Kemper KPA Basic Controls

The KPA has a lot of buttons on its front, and it can be a bit intimidating at first. However, I believe the design is amazing, offering quick and intuitive control over lots of different things.

Contents

Mode Select

The chickenhead knob in the lower left corner is used to turn the unit on/off, as well as select what mode the KPA is using.

• Off
• Tuner - Just displays a simple tuner for tuning up. Note: the tuner is active in other modes, displayed via the Tuner LED circle on the front of the unit.
• Browse - View, sort, filter, and load the rigs stored in your KPA. Displays the rig name and other relevant rig information.
• Performance - Used for live performances, where rigs can be stored in banks/slots that mirror a floorboard. Displays bank/slot and rig name in large text so you can read from on stage.
• Profile - Create a new profile.

Input/Output Buttons

Tap the "Input" or "Output" buttons access Input/Output parameters, such as selecting the active input and changing the output mode of each available physical output. For more, see Inputs and Outputs.

Signal Chain Buttons

The KPA's virtual signal chain mirrors the layout of the top row of buttons.

• Stomp A > Stomp B > Stomp C > Stomp D > Amp > ToneStack > Cab > X > Mod > Delay > Reverb

Note: This is not always 100% accurate. There are parallel path options for the rig and alternate placement options available for certain blocks.

Tapping any of these buttons will disable/enable that block in the signal chain. (Disabling is equivalent to removing it from the chain.) Holding a button will bring up edit mode for that block.

Below these buttons are the 3 buttons "Stomps", "Stack", and "Effects". These buttons control the entire sections that encompass the blocks above them. Tapping a section button will disable/enable the entire section. Holding it will bring up its respective edit mode. Each section is covered below:

Stomps

The blocks labeled Stomp A - D represent assignable effects. Since they are processed before the virtual amp (profile), they are called "Stomps", similar to how most effects used in front of a real amp have a stomp box form factor. The common effects you'd place here include dirt pedals and wah; however, you are free to assign virtually any effect type to these blocks. Note: certain stereo effects may operate in mono when placed in one of these blocks.

Later firmware allows Stomp D to be placed behind the Stack section.

Stack

Effects

Quick Edit Knobs

Below the signal chain buttons are 6 quick edit knobs. These can be used to tweak parameters of the Mod, Delay, and Reverb blocks without having to hold those buttons to enter their edit modes.