Space! I hardly ever gig now, maybe 4-5 times a year. This will work really well on my desk. And after playing with it I could do 99% of what i need with this and my Keeley Compressor + in front of it. No MIDI controller.
I used to get by with a single channel amp and a delay pedal...
Crazy isn't it?
Used to get along with a dual channel amp and an EQ pedal used as a boost n shape for leads. Now, I can't gig without my Kemper rack and foot controller :).
Spoiled rotten we are :).
I much prefer stereo for IEM. Not for the guitar FX (I run the guitar in mono virtually all the time anyway) but for the rest of the band mix. I find having the band spread in a stereo mix lets the guitar sit better. Its not a deal breaker. If a venue can’t supply stereo mono is still fine but stereo is a nice luxury to have.
I like it too, but because I really like the stereo reverb and ping pong delay effect :). Still, most bar bands don't have the equipment needed to achieve a 4 person stereo IEM mix (would require 8 aux outputs in addition to the 2 outputs for the mains for a total of 10 outputs minimum). Then, a wired setup for the band would require a minimum of a 4 channel stereo headphone amp rack unit (about $350 for the Art one I have as a backup) or 1K wireless IEM setup per person (which is what my band has).
With the XR18 that the OP has you can pay about $1K for a package having four P16m's and a P16I POE switch to power them with. This is actually a pretty inexpensive way to get 4 wired stereo IEM stations with individual personal mixers for each musician.
Silly question - why do you need a headphone amp? I use a regular IEM set up straight out of the aux, no headphone amp.
Do you mean if you are trying to use a wired headphone rather than a wireless?
Yes. That is what I was suggesting for the OP for a wired IEM setup at minimal cost. If you have IEM wireless transmitters, the aux does go straight to the transmitter; however, wireless IEM's (decent ones) are about 1K per mix (belt pack and transmitter).
With the $10 P1 headphone amp, you get an IEM setup for one person for the cost of an XLR cable :).
I use the Behringer P16 monitoring system over the Ultranet port on both the XR18 and X32 digital mixers. I have 4 of them in my studio. Each allows a different 16 channel mix for each musician. Not the cheapest solution but but they work with headphones, powered speakers and IEMs and let each musician dial in their own mix right there in front of them or if using wireless IEMs the P16 doesn't need to be on stage. no app needed. I have never compared the cost to other solutions because I never needed another solution.
The Behringer P1 is on sale now for under $10.00: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/P…cB&gclsrc=aw.ds
A P16m (a single one) costs $189: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/P…uction_products
Both of these are excellent ways to get a great monitor mix on the cheap with an XR18.
Specially, the XR 18 aux out needs to go into a headphone amp.
I think you are overthinking this....
Plug your guitar into the XR18 and your IEM into one of the XR18 aux out. You cna then have a separate mix of just your guitar ( but why would you) or your own band mix that doesn;t impact the FOH.
The advantage of mixers like the XR18 is you can connect your phone to control your own mix in real time.
That way you can have whatever band mix you want plus its only one output, so nice and simple.
This is the only right answer. You will need a headphone amp though. Look up on YouTube a video on how to get iem mixes from the XR18. I have done this many times.
Then use your phone remotely to control the mix and the volume. Works wonderful.
Buying a stage?
I don't understand people, wanting a display, lots of effects and possibilities, lots of switches, but then they buy a Kemper Player.
I agree. A used Stage at 1K would be a better way to go. In fact, a used Kemper Stage is about as great a value as can be had today. Nothing else even comes close IMO.
Wow. Lots to digest here.
First, cost of development does not dictate price of a product. The market does. Any company that is pricing their goods based on a cost plus model is doomed to go out of business (you don't really think it costs Microsoft >$200.00 for that little cardboard box do you?).
Second, lets talk about market (that absolutely does matter).
The major competitors in and around the player's competitive landscape are the Fractal FM3 {$850}, Helix Stomp HX {$650}, and XL {$700}.
