, but it definitely sounds last-gen next to the Axe 3 and is starting to show it's age...
Yeah I think I have to agree.
Kemper sounds more amp like, which I want. The best amps are older classics, like guitars. It’s not showing it’s age, it’s a killer creation that holds its value and is renewed with updates, instead of version 2, 3, 4, FM, etc and making the last model useless and draining my wallet! I don’t feel the need for the latest thing, I look for what I can sink my teeth into and grow with.
EXCEPT with a few tweeks, Kemper drastically improves to ultra realistic , its true not all profiles are amazing in one go
Been using Fractal products for over a decade now and have owned all three of the flagship models as they've come out. I've literally made probably 20 patches combined on all three units. I'm sure that some people would say that was kind of a waste, but for me it's not about having a bazillion sounds or going in and spending months tweaking patches, it's about being able to create my own tone/rig from scratch and it sounding great. There's over 200 amps....I don't need them all, but the ones that do need are all in there. I like the Dumble amp in there. I love the Friedmans. I'm never going to own either.
As for the Kemper, I really did think about buying one for a while because it is a really clever concept. The problem for me and my specific workflow is that it's just faster and easier for me to put together a patch from scratch than to go and audition 15,000 profiles that other folks made and hope that one of them is what I'm looking for. The other thing is that I can't get over the idea of relying on other people's interpretation of what a good tone would be. Maybe it was dialed in for single coils or active pickups. Maybe its got too much gain. From everything I saw as soon as you start tweaking the original profile you lose the authenticity. I think that it's basically a set tone stack that is probably more like an EQ and I've heard some funky stuff with messing with the gain structure. Plus all of the "good" profiles are made by guys who want to be paid for their work. And unfortunately the only way that I can "do it myself" is to use the actual amp and create my own profiles.....if I owned the amps I wouldn't have either. The wife can't see that I have 200 plus amps and a billion pedals and cabinets inside that little black box.
With the AxeFX it's just a matter of me getting to work and making it happen. And yes it only takes minutes to create an entire rig, but part of that is because I've been using the stuff for so long now so I've gotten past most of the learning curve. With that said there are a thousand different things on the unit that I don't know how to use because I don't need them. It's as simple or as complicated as you make it.
One thing that I'll suggest for some of the more "raw" and amp in the room tones is to apply some low and high cut and some room level to the speaker cab block.
Nice comments, dude. It's so about having YOUR tone!
agree prefer building my own amp and fx patches hence the Fractal wins for me over the Kemper.
Marky, regarding your comment about Kemper having a more authentic "amp in the room" quality to it, I'm sure it matters what you're listening through. What are you using: studio monitors, a FRFR cab, headphones, a guitar cab, a PA system?
Thanks
Adam A7X speakers or my DS Headphones.
Why does the Kemper has more of a "amp in the room" quality? This doesn't seem to make much sense to me, because when you run your units through studio monitors, you're hearing the sound of a mic'ed rig, and a mic'ed rig doesn't deliver an amp in the room feel. For that situation, the ideal setting would be running the unit into a SS power amp + real cab. Am I missing something here?
It's difficult to explain well. When you get a good recording of a loud amp in a room, you can get this sense of air being pushed even through cans or studio monitors. It's like you captured the essence of a live experience. Usually, though that's not the sound you want on a recording, because it eats up too much sonic space. With the AxeFX, I find the sounds to generally need less adjustment on the channel strip to fit in a mix.
Again, they are both great... Just subtly different and require different treatment in a mix sometimes. Does that make sense?
@@MusicWithMarky Yeah, I can totally see what you mean. Not sure if I ever noticed that on the Kemper vs Axe Fx, but it's always cool to know. Subbed!
Because I also own both units I could easily identify which one is which. Personally I prefer the AXE FX. The settings can be easily customized to fit perfect to your guitar - however, it requires some experience. The AXE FX software is much better maintained and offers tons of options - still waiting for the Kemper editor which was already announced for the middle of this year.
I didn't know that Kemper has an editor planned. I look forward to that!
@@MusicWithMarky just a matter of weeks and the editor should be here according to Kemper forums and someone from kemper saying so
great comparison (and kudos on the wide spread of music you've made; genuinely inspirational)
Thanks for checking it out!!
Is the axe Fx lll a stand-alone device? And is it hard to program?
It is. I have a video on basic programming for it here: th-cam.com/video/Vu8wDaHKd4w/w-d-xo.html
I had both. Though then it was an Axe FX II XL+. I needed to sell one, for financial reasons. I kept the Axe. IMHO, if you just want to deal with basic amp tones and controls, don't mind being dependent on others to make your profiles, OR have a large group of amps, you don't want to take with you on the road or gigging. Then the Kemper is a good choice. Because I could make my Axe and Kemper sound, respond and feel the same as each other. However, the Axe, particularly the III beats the kemper in almost every other way (except price), FX amounts and quality, looper, signal routing, and really ease of setting up for live use, where you need more than one tone.
Appreciate you doing this video. Im new to all this and found the information really helpful and exactly at right amount of info to help me look into an option. I preferred all the #1 sounds and after hearing who would like the device for the #1 sounds, guess I'm a tweaker.
Happy to help!
when you play is there no delay at all?
No lag whatsoever.
@@MusicWithMarky do you have a video where you show you playing backing tracks trough it?
