I ordered one. I was going to buy the Boss IR-2, but this seems perfect for me. I’m not going to use it live, so many of the limitations doesn’t apply to me. I will use it for three things; 1. home practice, playing to backing tracks with headphones. 2. Recording home demos. 3. Recording guitar in a DAW with the possibility to re-amp. I don’t use many effects, so dirt and phaser before, and reverb and delay after. I will also use transpose for playing in Eb and D. That’s it. I’ll probably find a rig I’m happy with and stay there. Never understood the need to change your rig several times during a gig. I’ll just bring my rat and plug into whatever amp the venue got 😊
Great honest review. I agree that the limitations with the buttons and effects are limiting. They expect you to get external buttons to make it fully work. I personally use midi changes with my band and it’s perfect for what I need. I never touch it or look at it. I just switch between the 5 rigs via midi and that’s it. But I understand most people want to jam with this device in a live setting.
FWIW, even on the big units (toaster or rack with remote, or the stage) there are only switches for half of the effects (there are 4 slots pre-amp and 4 post-amp, but only 4 switches on the stage or remote). The way I work with it is to create copies of rigs (because all Kemper devices hold far more rigs than one would ever need in one session) and have different effect on/off combinations for the same amp in one bank (or 'performance' with the big units). Since the Kemper does not interrupt the sound when switching rigs, but basically performs a crossfade, this is seamless. If you plan this a little, you can most likely work just fine with only two foot-switchable effects. (Not disagreeing with your point, just saying there are ways around it.) I went through almost every solution in the past years (Helix, Axe-Fx, Boss, Quad Cortex, and several UA and Origin Effects amp simulations), and I always come back to the Kemper. The quality of the sounds and the dynamics are unrivaled.
I think unrivalled might be too strong a term the profiles are more accurate on a ToneX and even more accurate again on a quad Cortex and NAM is even better again.
Nice review! I really like that there is no screen (never liked this small screen and trying to figure out whats there). Maybe the name "Player" is adequate - you just looking for tones that you like (adjusting a bit as well), saving it on kemper than forgetting about it and enjoying great sound.
Great review, really helpful. I have a big pedalboard running to a toaster kemper and it always seemed like overkill. This seems like a good unit to downsize too but after your review it does make me think it’s best to hold off for a little till they work out the kinks. At very least might be able to pick up one a little cheaper used by then! Thanks for the vid.
In my opinion I think this was created with the pedalboard user in mind. Where you use this mainly for your amp & cab with pedals … And the effects that are available are just bonuses.
IMO, the problem with this approach is that ToneX is already doing this at nearly half the cost AND it can capture profiles using your computer AND it has MIDI. Kemper omitting a basic TRS jack to serve either as a midi connection jack or even just a simple 2 button external switch was a big mistake IMO that even Line6 nailed with the Stomp HX. It would have given Kemper player owner the ability to switch the 2 extra effects or if they had a midi controller that supported TRS, they could change profiles, etc.
@@FastRedPonyCar I’m not disagreeing with your statements. I have the tonex (two actually running stereo) but Kemper did offer us some stuff that tonex isn’t. Hundreds of effects, and wireless control , and in my opinion better captures. Don’t get me wrong Tonex is fantastic and I love mine, but imo Kemper is still leading the charge here. Kemper is tried and true and has been for over ten years I think that’s why they charge what they do. Tonex couldn’t cuz they’re the new kid on the block. But both are great, both are fantastic at what they do. But they offer different things.
I personally would use the ToneX for 400 bucks and profile my amps at a later date. That might change if Kemper can update this and make it a profiler too.
I was watching a tone-junky video on this unit earlier and apparently the updates will only be like a few of them released and they won’t be free either. So if that’s the case I would really have to think on this unit probably would depend on what they’ll charge vs something else. Right now im rolling with the pod go and external pedals. Nice content by the way! Sub’d
Thanks for the video. The tones I am hearing on this video and many others, while potentially curated by Kemper don’t seem all that refined for public consumption. I thought Kemper had killer tones from what I remember hearing from the full sized units. To get any Kemper product to dial in a cleanish tone and push a virtual tube screamer into it seems like overkill. Am I missing something?