I would argue that THESE products and their pricing is why Kemper is charging too much for the Player upgrades.
Now, even the FM3 can't do 10 slots (8FX+Amp+Cab), so none of this is exactly apples to apples ..... but I don't think your average consumer is going to be this informed when they make their buying decision. What they will see is an FM3 with a screen, and LCD scribble strips for all 3 buttons compared to the Kemper Player. I would argue that this is a tough sell (although you might get some people that see the expensive Kemper as "premium" and buy it simply because it IS more expensive than the others).
Another thing to keep in mind is that it is always advantageous to price a product higher at launch and then lower the price later. No one is going to complain if you lower the price. The opposite ..... not so much. I suspect, in the future, pricing will come down.
Having said this, Kemper has now eliminated one of my key complaints with the Player. With level 2 and especially level 3, I can use a Player as a backup and throw go rig. I wasn't even expecting level 3.
I've been wanting the part where they fixed the rig volume knob to 12:00. I always laugh when people talk about Kemper being "old" and wanting a Kemper II etc. Many people just need to have the latest greatest before you do so they can tell you how great it is compared to the "old crap" that you have. Like the people that have to be the first to see a movie that comes out.
I remember when the ADA preamp came out. Expensive, but everyone raved about how amazing they were. A few years later everyone had them and they were "80s" sounding and I had to beg to sell mine for for $75.00. Now since they are more rare they are super great again and go For $800.00+.
I look at it this way, few people think about getting rid of their "old" 68 Plexi because it doesn't have a touch screen or integrate with the latest Omnivex cosmic bitrate inverter using a Linux operating system. "New" units are still trying their best to compare to amps like this. Great sounding can never be "old".
The Kemper has already saved me over 5x what it cost me. I used to spend around $2,000.00-$4,000.00 a year with my GAS addiction, but the Kemper has all but put out that fire. Once in a while I'll get the urge to buy maybe an an old JTM, DSL40, Soldano or tweed blues Jr. but then I realize it would just be a novelty I'd likely sell like I did my ENGL, EVH and Blackstar amps that I found the Kemper could reproduce more consistently than the "real thing". I kinda miss having G.A.S. but now I can spend money on things like the light bill and fast food.
I had one of those ADA's along with a bunch of other wonder gear. I had some great tube amps as well. As you said, I get more consistently good tone with Kemper across a MUCH greater range of amp tones than I could ever attain with any other rig I ever had. I used to change my rig up every few years. Have a great fender rig going on? You miss the grit of a Marshal. Have a Marshal, can't get a heavy sound like you need with a Mesa. Have a Mesa, miss the clean tones of the fender ;).
Have a Kemper, save your back and have it all :).
I am not sure at this point if I will ever change my rig again. Had my KPA Rack since 2013. Longest running rig of my life and I am 58. Been playing since I was 15 ..... so that is quite a few rigs!
I may miss having GAS, but my wallet and my wife don't!
It does seem to fill a spot for people who wants a simpler capturing device. Nothing else seem to do that.
Agree.... but is that enough to sell lots of units? I think it is a strange contraption.
For stand alone use, It just seems like a very expensive toy with very little capabilities.
For the same price, the Stomp HX exists.... Or even the XL.
A bit more and the Player is a way more useful option.
FYI, the fx slots appear to be hard coded in positions as well as a single version. More like the POD express with capture.
Been doing it for years with other devices. It's not a problem. Ever. ESPECIALLY if you are the one who is programming it ahead of time.
Perhaps for you. There are many (most IMO) live performers that won't gig with any 2or3 button device.
Having said that, Kemper should implement it as it would greatly expand their foot switch capacity. People with higher button count devices could choose to use or not.
This is also the reason why I will choose to join the Kemper camp this year.I am a new user attracted by Kemper's free firmware updates
Welcome to the group!