Check out this playlist: Gear Battle: th-cam.com/play/PL5nXZdmaIH4jeUPmMQmnsOVxlKkkga1c1.html
Yes, just what I needed. Im debating between kemper floor and fractal fm9
Happy to help!
What Desk do you have?
You can see a bunch from this company at www.studiodesk.net
Really nice review and hoest comparison! Thank you! : )
Sure thing. I'm glad you liked it.
That’s a sweet desk! What is it, and where’d you get it from?
Thanks. I saw them at NAMM and love it. www.studiodesk.net/
be warned, I can barely put together IKEA furniture so this thing was not going to happen without the help of a professional. lol
so would you recommend anything that would function in the same manner as this but is under 1k? the line 6 options seem pretty decent. im debating on waiting until i can justify spending the 3.5k or so and just go with fractal though.
I'm waiting for the Quad Cortex which comes in at $1500 and it looks like it might be a new pack leader (www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/QuadCortex--neural-dsp-quad-cortex-quad-core-digital-effects-modeler-profiler-floorboard). Also the Positive Grid Spark amp is amazing for $250 or so. The number of user sounds on their cloud is staggering and often quite good.
@@MusicWithMarky thanks man! i was unaware of that one so very helpful. and the price being half of the fractal unit, is a major plus. means i can get a skervesen sooner lol found out my little brother is getting stationed in poland, he is a 1st lt in the army so i told him if i ordered a guitar from them while hes there it gives me a reason to go see him hehe and the fact that i can go see him gives me a reason to order it so self justifying lol for getting the wife onboard i mean (jk shes the best, automatically onboard with whatever usually)
Oh nice! You will love the Skerv too. Send me a pick when it starts getting built!
Ha 2 independent searches to settle debates in my head and yours is best comparison once again, this is the main object in the way of my next guitar gotta get one of these (or revv g20) leaning kemper pre video so maybe this will change that lol. Thanks again my man!
Glad I can help!
My experience having owned both is this: I was able to NAIL particular sounds with the kemper easier than I did with fractal; for example, Gilmour, The Edge, Angus, etc. But I found myself endlessly auditioning different profiles and I also didn't like the way the gain jived with the volume control on my guitars with the Kemper. At the end of the day, the shit software in Kemper and the way it reacted to my volume control and overall lack of sophistication was why I went back to Fractal. Pros and Cons to both. Click my name if you want to see what I'm talking about.
Man, that is such a great gear review/comparison. First one I've seen from Music with Marky. Concise, yet comprehensive (in a reasonable amount of time) for such complex rigs and delivered with articulate and to-the-point commentary. I like that it's subdued, not flashy, and assumes the viewer has a level of understanding in the subject matter. And the diagrams at the end are a good visual representation of the different approach the two manufacturers use to reproduce the sounds and settings, a smart idea. Having watched this video, I feel like that 16 minutes quickly moved my decision process further along, considerably more so than had I watched some of the other videos out there. And I don't feel like I have to shower to wash the hype and spit off or to take a drink to calm my nerves from the overly enthusiastic shouting and opinion making. I wish more reviews were like this. Really nice job, thanks.
Wow man, thanks! I'm really happy to hear this resonated with you. Out of curiosity, which way have you ended up leaning?
@@MusicWithMarky I'm a bit split. The Axe FX is appealing because I'd love to be able tinker with the nuance of effect staging, mic type and placement, and maybe try different tube configurations and run those amps through select cabinets - that kind of fits my personality. But I'm of an age where I have only so much time remaining on the planet, but more importantly, only so much patience with the tinkering process (haha). It's appealing to be able to select from a number (albeit, a huge number) of already configured setups. But the Kemper still offers a lot of choices and customizations nonetheless, more than I would probably ever use.
And there is a difference, slightly it sounds like, in the sonic quality. The Axe FX has the sharper, digital like sound, really nice and crisp, I do like that. The Kemper has a rounder, seemingly more robust sound. Like you said, you get a sense of the air being moved. I still, although it's ridiculous overkill, love to play through a full stack, there's nothing quite like it.
That being said, I am probably more inclined to go with the Axe FX. The main reason for me is that my writing is all over the place, some would say that's unfair because it's actually no place. It doesn't fit into genre categories - it's unusual and, I'll admit, not well received by most people. For me, the ability to craft unique sounds that would be my very own creations is most appealing. That is until someone points out to me they heard my Axe FX original tone two months beforehand on the Kemper Rig Exchange.
Listening to what you are saying here, I think that you would definitely enjoy the Axe FX more. Even if you have limited time, the time that you do get will be enjoyably spent. And, although the number of premade sounds on the Axe is much less, there's still plenty to choose from.
What kind of guitar are you using for that Splawn Nitro comparison?
That is a Skervesen Raptor. You can see quite a lot of it at th-cam.com/video/r8y3GBQudQg/w-d-xo.html
Is that a swan8 i see hanging up?
Good eye! Yes it is!
What desk is that? Really nice.
The company is at www.studiodesk.net/
Thanks for this video, I’m old school and I’m old , but I love new tech, but I’m more of a plug and play person, I don’t have the patience for tweaking,so the Kemper would probably fit me best, But I went to an amp show last year and they had some great players demoing theAXEFX 3, it was impressive and the styling was sharp, I like others thought # 1 sounded better than # 2 so who knows which way I’ll go, anyway they’re both excellent , thanks again for the video
Glad to help!
Which is which? #1 sounds better.
I say which is which at the end of the video. =]
Does the Axe FX III have the ability to download user community created sounds/patches etc similar to the Kemper? Great video thanks!
