Feels like my Kemper profiles sound completely different compared to others

Hi guys,

first of, I know that there are a lot of variables when it comes to comparing profiles.

I always had the feeling, that my Kemper profiles sound dull and thin compared to others. I'm using my Power Head for about 8 years now in various capacities. I tried a lot of modellers and software during that time, but I feel like the Kemper does get me the nearest to my sound.

The reason I'm thinking something is completely off, is when I'm trying paid profiles, or free profiles from Ola Englund for example, they sound nowhere near the demo, in an A/B comparison. It's not about some differences here and there, I mean night and day. The core essence of the sound is just vastly different, way less tight and "shiny". More like fizzy and sparkly. It also feels like, that changing the IR is getting me nowhere where I want it to be.

First example: For comparison, this is a snip of me with the OLA - Bug 3R RHY profile that Ola did back in the day. It's to be found in the Rig Manager, in the Ola Englund artist section.

OLA - Bug Area 3R RHY.wav

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This is Ola recently with the KP Player and that exact profile. His sound is vastly different to mine, even though his setup has most likely changed from back then.

Does it also sound that off for everybody else? It's to be found in the Rig Manager, in the Ola Englund artist section.

Second example: This is my go-to profile for my rhythm stuff. The good old tried and tested Peavey 6505 into a 4x12 Rectifier Cab. This is how it sounds for me: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7zdxia2…t=z8erebgd&dl=0

For you to download that profile, for a direct comparison:

Mike 6505 Rhythm.krig

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These are just examples. Basically all my profiles for high gain rhythm do have the problem of them sounding dull for my ears, compared to other people. SinMix or ChopTone profiles behave the absolute same, when comparing them A/B.

Signal chain: Custom Mayones Regius Core 6 with Bareknuckle Ragnarok pickups -> Kemper Power Head -> Stereo TRX into Focusrite 2i2 3rd Gen with activated "INST" line input -> DAW.

There are no global EQ settings on the Kemper, nor any post EQs in the DAW. The unit was factory reset right before these tests.

Does anyone have an idea, what I could possibly miss out?

Thanks,
Mike

Pure cabinet is globally turned off.

I was less talking about exactly getting that sound Ola has in the video, just more so to distinguish his rig sound to mine. It does not sound that bad at all, I agree with that, but it demonstrates the lack of "life" and just the overall dull sound that I am experiencing that I can't seem to fix.

You can try out my profile that gets me the closest to what I want to sound to this day, but it's still too shallow in some regard for my ears. I would be interested if it's sounding the same for others, or if it's really down to my rig, cause I feel like something is just "globally" off for me.

Quote from DonPetersen

what about the inst/line issue?

RE: Feels like my Kemper profiles sound completely different compared to others

I have my main output at -12db and activated the INST button on my interface as the signal would be too quiet. What would you suggest, turning the INST mode off and pushing the Main Output Volume instead?

Quote from christianbad

the inst button is to change the impedance of the input if you connect your guitar directly to the interface.

don´t connect your kemper with an xlr cable to the scarlett, as it will "think" you connected a microfon ( will distort your signal).

from the manual:

The Scarlett 2i2 has no “Mic/line” switch – the Focusrite preamp stage is automatically configured for a microphone when you plug an XLR into the input, and for a line or instrument when you connect a jack plug. Set the INST switch ON (‘INST’ illuminates red) if you are connecting musical instrument, e.g., a guitar in the example, using an ordinary 2-pole (TS) guitar jack. Set the INST switch to OFF if you are connecting a line level source such as a keyboard, synthesiser or the balanced output of an external audio mixer via a 3-pole (TRS) jack. Note the Combo connector accepts both TRS and TS types of jack plug.

I see. So I do have two TRS cables coming out of the XLR outputs of the Kemper, both 6.3mm jacks into the Scarlett 2i2, normally with INST on. So basically I do deactivate the INST switch and raise the general output level of the Kemper accordingly, correct?

I'm not too sure about what the pickups in that specific guitar were, but if I recall correctly, Ola uses Seymour Duncan PUs quite a lot, so do I with my PRS 7 string (Seymour Duncan Scarlet/Scourge). The difference is still night and day, both PU sets are designed for tight high gains though.

Yeah, I'm absolutely aware that there are multiple factors altering the sound significantly, I'm just confused as to why the core essence of every sound I try to compare myself with, just sounds so vastly different.

Quote from GearJocke

And strings and pup height matters too.

Thanks for your effort! I think that he isn't mic'ing the sound of the Kemper in that video, it sounds as if he also just pushes his signal via Interface directly into his DAW. I could be wrong though.

Did you try out my own profile from my first post by chance? I used a high pass filter to get rid of all the rumbly low end frequencies to tighten the sound. The 6505 is sounded pretty compressed with a tube screamer in front by default, so I wasn't playing around with a compressor in the signal chain too much. I'm also trying to get the native sound of my Kemper as good as possible, to cover any scenarios where I'm not playing into my DAW post EQ's - for live purposes etc.

There is also a huge difference when using my Mayones 6-string vs my PRS 7-string guitar (tuned to Drop F#). Playing low tunings with relatively thin string gauges is a huge pain for me to correctly dialing in. It's very hard to get the right gain level in terms of needed saturation vs tightness. Also the mid range is incredibly difficult for me to properly equalize, without having a too scooped sound.

Quote from RosboneMako

The other thing to remember is Ola is playing live. So his sound is being picked up by a mic and is probably running thru a compressor both for the Kemper directly and thru the mic.

So his:

- Guitar is different.

- Playing is different.

- Kemper tone is colored by the amp and speakers he is using being picked up by mics.

- Compressors.

- Slight reverb from room.

- Your pristine WAV file vs garbage YouTube compressed file.

High gain like this has very little low end because the low end can be twice as loud when you chug. He is picking up some low end thru his speakers and it is being compressed. This can add bass, fullness, and dynamics. He is also getting some bite/sizzle from the speakers.

Whenever I work high gain like this, the guitar is 90% of the sound. I would nail down his exact pickups.

I went down this rabbit hole with my Kemper also. Spent a year trying different things and finally gave up. Listened to V8Guitar and now I just play the thing. Dont worry about how close it sounds to some fairy tale sound

And I agree with Don, your sound is much better because it is missing all of the muddying things Olas recording has. And they still sound very similar to my (bad) ears.

SLIGHTLY OFF TOPIC

I started working on a VST myself. I have a THUMP parameter that adds a 150 Hz distorted EQ to add the fullness in Olas recordings. Playing live it sounds pretty good. The idea is to add that live bass and compression of a speaker and cab at volume.

Like you ,I felt my Kemper didnt sound like any recordings I heard so I came up with this as a possible fix. And to just make my VST sound more like an amp in the room.

As I said, live it sounds great. As BayouTexan will tell you, it probably sounds bad in a mix because you will have to lower your volume so much due to the giant bass peaks in the waveform. And I bet your sound is great in a mix, where Olas muddy compressed recording would sound bad.

EDIT:

I ran your WAVE thru my VST for giggles. I added THUMP (150Hz) and compression AFTER the THUMP. A touch of EQ to offset the THUMP. Sounds bigger.

So adding some low end to your sound and then running it thru some compression should get you closer to Olas video sound. IMHO.

NOTE: I am not trying to sell my VST garbage. It is not even ready for download yet. But getting closer everyday. The code and VST will be free on GitHub most likely.

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