While the features are a fantastic reason to want a Kemper, I would also point out that of all the digital amp devices out there, I consider the Kemper to be (by far) the MOST STABLE. This is true from every release. No tonal changes to your rigs, no gig threatening instability problems.... nothing. You just use it and it works ..... and works ..... and works.
Kemper is a company that must ensure sufficient revenue before proceeding with other work. And these benefits can be reflected in the selling price of the product from the beginning——Kemper's products are actually not cheap.
Instead of paying for updates, let's think about how to sell more new products to increase the company's revenue.
（Sorry, I don't know English. All of the above relies on translation software.）
Certainly not "cheap", but also not nearly as expensive as an Axe III Fx.
I think they are a value within the performance market segment that they play in. Better than a helix, but at a similar price range. Close to an Axe III Fx in most regards (better in some, worse in others), yet much less expensive.
Not only have I been using my Kemper since 2013, because I have had it for so long, several people I know from other bands have purchased it as well (all former tube amp users). From the anecdotal evidence I have experienced, Kemper's business model is working just fine.
Super interesting product release.
No screen! I was originally concerned that the Kemper Player lacked the screen, but after reflection, using a phone app as a screen (and mounted to my mic stand) is actually a preferred experience to a floorboard screen that is > 6ft from my head for live performances.
Seems like it is a step or two behind the capabilities of the Kemper Player though in several respects albeit at a lower price. Still, it retains the ability to capture/profile correct?
I am unlikely to be swayed away from Kemper as I have more than a decade of experience on the platform. I will likely get the Player after the update is released and use it as a throw and go solution as well as a backup for my rack.
Still, it is nice seeing Neural DSP releasing new products that are targeted in the high volume market vs the very high end only.
I'm all in for this as well. I don't even want more effect slots, just access to the full suite of effects would be worth 200 EUR to me
At that point I would definitely opt for a used Stage as the backup. Not nearly as small as I would like, but a complete backup.
Still, I see the case for a fully functional small form factor KPA. I definitely see lots of market for this.
With regards to the OP, I believe the next thing will defiantly be the paid update to the Player.... although it may not be paid at all depending on how Kemper decides to move forward.
Regarding the utility of the Player:
1) As used as a first time buyer's "All In One" throw and go rig, it has very tough competition from lower priced HX Stomp, and the equally priced HX Stomp XL I am actually warming up to the idea of a headless unit though (no screen). I think the pedal can have a much better interface on a phone app or tablet mounted on your mic stand than it could ever attain on a little LCD 6 feet or more from your head. I know this isn't the norm today, but then again, it wasn't the norm for digital mixers 10 years ago either.
2) As a backup for an existing Kemper user (like all of us here pretty much), the paid update may well make this a good use case. I can see getting by with 2 pre and 2 post efx in 90% of my rigs, and in the other 10%, I could likely make something close enough. This would definitely get me through the night at a gig AND be an awesome "throw and go" travel setup as well.
3) I know there are people out there doing it, but I just find it difficult to believe that there are a large percentage of people making a custom pedalboard with an amp pedal being part of the pedalboard (ToneX comes to mind). This may be my old prejudice speaking though. Perhaps there are more of these people out there than I am aware of.
It all depends on the pricing IMO.
If you can get a used Kemper Stage for $1K, it starts being hard to justify paying much more than the $700 for the Player to give it the same capabilities and still have a small form factor IMO.
$50.00? Sure. $200? Forget it. Kemper is a huge value IMO compared to other offerings; however, given the price of used Kempers, and the renowned durability of the KPA, I think it puts a ceiling on the total cost of ownership of a Kemper Player with equivalent efx capabilities to its bigger brothers.
