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Post by Johnkenn on May 29, 2014 9:37:38 GMT -6
I've had a Vox AC15 for a while with an effects pedal and it's worked great...But I STILL can't mic it (only have a 57) to sound as good as the Kemper half the time. I do think the real amp might give a tad more punch...but the Kemper just allows SO many different options...Gonna hurt to lay down the plastic, but it's probably the smart move for me.
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Post by geoff738 on May 29, 2014 9:43:41 GMT -6
JK,
Tell me more. Actually going to go and test drive one today maybe. I've watched a few vids, so I think I get the general concept.
How are the sounds that come with it? Does it feel and respond and sag like a real amp when pushed? I know the sound is more like a recorded amp than an amp live in a room.
Cheers,
Geoff
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Post by geoff738 on May 29, 2014 12:05:43 GMT -6
Or, might be time to add a nice ribbon mic to the collection?
Cheers,
Geoff
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Post by mikec on May 29, 2014 13:39:09 GMT -6
I would be curious to hear how the Kemper works out for you. I've been down the road of owning the Fractal Audio AxeFX,the AxeFX Ultra, and the Digi Eleven Rack and always keep coming back to a tube amp mic'ed. I liked the convenience of the modelers and I listen back to some things I did with the AxeFX now and think it sounds pretty good, but just like the sound of the tube amp better. I have also been very surprised at how good the Scuffham S-gear plugin sounds when running a guitar direct into the Retro Powerstrip. Nevertheless, I do have room in my recording desk for a Kemper Rack, but have never had the chance to try one.
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Post by svart on May 29, 2014 14:22:52 GMT -6
Gefell UM70S or R121. Done.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2014 15:19:45 GMT -6
JK, Tell me more. Actually going to go and test drive one today maybe. I've watched a few vids, so I think I get the general concept. How are the sounds that come with it? Does it feel and respond and sag like a real amp when pushed? I know the sound is more like a recorded amp than an amp live in a room. Cheers, Geoff I have one, I use it religiously, I bought it two years ago and to this day I still think it's the best purchase I've made as far as recording gear goes. Dynamics wise it's uncanny. I'm in the same boat as JK, I also have an AC15 for playing live but in the studio we just use the Kemper. JK the main profile I use to make a lot of my bands albums was an AC15 mic'd here with a 57, what are your amp settings? What kind of guitar are you using and what's your placement like? I like to keep the 57 about an inch off the grill and pointed straight at the amp about an inch away from the center of the speaker. Usually using the top boost channel, my tele is quite bright to begin with so I have the tone cut around 2 Oclock, gain knob pointed at the V in volume. |
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Post by Johnkenn on May 29, 2014 17:20:51 GMT -6
I would be curious to hear how the Kemper works out for you. I've been down the road of owning the Fractal Audio AxeFX,the AxeFX Ultra, and the Digi Eleven Rack and always keep coming back to a tube amp mic'ed. I liked the convenience of the modelers and I listen back to some things I did with the AxeFX now and think it sounds pretty good, but just like the sound of the tube amp better. I have also been very surprised at how good the Scuffham S-gear plugin sounds when running a guitar direct into the Retro Powerstrip. Nevertheless, I do have room in my recording desk for a Kemper Rack, but have never had the chance to try one. I've owned two before  They're awesome. I was lusting after a real Supro and the the 1694T was one of my favorite profiles from know several A list Session guys (Bob Britt, Rob McNelly) that swear by them. Of course, when they bring cartage for a session, they use the real things, but for overdubs, I believe Rob is using it all the time. He just told me people had commented on his tones when he used it and were shocked to hear it's a Kemper. It's just SO convenient...plug and play...I sold it because I was only using about 3 or 4 amps over and over...but hell, those three amps would cost me several thousand to buy for real. I would venture to say that the tones are 98% there - some indistinguishable. It absolutely sounds like the miked up amp...that being said, it doesn't have that punch of "amp in the room"...but isn't it all about the end result? I think I'm gonna give it a week or two trying to use Amplitube...The only time I ever record electrics is for demo purposes, so even though I desperately want the Kemper again, it IS $2000. If I have somebody overdubbing, they inevitably bring several amps of their own. BTW - Amplitube really has decent tones with some of the newer amps. The Princeton, The Hiwatt, etc. I guess I'll see if I can live with it. Having to yank my buffers down to 128 in a 30 track session is a PITA... |
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Post by Johnkenn on May 29, 2014 17:22:33 GMT -6
JK, Tell me more. Actually going to go and test drive one today maybe. I've watched a few vids, so I think I get the general concept. How are the sounds that come with it? Does it feel and respond and sag like a real amp when pushed? I know the sound is more like a recorded amp than an amp live in a room. Cheers, Geoff I have one, I use it religiously, I bought it two years ago and to this day I still think it's the best purchase I've made as far as recording gear goes. Dynamics wise it's uncanny. I'm in the same boat as JK, I also have an AC15 for playing live but in the studio we just use the Kemper. JK the main profile I use to make a lot of my bands albums was an AC15 mic'd here with a 57, what are your amp settings? What kind of guitar are you using and what's your placement like? I like to keep the 57 about an inch off the grill and pointed straight at the amp about an inch away from the center of the speaker. Usually using the top boost channel, my tele is quite bright to begin with so I have the tone cut around 2 Oclock, gain knob pointed at the V in volume. It didn't sound bad at all...(I just sold it for $50 less than I paid half a year ago) I'm just ready to move on to something else. |
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Post by mikec on May 29, 2014 18:41:24 GMT -6
JK,
Have you compared the scuffham s-gear to amplitude? I think you can still download a free demo.
