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Kemper KPA Core Tone Tweaking

1,116 bytes added, 22:03, 31 January 2016
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== Amp Settings ==
{{Crumbs|blue|1
|Amp Settings|Amp Settings
|Cab Settings|Cab Settings
|Pre-EQ or Boosting|Pre-EQ
|Swapping Cabs|Cab Swap
|Tweaking vs. Auditioning|Tweak vs.Audition
|Post EQ|Post EQ
}}
 
The Amp block features the following parameters:
* '''Definition''' - Changes the nature of the distortion from vintage to modern
== Cab Settings ==
{{Crumbs|blue|2
|Amp Settings|Amp Settings
|Cab Settings|Cab Settings
|Pre-EQ or Boosting|Pre-EQ
|Swapping Cabs|Cab Swap
|Tweaking vs. Auditioning|Tweak vs.Audition
|Post EQ|Post EQ
}}
 
The Cab block provides the following parameters:
* '''High Shift''' - Moves the high-frequency resonance
== Pre-EQ or Boosting ==
{{Crumbs|blue|3
|Amp Settings|Amp Settings
|Cab Settings|Cab Settings
|Pre-EQ or Boosting|Pre-EQ
|Swapping Cabs|Cab Swap
|Tweaking vs. Auditioning|Tweak vs.Audition
|Post EQ|Post EQ
}}
 
I often like to use pre-EQ or some kind of boost/overdrive to tighten up or otherwise enhance the distorted tone. I almost always favor this approach over making big tweaks to the Definition parameter of the Amp block, although I do like to mess with Power Sagging, Tube Shape, and Tube Bias - they alter the tone in ways that are difficult or impossible to achieve using EQ/boosts.
== Swapping Cabs ==
{{Crumbs|blue|4
|Amp Settings|Amp Settings
|Cab Settings|Cab Settings
|Pre-EQ or Boosting|Pre-EQ
|Swapping Cabs|Cab Swap
|Tweaking vs. Auditioning|Tweak vs.Audition
|Post EQ|Post EQ
}}
 
Often a profile can sound a bit off at first glance. If reverting to default Amp/Cab block settings don't help, the issue may be with the Cab profile which can sound far from ideal. This is often due to a poor room, microphone, or microphone placement during the profiling session, which is often the case when one is trying to mic the cab in the same room as he is monitoring the mic's sound. Sometimes the amp profile comes out great, but until it is paired with a good cab profile, you will never know how great it is.
== Tweaking vs. Auditioning ==
{{Crumbs|blue|5
|Amp Settings|Amp Settings
|Cab Settings|Cab Settings
|Pre-EQ or Boosting|Pre-EQ
|Swapping Cabs|Cab Swap
|Tweaking vs. Auditioning|Tweak vs.Audition
|Post EQ|Post EQ
}}
 
While the KPA can be tweaked heavily while still sounding organic like a real amp/cab, this may involve a fair amount of time and effort. Since there are literally thousands of free and commercial profiles available, it becomes a question of efficiency as far as trying to tweak profiles vs. auditioning other profiles. My advice is to audition first and tweak later. The Rig Manager software allows auditioning the free rigs on the Rig Exchange to be quick and simple. For any given amp or tone, find the best 2-5 profiles available and save them onto your KPA or a Local Library folder in Rig Manager. When auditioning, it is perfectly acceptable to make quick tweaks, such as adjusting Gain, enabling/disabling effects (or loading your favored effect presets), adjusting the ToneStack EQ, adding a simple boost. If you have to start digging into the Amp/Cab parameters, add a post-stack EQ effect, switch the Cab profile, or dial in some intense pre-Stack EQ, the profile may simply be a dud that is not worth your time. Continue to search for better profiles. Only when you've exhausted your audition choices should you revisit the so-so to good profiles and start doing advanced tweaking.
== Post EQ ==
{{Crumbs|blue|6
|Amp Settings|Amp Settings
|Cab Settings|Cab Settings
|Pre-EQ or Boosting|Pre-EQ
|Swapping Cabs|Cab Swap
|Tweaking vs. Auditioning|Tweak vs.Audition
|Post EQ|Post EQ
}}
 
Loop some drums and bass while dialing in your tone. If you are creating a track, definitely reamp - you will hear things much better when you aren't playing. My philosophy is that a good tone should sound good in all situations - low volume, high volume, inside, and outside a mix. But a great tone will always sound great in a mix at a high volume, and honestly it's more important to sound good in a mix than good solo. Pulling that tone outside the mix and lowering the volume may reduce its charm, but you'll still be able to tell its a good tone. Comparatively, a "killer" tone you dialed up in the headphones at low volume outside a mix is more likely to sound like garbage inside a mix than if you took the opposite approach. If you absolutely can't get your own drums and bass or even find a suitable backing track, you can import a track from ___ band you like the sound of - in this case, pan that track 50% L and pan your guitar sound 50% R to get some separation. Now you can tweak EQ and really hear how it affects the sound in a mix.