If you are going to recommend to look for profiles based in the amount of gain, maybe it would be a good idea to explain to new users that in browser mode you can use soft button #2 (second button from the left over the screen) where it reads "sort by name" and by pressing this button you can change it to "by gain". That way instead of jumping all the time and not knowing what gain is going to have the next rig in the list, you can just find what you want.
Your approach to showing how to get into the unit is perfect! Its the only video I could find that goes thru this step by step..although I have the Kemper rack, the Stage is different but not intimidating. Once I heard it sounded identical to the first version, I just had to get it!..mine will be here tomorrow!! Thx for giving me a good head start!
Thank you Aaron. I just bought this Kemper Stage and I’m no longer confused about how to edit. You really did a great job of showing me around the beautiful yet intimidating (until seeing your video) controls . Well done indeed ! Kudos!👍
The best review i have ever seen on anything...clear English and straight balanced points that give you a clear understanding....read the manual...brilliant
Just bought this thing and it sounds great right out of the box...your instruction helped me greatly ty! I was struggling with saving a rig to a slot 1, 2 etc. This video took me right there!! Ty!!
You’re welcome. I purchased one again a few months ago and I like it more than ever. It’s so well thought out and has even more features than when I made this video. Check out the iOS app and rig manager!
Great video! A lifesaver for me as having had the Kemper for only a few days with a gig I need to use it on tomorrow I was panicking as some of the basics aren't covered very simply in the manual. You explain it perfectly!,Thank you! The Kemp Stage is fantastic!,
@@aaronshortmusic What i dont understand.. this unit does not have a power amp? So if i am home and want to use it with my 2x12 cabinet i need to buy a seperate poweramp? In small clubs there wont be monitors or ability to plug in the pa.
Hi Aaron. Thank you for your reply. Is there any chance you could share that rig you used in the video intro of Tips for setting up effects … I also use a Strat and that rig you used there sounded amazing. Thank you 🙏
This is the best Kemper intro video I've watched. I'm due to purchase a Kemper Rack next week and although it's a different layout, I have a far idea if getting started. Many thanks. :)
Thank you for making tutorial. Please make more videos very useful. BTW, the KPS is an amazing piece of gear. So many amazing options and tone possibilities.
THAT SUSTAINED NOTE OF THE RINGING WHEN YOU PRESS DOWN A FOOTSWITCH ON KEMPER STAGE AND REMOTE DROVE ME CRAZY THE FIRST TIME I HEARD IT I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING OUTSIDE
Thanks A very useful video. There’s very little about how to set up the basics on a Kemper Stage and the manual is more like a catalogue of features. The basic step by step stuff is invaluable. I’ve been tossing up between a Kemper Stage and a Helix and have come to the conclusion that the Kemper has better sounds and suits someone who wants to use existing profiles with minor modifications. The Helix has good sounds and is better for someone who wants to mimic a wide range of artists and tweak endlessly.
That is a good summary although I wouldn’t agree with tweaking endlessly. There is tweaking involved but it also gives you more buttons and effects blocks. You have to decide what you need...
Michael Wilde Honestly the Kemper doesn’t need tricks like the other guys do. I sit and play the clean tone for hours lol. I will definitely do a follow up of some kind and also looking forward to reviewing more Kemper products.
Thank you Gilbert! I got mine directly from Kemper USA and did not have to wait. There are some around if you look. I’m sure Sweetwater and Guitar Center have a waitlist as everyone is looking there.
Hey bro do a rig manager for beginners or dummies lol , I can load the rigs with a thumb drive, but presets and performances allude me , I learned more from your 2 videos on the stage than I did from anyone
Its great for playing, but very tough to adjust with an outdated interface. It has no editor like the Helix, Boss, Headrush units...Interface wise its out of the 80's.
I just got my kemper today and I was so confused to point were thinking of sending back however after watch your demo you give hope. Lol. Grate job explaining. Just need one on the effect how to nevagate and assign them it would be nice if you could push a nother video. On the effects....
Luis Pacheco do not give up. You will get it and Aaron’s videos and kempers are helpful. You will start to click with it and understand it. If I can you can. Good luck.