It does. There is a website called the Axe Exchange (axechange.fractalaudio.com/). The process on the Kemper is much more built in, but the Fractal one is fairly easy too.
There is the Fractal forum too where people share presets, i share a lot of my presets in there as well as AXE Change.
Yes. You can access Axe Change and download presets from other users
from within the editor.
@@dilbert666 is that a newer feature from within the editor? I haven't seen it from within the editor before.
@@MusicWithMarky Been there for some time. Tools => Axe-Change.
After own both a Kemper and an Axe FX (2 XL+) I would say that the Fractal sounds better in a mix. I dont play live, so I cant say how they compare for live use, but if you're like me, you just want to make good sounding bedroom mixes, then the Axe Fx excels in that category. There was something about the Kemper that just bothered me when trying to record with it. I could NEVER get the low end to sound how I wanted. Its like no matter what I tried with the EQ, I just couldnt get a really beefy sound with it. Maybe it sounds better in a live application, but in a bedroom studio, the fractal performs better. Just my opinion of course
I have definitely been able to get good recorded sounds out of both, but the approach is certainly different. I spent days and days going through different Kemper patches both free and paid to find the stuff I would like, though. With the Fractal, I programmed in the stuff I wanted and it was good right there.
what a great comparison. thx
i have an axe fx original. can't say i'm blown away by the sounds. one thing i do like is the ability to play live in a mix and decide on what sounds to use. this is very hard in a traditional setting (swapping mics, loud map). it's also takes a lot longer in a traditional set up and you can't make fast comparisons which is crucial imo.
i have heard a kemper live and thought it sounded great. of course you have to factor in that guys guitar, cab, etc. not conclusive. but for this one case i did think it sounded more like a live amp than an amp in a mix. for my taste there are a lot of guitars that sound over mixed today. prob the reason i also prefer single coils.
the way these 2 are designed reminds me of reverbs. kind of an algorithmic vs convolution thing.
for the fractal i barely used the controls on the amp. it's nice they are there for live maybe...but once you use the software they seem really really slow. i also use the first tier of parameters 95% of the time. basically ignore the tweaker settings. such diminishing returns for the most part. better to just try another amp/cab etc.
I agree about it being easier to look for another amp or cab over tweaking. It's generally much quicker. I try to get real close with that to what I want and then tweak just a touch from there.
I think you’ve missed a few items quality and number of effects, routing - parallel effects better editor overall the axe give a pristine recorded album sound live and recorded - kemper live amp sound ! I still think that once you take the profiles off sample and start moving the bass mods and treble it has a weird fazed sound both great though
That's fair. I've kind of wanted to do a follow up on this and get even more granular at some point. There is SO MUCH to consider with either of these. In the end though, I agree that they both can sound great.
I wondered how that would work with Kemper. It sounds similar to BIAS Amps (pretty sure?) that works similarly in that the amps work based on a "sound," but once you tweak gain or EQ it kinda starts to sound odd compared to the original tone/sound. Interesting consideration.
Hey Marky, do you notice any feel latency on the Kemper if so, is it more so than other more modern modelers? Have you known the interface and or computer being used to contribute to said feel latency? Thanks!
I use it with the signal direct into a Motu M2 and have it set to listen to the incoming signal rather than outbound from the pc. So I have no latency at all that would be caused by the pc.
As to the unit itself, I found latency in the feel whatsoever.
God the Kemper editor looks like something out of the 80s ! 🤪😎
I think that's part of the design philosophy there. The control panel on the physical unit is very "analog' too. It's meant to be more comfortable for players who aren't all about the digital world.
Great video 👍 awesome Skervs as well!
What sound first?
I'm not sure what you mean?
Which one was the kemper ?
1 sounded best
I reveal it toward the end of the video. I don't want to type it out in the text and ruin the "surprise." =] Thanks for checking out the vid!
Good video. I personally prefer the AxeFX especially with the latest firmware version, having used both. Additionally I would point out that not only do you have 8 scenes which can all be set to the performance tab if using the FC-12, you also have 4 different channels per device per preset. Example inside of one preset I can have 4 different amps in 1 preset, or 4 different delays, or 4 different reverbs, or a combination of all the above....inside 1 preset. So if you take the number of presets x the number of scenes and then quadruple that, well you see where I'm going with it. The other beauty with axefx, and I have been a guitar player for 40+ years is that while there is a core amp sound that I like, how many players ever leave the core sound in their rig. We are always modifying by effects or something to tweak it to what we particularly want. I find that so easy to do in axefx......and bonus......I don't have to buy all of those expensive effects anymore, which I have a large closet full of now. These are just personal opinions from having owned both, but in my opinion the axe fx is the best purchase I've ever made.
The sheer flexibility of the Axe FX is certainly untouched. I have to agree!
The camper uses impulse responses as well. When people profile their own amps, they are creating an impulse response.
Cool video. Subscribed!
Awesome thanks!
In other words the Axe-FX111 sounds and feels like a hi fi set/synthesizer (after a thousand hours of tweaking through menus) and the Kemper sounds and feels like a tube amp being blasted at loud volume through guitar speakers (without one minute of tweaking).
I think that's a fair summary of what I was trying to say.
