Modelling Guitar Amp Heads

I wanted to have a basic multi-effects for headphone listening, since I already have a pedal board connected in the traditional way to a solid-state and a tube amp.

I got a demo through a sales representative of Line 6, who insisted especially on the possibility to be able to slice a song and transcribe it, and to have access to common sample databases. It's more like a computer than an instrument.

It can be used and controlled with a laptop or tablet, android or pc, it already exists via the interface of the hd 500.

I didn't test any similar products, but it seems to me that it has the brand's typical sound, which is quite synthetic. Clean sounds are hardly believable, only special effects (reverb/delay) are usable or good.

With my Dt 770 headphones, the sound seems compressed, deformed, it's better than using a headphone output directly from an amp, but the quality is not enough for me.


Be it the amplifi fx 100 pedal or the amp head or combo (amplifi 75/150), they don't seem to be quality made, the design and connection possibilities are unfortunately not everything in this world!

I'm pretty game, but to be honest, it dissuaded me and I will definitely go for something like the zoom g3 (with a headphone out), which I think will surely provide a better quality!

Its value for money is okay, but it's more of a marketing and commercial hype, and using a neutral system like an amplifi combo with built-in speaker doesn't add much. It's better to stay with a classic system with a real guitar amp even if it colors sound (because at least you like it!).
To play electric guitar with a hi-fi amp, no way!!!

Rack (single)

It is so vast that frankly, I do not want to answer.
all connections are possible: simple jack, XLR, not forgotten the spdif.

we can control each output independently: put different eq, choose whether you want or not mutate effects, select the volume, mute or not the cab sim.


Negative:
* One imput
* Quality of the buttons are scary (plastoc)
* The screen of my gameboy is better quality (if we increase the contrast, lines appear)
* Quality of the LEDs (some shine more than others)

UTILIZATION

use is VERY simple: plugs (do not confuse entered headset), we select the amp, hardly touched the settings and ... it sounds.

The manual is a little scary because of its length but it is very easy to access. We realize that this machine was designed by musicians and they are very responsive to requests for changes (via the forum or by email), so that at present, the machine arrives at version 3.0.

What is amazing is that this machine "absorbs" the sound chain and, magically, it is possible to change the cab! (Version 3.0 will make a copy of the pre-amp and cab separately), so if I have a mesa dual Profile (with cab) and that of 5150, I can share !!! cabs
Version 3.0 will allow those who play their cabs to be "exactly" the sound of the desired pre-amp.

is controllable midi (because after 3 years, the pedal kemper is not finished yet), so that our favorite DAW can tell him when changing channels (for example).

expected to make re-amping also (with synchronized stage!!)

SOUND QUALITY

The big debate:
here, it reproduces the sound of a sound recording, not the sound of the amp to the output of broadcasters. So imagine that your amp is in a room, and you, you listen to the sound via the monitor socket or via headphones. C'est ca that makes the machine!

And according to the profiles, there's no good (which can be useful in a mix ...) to the very very "PAF in your G ... even you drooling in" (which can also be very good in a mix .. .) .dropoff window

What is amazing is the reactivity vis-à-vis your guitar volume button and the kemper reacts like a real amp!

Compared to "lepou" well, when switching from one to the other, it does not account for the difference but if you play two, one on the kemper, the other on lepou ... the kemper frankly sounds better.

The effects sound great (except distortion): wah, pitch, delay, reverb, phaser, flanger chorus, gate, distortion, compressor .... there are 8 places for placing 4 before the amp, they are in mono (no delay or reverb) and 4 later in stereo (1 of 1 for delay and reverb, it remains vaus 2 stereo available locations). Everything is controllable midi well. The icing on the cake: 2 slot to directly control the volume and wah pedals are available via 2 volume / noon.