Hay my friend doze it sound good straight into a deck on a pa. I put a mg30 threw the desk and sounds terrible. But great threw the valve amp. But still had to add a distortion pedal
Great channel! I subbed! I am on the fence because I programmed all my effects to work on certain songs.. I might just get the stage for the band fly-dates and hopefully, they will do the DLC for the player so I can use the profiler effects! Great idea and its pretty awesome! Thank you for your honest review! If you want to hear our kempers from the record. Check out IronWrath.. We love our kempers and you can see what I mean about us using the full profiler sounds... Happy New year my bro!!! Oh, great playing!!!!! :)
Seems to be a nice unit for myself, as a bass player. I barely switch on effects during my gigs..and all I’m looking for is a decent and solid tone. Can I send two individual outputs, like one for a real amp and one with the amp/cab simulation to FOH? Also, i’m wondering if the transpose function works in this unit.
Hey, yes you can send a feed to FOH via XLR and then use one of the two TS outputs for an amp onstage. Transpose is included, but it's on rig level. So you can't assign it to an fx block (which is good imo as it frees up an fx block)
A controller would help and you can use the USB for sure but it kind of defeats the purpose of this as it's really small. I would just recommend getting a kemper stage at that point
Great review. l think the concept of this device is steller but it sounds like it has been "rushed" out against a backdrop of promises from Kemper. If they dont deliver, and quickly , it could likely bomb. Theres a Neural ( QC ) deja vu about it
It has no screen twice the price of the Tonex and sound the quality isn't any better so why would you get it sure the FX are nice but most will use it with a few pedals.
I think they put some effects in it but its meant to go on a pedalboard where you can use any other effect you want. You do sound like a good player though and know what you're talking about.
Never liked any of those profilers. I work as live mixing eng and it's so easy to spot. It sounds like a can. Sure it's great for casual low volume bedroom reharshals, but not on the stage. I'm surprised those very big bands use those. I get it's so convenient, specially on tour, but they still sound fake. Nowadays most live concerts sound like if the sound came from a CD player: backing tracks, autotunes, fake amps, in-ears.... the spirit gets lost.
Thanks for sharing your inight as a live mixing engineer! What alternatives to the Kemper Profiler Player would you suggest that sounds real on stage? Fractal Audio FM3?
@@Tweneboah a great cheapo combo amp was the Peavey Classic 30 or the Fender Hotrod (althought that last one wasn't super reliable). Vox AC30 with blue speakers also sounds ridiculous on stage, as well as those Marshsall stacks (if the player knows how to articulate them). There are no shortcuts IMHO. The interaction btw power amp, output transformers, the speaker and the air can't be matched in the box. But it just depends on your expectations, really. I reharshall with a digital fender combo, but it will sound fake the moment I raise the volume too much or move to a bigger room. Too much fiddling that you want to avoid when going live.
Kemper as old as the tech is is still arguably the best in modeling, this is temping but I wish it was priced more along Iridium, UA, ToneX lines. I would've taken an amp only pedal with no effects
My 2 cents....I LOVE my Kemper toaster and record with it ALL the time....however, I am slowly coming to the conclusion that I just like playing a cheap TUBE amp live...my used 400 buck Fender Deluxe just cuts through a mix in a more authentic way than my Tonex pedal....I imagine the Kemper would behave similarly? I played a gig last night with Tonex booming through a fancy Bose Pole and I just cant feel the Mojo like I can with a tube amp....maybe I am crazy 😂, but I think I am drifting to the Tube amp camp for live gigging....and I wanted so badly NOT to have to carry that 45 lb beast to gigs...HA...just my 2 cents....took me quite a while to come to this conclusion....offering out there in case it helps anyone....Tube amps can be a nice affordable solution to tone....they create a magic live that is hard to beat...(ps...played my PRS Mira X last night...amazing guitar) Thanks for the review...all the best!
Thanks for the honest review, I do not have the unit but it seems as they expect for live you build a rig and stick with it, then you can assign the 3 switches plus dual press for all effects, add in a few of your own pedals for taste etc, I assume the foot switch to change rigs would be super dangerous live hah.
Personally, do not get the direction on this unit. I think they put to many things in it and not enough on it. If this was designed to be on a pedal board, then use it as a pedal, just have a noise gate and an EQ/booster in front and a reverb at the end. Include a 2 (L&R) channel effect loop that can be in front of or after the stack, a MIDI jack and (L&R) XLR and 1/4" jacks and lower the price by $100. IF you want more stuff, then buy a Stage, Toaster or rack. Sometimes a hammer needs to drive nails and a screwdriver needs to turn screws.
It is made with the idea to put your own phisical pedals before the unit. I like that idea. Not everything cramped in one box. Thhe only thing that i don't like is that they put PROFILER on it which it ain't. Cheers!