I think what he’s trying to say is your a dick ! 🤪
Lol
Hey man thanks for the video! What is the your signal chain in the studio looks like there was a Focusrite Scarlett in the desk? How do you listen to your sounds while in the the room? Through monitors? I tried various amps sim through studio monitors (decent models as well) but found the sound kind of meh. Thinking about a Kemper so researching at the moment. Just have some good headphones so would have to further invest in some type of speakers (unless by guitar cabs would work).
I go into a patch bay and then from there to the focusrite. I never was a guy who needed to hear myself cranked through an amp, so I'm prefectly happy hearing the direct signal through studio monitors or my headphones. I have Adam monitors, which sound really well balanced and true. If you're like most players, though and want that punch in the chest a good amp gives you, then you are going to want to run it into a power amp and then a set of cabinets. The main thing then is to realize that you have to turn off the cabinet part in the simulator so that you're not basically playing cabinet to another cabinet. Then it gets kind of mushy.
@@MusicWithMarky Thank you for the information! Actually lower volume - small room is my thing. Need something other than my headphones. Might have to re-think the monitor situation. Have tried some good ones but things never sounded good to my ears.
@@mookytc We have a pair of Genelecs in the big studio and then I have these Adam a7x ones in my room. The Genelecs are a good 3x the cost and I would say I am just as happy with the Adam speakers as those. So for the price you might definitely want to check them out.
@@MusicWithMarky I will...thank you for the replies!
I definitely thought my sound upgraded when I bought an Axe FX FM3 compared to using Amplitube5 and Helix LT (both great too), but after watching many comparison videos, I'm content to stay with my FM3 (plan on upgrading to FM9). The Kemper definitely sounds great, but I wouldn't consider it an upgrade to Axe FX.
Well I have both and NOT being a fan boy of any brand my go-to unit is always the AXEFX 3 its just so much better in every way. I think I might sell the Kemper since it just sits in my studio.
So many guys think the Axe sounds sterile and the Kemper sounds warmer. I don't hear it. Both have great and the occasional not so great sounds/patches/rigs.
@@MusicWithMarky I find relying on profiles of other peoples amps boring. At least with the AX3 I can find my own tones that I'm looking for and the fx are a lot better imo but everyone has opinions :) All I can say is, so many big names swear by the AXEFX and there is a reason for that.
@@r.llynch4124 that's a valid point. Being able to dial in what you want from the ground up is a huge factor of you're the type of person willing to put the time in. I both enjoy doing that and just finding sounds already made and seeing what music they inspire me to create. I think the one thing that really really jumps out to me is the enormous amount of effects options on the Axe over anything else.
Have both and generally fire up the Axe over the Kemper. For one thing, it is faster. Wait till you have to reboot during a show to see how important that is. Also, Fractal support is top notch but having dealt with G-String at Kemper, I can't recommend them as a company. If you get a profile of your amp and that is the sound you want or have a profile you like, then there is value to the Kemper else you are searching thousands of profiles to find a sound. The Axe has the whole amp in the box, not just one snapshot and better routing and effects too. On balance for me, Axe wins as the complete solution.
First mistake is downloading rigs from the Rig Exchange. I've been disappointed with 99% of what I have downloaded there. It is worth investing in some properly made commercial profiles. The Michael Britt profile packs are excellent across the board. As a Kemper owner and user (unlike most of the folks commenting here) it really makes a big difference in the end result. My Kemper sounds worlds better than what I am hearing here. If I had made my purchase decision based on this video I probably would never have bought one.
I had to go back and look. The 3 rigs I used where not all from Rig Exchange. I was simply showing what is available out there in the software so people could compare. The Jazz Chorus was, the Plexi was a Michael Wagener patch, and the Splawn was in apaid pack. You are right though, the purchased packs like Big Hairy Profiles, for instance, are really worth it!
nice reviews!!!!
would love to know what you think about the virtual Kemper inside Overloud TH-U (Rig Player), as you have some choptone profiles and they make some juicy ones for the Rig Player (which is basically a only profile player module, but with all the tweaks available I love on my Kemper)
what I love with TH-U is the ability to offer both technology, modeling and profiling in one plugin, as I'm working on studio projects only
I've not heard about this product. Are you talking about overloud.com/products/th-u-full ?
Does the kemper have a software like Axe-Edit to dial in tones with your computer?
There's is news of one that's due to be released, but I haven't seen it happen yet. All that is out there thus far is what I show in the video for selecting and organizing the rigs.
Yes it's been released and its nice
@@jessegolden23 It is pretty good, I agree. It's still not nearly as configurable and diverse as the AXE FX software, though.
Very good job! Honestly both are good! I own both. You really can’t go wrong with either. I do think the Axe has much better effects then the Kempner. However this is all subjective. I don’t think you could go wrong with either.
Thanks for the video! Well done 😀🎸
Indeed the effects on the axe are far more in depth. I agree. Thanks for checking it out!
I'm shocked. I was pretty positive that 1 was the kemper and 2 was the Axe. 1 sounds more natural to my ears and I always felt the Kemper sounded more natural than the Axe 1 and 2, they really stepped their game up with the 3.
I definitely noticed a marked improvement from the 2 to the 3.
Yeah. I would have bet my left nut that #1 was the Kemper. I give up.
well done and informative thanks! (I preferred the kemper)
Glad to help.
hey try to lower the volume of the mic when playing the guitar so that we can hear more of the sound
Okeedokie. :). Thanks for the feedback.
@@MusicWithMarky When your mixing down just add a gate to your mic triggered by the guitar track.