Best description is - take the song "Rock around the Clock" from Bill Haley and for modellers put in the word "Tweak" instead of "Rock" and for the Kemper put in the words "Play and grin". Now you know why there are millions of tips and tricks videos for modellers on how you can make it sound good and why there are specialised people that sell tones and patches for modellers. A good tube amp always sounds good. The Kemper sounds like a tube amp out of the box. Wake up modeller suckers.
Bigger screen would be great like the helix. You make good videos. As I said on another post I just found you... but the more I’m watching you I think I’ve seen you before.
I tweak my profiles all the time. I use a real cab though. I tend to tweak them too my guitar. So certain guitars use certain amps and such. I always throw an eq in mod x. I try not to tweak the profiles too much. But I tend to treat it like a real amp. Maybe I'm wrong but It sounds awesome to me!
Karter Estill I use a real guitar cabinet too but still not 100% happy with feel and sound unless I put a real pedal in front. Like a dirt pedal. I thought maybe it’s because I’m not hooked up to a computer and 3 other things. Still keeping it. But amps always win for me they’re just a pain to maintain.
Will Roberts I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Of course the real thing is still better. It has to be! But like you said they are noisy, heavy and need pedals. The Kemper is an amazing portable/recording rig but it is not a real rig... I’ll be making a video on this at some point.
Hi Aaron, I’m so glad I found this video because I’m buying this kemper stage with my trump/covid stimulus check next month. I’ll save this in my favorites. I also really like your desk chair, it’s just what I’m searching for haha. Do you know the make or model of the 🪑 Thx and keep on rocking
Thank you! I have not tried the Headrush speakers but I have heard that a lot of people like them and they are excellent value. I personally prefer to use IEM's or a real guitar cab. If you are OK with using a PA speaker then it is definitely worth a try. You will probably need to apply a high and low cut to the master EQ.
Yes, the clean and distortion balance is a v cool idea ... it is a huge problem, usually solved by having a couple of amplifiers haha. The pedal might have a front end gain stage where you assign to particular guitars - "Tele", "Strat 1", "Gibson 47" etc. Because of pick-up configurations, they are completely different sounding animals. If a string goes... it would be nice to set the guitar independently of the performance (i.e.. input normalisation) BTW nice indie chops! I think you have been tainted by metal tho haha
Hi can you please make a video on how to make a profiler with the kemper stage step by step including cables adapters microphone the whole setup thank you for your videos God continue to bless you
The kemper and AXe FX sounds way better than the Helix. However, we all love the Helix beautiful layout and killer flexibility. If Line 6 could nail the tones of the Kemper and Axe fx, the Helix would be my choice.
I couldn’t have said it better myself BUT I will say that these ‘computers’ have a ton of variables. Using great IR’s and tweaks I can get the Helix 95% of the way there. So the question then is do you choose the extra blocks and modern appointments or the 5%. That’s why I currently have both
@@aaronshortmusic Hi Aaron, that's what I've been told as well( IRs). I have all of the Ownhammers IRs, so I could borrow a friend's Helix and give it a go.
Hey Aaron trust you keeping well bud. I have a dilemma, i have the QC and recently was looking at some guys using the Kemper floorboard for acoustic and Electric In my opinion the Kemper😊 seemed better or am i imagining it. I know you have tried both and was wondering what your true opinion is. I have three or four Martins with Anthem pickups in them and a couple of electrics and was wondering what your thoughts were .
Really tough. As a straight up electric rig replacement with the features I need in a band the Kemper is still the best choice for me. However if you need advanced routing and XLR input etc then the QC is the better choice. I hope that they can catch up to Kemper but with the Kemper’s iOS app, desktop editor, always-on tuner, powered Kab and adjustable parameters like the definition control etc they have a lot of work to do.
@@aaronshortmusic yea I hear you. I may just land up getting a Kemper too. But I hear what you saying. And apparently Kemper just had a huge update. So may be a good plan. Thank for getting back to me.
@@aaronshortmusic yes ok got you as it’s mostly acoustic all my gigs and honestly I have four top end custom martins and fitted with Anthems. I also have a an OMJM together with the silver sky and strat. But play 70% acoustic and have really struggled to get great acoustic sounds for looping so I appreciate that advice. 👍🏻
Anybody know how to copy a rig from 1 kemper to another Kemper (just 1 rig..not the entire library of profiles and rigs) my son's kemper has a rig I want to use on my Kemper.
