I have 1 rack Mk1, 1 player and a new ( YES!) stage MK2...
I have upgraded to OS 14 for all of them and no major issues. Conversely I've not explored the benefits of v2 profiles yet, but I tend to update to major versions as and when they come out.
I realise many people have had issues and TBH I think whenever there is a major change ( which OS14 is) there will be bugs but they seem to be getting resolved quickly so the risk is low as more versions are released.
...and I have used Optima Maxima Golds if I'm feeling flush...
I was using EB's for the last 20+ years but recently I've had quite a few go rusty. I've now switched to Daddario's and been happy. I've also run the same gauge across all my guitars ( Skinny Tops heavy bottom)....
Ironically, I did an update yesterday....
I did a backup first and that was the bit that was most problematic as my first USB failed for some reason.
The update itself was done via RM first time, no issue 
Display MoreThe Player is FAR from being in Performance mode.
A Performance ties 5 Rigs together under a given Performance name with a Performance tempo.
On the Player, try shuffling a 30 song set around before a gig where each song has its own dedicated Performance with up to 5 Rigs used for that particular song.
I have 5 Kempers. Classic Mk1 and Mk2. Two Stage Mk1’s. And a Player.Tried and wanted to make my fully upgraded Player work as a fly rig.
Have it all mounted on a Pedaltrain Metro 16 with a Shure GLX-D receiver, Kemper dual switch, Pedalpower 3 (to replace the wall wart with a more professional IEC mains inlet).
Finished off with a Retrovison USB display so you can actually see what Rig you are on without the cryptic multi coloured nightmare that is impossible to memorise for all those banks.
But, for me, it’s too ‘Kompromised’ when I can just fly with one of my Stage units….. which is what I do.
I don’t think I will get rid of my Player. I am sure I will find a use for it. Maybe as a quick mobile setup with all my own profiled amps when I visit someone else’s studio.For me, that would be great…. but I may have overlooked something that I would greatly miss whilst recording with my Kemper Classic, Kemper remote and Mission expression pedal that I would normally take with me to do that.
Totally agree Vinny!
The player is fantastic value for money but I feel very spoiled by the rack ( and now I've got a stage). I really miss a screen, so I find it near impossible to use without a 3rd party screen and switch.
I will also keep my player, as emergency backup in the boot of my car.
Thanks.
... what do you mean with "generally perm"?
Sorry, I meant permanent.
I have my Stage fully set up on my board with my expression pedals and wireless so I don't plug and unplug anything other than the XLR connection and so everything else in permanently connected.
BTW the only real weakness I'm aware of is on the Toaster or rack with the remote connector (ethernet), which of course is not an issue for the stage or player.
True. But again I think this is different. Even if you are on a very recent firmware, RM will say you are on an old one and need to use USB to update. Whether USB or RM then fails is a whole other issue.
Yeah hear what you are saying, I do agree that it has in the past been a bit "buggy" and not 100% reliable.
Well, I have morph, I have 3 expression pedal inputs, I have individual effects slots on and off, I have names and colored switches, I have the combined FX I, II, III and IIII...I have tuner, I have FX 1 and FX 2...and I have a great loss of weight...and I have a colored LCD with preset names and effects that are turned on and off.
Honestly, I think you'll need to apply a bit more effort with that MIDI CAPTAIN. I know, the rack and the official controller is way more solid...but I prefer lightweight, and I don't miss anything with this setup.
I understand that Kemper rack is better in some ways, but not enough for me... I'm keeping the rack and I love the rack, but use the player more...it's easier to take it to rehearsal every week...
I agree, my point is its not as plug and play as the rack. I agree with the compact approach, hence I've already shifted to the Stage..
Its simply an added protection. pulling cables in and out is always a risk but the Stage isn;t particularly problematic.
I'm actually doing this myself although it will only be the XLR out as that will be the main cable I'll be plugging in at a gig, everything else is generally perm..
I have a rack version and also a player. I barely use the rack... The rack is better to use when editing in the unit itself...but the player can do the same things and I can edit from my phone or tablet.
I love the player and I'm using it with MIDI CAPTAIN PYSWITCH, no extra power supply, no problems at all...just connect and play live don't miss anything.
There is just one small thing, I can't have block effects when making a preset. This annoys me a lot, in this situation I use my rack version to find the perfect amp for certain effects chain...
Sorry I feel the opposite.
The player sounds EXACTLY the same so no concerns about the sound at all, but i find it a bit clunkier to use if coming from a regular Kemper.
First there is no browse or performance mode, its just slots.
Second any external switch is not a perfectly integrated as the remote/stage set up. For example, I use a midi captain and can;t get morph to work on it, so got a workaround that morph is triggered by one of the player buttons.
In short, it requires a bit of work to "translate" your rigs from rack to player. You do it 1 rig at a time as there are no performances to move across. Then you have to check if the effects have migrated as you have less effects and slots.
Finally I miss the display from my remote and so I can get a bit lost.
Don;t get me wrong, the player itself is excellent, but coming from the luxury of the full blown Kemper, you have to orientate yourself with it. Recently my main rig failed, I went to the player and totally forgot how I set it up and spent most of the gig with the wrong sounds. All the sounds were in there, I'd forgotten how they were arranged. Partially my fault, but also its not as "obvious".