One thing I already love is the fact that this Forum community is way better than the Fractal site? Not in any way putting down anyone over there, but I get a much better response here and everyone actually will go through in detail what they want to convey to me in a simple fashion rather than answering me like I should know already what I’m needing to know? I guess for me I have come to the conclusion that at the end of the day, Fractal’s are Modelers not Profilers? Maybe this is why now days when Fractal releases new firmware it does sound different and they ad other things that you need to change adjust or tweak to get back to where it sounded? Maybe this why so many love Kemper and even the Tonex? I have a Tonex and as I stated before I play it far more than my FM9? That’s crazy but why? I believe it’s because it captures an amp not models an amp? One of my friends who has a Kemper Rack told me that if I like the Tonex pedal, your going to love the Kemper! This has me pumped to get one!
Glad to have you. What you won't find here (with very few exceptions), are people who have closed minds. Most of the people here came from high end boutique tube amp rigs (mine was a VHT Ultralead and a Fender blackface). You won't get anyone saying that "Fractal sound sucks" as that is simply not true.
While I personally prefer my beloved Kemper Rack and foot controller, I can understand that others prefer that crazy good Fractal editor and an Axe III Fx.
I also notice that there seems to be more people here that are willing to listen and THEN reply. It really is a very chill and understanding community.
FWIW, there is nothing wrong with the ToneX pedal when it comes to amp capture and reproduction capability AFAIK. It doesn't have crap for efx, but then that isn't its strength.
Let us know when you get a little time under your belt with your KPA! Welcome to the family and to the forum.
I’ve been using Fractal sense 2010. For a long time, the sounds of the amps never sounded different after a new update. But, this last 2 years I have noticed that they do not sound the same and there is soooo much deep editing you need to do to fix it so that is true. The amps should never change in tone or sound unless it is improved amp modeling? Also now after a new update you have to go through presets and re-save them for the update to work. I hate that. Biggest thing is now , is that I have noticed some crazy weird things when switching presets after the last 3 updates? Some presets all the switches go blank (scrible strips) and you have to use the editor and switch patch to bring them back? The biggest thing is sometimes switching to a new preset, the tails from your last preset don’t just trail but the volume jumps like 5-6 decibels and live,,,, it’s embarrassing. My point is for me as great as Fractal has been I’m noticing lots of things that just seem off and after reading your take on it, I totally agree with you. My friends who have Kempers say just what you said, the amps never change in tone or sound. It just seems to me that even thou Kemper may not have all of what a Fractal product has, Kemper seems to be very simple but and consistent. Right now I want simple? I sold my Fm9 and I’m getting a Kemper rack thanks for the responce
The complaint I have been hearing is that if you need (or want) the new updated capabilities and bug fixes, you must accept the reworking of all your tones you have setup. As a Kemper user, this is simply impossible to get my head around since this has never been the case with the KPA.
As an example, when the reverb engine was greatly updated (overhauled), it was done by adding NEW reverb modules in addition to the exiting (legacy) reverb modules. If a rig was using the legacy reverb engine, it continued to sound exactly the same after the update.
I very much like this approach :).
Some of the great rigs on the rig exchange (exe the magnificent Morgan AC20) for free are still some of my favorite rigs and they sound as glorious today as they did a decade ago. This is ALSO a big advantage for Kemper as the rig exchange contains decades of great rigs that you can try at a click on the PC screen through Rig Manager. Trying out new sounds off of the Rig Exchange is a great strength of the KPA. If the rigs had been effected over time, then these rigs would now be useless to anyone running up-to-date firmware (like Fractal).
While the Rig Manager is a poor rig editor when compared to the crazy wild routing capabilities of the Fractal editor, when used as a tool to QUICKLY find and tweak a rig to a desired tone.
For my use, if I can't get a rig I try on Rig Exchange into a great tone within a few minutes, I move on to another rig that might more closely meet my needs. I can tell within a few seconds if a rig is even close to what I am looking for.
When you get your KPA, I would recommend immediately getting hooked up to the Rig Exchange, and searching these forums for some of the "best rigs on the rig exchange" threads (there are quite a few). Some people are perfectly happy with the stock rigs that come from the factory; however, my entire gigging performances are made up of a combination of Rig Exchange favorites and paid rigs from Michael Britt.
Welcome to the family 