Hi, just considering the jump from tube amps to a kemper product. If I understand this product correctly you just need a power amp with a flat frequency response if you want to drive a cab. But you can always monitor yourself connecting this unit to active PA /monitors. Is that correct?
Absolutely correct. I’m enjoying IEM’s lately but the Kemper will sounds great direct to FOH or into a poweramp and real guitar cab. You can choose how you want to run it or run it in all three ways!
I am using a Kemper profiler stage with a QSC 12.2 speaker. For some reason all of the profiles basically sound the same to me from my unit and I have even bought profiles I would like as well. All of the profiles sound really thin to me and nothing like a real amp. Can you tell me what I could be doing wrong that would make my profiles all sound the same? Should I just purchase a kemper Kone to get real amp tone? Please help!!
It’s hard to know without seeing your set up. A Kemper Kone or power amp and cab would provide you with the ‘amp in the room’ sound which many players enjoy. The QSC should sound pretty good though. I would just cut the bass slightly on the Kemper.
Hi Aaron, nice vid! If i wanna use 2 speakers (monitors) i need to power amp? I Have a Marshall DSL40CR but i denied to use it in the fx loop coz it will be like a amp sound on another amp...
You can try plugging into the effects return of the amp, some people do that. Otherwise you need the two monitor speakers to be powered monitors. The Kemper has no power amp.
I will at some point. I have not tried yet as there are so many excellent profiles out there already. That would be an interesting video to make though.
Can you please explain what the difference is between the kemper with the power built in and the one that doesn’t have power built in? And why I would want either one? Thank you 🙏
The powered Kemper allows you to use a real guitar cabinet with ‘direct’ profiles. It will be more like having a real amp in the room with you. If you plan on using a PA and headphones only then you don’t need this and you can always add it later via a separate module.
Aaron Short Music hi thank you for the reply,can I ask you one more Q please? If all I’ll be playing is in my studio and maybe a small jam room is it worth it for me to get the powered one? Or is it overkill? Is there something to cabs that a PA can’t do? Does it sound worse?
Mc E It is a different sound. I like the option of using a real cab but Kemper are supposedly releasing their own powered cabinet in the future anyway so you could just use that. There are also there’s party options available. It’s really a personal decision.
I think I answered that in the video pretty well. If you use one tone then use a real amp. If you need advanced switching and controlling with lots of effects then use Helix. If you want a few great amp and effect sounds then use Kemper. I’m really liking it so far but check back in a few weeks to see if I still feel the same...
I have the helix and the kemper stage. I will say that the kemper does sound better to my ears overall. But, the helix beats it in UI and the flexibility. I also still can’t get over the screen...😅
Edwin Kim I feel they can probably be tweaked to sound the same. I just like the layout of the Kemper despite the lower quality screen. For example the fact the tuner can be used all the time and the way the in/outputs are labeled on top. These little things really help.
Aaron Short Music the screen is not only tiny but the lettering is even tinier. They really should’ve made a bigger screen. I love my tube amps and dirt or fuzz pedals but I’m a gear addict so I got the toaster head a few yrs ago and I don’t gig. I do not enjoy performing. I started as a kid for the love of guitar. And I still feel that way. Yes it’s fun jamming etc but I truly don’t have the nerves for performing. I would’ve loved studio work. Anyway I went and got a good deal on the rack so I could slant it. I like fooling with it. Will sell my toaster head. But I like having the power in the unit. I also like using external drive pedals with both. If I had to choose I’d most likely go with the kemper. Watch them make the screen bigger right after we buy this one. Anyway, I wanted to say nice job explaining the demo. Once people wrap their head around it it’s really not that hard.
Will Roberts Thanks Will. The screen really doesn’t bother me. A powered Kemper would be really nice but the portability of the Stage is excellent too.
very helpful. do you find that the sound completely changes when you run it from an amp v. a board? I just got this and I'm setting up sounds through my amp (which is a swart atomic). The amp with just the guitar sounds way warmer than with the Kemper, but, there's so much cool stuff on here to get creative with.
Hi Ann! It depends on how you are connecting it. Are you running it into the amps input for effects only? Or are you running into the amps effects return?
@@aaronshortmusic right into the amp from the main out. no effects return. might it sound better through a PA? (it doesn't sound bad at all through the amp, but i wanna be lazy and not bring an amp to a gig if i don't have to...)