But without an FX Loop to put the pedals after the amp stage?!? Seems like if you have your FX already figured out it would be much cheaper and better to get a ToneX which has more accurate profiles.
@@vaughanmacegan4012 I don't use pedals, so I don't understand the point of this comment - can you help me? Can't you just run the output of the Player into the pedals you want to use after the amp, and then take the output from the last pedal in your chain to where-ever? And If you wanted your pedals in front of the delay and reverb, then leave those blocks on the Player empty, and put a delay and reverb in your pedal chain - you already have pedals there, so two more won't matter? What is the advantage of an FX loop on this Player?
Eh, I beg to differ. Just been recording with mine and it sounds absolutely amazing. I’m about to sell my half stack because I don’t need it anymore lol. Plan on taking the speakers out of my cab and making 2-3 smaller cabs. Granted, if I use this live, I’m going to be setting up midi for it. Not sure how many people would use it this way.
Dude, you are likable and refreshing! Subscribed and liked. Please keep posting videos. Also, you are a fantastic guitar player! Thanks!
Thanks for the kind words. Definitely more to come
I ordered one. I was going to buy the Boss IR-2, but this seems perfect for me. I’m not going to use it live, so many of the limitations doesn’t apply to me. I will use it for three things; 1. home practice, playing to backing tracks with headphones. 2. Recording home demos. 3. Recording guitar in a DAW with the possibility to re-amp. I don’t use many effects, so dirt and phaser before, and reverb and delay after. I will also use transpose for playing in Eb and D. That’s it. I’ll probably find a rig I’m happy with and stay there. Never understood the need to change your rig several times during a gig. I’ll just bring my rat and plug into whatever amp the venue got 😊
Great honest review. I agree that the limitations with the buttons and effects are limiting. They expect you to get external buttons to make it fully work. I personally use midi changes with my band and it’s perfect for what I need. I never touch it or look at it. I just switch between the 5 rigs via midi and that’s it. But I understand most people want to jam with this device in a live setting.
I like your review on this pedal. After you explained some of the cons to this unit, I think I will hold off for now.
FWIW, even on the big units (toaster or rack with remote, or the stage) there are only switches for half of the effects (there are 4 slots pre-amp and 4 post-amp, but only 4 switches on the stage or remote).
The way I work with it is to create copies of rigs (because all Kemper devices hold far more rigs than one would ever need in one session) and have different effect on/off combinations for the same amp in one bank (or 'performance' with the big units). Since the Kemper does not interrupt the sound when switching rigs, but basically performs a crossfade, this is seamless. If you plan this a little, you can most likely work just fine with only two foot-switchable effects. (Not disagreeing with your point, just saying there are ways around it.)
I went through almost every solution in the past years (Helix, Axe-Fx, Boss, Quad Cortex, and several UA and Origin Effects amp simulations), and I always come back to the Kemper. The quality of the sounds and the dynamics are unrivaled.
I think unrivalled might be too strong a term the profiles are more accurate on a ToneX and even more accurate again on a quad Cortex and NAM is even better again.
Really appreciate this perspective! Thank you for sharing and informing my buying opinion!
@@vaughanmacegan4012- I own them all, and to my ears the Kemper is king for tones! Hated the Tonex…muddy broken tones….returned it.
Great content! Yours is by far the best review of this device I’ve seen. Keep it up!
Nice review! I really like that there is no screen (never liked this small screen and trying to figure out whats there). Maybe the name "Player" is adequate - you just looking for tones that you like (adjusting a bit as well), saving it on kemper than forgetting about it and enjoying great sound.
I really enjoyed this review
Great review, really helpful. I have a big pedalboard running to a toaster kemper and it always seemed like overkill. This seems like a good unit to downsize too but after your review it does make me think it’s best to hold off for a little till they work out the kinks. At very least might be able to pick up one a little cheaper used by then! Thanks for the vid.
Wow great playing. I subscribed the moment I heard you play.👍
In my opinion I think this was created with the pedalboard user in mind. Where you use this mainly for your amp & cab with pedals … And the effects that are available are just bonuses.
IMO, the problem with this approach is that ToneX is already doing this at nearly half the cost AND it can capture profiles using your computer AND it has MIDI.
Kemper omitting a basic TRS jack to serve either as a midi connection jack or even just a simple 2 button external switch was a big mistake IMO that even Line6 nailed with the Stomp HX. It would have given Kemper player owner the ability to switch the 2 extra effects or if they had a midi controller that supported TRS, they could change profiles, etc.
