Kemper Profiler MK III Wish List

The ugliest thing... Come on...15 years later if you get that "thing" will be bad...

I know this is pure speculation so not going to make too many comments but:

1) Persoanlly Im not that interested in the front end desgin although I appreciate from a marketting perspective its important. If you play live the vast amjority you have set up in advance and if in the studio you sort out via Rig Manager. I think many of the problems with Rig Manager is it wasn't designed to do what it does today. Therefore I'd want them to invest in making Rig manager the main interface and getting that seemless.

2) I'd be more interested in functionality and the best sound possible, so maybe virtual mic placement/mike type?

3) A plugin I think would be a massive game changer and seemless integration to the hardware. That would truly bridge the gap between live and studio work.

Quote from BayouTexan

I personally believe a Plugin would be a huge and costly mistake unless Kemper wanted to totally ditch the physical product and just be a software developer.

I designed the mockup from a Studio perspective since that's all I use mine for. I never look at the physical unit because RM gives me more information and is easier to navigate. The only times I actually touch the Profiler is to turn on and off. So, if I needed to go on stage without a computer or pad then I would be lost. This mockup would help make that transition easier.

For mic placement "Liquid Kab Feature" all you would need to do is press the cab on the screen and a new menu window pops-up to drag your mic around with just a touch. It's a MK III so we can add any feature you want.

I agree that a plugin would impact studio users but not live users. Live users would still need a physical unit.

The real benefit of a plugin is being able to assign it multiple tracks and being able to change the sound. If Kemper could combine the need for a physical unit to being able to do that, then you would have best of both worlds..

Quote from BayouTexan

I'm pretty sure Kemper knows there is no future in software, and for any other Software Company for that matter. You simply tell A.I. what you want and it will spit it out far faster and more optimized than any human will be able to do. You never know, but users may wind up demanding that the MK III have zero A.I. influence. There's a good backlash already beginning in the U.S.

100% agree. I want no effing AI

My MKIII Stage wish list:

• Unlock the arrangement of the effects blocks so I change how many before and after the amp. Sometimes 4 after the amp are not enough. That's great that you added the extra FX blocks to MK2, but you didn't add any physical way to control them on the units.
• Bigger OLED display on the Stage (not touch screen)
• Update the UI to be a quick workflow, utilize the bigger screen
• Cloud backup and restores
• Updates via Wi-Fi without needing a computer

If Kemper did most of this, I'm back in. I just want better workflow and more freedom with the effects.

The truth is that the Kemper's physical interface looks like it's straight out of the '90s, reminiscent of old cell phones from that era. In a live setting, it's honestly totally impractical to make on-the-fly adjustments directly from the rack or the floor units—let alone the Player version—meaning you always have to keep your laptop handy to tweak things depending on the venue where you're about to play.

On top of that, not being able to move the amp and cab around in the chain is practically prehistoric. Nobody in this world has only 4 pedals in front and 4 in the back; in an analog setup, it's always 1 or 2 in front and about 4 or 5 in the back (or vice versa). Furthermore, the footswitches on the floor units should be fully programmable to the user's taste and needs. Having fixed switches on top for certain things and fixed switches on the bottom for others really holds you back.

Another mistake is not including an effects loop in the Player version. If you use a compressor at the beginning of the chain and want to add analog pedals—like an overdrive, for instance—it takes the signal from the overdrive first and then the compressor's. That's a mistake; I don't think any musician puts a compressor after an analog pedal, as it always goes at the very start of the effects chain.

I think they really need to start thinking about a major update. The competition is releasing gear that a lot of people are choosing simply because of practicality, stage agility, and operational versatility. Their sound is very good, but if they keep lagging behind in these areas I mentioned, before long they're going to become obsolete. Nowadays, musicians are looking for practicality and versatility.

Quote from lutur79

The truth is that the Kemper's physical interface looks like it's straight out of the '90s, reminiscent of old cell phones from that era. In a live setting, it's honestly totally impractical to make on-the-fly adjustments directly from the rack or the floor units—let alone the Player version—meaning you always have to keep your laptop handy to tweak things depending on the venue where you're about to play.