@@_mysilentblue2227 thanks. I've gotten it quite a bit better since filming this. I'm always working to improve content production.
@@MusicWithMarky I just Hooked up with your channel, you really do a great job. Keep it up and thanks for all the info and inspiration.
Thank you!
Wow! First of all, excellent review. Totally objective, concise, as you promised, yet completely informative. Bravo! But I say, "Wow!" because I'd have bet my mother's house that #2 was the Ax. It was way tighter, and #1 was way muddier. It was distinctly noticeable. And I'd begun to think I might have to give up on the more simple Kemper, and go with the more complicated Ax. Everybody seems to be leaning that way lately. But I swear to Christ, the Kemper sounded better. Like not even close. WTF!? I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!
I GIVE UP!
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! 🤯
Thanks for checking it out! I still think both of these have soooooo many great sounds that you would always find something that works. My sample size here is small. For me, I'd be making the purchasing decision on which one I think would fit my workflow and usability needs more.
@@MusicWithMarky I'm not a tweaker. So I'll probably stick with the plug and play. I've got basically one tone I'm pretty married to on my Boss GT100, so I should probably expect myself to behave somewhat similarly with any device. 😅
@@cryptoskywalker6000 That's smart. You don't want to waste money on a bunch of features you're never going to use.
Awesome review. I have neither and I'm still confused! I'm a tweaker (musically) so maybe the Axe FX? It's a coin toss at this point!
If you like to tweak, 100% Axe FX. It is completely granular. You can go all the way to the level of changing out what type of tubes are in a preamp.
Great video, thank you sir.
You know I think the kemper is easer to use. Personally I like to plug in and go. I don’t have time to be exploring them to run them properly. I have a number of amps cabs stomp boxes. I can cover almost anything with a foot switch. Plus I have a nice collection of amps.
The Kemper definitely has that plug and go feel.
I was hoping I preferred the Kemper as the stage is cheaper.. but I liked 1 more. Of course. Mind you this is only 3 of many possible sounds and presets
Honestly they both sound great. There's too many sounds to compare deeply in a reasonably lengthed video. That's why I focused on the work flow. I think that difference is more significant.
Christophe Kemper could have added dozens more tweaking parameter options inside extra menus if he wanted to make tweaking possibilities much more complicated, but he didn't need to because his Profiling algorithm nails the tube amp tone and feel without hours of tweaking.
Certainly. And, I wasn't implying that one sounds better than another. Just different. I love them both in different situations and I think either is more than enough for any reasonable use case.
He didn’t put any other tweaking on them because when you try to change a profile they go all out of phase weird sounding stick to a straight profile you’ll be fine
Hands down in my opinion is the AXE FX3.... Overall tonality in the signal is so much warmer and in your face. Kemper has a great idea on the profiling aspect but, Fractal Labs killed the Kemper on tone and quality of sound! But as you said in the video, it "comes down to personal taste".... Great review Marky!
Thanks Dave. It is definitely personal to everyone because I have seen comments very strongly opinionated in both directions.
I am surprised! I loved the sounds of #1 in the test pieces. I didn't expect it to be the Axe Effect3....
Now I just need to save up 3,000,000.00 to buy it...lol
Yeah they are expensive, but it's wayyyyy less than buying all those amps and pedals!
@@MusicWithMarky But, realistically you are buying a specialized computer with software. The hardware is maybe 100.00 from a manufacturing point of view... The software is just that, software! There are a lot of amps now with modeling in them and they are very inexpensive. I think that there is a big premium set on these types of devices because of their flexibility and upgradeability! Think what pcs would be like if they did the same thing with them?
That's a fair comparison. But we don't know is what they spent in R&D for these things. With computers and widely used software the number of people buying them is so great that they can recoup their investment costs. This is a much smaller market, so spreading the cost out is to a much lower denominator.
@@MusicWithMarky I think the cost of getting into an instrument is still very prohibitive on a families budget, just like hockey and other high end sports. If we want a bigger market to sell to then we have to make it affordable to the masses! Maybe make an entry level unit with bare bones models and amps. Allow owners to buy what they want from the company site and they can download the rest from the community.
@@johnnyq1233 that does exist though. The Fractal fm3 or ax8. You also have the Positive Grid stuff which is all software. There's definitely affordable, quality options for what you are looking for.
What I meant by the size of the market is the size of the entire market. A PC can sell to a market of over a billion buyers. Guitarists are more in the millions.
Are the 3 Axe-FX presets standard or custom? You gonna let us download those Axe-FX presets if they're custom? :)
Those were standard presets. Anything I do custom I will post top the Axe Exchange as I go in the future. =]
where are you from i live on long island looking for some help with my kempers
I'm out in Jerz. What are you trying to get done with it?
I thought the Axe FX (number 1) sounded better when compared to the Kemper...
Can I plug my Taylor 814ce dlx into a Kemper??? I also have an electric normal guitars
There is no reason why you couldn't. It works just like any regular amplifier.
Music With Marky cool! Thanks! 🙃👍🏻
This video is really helpful, thank you for putting it up. As someone who owns both units, do you personally prefer one over the other in certain situations? Like maybe the Kemper live and the Axe III in the studio, or vice versa? I’ve been a Kemper guy for a while but I’m considering selling it to pick up an Axe fx. Any more insight you have is greatly appreciated, thank you!
