Difference between revisions of "Kemper KPA Effects"
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== Pitch Shifter Options == | == Pitch Shifter Options == | ||
| + | The KPA offers chromatic and intelligent (harmony) pitch shifting effects, which function like traditional [[Pitch Shifting|pitch shifters]]. The Harmony Shifter goes a step beyond and allows custom user scales to harmonize against. But even beyond these functions, the KPA's shifters offer somewhat unique options to adjust how the shifters work: | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Smooth Chords === | ||
| + | The Smooth Chords option disables the shifter's pitch tracking. Tracking is used to phase align the time-shifted audio segments, so that the resulting audio sounds smooth and natural. This works great for single notes but cannot work correctly for chords. Instead, it may jump between pitches as it detects them or phase-align one pitch while the others in the chord end up sounding more harsh. Smooth Chords prevents these awkward sounds when playing chords. | ||
| + | |||
| + | While Smooth Chords is designed to reduce artifacts when playing chords, it may be useful even for single notes depending on how convoluted the signal chain is. It can also yield more of the artifacts traditionally associated with pitch shifters, that while obvious and artificial, may produce a certain desirable sound. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Pure Tuning === | ||
| + | This option harmonizes to the Pure Tuned or Just Intonation intervals instead of the 12-Tone Equal Temperament intervals. This makes the harmonized sound a bit more pleasant and harmonious when mixed with the dry signal, particularly when playing higher up the fretboard. See [[Equal Temperament and Alternate Tunings]] for more about temperament and tuning. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Formant === | ||
| + | The Formant option enables a formant parameter which defines a resonant peak (formant) in the pitch-shifted part of the signal. Formants determine what the tone sounds like, with the human voice making use of different formants to create the different phonetic sounds of the alphabet, particularly for vowels. Thus, the pitch-shifted sound can become quite different from its normal sound. It can reduce the "Chipmunks" type sound to upwards shifted settings. It can also make the guitar sound like a different instrument altogether. | ||
== Emulating Real Devices == | == Emulating Real Devices == | ||
Revision as of 15:41, 18 February 2015
Contents
Noise Gates
All those Wah Choices
Mono vs. Stereo
Delay and Reverb
MAB Advanced Reverb Effects
A big complaint about the KPA is its lack of great reverb effects, particularly a spring reverb. I attempted to create some advanced reverb presets that fill this void until Kemper adds them. See the MAB Advanced Reverb Presets page.
Pitch Shifter Options
The KPA offers chromatic and intelligent (harmony) pitch shifting effects, which function like traditional pitch shifters. The Harmony Shifter goes a step beyond and allows custom user scales to harmonize against. But even beyond these functions, the KPA's shifters offer somewhat unique options to adjust how the shifters work:
Smooth Chords
The Smooth Chords option disables the shifter's pitch tracking. Tracking is used to phase align the time-shifted audio segments, so that the resulting audio sounds smooth and natural. This works great for single notes but cannot work correctly for chords. Instead, it may jump between pitches as it detects them or phase-align one pitch while the others in the chord end up sounding more harsh. Smooth Chords prevents these awkward sounds when playing chords.
While Smooth Chords is designed to reduce artifacts when playing chords, it may be useful even for single notes depending on how convoluted the signal chain is. It can also yield more of the artifacts traditionally associated with pitch shifters, that while obvious and artificial, may produce a certain desirable sound.
Pure Tuning
This option harmonizes to the Pure Tuned or Just Intonation intervals instead of the 12-Tone Equal Temperament intervals. This makes the harmonized sound a bit more pleasant and harmonious when mixed with the dry signal, particularly when playing higher up the fretboard. See Equal Temperament and Alternate Tunings for more about temperament and tuning.
Formant
The Formant option enables a formant parameter which defines a resonant peak (formant) in the pitch-shifted part of the signal. Formants determine what the tone sounds like, with the human voice making use of different formants to create the different phonetic sounds of the alphabet, particularly for vowels. Thus, the pitch-shifted sound can become quite different from its normal sound. It can reduce the "Chipmunks" type sound to upwards shifted settings. It can also make the guitar sound like a different instrument altogether.
Emulating Real Devices
Most of the KPA's effects are generic - they are not modeled after specific devices (with the exception being several of the Distortion effects). Instead, they provide lots of parameters to make them fully tweakable. Some devices can be emulated by simply using the right settings for that type of effect. Others may require using multiple KPA effects in combination to get their unique sound. This WiKPA.org page contains lots of settings to emulate real-world effects.
Getting Good Fuzz Sounds
There are numerous complaints on the forums about the fuzz effects. The general advice is to combine a fuzz Distortion effect with a Recti Shaper effect and possibly additional EQ.