Having gone through the same thought process to downsize, I went for a Stage and the player stays as an emergency backup.
In summary, its a fab unit but requires sometime invested in it to get it set up properly....Oh and I've never got my expression pedal to work via my midi switch yet...highly suspect its user error but...
Guys. This is not related to a very old firmware. It happened to me too and I was on second to latest or something.
That was my point. USB updates used to be the only way to upgrade, thats the only relevance to old firmware, although sometimes making big jumps can be more reliable with USB.
Now you can do it through RM. On rare occasions it doesn't work and USB is more reliable.
Why doesn't it work sometimes? If RM and OS are out of sync or sometimes it just fails. Sometimes requires a second attempt... In my experience this is relatively rare but does happen. I think out of the last 4-5 upgrades, I've had to revert to usb once.
Given I store my backups on USB, its no great shakes to me.
No. In my post that you quoted, you can clearly see I'm referring to the firmware version that G String mentioned, not the RM version. G String made it clear he's referring to firmware version, not RM version. The OP obviously needs to update his firmware, not his RM.
The functionality to update firmware via RM is both part of the RM and firmware updates, so what I have said is relevant and important to the OP.
Post RM v3, which as he has a new player should be the case, the only reason he can't update via RM should be because they are not in sync and he needs to update RM regardless of which RM and firmware update.
That's not what the OP is experiencing and that contradicts what G String seems to be saying. He seems to be saying there are old versions of firmware that lack the ability to update from RM. If that's true, then this problem should only happen with firmware that is older than a specific version. If so, what is that version? Seems like this should be a simple question for Kemper to answer.
Sorry I assumed that was known.
It was RM v3 and after that RM can update the firmware ( according to Google), prior to that it was always via USB.
I would use the TD - Ran Rho rig from the Legends Tribute Collection by Thomas Dill. It's a Marshall Super Lead 100 profile with the Kemper Drive in slot D — amp gain at 3.6, pedal drive at 5.7, so the overdrive does most of the work pushing the amp into its sweet spot. The Studio EQ tightens the low end with an 80 Hz cut and rolls off the top around 7 kHz, which keeps the tone focused and not fizzy. Playing it with humbuckers, it nails that articulate high-gain sound Randy was known for — tight palm mutes, clear enough for the fast runs, and the Natural Reverb at 29% adds just enough space without washing things out. Highly recommended if you want a ready-to-go Crazy Train tone.
Interestingly I got the top Jimi Ozzy pack, tried the Randy Rhoads tribute sound and.....yuk! Didn;t like it or recognise it at all...
...but......I then compared it to his sound and it was pretty close. My point is as a standalone sound Its not that great but works really well in a mix.
Also I don;t think his sound was that great, but his playing OMG!
As i understand it, its really if RM is out of sync with the OS.
So if you are a number of versions behind, I would always update the OS first via RM which usually works. Then you can update RM independently. If you do it the other way round RM, won't talk to the OS and so you have to revert to a USB.
GString - would you agree?
Yeah you should be able to find loads on RM.
The only point I was going to make is I think the 5150's sound very different from Soldano's so depends what you are looking for..I prefer the Soldano sound more...
Display MoreTo reverb or not to reverb
Curious if you going FOHDo you still use reverb in your profile…
Mostly for rock / Hard rock cover band
I am thinking I use a ducking delay and
Thinking of Micro pitch of and on instead of the reverb…
I mean there is room reverb and FOH reverb
Its a great question -
My previous valve amps ( Laney, ENGL) didn't have reverb so I got very used to not having it. I tend to put a bit on now but limited. I think its one of the reasons a sound will cut better and sound more "direct, but less forgiving.
If you play something like Wicked Game then you have to. Otherwise it's probably hit and miss depending on venue and crowd size.
Unless its the HIM version
Yes, we already all know KAOS 14 and Rig Manager 4 are a matched set. That's not what I was asking about.
The question I asked is: under what circumstances is the Rig Manager unable to update the KAOS? I would expect it to always be able to do such an update, but occasionally, like the OP here, I've seen reports that it fails. It is much easier to update the firmware from RM than from a USB stick, so I'm asking G String: under what circumstances is that easy method not available?
I will let G string answer with specifc's but there are 2 questions here:
1) When can it fail - that can be with any version, sometimes it just doesn't work and you have to revert to USB stick. This is now rare but occasionally happens so I don't think this is version related - more frequent with Beta's of course.
2) Incompatibility between RM and OS's - generally main versions but not always the case. Not sure how useful a list is when the alternative is clear but hopefully G string has the info needed.
In messing with things last night I discovered that a couple of my oft-used profiles may just be limited in terms of their 'forwardness'. In other digital applications I might have been tempted to mess with 'mic placement' on some of these but that isn't part of our options on the Kemper (at least for those of us using other people's profiles).
I found one new JCM 800 "raw" profile from DR in the stock 2.0 Kemper pack last night that is a superb example of a 'forward' sound, with none of that mix-cutting character lost even if I have the gain up or add some verb. Gonna ditch stereo though, and keep workin' on the rest.
I bet that it doesn;t sound great on its own but bangs out in the mix? I also bet its not a very forgiving sound? I tend find those that cut best also show every little error ha!