@@annklein4463 You probably don’t want to run an amp profile into your amp. You either want to use no amp or cab into your amps and use it for effects only or plug it into the amps ‘return’ and turn off the cabs. If you want to be lazy forget the amp and plug the Kemper into the PA. I do love my tube amps though…
I have a question regarding recording - please remember I don't know much about modellers and recording in general. I have a DAW, ProTools, and with my current setup I have an Eleven Rack acting as an interface, so, it was pretty foolproof using the thing. But how would I go about hooking the Kemper up to pro tools, would I need some sort of new interface? What kind? How much? One user complained that he had trouble hooking it up do his DAW and this has me worried about what needs to be done. Also will the Kemper work with the FRFR speaker I have? its a powered speaker (I think) and have been using it with the Eleven Rack.
This is hard to answer here. Yes it will work with your powered speaker. You will need an interface for you computer recording. I use a Claret USB 4x4. It’s excellent. Something similar to that would be great. You can connect via XLR or SPDIF.
@@aaronshortmusic Sorry about that. I don't have anyone else to answer these questions I live in a small rural community in Australia, and I don't have a music store within cooee, and I don't have any friends with an interest in music or guitar, and I don't know the lingo/terms guitarists use. Thankyou for your response it's given me an avenues to investigate further - cheers.
Vaughan MacEgan I don’t mind helping. It’s just not easy to answer that question in a few sentences. Feel free to message me on my website with any questions.
CHAN LEE Yes but I never used that Helix feature anyway. All I care about with a modeler is the amp tones and I can’t get the amp tones with Helix that I can with the Kemper. I wish I could.
@@aaronshortmusic I been looking at your video and I'm following your steps trying to save a rig to favorites but when I press rigs it don't give the option to save to favorites
@@aaronshortmusic what I was doing wrong I needed to sroll on the page botton untill it gave the option to go into the mod. But I got it after two day of headaches. Thanks for reply ing.
@@aaronshortmusic wow thanks a lot. I like this video. You made me understood on how to use this thing compared to the other videos that came out related to this unit.
Kemper sounds more like a real amp but helix has build in effects. I would choose kemper over helix if you need to hear the details. If the details dont matter that much i would go helix.
Aaron, If my clean tones are louder then my high gain profiles and I want to balance them, do I increase the clean sense or the distortion sense? Thanks
It depends on your set up. I would say that lowering the distorted tones makes sense. It depends how your overall output level is. If you have a healthy output level then lower the distortion sense. If your level is a little weak then raise the clean sense or do a little of each. Either way is fine.
@@aaronshortmusic Thank you. I’ll see what it does. I tried making these adjustment when I first got the unit when it came out. I bought really good profile packs and they have better volume balance but on the same amp the clean channel is loud. Flip over to the high gain channel, it doesn’t sound bigger then the clean channel. I’d like rig 1 to be clean, rig 2 be crunch and then 3 and 4 be higher gain, but get louder at the same time. The distortion pedals in the effects section sound super loud with the clean amp. Just like a real pedals into an amp. I’d like the high gain amp rigs to work like a pedal over the clean. Love the unit and learn something about it all the time.
@@michaelstewart2437 It’s not about the profiles. It’s a global setting that must be adjusted for your guitar. Once you have it roughly correct you can adjust the amp volumes in each performance.
Didn’t show anything how to set this up and the manual that I got with this Kemper said nothing. It was a bunch of cliff notes in different languages. Should have stuck to analog cause this this sucks
Your way of finding the different sounds you want is flawed in my humble opinion. How many amps does a typical guitar player have on stage? ONE. Could have two channels a clean and over drive. But all you really need to do is add effects what happens when you add distortion and a comp to a clean sound? You got your crunch sound...I used to do what you are explaining but there is no consistency.....just my latest feeling on using the Kemper. Pick a great amp for each song and use the effects to get your clean crunch and lead tones.
I do this too! I have performances with one amp and pedals and I also have a performance with difference amps. Both can be great and are done in the ‘real’ world.
