Kemper Profiling Amplifier

INCLUDES AUDIO
l
Reviews | Kemper Profi ling Amplifi er
98
N
ot many new bits of
hardware make a striking
impression like the Kemper
Profi ling Amplifi er. It looks
like a cross between a ’50s valve radio
and an accordion, but its shape, the
green or cream colour schemes and its
quasi-Masonic logo, are ballsy and
memorable, and that’s before you power
up with the retro ‘chicken-head’ dial
and the thing lights up like a Christmas
tree. Killer.
The KPA is an amplifi er/cabinet
modeller and effect unit for guitarists.
Your guitar plugs in the front and either
you run your own power amp and cab,
or the sound of a complete modelled
guitar rig, including cab, stomps and
effects connects direct to your DAW (via
XLRs or SPDIF).
What sets it apart from serious rivals
like Fractal’s Axe FXII, Digidesign’s
Eleven or Line 6’s Pod HD Pro is that
you can use the KPA to capture the
sound of your own setups. Yes! You can
go into the studio, set up a rig, set up
your best recording chain, and profi le it.
Not only does this process work, but it’s
easy (see Making Your Own Profi les)
and sounds excellent.
Lifting the KPA from its packaging
by its leather carrying strap you get the
impression of a delicate boutique amp
head. Though it’s stronger than it looks,
I would always have it lovingly cradled
in a fl ightcase on stage.
The front is divided into upper and
lower panels. The top is vertical and
deals with the fi ve rig settings: Input,
Stomps, Stack (Kemper’s name for an
amp, EQ and cab combination), Effects
and Output. The bottom is angled
slightly out at you and dominated by a
properly big LCD display above which
are four soft-function keys. Beneath this
screen are the big gain, EQ and volume
knobs for the modelled rig.
Lights fantastic
All the knobs are metallic silver and all
the buttons are illuminated. The icing
on the cake are the beautiful rings of
circular green LEDs around the infi nite
‘amp’ knobs. There are more round
LED indicators above the top panel
buttons and they change colour
according to effect category. As well as
looking great, these illuminations
actually offer a comprehensive, ‘at a
glance’ status report.
The review model needed a fi rmware
update. This gave me a chance to trial
Kemper Profi ling
Amplifi er | £1,249
An amplifi er/cabinet modeller that enables you – yes
you! – to digitally model and capture your guitar
setups. Steve Evans fails to contain his excitement
WHAT IS IT?
Next generation
amp/distortion modelling
hardware
CONTACT
Who: Kemper
Web: www.kemper-amps.
com
HIGHLIGHTS
1 Capture the sound of your
own amp/cab setup
2 Superb modelled presets/
stomps and effects
3 Superb gating/output
routings for studio/live work
FMU260.rev_kemper.indd 98 11/8/12 3:41 PM