Kemper KPA Terms
The Kemper Profiling Amp offers a technology that is unlikely any other on the market. While it functions similar to a digital modeler and multi-fx unit, it has a number of unique features with their own terminology, that can be very confusing for a novice. This page breaks down the unique terms used to make discussing the product more clear.
Contents
Profiles
The big word in the Kemper world is profile, which is a set of data that the KPA uses to reproduce the sound of a real rig. The profiling process sends a special signal from the KPA into the guitar amp (or device), and the signal from the mic'ed cab (or other output source) is sent back to the KPA, where it is analyzed and turned into a profile.
The KPA was designed primarily to capture the sound of a tube amp running into a mic'ed guitar cabinet. With this idea, the KPA splits the resulting profile into two parts: an amp profile and a cab profile. The cab could be disabled, so that you could output the KPA into a transparent solid state amp feeding into a real guitar cabinet. Or you could swap out the cab profile with another one, preserving the key aspects of the amp profile, but getting the unique sound of the new cab/mic.
However, a couple key things stood out. A key part of the sound of a real rig (as well as Kemper profiles) are the interaction between the amp and cab, which forms a unique impedance. Disabling the cab and using the same real cab as was used for the profile didn't quite get the same sound as the real amp and cab. So Kemper introduced a new profiling method in FW 3.0 to create another type of profile, called merged profiles, which required making 2 profiles: one of the full rig (amp + cab) and one of just the amp (without cab) by using a DI box. The cab profile from the first gets copied onto the DI profile of just the amp, and the merge process is performed when the new rig is saved. The merged profile uses the combined data to get a faithful reproduction of the profiled amp connected to the real cab used to profile, allowing identical sound while running simultaneously to a real cab and to a PA system.
In the most basic sense, there are only 2 main kinds of profiles:
- Amp Profile - a profile designed to emulate the response, compression, basic EQ, and distortion of an amp. This kind of profile is created by all profiling processes. It may be modified by the merging process.
- Cab Profile - a profile designed to emulate the phase relationships and frequency response of a mic'ed cabinet (or the general sound of some device). Generally, these are only created as part of a Studio Profile, but it can also be created from a Direct Output profile. This can be modified by the merging process.
Given the way the profile(s) are made, they are referred to by the following terms:
- Studio - a set of amp and cab profiles created using the traditional profiling process
- Direct Amp (often called a DI Profile) - an amp profile created by taking the feed from a DI box connected to the speaker output of an amp (with the speaker cab or a load box connected after the DI box) - this process does not create a corresponding cab profile
- Merged - a set of amp and cab profiles resulting from merging the cab profile of a Studio profile with a Direct Amp profile. This kind of profile faithfully recreates the sound of the amp attached to the profiled cab while the Cab block is disabled, allowing dual output for live situations
- Direct Output or Preamp Profile - can be a set of amp and cab profiles or just an amp profile after FW 3.0. This is a profile of an amp pre-amp, returning the output of the pre-amp (often the effects loop send) to the KPA.
Rig
A Rig is essentially the same thing as a "patch" on other digital modelers or multi-fx units. It contains amp and cab profile data, as well as all the effects types and settings that were dialed in on the virtual signal chain. Even input settings can be saved per rig, if not globally locked. A KPA rig is designed to represent everything necessary to emulate a real-world "rig", from stompboxes to amp, cab, microphones, and outboard processors. Rigs can be saved and loaded inside the KPA's internal storage, backed up to USB, and exported/imported as .kipr files through the Rig Manager software. It contains amp/cab profiles, although these rarely may not contain any real data and/or be disabled. For example, after creating a Direct Amp profile, the cab block in the resulting rig has no data - you have to copy/paste a cab from another rig for the block to actually do anything.
The profiles in each rig are complete distinct copies. If you copy a rig and change the amp profile parameters and tags, they are only changed in that rig, not the other even though it uses the same root amp profile.
Performance
A Performance is a group of 5 slots, each containing a unique rigs/patch. This is useful for playing live, so that rigs can be organized in a way that makes the most sense for the gig. Each performance is easily set up for one song - so long as it requires 5 rigs or fewer. Then each performance can be organized to follow a set list. This follows the bank/slot layout of most MIDI controllers.
Performances can be saved and loaded, allowing different rigs and organizations to be used depending on the gig. They can also be organized/ordered inside the KPA easily. For instance, you could have 2-4 performances with generic core tones that you can load for practice. For a gig, you can order a number of song-based performances to follow the setlist.
Pure Cab
Pure Cab is a feature introduced in FW 3.1 that attempts to reduce comb filters and other issues introduced by close-mic'ing a cabinet, so that profiles sound more like the "amp in the room". It currently consists of a checkbox to enable/disable it and an amount value inside the Output block (which is global); however, there are plans to move this to the Cab block in the future in order to allow per-rig settings.
Stomp, Stomps, Effect, Effects
Kemper's virtual signal chain consists of 4 effect blocks in front of the amp and cab profiles. These are collectively known as "Stomps", while each of the individual blocks is called a "Stomp". Similarly, there are 4 effects processed after the amp and cab profiles, known collectively as "Effects" and each individually as an "Effect".
OS
Kemper officially uses the term OS (Operating System) for its firmware (FW) updates. The file used to update the KPA internal software is called kaos.bin (Kemper Amplifier Operating System). This makes sense from a technical point of view, but it is unconventional when referring to devices that are not computers or smart phones. This can be particularly confusing when discussing Rig Manager, which bridges a traditional Mac or Windows computer to the KPA; as Rig Manager versions are dependent on both the OS version of the computer and OS version of the KPA.
Soft Buttons/Knobs
The 4 buttons above the KPA's onboard display are known as soft buttons. This is because they have no default usage - instead their use is determined completely by software. When they can be used, you will see a text button directly below them on the display. They are most commonly used to flip switches for effects, but can also be used to change filter and sort options while in Browse mode.
Similarly, the 4 knobs below the display are called soft knobs, with their function determined by software, and labeled on the LCD at the appropriate time. These typically control continuous parameters on effects such as Distortion Drive, Tone, Delay Feedback, Reverb Time, Mix, etc. By default they control the Bass, Mids, Treble, and Presence settings for the tonestack, similar to a real amp.