This unit has NO on off switch??? Seriously? No power switch? 🤔 my lunchbox Kemper has the on off dial. The unit powers up and shuts down at the end of play time. Seriously😐
Both one..ten days later 2 buttons died...did a research and found two guys with the same problem but different buttons. Wrote to kemper America, they agreed to change it for a new one...but I Am in Argentina. Shipping costs of couriers are like 200 usd each travel, besides import taxes. Really regret of buying it. Kemper knows that some units are failing...that's why they inmediately offer to change it for a new one...but if you are not in the country where they repair it don't buy it yet. Wait till they find how to make it work properly
@@aaronshortmusic thanks..but no cheap solution available. I will use it with two buttos only (scene 3 and 4 stop working) Here is taken from a kemper forum; Usuario Chris Saraga Hello Kemper gurus. My Stage seems to have switch #5 completely dead. I purchased it from Sweetwater. What is my next step? Could this be a software error? It’s on the latest firmware. Usuario Nic Coble s anyone experiencing a problem on the Stage with glitchy switches? For example, I was in performance mode on rig 2 and it took around four+ clicks to get rig 3 to load, and when it did it went straight to the morph setting. This happened a few times in a row until a restart. Strange. I am running the current updated OS for the stage, which is still beta. I haven’t been able to reproduce the issue since, but in another forum I’ve seen a few people experiencing similar concerns...
Nahuel Arguiz There have been some units with bad switches but this can happen with any product. I would be careful about buying equipment that is unable to be serviced or fixed by the company that sells it. Obviously I realize that this is not always possible but anything mechanical can break down. Do Kemper not have a service center where you live? Where did you purchase it from?
The Kemper profiler Stage is a great concept, just way too late to the game at this point and the interface looks completely out of the 80's! The sound is amazing unfortunately which is the only thing it has going for it...I tried to setup a rig from scratch and it is absolutely atrocious an experience. In the process many things can go wrong...I have seen numerous black screens, things jumping around, exiting suddenly from the menu where I was at so many small bugs and glitches I cannot return it quicker...Just unacceptable behavior for a 2019 piece of gear. If you use it like you're supposed to scrolling through presets you get amazing tone. You're supposed to slightly touch some basic tweaking factor like an overall Master EQ to adjust response to your guitar. The dialing of it from scratch, creating something modern its like a Phd course in sound with obstacles to jump through that are mind boggling which is why I cannot recommend this rig. My Boss GT-1000 sounds way better although not a profiler, it does parallel chains and external loops, lush soundscapes and modern sound, by far at least, It blows the pants off the Kemper tone wise and sadly its like we are moving backwards in time with this unit...Just too hard to harness without an editor ??? So sadly I'm dumping it for poor and outdated interface design and lack of editor option!
I agree that they released beta software with the unit but I haven’t never found such great tone so quickly. There may have been some luck in finding the right profiles quickly but I honestly believe the unit is as ‘plug and play’ as digital stuff gets!
@@aaronshortmusic You may not be using it like a producer then. There is no great tone other than profiled guitar tones so I use it for reamping via the digital SPDIF. For FX I used the superior BOSS GT-1000 with its two FX loops. Then I got this annoying clicking interference from the Kemper Stage circuitry.I panicked, slapped it back in the box and returned it, sadly. I might go back to AXE FX III or even that Mooer live preamp which is what $400 bucks and is now eating their lunch ? Great concept but greed makes it very undesirable to have something so outdated and expensive in 2019...Good riddance Kemper! :(
Gates of Celestia Yes I only use it direct to a powered speaker but personally I’ve never used a better digital solution. We all have different needs and experiences of course.
@@aaronshortmusic I never said it didn't sound killer. Its the best sounding profiler on the market, period. Just an outdated and atrocious navigational interface with shortcomings, the FX are Poop, all that at an outrageous price to boot. Personally I would drop it into the toilet and get an Fractal Audio Axe Fx III for only a couple hundreds more...Way superior and modern design,not to mention plenty of DSP power to put Kemper outdated design to shame...The issue is the control pedal for the Axe FX III is another pile of money, but nothing hold a candle to that unit. I've had the AXE FX II and sold it and kicking myself now. I will get the latest though soon...
yeah, like a Thuderbirds control panel! I was handed one and told to make it work for festival gigs. Actually although its navigationally cumbersome and infuriating trawling through hundreds of presets (most of which are inappropriate for any one individual player) I'm getting the sounds I need from it. Had to set my watch back 30 years though.......
