I'm a firm believer in that demo-ing at home is the way to do it. Trying something at a store or watching youtube isn't the right environment to truly get a feel for something. But once you own it, it's different- especially with money involved... I don't have to worry about selling this or that to cover the expense, or saving up to get it- and then whether it's good or not, I just fooled myself for months it's the best... anyway...
A friend was selling some gear, so I bought among other things a Kemper Lunchbox unit.
I've since the beginning have been an Axe fx guy. The idea of a multi band compressor in a guitar unit just made me have to have it. I got an Ultra used shortly after the II came out- it was good, I didn't think it lived so much to the hype after the halo effect went away after the excitement of finally getting it- but it was a great unit. BUT, it needed work and tweaking and time- I thought- this is going to take so much time/work/effort- Let me just sell this and buy the newest unit. Got an Axe 2 Mark 1, and within 30 seconds knew it was lightyears beyond the Ultra.
I've tried Kemper before, at NAMM- several times. Not the best conditions to try anything out- but still-- I felt it wasn't on par with Fractal.
I felt it sounded alright, but had a bad feel- and a sterile feel and sound. I've also said I thought an Eleven Rack had a better sound and feel than a Kemper.
I also repeatedly felt and heard digital artifacts even on nicely dialed in profiles. Then touch any knob from where it originally was- and it behaves worse and sounds more digitally and weird.
BUT- I always said- I want to try one at home/in the studio/on my own- and I'd eventually buy one to try in the conditions I like to test/try things out in.
So, I got one.
My thoughts on the Kemper
1. The digital artifacts and issues went away significantly
2. They still sound unrealistic anytime you touch a knob or setting or EQ
3. It sounded good for Djent stuff- but not that great
4. Everything just sounded overdone, over cut high end no breath or life in the sound, no overtones- just overdoing a close mic'd channel strip with all the top rolled off big time.
5. The unit had some sought after profiles, but everything was just-- disapointing.
To sum it up... I felt after trying 600-800 presets- putting more time in one night than I've probably put into my Axe 3 since I got it-- I'd be hard pressed to live with it and use it as a guitar player live or in the studio. It seemed to be like a burden or a struggle than a luxury. I could see myself getting further with guitar amp plugins out there than the Kemper unit. It just didn't deliver and there wasn't much I could live with in it.
----------
Similarly- I got an Eventide H8000
More so to help a friend sell it, but of course I wanted to play with it.
Used the Axe 3 for the amp with no effects- and ran it into the loop.
After an hour of getting no signal- I discovered the wonders of the OUT 3 LEVEL knob of the front of the unit- and I was in business.
The Eventide is amazing- super powerful. Quality, versatile presets- that cover anything/everything- cool atmospheric stuff similar to factory Fractal presets.
While the unit is super impressive- it's meant to handle 8 channels in and 8 channels out of effects galore- not really designed for guitar for sure.
Really well done- was the distortion effects, very cool for a mutli effects processor- it was basically what I dreamed a TC Nova Drive would have been in real life.
But here's the amazing part--- I felt I was missing so much on the Kemper.
The Eventide is so amazing and mindblowing- but I also feel like- I'm not missing anything that I don't have/can do already with the Axe Fx 3.
The Fractal stuff is so on point- and it has 4 ins and 4 outs, which is incredible for a guitar processor- I feel like it could do anything the Eventide can do, and I'd be seriously missing nothing not keeping the Eventide. In a much more accessible/user friendly way too.
----
Last,
While on sale earlier this month- I think it's still on sale- I picked up the Austin Buddy Naked Amps set for the Axe 3.
I didn't use it until yesterday. Wow, Holy shit.
I hate Fender amps, I never used Fender amps- I skip all of those presets- I played through 10-12 presets of just Fender amps with scenes- 11 out of 10.
Everything is dialed in on point with so much thought and care.
The time I was using the Kemper I felt limited and like I was missing so much... You take one preset on an amp I don't even like- and I just felt like I could do anything with just that preset even. There was more I could do with the worst setting in the Fractal than the best sounding in the Kemper. I couldn't find a sound I didn't like out of it, or see how I could use it in the future.
So, I'm so happy to own the Axe Fx 3, it just does it all, the best.