@@FastRedPonyCar
I’m not disagreeing with your statements. I have the tonex (two actually running stereo) but Kemper did offer us some stuff that tonex isn’t. Hundreds of effects, and wireless control , and in my opinion better captures. Don’t get me wrong Tonex is fantastic and I love mine, but imo Kemper is still leading the charge here. Kemper is tried and true and has been for over ten years I think that’s why they charge what they do. Tonex couldn’t cuz they’re the new kid on the block. But both are great, both are fantastic at what they do. But they offer different things.
@2:12 all that will be capable with a midi controller. i suggest the luminite graviton m2, it is very compact and very versatile.
I personally would use the ToneX for 400 bucks and profile my amps at a later date. That might change if Kemper can update this and make it a profiler too.
Great review. You've reviewed a few modeling pedals now... Have you ever used a UAFX Dream 65? If so, interested to hear your take on it.
I haven't tried the UA stuff yet but heard good things. If I get one I may be the Lion though.
No screen and without the app totally usless. Great video. U save my cash cheers
I was watching a tone-junky video on this unit earlier and apparently the updates will only be like a few of them released and they won’t be free either. So if that’s the case I would really have to think on this unit probably would depend on what they’ll charge vs something else. Right now im rolling with the pod go and external pedals. Nice content by the way! Sub’d
Love ur vids and channel! I really love your vid style.
Thanks for the video. The tones I am hearing on this video and many others, while potentially curated by Kemper don’t seem all that refined for public consumption. I thought Kemper had killer tones from what I remember hearing from the full sized units. To get any Kemper product to dial in a cleanish tone and push a virtual tube screamer into it seems like overkill. Am I missing something?
great review. will you put it on your pedalboard to replace gt-1000 core?
Yeah that's the plan. But still working out pedalboard setup.
Hay my friend doze it sound good straight into a deck on a pa. I put a mg30 threw the desk and sounds terrible. But great threw the valve amp. But still had to add a distortion pedal
It sounds great the PA and in the mix for sure
Great channel! I subbed! I am on the fence because I programmed all my effects to work on certain songs.. I might just get the stage for the band fly-dates and hopefully, they will do the DLC for the player so I can use the profiler effects! Great idea and its pretty awesome! Thank you for your honest review! If you want to hear our kempers from the record. Check out IronWrath.. We love our kempers and you can see what I mean about us using the full profiler sounds... Happy New year my bro!!! Oh, great playing!!!!! :)
Seems to be a nice unit for myself, as a bass player. I barely switch on effects during my gigs..and all I’m looking for is a decent and solid tone. Can I send two individual outputs, like one for a real amp and one with the amp/cab simulation to FOH?
Also, i’m wondering if the transpose function works in this unit.
Hey, yes you can send a feed to FOH via XLR and then use one of the two TS outputs for an amp onstage. Transpose is included, but it's on rig level. So you can't assign it to an fx block (which is good imo as it frees up an fx block)
What about controlling efects via Usb Midi Controller?
A controller would help and you can use the USB for sure but it kind of defeats the purpose of this as it's really small. I would just recommend getting a kemper stage at that point
@@stephonwilliams8890 Stage is three times as expensive as Player though. Player + a small usb midi controller will still save you a lot.
Great review.
l think the concept of this device is steller but it sounds like it has been "rushed" out against a backdrop of promises from Kemper. If they dont deliver, and quickly , it could likely bomb. Theres a Neural ( QC ) deja vu about it
awesome!
It has no screen twice the price of the Tonex and sound the quality isn't any better
so why would you get it sure the FX are nice but most will use it with a few pedals.
Nice content. To me, tube amps sounds way better, but I'm an old school guy. Kemper sounds too compresive to me , in any tone.
Very nice legato.
This is great info - thanks!
nice! brand new vid!
great profile ! what is the name of that Dumble sound?
It's called the Bias Dumble Clean
👌🏻
It seems like it is too noisy, does it have a general noise gate?
Yeah there's a noise gate for the overall input you can use and there's an effect noise gate you can use for each individual preset rig
I think they put some effects in it but its meant to go on a pedalboard where you can use any other effect you want. You do sound like a good player though and know what you're talking about.
I think you can actually assign several FX at the same time, but you have to change the switches to trigger on release instead of press.
Never liked any of those profilers. I work as live mixing eng and it's so easy to spot. It sounds like a can. Sure it's great for casual low volume bedroom reharshals, but not on the stage.