I’m no Kemper Stan, but I don’t find the user interface on the rack, head or stage models to be difficult to use. Plus, there is an app for your phone or tablet to make editing on the fly at a gig easier.

Quote from lutur79

On top of that, not being able to move the amp and cab around in the chain is practically prehistoric. Nobody in this world has only 4 pedals in front and 4 in the back; in an analog setup, it's always 1 or 2 in front and about 4 or 5 in the back (or vice versa). Furthermore, the footswitches on the floor units should be fully programmable to the user's taste and needs. Having fixed switches on top for certain things and fixed switches on the bottom for others really holds you back.

I agree, I’d like to be able to move FX blocks around or use more blocks, too.

Quote from lutur79

Another mistake is not including an effects loop in the Player version. If you use a compressor at the beginning of the chain and want to add analog pedals—like an overdrive, for instance—it takes the signal from the overdrive first and then the compressor's. That's a mistake; I don't think any musician puts a compressor after an analog pedal, as it always goes at the very start of the effects chain.

This I’m not sure I agree with. The FX loop adds latency, which I’d rather avoid, personally.

And as far as adding a compressor after an overdrive, that’s not uncommon. It allows you to work the overdrive with your picking or volume knob to control the amount of overdrive and still even out the signal. And it’s not any different with the OD bypassed than having the comp up front (e.g., for cleans).

Quote from lutur79

I think they really need to start thinking about a major update. The competition is releasing gear that a lot of people are choosing simply because of practicality, stage agility, and operational versatility. Their sound is very good, but if they keep lagging behind in these areas I mentioned, before long they're going to become obsolete. Nowadays, musicians are looking for practicality and versatility.

I’d like to see a major update, too, but I don’t think these are as big of an issue as they’re being made out to be. Sure, the touch screen is the current fad, but it’s not a better user interface universally, it’s just a personal preference.

Quote from BayouTexan

The touch screen is not a fad. It is a faster, more flexible, more intuitive, and more natural UI. What was the first thing you did as a baby? You touched colorful things. You didn't grab a mouse or a pen to touch something first.

Even if true, none of that means that touch screens aren’t the current fad of profilers and modelers nor does it mean that touch screens are inherently better. It still comes down to personal preference. And mine would be some type of hybrid with better access to parameters, but still with knobs for editing them. Also, I hate greasy, scratched up screens.

Why nobody has a problem with Strymon or Eventide not having a touch screen??? Their display looks like it's from the 80's...

For Guitars vintage style seems to be OK

Quote from tedtan

This I’m not sure I agree with. The FX loop adds latency, which I’d rather avoid, personally.

The purpose of the player was to replace an amp on your pedalboard so physical effects could go before and after it. How do I use a kemper reverb after my delay pedal with no FX loop? I can’t.

Why tell me to use my modulation pedals after the player, but give me know way to place them before kemper effects?

Why give me a kemper reverb block and no way to place my physical pedal before it, but after the amp block? It literally makes no sense.

The Player is the perfect example of bad design. No FX loop, no display, a tap tempo button as a soft key on the unit - just, why? 150,000 rig slots but only five buttons on the unit. Can’t connect a tablet to run rig manager via usb. Main out XLR mono, but stereo monitor out.

For me, the Stage is so much better thought out than the Playet.

Quote from tedtan

I’m not suggesting you do that, just pointing out that added latency is not a positive.

I have a Stage and I wanted to try Mk II profiling, so I got a Stage Mk II. I didn’t, and won’t, buy a player; it’s not for me, so I get where you’re coming from.

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but if we have to stick to a narrow topic without relevant related discussion, I don’t want a Kemper Mk III (e.g., another “point update”). I’d much rather have a proper Kemper 2 (e.g., a major update, whatever name they choose to give it).

Agreed, how long as Mk1 been around? 14 years? I just got a KPP, and I like minimal setups so its good for me. Id much rather see long term support. Lets entertain this thread in 14 years

For the next gen whatever its called I'd like to see a native Kemper amp. Just the amp module with real knobs tweaking the amp parameters, as a small combo.

Another vote for a plugin. Even if it requires the hardware to be attached as a dongle of sorts.