Kemper KPA Reamping
- For general principles, see Reamping.
The Kemper provides several features that make tracking and reamping easier and quicker.
SPDIF
The Kemper provides SPDIF input and output and this is generally the best way to connect the KPA and your interface. To use SPDIF with your DAW, the Kemper requires being the SPDIF clock source, and must operate at 44.1 kHz. As noted on the interface setup page, 44.1 kHz does not denote a loss of quality on your interface's A>D converters or the sound of the recorded audio tracks - it will simply have less ultrasonic information above the Nyquist frequency, which is in this case is 22 kHz, the edge of perceptible sound for the human ear.
However, if you have existing projects at different sample rates, it may be simpler to connect the KPA via analog connections instead of SPDIF, rather than converting all the audio files for your project down to 44.1 kHz.
Tracking DI's
The recommended settings for tracking DI's are to use your usual input setting (front or alternate) for your guitar signal. Use SPDIF output settings of Git/Mono L or Git/Stack. You can record both the dry guitar and wet ("amped") sound to separate tracks, by using mono tracks and setting the dry track's input to SPDIF L and wet track's input to SPDIF R.
If SPDIF is not available, the simplest setup is to use the Direct Output to send the dry DI signal and the Main outputs to send a stereo wet signal. The output settings for the Main outs are the same - Git/Mono L or Git/Stack.
Reamping
The dry track should output to the left field of interface's SPDIF output. Switch the Kemper's Input Source (tap the Input button) to SPDIF Reamp - this only listens for the left channel of the SPDIF input. You can use Reamp Sense to adjust for any gain differences if your DAW has manipulated the dry track volume.
Depending on your output settings (if you have one of the Git options selected), the Guitar Input is still active while the Input Source is set to SPDIF Reamp. It will output to the left SPDIF field (Git) while the wet signal (Stack, Mono L, Mono, Mod L, Mod) will output to right field. This is useful for if you notice mistakes in your DI tracks while reamping, allowing you to punch in quick fixes without changing KPA settings. The SPDIF signal input to the KPA will never output to Git - only to the other options - so there's no worry of a feedback loop here. If a stereo wet output setting is chosen, then the Guitar Input is disabled, and the SPDIF output will use both L and R.
If SPDIF is not available, the simplest setup is to use an analog output on your interface to connect to the KPA's Alternative Input. Then select this Input Source when you want to reamp.