I'm surprised those very big bands use those. I get it's so convenient, specially on tour, but they still sound fake. Nowadays most live concerts sound like if the sound came from a CD player: backing tracks, autotunes, fake amps, in-ears.... the spirit gets lost.
Thanks for sharing your inight as a live mixing engineer! What alternatives to the Kemper Profiler Player would you suggest that sounds real on stage? Fractal Audio FM3?
@@Tweneboah a great cheapo combo amp was the Peavey Classic 30 or the Fender Hotrod (althought that last one wasn't super reliable). Vox AC30 with blue speakers also sounds ridiculous on stage, as well as those Marshsall stacks (if the player knows how to articulate them).
There are no shortcuts IMHO. The interaction btw power amp, output transformers, the speaker and the air can't be matched in the box.
But it just depends on your expectations, really. I reharshall with a digital fender combo, but it will sound fake the moment I raise the volume too much or move to a bigger room. Too much fiddling that you want to avoid when going live.
Kemper as old as the tech is is still arguably the best in modeling, this is temping but I wish it was priced more along Iridium, UA, ToneX lines. I would've taken an amp only pedal
with no effects
This with hx effects will kill
My 2 cents....I LOVE my Kemper toaster and record with it ALL the time....however, I am slowly coming to the conclusion that I just like playing a cheap TUBE amp live...my used 400 buck Fender Deluxe just cuts through a mix in a more authentic way than my Tonex pedal....I imagine the Kemper would behave similarly? I played a gig last night with Tonex booming through a fancy Bose Pole and I just cant feel the Mojo like I can with a tube amp....maybe I am crazy 😂, but I think I am drifting to the Tube amp camp for live gigging....and I wanted so badly NOT to have to carry that 45 lb beast to gigs...HA...just my 2 cents....took me quite a while to come to this conclusion....offering out there in case it helps anyone....Tube amps can be a nice affordable solution to tone....they create a magic live that is hard to beat...(ps...played my PRS Mira X last night...amazing guitar) Thanks for the review...all the best!
Thanks for the honest review, I do not have the unit but it seems as they expect for live you build a rig and stick with it, then you can assign the 3 switches plus dual press for all effects, add in a few of your own pedals for taste etc, I assume the foot switch to change rigs would be super dangerous live hah.
Great video. Awesome details!
The Dumble profile is awesome
Good to see honesty. & great observation
Best review yet, thanks man!
Personally, do not get the direction on this unit. I think they put to many things in it and not enough on it. If this was designed to be on a pedal board, then use it as a pedal, just have a noise gate and an EQ/booster in front and a reverb at the end. Include a 2 (L&R) channel effect loop that can be in front of or after the stack, a MIDI jack and (L&R) XLR and 1/4" jacks and lower the price by $100.
IF you want more stuff, then buy a Stage, Toaster or rack. Sometimes a hammer needs to drive nails and a screwdriver needs to turn screws.
Nice, I like your style!
You have a fantastic attitude and presentation. Very nice.
No FX loop is a big mistake
It is made with the idea to put your own phisical pedals before the unit. I like that idea. Not everything cramped in one box. Thhe only thing that i don't like is that they put PROFILER on it which it ain't. Cheers!
But without an FX Loop to put the pedals after the amp stage?!? Seems like if you have your FX already figured out it would be much cheaper and better to get a ToneX which has more accurate profiles.
@@vaughanmacegan4012 I don't use pedals, so I don't understand the point of this comment - can you help me? Can't you just run the output of the Player into the pedals you want to use after the amp, and then take the output from the last pedal in your chain to where-ever? And If you wanted your pedals in front of the delay and reverb, then leave those blocks on the Player empty, and put a delay and reverb in your pedal chain - you already have pedals there, so two more won't matter? What is the advantage of an FX loop on this Player?
the friedman ir x sounds better for 200 dollars less
Yeah I have the friedman ir-x it's great but they aren't really comparable. Again this has effects and other features the friedman does have.
It costs $700 USD… incredibly overpriced.
Is the HX Stomp overpriced? How do you know it is overpriced?
Eh, I beg to differ. Just been recording with mine and it sounds absolutely amazing. I’m about to sell my half stack because I don’t need it anymore lol. Plan on taking the speakers out of my cab and making 2-3 smaller cabs.
Granted, if I use this live, I’m going to be setting up midi for it. Not sure how many people would use it this way.
Kemper player or fractal.fm3 for.marshall tones??