Thanks for checking out the vid! For me, I like that I can program every aspect of the effects and sound on the Axe FX. I do a ton of studio work and that kind of flexibility is so useful. That said, I use the Kemper for all my bass tracks (I just can't find Axe FX bass sounds I like nearly as much) and there are a handful of Kemper patches that I like so much that I go to them for certain types of songs. If I had to do just one in a studio though, it's going to be the Axe FX.
Thank you, that’s really helpful!
@@Phantom_Communique sure thing, man.
These units are way too expensive for me. I'm in a local cover band and play small clubs. I own a few old Marshall's. For my band it's cheaper to use something like a Fractal Audio Load Box with a Torpedo Two Notes cab simulator for about $600, Then I can still use my amps and plug into front of house or use my cabinets. But if I had the money I would get the AxeFX III.
Yeah this stuff isn't cheap, but when you record other bands in a studio, you can have 100s of unique amp sounds for what amounts to a tiny fraction of the cost. It's all about what your usage is.
@@MusicWithMarky I get it, for what you do makes perfect sense. It's definitely the way of the future.
Great video.
Thanks!
If Randy Rhoads was still alive (we wish) and he had to decide between the 2 what would he pick? I know the question is completely irrelevant but I always ask myself “what would Randy do”?
Randy Rhoads would be playing his Marshall dumbass
Dave61 - Sadly, they discontinued the Marshall Dumbass in ‘86 or ‘87. They pop up occasionally on Craigslist or Reverb but fetch upwards of $4,000.
Check out the Marshall Knucklehead. Almost the same features, same wattage, and (arguably) better quality at a fraction of the cost new.
That’s probably what Randy would do.
Brilliant!
@@kgmessier These comments are ridiculous, I agree. Jimi Hendrix would probably mess with an Axe Fx for some of his stuff, people really think people would have stuck with their gear if they were still alive 100%...
Great vid🤘
Thanks!
I liked number one for all three samples. It seemed more dimensional and organic. The local acts around were I live definitely favor the axe fx too... haven’t seen anybody playing the Kemper live yet.
From this audio samples no question, the Axe-FX III sounds much better. The Kemper imho sounds like 10 years behind.
Hello! Very interesting video! Tell me, does it make sense to compare the Boss GT-1000 vs Helix LT? What do you think about these processors?
I'd certainly be willing to if I had both to do that with. Hopefully in the future.
I liked the clean of Kemper and Dirty tones of Axe FX. Maybe I should see an ENT dr.
They both have so so many options that I can't imagine someone being unhappy with one or the other. To me the real difference is the workflow and programming / access to sounds style.
Music With Marky I live in an apartment. Is the kemper going to give me real amp feel through speaker. Which speaker cabinet would you recommend?
@@RezaKhan2024 I feel like the Kemper gives more of that "in the room" kind of feel. I only use either unit through studio monitors though, so I don't have a useful opinion about what speakers to plug them into.
@@RezaKhan2024 If you run any of them through a real cab, both will give you 100% "amp in the room" feel because "amp in the room" is all about a cab. Through Studio Monitors you're hearing the sound of a mic'ed cab, so no amp in the room.
I've only made it 30 seconds into the video...
You said "it's not like you can walk into the local guitar center and try these out".
That's exactly how I tested them. Sweetwater set them both up for me and I toyed with them for over an hour. Guitar center let me play with them also. Your local store must not want to make a sale.
Where are you located that a GC had one of these? I've never seen one in a Guitar Center... New York, Boston, Hollywood, and New Jersey. It would be so cool to have things like this stocked.
@@MusicWithMarky
I'm just south of Detroit.
Two of three GCs have them here. Sweetwater is a two hour drive but they have literally everything.
What a drag that the stores aren't stocking one. Hard to sell what you don't stock. I'd be terrified to drop that much cash on something I couldn't play with.
@@jimmpanik3402 I wonder if they have them by you because Sweetwater is so close? I've always had great experience with Sweetwater, too. Great company.
They are not available to try in Florida stores within a few cities of me.
From listening to the 3 samples, I thought the 1's were the best overall sounding. Though the 2's were a bit less bassy, which might be better in a mix. Despite this, I'd personally just go with plugins for recording. Here you can see a couple (well 3) vids, where plugins do a great (if not even better) than the axe fx iii. Check them out!
th-cam.com/video/FbrS3fKAhtg/w-d-xo.html Peavy 6505 + 11 amp modelers.
th-cam.com/video/jAZFLYvKrIM/w-d-xo.html Marshall JCM 800 + 14 amp modelers
th-cam.com/video/gaQ-IBYcn1Y/w-d-xo.html Mesa Dual Rectifier + 13 amp modelers
Enjoy!
Nice! I'll check these out.
Clean and crunch rig 1, high gain rig 2, by a mile on all accounts.
You must enjoy stepping into the firing line! I went with Kemper because I was treated rudely by the Fractal owner, and I learned it has happened to others. Tried to resolve, but Cliif and moderators unwilling. They were rude and unwilling to discuss... Blessing in the end. Was definitely going to get the FM3, but after the issue, I fell in love with Kemper and even if I had no issue, I feel the Kemper is significantly better.
Well, it's funny... I had the impression the other way around, that your test of sample 1 sounded more like "the amp in the room", more beefy, thick and presence than sample 2. But it's a matter of few seconds of Eq/tweaking and they will sound almost exactly the same. It's both great units with excellent sound, but totally different technology..
Interesting. I certainly find that people's opinions on the sounds/units can be as varied as their personalities. You are right though, they are both really high quality products and I can't imagine you could really go wrong either way.