OVERALL OPINION

For sound: perfect!
For outputs: Perfect!
For the monitoring of developers, service and updates: Perfect! (Kemper exchanged a non-warranty machine because the user had 2 times the same failure that would ca ... ???)
To use: When we understood how they thought the machine: Perfect!
For utility Studio: Perfect
For use in Live: my back told him thank you, 5 kg and it plugs into the mixer (but guitarist loses the feeling of a real amp) and no difference seen: Perfect

Quality of the machine: cheap screen buttons cheaps, the rest looks solid and everything is replaceable (like a computer): Correct

I come to an average of "very good"

ps: in 20 years, this is my 2nd Kemper amp ... (very thoughtful purchase)

This is a digital stereo amp simulator coupled to a power transistor amp 500W. It has 4 different outputs: headphones (mini-jack), studio (2XLR), baffle (2jack stereo or bridged mono speakon 1) and a final output jack that allows you to bypass the poweramp (if you want to use another amp power). For Input 1 instrument and an input / output for external effects loop + connection for a midi foot

Level Adjustment facade there are the classic amp settings (bass, mid, treble, presence, gain, level + the master controlling the poweramp) which is VERY valuable to his sound RPET (no need to go through menus).
There is also a USB socket on the back to use the remote control and a slot for an SD card that can load / retrieve patches and perform firmware updates.

To create its patches were roughly the same controls as other products of the same type (pin-fractal fx) but it is much easier to use the remote control software to control the multiamp from his computer.

Level effects can be almost anything: overdrive, chorus, flanger, fuzz, reverb delay, compression, phaser, EQ, wah ... and a very significant noise gate.
Modeling level simuls are spread over 3 channels (clean, crunch and hi-gain) with 6 for each simulation.
To play studio output is also found several simulations of speakers and microphones with several options.

Note that there are three versions of multiamp 1 stereo (the one I have), 1 mono (cheaper) and a "tube" with a poweramp lamps 120W.

UTILIZATION

The setup is pretty simple once you understand the principle: the sound of the chain is represented by 8 slot with still 1 slot for the amp and one for the speaker simulation. The remainder can be filled by the effects which can then activate or deactivate the touch of a button.

Fortunately, the config is simple because the manual is anorexic ... really found it basic information to get started, but it's clear there's not much more. For more detailed information must be contact by email http://www.dvmark.it/ DV mark or so have a look at this forum dedicated to users of multiamp (in English) that comes to the day: http: //multiampusersforum.proboards.com/

However not need too much hassle 40 years to make a sound (especially if you play on a speaker) because the amp simulations are really of high quality.

SOUNDS

I sincerely believe that the multiamp suitable for all styles of music (he just has to see the variety of musicians who adopted) given the diversity of simulated amplifiers.

I play for my part in a death metal band and I could find a sound that suits me very well with only a simulation (5150) and a noise gate. There really was in this machine a grain and a presence that holds a candle to the all-tube amps. I played before on a ENGL fireball which I was generally satisfied and I adopted the multiamp RPET after 10 minutes (not counting all the possibilities in terms of different sounds and effects)

Question power no problem (except if you play not transplanted in an airport hangar with a guy who has a tube amp 120w to the cleat). A big advantage of the power section is that it is non-linear. You can have the nuance low volume and if one is in rehearsal with wild one realizes that the last notches master really used to send timber if necessary.

After I think the multiamp really expresses a good speaker. The output studio headphones are very good but I think it's a little more turned to the live tool to the studio (in contrast to the reference in the field: the fractal axis-fx is more comfortable in the studio and speaker output but also costs almost double in Europe ...). The brand remains a very high level both in clean, crunch or big saturation.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 3 weeks. Before I had my house for a small pod with line6 (nice when you start but was quickly reached its limits) and an ENGL Fireball RPET. I put a lot of time choosing and listened to a lot of demos but I do not regret my choice.

The few negatives would be: the mini-jack headphone output (wtf ??) and a USB port yet untapped in my opinion (to do with the next firmware updates). The documentation available is frankly light for my taste.

I especially like the warmth of the sound and its dynamics (it is clearly on the high end) and the potential of different effects and future updates of the firmware. The response to the game really gives the impression that there is nothing digital back there. Its ease of handling and its very reasonable price compared to competition (especially kemper-axis fx) is also a determining factor for me.