And buy the Austin Buddy Amp pack- I should note- I don't know him, I didn't get anything free- I paid for it, I'm not getting anything out of saying it either. If anything I'd suggest he release one preset with scenes free so people could see/try his work than hear it on youtube. It's really good work. Exactly what I hoped it would be and 1000x more.
A friend was selling some gear, so I bought among other things a Kemper Lunchbox unit.
I've since the beginning have been an Axe fx guy. The idea of a multi band compressor in a guitar unit just made me have to have it. I got an Ultra used shortly after the II came out- it was good, I didn't think it lived so much to the hype after the halo effect went away after the excitement of finally getting it- but it was a great unit. BUT, it needed work and tweaking and time- I thought- this is going to take so much time/work/effort- Let me just sell this and buy the newest unit. Got an Axe 2 Mark 1, and within 30 seconds knew it was lightyears beyond the Ultra.
I've tried Kemper before, at NAMM- several times. Not the best conditions to try anything out- but still-- I felt it wasn't on par with Fractal.
I felt it sounded alright, but had a bad feel- and a sterile feel and sound. I've also said I thought an Eleven Rack had a better sound and feel than a Kemper.
I also repeatedly felt and heard digital artifacts even on nicely dialed in profiles. Then touch any knob from where it originally was- and it behaves worse and sounds more digitally and weird.
BUT- I always said- I want to try one at home/in the studio/on my own- and I'd eventually buy one to try in the conditions I like to test/try things out in.
So, I got one.
My thoughts on the Kemper
1. The digital artifacts and issues went away significantly
2. They still sound unrealistic anytime you touch a knob or setting or EQ
3. It sounded good for Djent stuff- but not that great
4. Everything just sounded overdone, over cut high end no breath or life in the sound, no overtones- just overdoing a close mic'd channel strip with all the top rolled off big time.
5. The unit had some sought after profiles, but everything was just-- disapointing.
To sum it up... I felt after trying 600-800 presets- putting more time in one night than I've probably put into my Axe 3 since I got it-- I'd be hard pressed to live with it and use it as a guitar player live or in the studio. It seemed to be like a burden or a struggle than a luxury. I could see myself getting further with guitar amp plugins out there than the Kemper unit. It just didn't deliver and there wasn't much I could live with in it.
----------
Similarly- I got an Eventide H8000
More so to help a friend sell it, but of course I wanted to play with it.
Used the Axe 3 for the amp with no effects- and ran it into the loop.
After an hour of getting no signal- I discovered the wonders of the OUT 3 LEVEL knob of the front of the unit- and I was in business.
The Eventide is amazing- super powerful. Quality, versatile presets- that cover anything/everything- cool atmospheric stuff similar to factory Fractal presets.
While the unit is super impressive- it's meant to handle 8 channels in and 8 channels out of effects galore- not really designed for guitar for sure.
Really well done- was the distortion effects, very cool for a mutli effects processor- it was basically what I dreamed a TC Nova Drive would have been in real life.
But here's the amazing part--- I felt I was missing so much on the Kemper.
The Eventide is so amazing and mindblowing- but I also feel like- I'm not missing anything that I don't have/can do already with the Axe Fx 3.
The Fractal stuff is so on point- and it has 4 ins and 4 outs, which is incredible for a guitar processor- I feel like it could do anything the Eventide can do, and I'd be seriously missing nothing not keeping the Eventide. In a much more accessible/user friendly way too.
----
Last,
While on sale earlier this month- I think it's still on sale- I picked up the Austin Buddy Naked Amps set for the Axe 3.
I didn't use it until yesterday. Wow, Holy shit.
I hate Fender amps, I never used Fender amps- I skip all of those presets- I played through 10-12 presets of just Fender amps with scenes- 11 out of 10.
Everything is dialed in on point with so much thought and care.
The time I was using the Kemper I felt limited and like I was missing so much... You take one preset on an amp I don't even like- and I just felt like I could do anything with just that preset even. There was more I could do with the worst setting in the Fractal than the best sounding in the Kemper. I couldn't find a sound I didn't like out of it, or see how I could use it in the future.
So, I'm so happy to own the Axe Fx 3, it just does it all, the best.
And buy the Austin Buddy Amp pack- I should note- I don't know him, I didn't get anything free- I paid for it, I'm not getting anything out of saying it either. If anything I'd suggest he release one preset with scenes free so people could see/try his work than hear it on youtube. It's really good work. Exactly what I hoped it would be and 1000x more.