I was hoping 1 was the fractal because i'm purchasing one soon. Ive played a kemper,and thats how i remember it sounding, kinda dull.
@Doss Koont Thats why I like the AxeFx III can put the cab IR's on a different output to the board with balanced XLR and use another set of outputs with 1/4" with no cab IR's to my matrix power amp and into a real cab. That works for me both live and in the studio. Thats the only way I get a real amp sound in a room with a modeling unit.
@Doss Koont The CAE clean is my go to clean in the Axe III also, But I still have a Mesa Tri-Axis and that to my ears is the best clean tone ever made. I use the Tri-Axis into the Axe III for the post effects. I use the Axe III for all my dirt tones I'm using them through a couple 2:90 power amps (one is redundant for back up). My Matrix power amp is now for my grab and go set up because its so light. I'm just waiting on an FM3 invitation. I have owned alot of Strymon pedals. But now my rig is real simple. I still use analog effects in front of the Tri-Axis and everything else is the Axe III. I use a RJM effects Gizmo to help with the switching. Just a side note I played some of Tony Krank's stuff when he used to mod amps amps here in Phoenix in the 90's at Central Music.
The Paoletti is the winner here
People love it's look or hate it, it seems. I'm in the first camp!
What year is your black PRS, I have a 1988 all mahogany with a Brazilian rosewood fret board
I got it in 87, but I think it's an 86. I had no idea what I was getting and it spoiled me for every guitar I played after. I was super fortunate.
@@MusicWithMarky mine has a 7 next to the other numbers and that's supposed to tell the year when I was made but when I matched the numbers with the book it was a 88 not an 87 if that helps you figure it out what yours is
@@MusicWithMarky and I only paid 900 cash brand new
@@wayney.387 Oh cool, thanks for that tip. Mine is a 7 then, too.
@@wayney.387 Looking at what that level of model goes for now... Amazing, right?! I like the new ones too, but I think the early ones compare to what they consider their ultra-high end models now. It certainly feels that way when playing them.
Absolutely loved your video, thank you! Your analysis of the difference between the axe fx3 and Kemper matches what I think and right away I could feel that 1 was axe fx and 2 was Kemper. I have the helix but prefer both the axe and Kemper but very happy to have the helix, it’s still a great piece of equipment. I have eq’d the Helix to sound more like an Axe 3 but can’t get it to sound like a Kemper. The Kemper has this softer attack on the transients to my ears that’s very pleasing, don’t know how to replicate that... to me, the helix has a harsher tone compared to the fractal but would have a harder time describing precisely the eq of the Kemper. The Kemper tone seems less “sculpted” than Axe fx. The highs don’t seem as pronounced... if you could shed some light that would be fantastic.
Thanks for checking out the video and leaving the thoughtful commentary. The think I noticed had more to do with that quality of an amp in a room, pushing air at high volumes. With the Kemper I get the feel. With the Fractal, I get the more sculpted studio sound. I believe that is because the Kemper is modeling the sound out of the speaker and the Fractal is modeling the actual circuitry of the amps.
Music With Marky thanks for the reply. I see what you’re saying, I didn’t get it watching the video, I still thought I could eq the sound of the helix but your explanation makes total sense. I can’t justify the price of the Kemper since I don’t play in a band but it’s an amazing piece of technology. I would have never thought that this kind of things would get that close.
@@zwip778 I actually use the Fractal in my band situation, but I understand what you're saying. Unless you are doing that or studio work for pay, it's way too much $.
Hot damn, the Fractal unit sounds waaaay better. Guess that means it's the Coca-Cola of the two. ;)
Lol. It's funny how people's opinions differ but are very definite in each case. I guess it's the same with Coke and Pepsi?
Damn'! I preferred sound 1!
Damn', coz it's the expensive one! 😂
I understand that pain!!
@@MusicWithMarky 🤣
Well, I came back to tell this. I have a kemper and last night I was writing a metal song in my daw. I took a brake and opened TH-cam and I saw this video again. So I thought, lets match the sounds of your Axe Fx3 with my Kemper and see if the difference was like yours. My studio monitors are Presonus Eris 8. From there I heard the sound of your Axe Fx3 and also my Kemper. So I opened my kemper and I found the same "amps"...with the first try my sound was about 95% the same with your axe fx3 and at least the same quality. After that I couldn't understand why you couldn't make your Kemper sound identical to your AxeFx3..what is going on..if I was a youtuber I would upload the matched sounds and see what you would say!!
Both units offer the capability of matching other cabs and amps. The purpose of my video was not to make them sound the same, but rather to show how they operate differently. I am hoping people see what it's like to use each one daily and get a feel for what they would like better for themselves. It's my firm belief that anyone could find numerous sounds on each that they really enjoy for their own playing. How you get to those sounds and how you use the units is where the big divergence happens.
I had to revisit this after several months. And, to be fair, I haven't changed my mind much. However, on the third patch battle (Metal tone) I feel like I have to give the Axe the edge. It was just a mean tone, and it deserves a nod. But the Kemper still sounded great.
On the first two patches though, the Kemper was clearly the winner. Especially on #2. Fuck, that was a muddy tone on the Axe. Just hideous. And while the Axe sounded great on the JC 120 patch, or whatever it was, the Kemper just sparkled and jangled more. Nice and glassy.
And all the way through, the Kemper had the tighter bottom end.
Needless to say, we're comparing a minute or two total, of just 3 patches. That proves nothing. The sample size is too small, and there are too many variables. Nevertheless, in this specific challenge, the Kemper won the tone battle. At least as far as avoiding any sound that sounded like two dying cats fucking in a mud pit. The Axe wasn't able to miss that obstacle.
I've been trying to do a series of vids analyzing specific amps on each. I'm still perfecting the nuances, but I did post the Marshall one. With this vid I was hoping to do a bit more showcasing the way each unit works from a workflow standpoint.
Thanks for checking the vid out!
Uses a Tele instead of a Les Paul to demo the Plexi? That's sacrilege ;-)
Good demo thx.
I'm breaking all the rules, yo! =]
@@MusicWithMarky Renegade! ;-)
Kemper is better. I’ve had both. Currently using an HX Stomp which is a cross between the two.
Cap
Well, a tube amp sounds better of course. Big part of that is playing trough speakers and controlling live current wich is hard to emulate 🤘 But my neighbours do not think so. And using a tube amp at home/studio work with my Mac, attenuators and stuff, well I’m done with that. All kinds of trouble. Is if it’s good enough with Kemper or Fx? Well it seems so all considered...
The pure convenience of one of these for recording at home can't be overstated. For sure they are way more friendly for your neighbors!
Thats not true, it depends on who's playing what. It's in the fingers not the amp.
Wakemusic wakemusic In the fingers When it comes to neighbours ???? Well not sure they care. 😇 But I cant make up my mind about tubes or fx The wizard amp I tried the other day sounds like it’s bleeding - man that was soo good, and the master is working really well. For sure better at full volume, but putting a mic in front at low volume reatians most of that tube magic at bedroom volume when recording. I dont know 🧐
@@sopasopasson5563 I'm talking about how it sounds, not really how loud it is. You could always use something like an OX or two-notes to bring the "cranked" level down on a tube amp. I love both tube amps and modeling but to say one sounds better is just really an opinion. I play my Axe III through a Mesa 2 Ninety, so I guess it's a combination of both technologies. I guess it really comes down to what inspires you when you plug in. I've never played on a Wizard, sounds like it must be pretty good though.
Wakemusic wakemusic well I have not yet been able to try the fxiii. The benifits are obvious in recording with all the amps mods end effects. And playing though attanuators has been a pretty bad experinence. I probably need to step up to a powerstation or OX or something similar to get it working well. And thats about 1K. Recorded Im sure the fxiii sounds fine. But how would tou desceibe playing it ? Plenty of Wizard clips on TH-cam. Some say it is like a Marshall sound with the Hiwatt push. Awesome I’d say. You dial ACDC very easily. Bit unsure of clean sounds, but my guess is that they are good though.
The only reason to get Kemper over Fractal is to profile amps if you have a lot of old tube amps. Otherwise Fractal wins for me. The Kemper has an ancient horrid user interface from 1990. Fractal has a color LCD better user interface.
I have an 88 prs like yours
I have not found anything that plays or sounds as good. Even when I try the really expensive and newer PRS guitars in a store, they still don't seem as good as this one. Do you find that to be the same?
Music With Marky totally agree. I like the smaller heel joint into the body which they stopped producing when they moved to the new factory
Are you sure sound 1 was the Axe effects? I know you are just that I'm shocked. This is the first demo/comparison video that the kemper wasn't hands down superior. I honestly was convinced BEFORE you revealed which sound sample was which, that #1 was the kemper. The second sound sample sounded digital to me, not analogue feeling at all. Much like the Axe demos I've heard previously. This is depressing as all examples of Kemper were warm and more natural low end and the Axe was bright and processed sounding. Wonder why your demos produced such a different result? And ideas, anyone???
Only thing I can imagine is that it was just 3 samples and so it's not the widest array to make a "scientific" analysis. I wanted this to be more about the day to day use of each rather than a pure sound comparison (because there are so many of those already). It's a shame most of us don't live near a store where we could just sit down and compare these things in person.
@@MusicWithMarky So true. Lot of clams to spend on rolling the dice for tone. Yet I listened to several more and some with blind tests, similar to yours. I would always know what was the kemper and it just sounded fatter and more like an amp. Yet some players really make that Axe III sound impressive as well. It does come down to how you'd use it day in day out, as the purpose of your video demonstrated. I'm not a hardcore tweaker hate getting lost down the rabbit hole so the Kemper has the tone and enough options for my needs. Decsion made. Gr8 work on your vids.
@@buzzerman3095 excellent. Enjoy! Thanks for watching.
AXE sounded better here. While I have some profiles on my kemper that I’m very satisfied with, I wouldn’t mind trying an AXE down the road. I like the idea of making your own amp from the ground up and the effects just sound better than Kemper.
I'm happy the demo gave you some insight. The pure number of choices on the AXE is staggering. For some that's a bad thing. For others, it's tweaker heaven.
Axe-fx sounded better to me in every song sample (sounds#1) and unlike Kemper, works as an audio interface as well. Also seems you have to pay extra money to actually get good profiles. No thanks. Gonna go with fractal.
problem is can you dial in both with the same skill level....so dangerous comparison... my experience with both .axe way better for effects...no doubt for the rest you can tweak yourself completely bananas...kemper much more straight forward and feels much more natural ...but getting the correct profiles that fit your taste is key for kemper...
Makes sense!
U re amazing dude...🤘🤘🤘
Wow thanks!