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2014 22:15:50 GMT -6
For the longest time I didn't realize you had to use cab sims with amp sims. I used to harp on threads that amp sims would never sound any good. I think I demo'd Sgear in this embarassing phase of my life. I bet it sounds great and I've heard very good things.
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Post by mikec on May 30, 2014 5:18:50 GMT -6
I think I've tried pretty much all of the amp sims and for me s-gear has been the best one so far. S-Gear was the reason I sold my last Axefx. I am kind of like the Dos Equis man when it comes to amp sims, I rarely use them, but when I do I use s-gear. |
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Post by Koln on May 30, 2014 7:46:16 GMT -6
Why don't you learn micing techniques for your amp? It will be rewarding and cheaper.
Having an Sm57 is a good base. You could add a ribbon mic on the amp (with or without your 57) + a room mic and be done with it. You don't need fancy mics and pres for guitar amp recording. Make it sound good at the source first. Also try to back off your mics from the amp. GTR amps need some air to breath. Also try to elevate your amp from the floor.
Also remember it doesn't have to be loud to sound good........the amps just need to be at 11. This is why i love my Supro amps.
Jimmy Page always says "distance makes depth" and he is right.
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Post by henge on May 30, 2014 13:34:45 GMT -6
Johnkenn you have to demo S-Gear!! I'd be interested in your observations about it.
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Post by Johnkenn on May 30, 2014 16:11:05 GMT -6
You know, I did try it a while back...and I didn't really think it was better than AT2...maybe I should try again.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2014 16:57:49 GMT -6
Why don't you learn micing techniques for your amp? It will be rewarding and cheaper. Having an Sm57 is a good base. You could add a ribbon mic on the amp (with or without your 57) + a room mic and be done with it. You don't need fancy mics and pres for guitar amp recording. Make it sound good at the source first. Also try to back off your mics from the amp. GTR amps need some air to breath. Also try to elevate your amp from the floor. Also remember it doesn't have to be loud to sound good........the amps just need to be at 11. This is why i love my Supro amps. Jimmy Page always says "distance makes depth" and he is right. Cost per amp the Kemper smokes anything and still requires the skill of micing up amps. The only time I use a real amp is on stage. |
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Post by Koln on May 30, 2014 17:24:40 GMT -6
I'll take an AC15 before any software, emulator, profiler anytime.
Jordan : You're canadian right? Listen to Heavens Coming Down from The Tea Party. Yeah......that's a mid 90s AC15 right there on the 12 strings E GTR.
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Post by Johnkenn on May 30, 2014 18:33:27 GMT -6
Well, I went to 3rd Power today...After hearing that, I think my Kemper lust has been quelled...or maybe I should say my 3rd Power lust has been lit.
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Post by mikec on May 30, 2014 18:44:10 GMT -6
I recently picked up the Mesa King Snake and really like it. The 10 watt setting really gives it flexibility. I prefer my Sky King with the iron man attenuators and tube tremolo but it's good to have options.
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Post by jimwilliams on Jun 1, 2014 11:44:05 GMT -6
A modern Juarez SM-57 makes all of my amps sound small. They are a big filter. I pretty much stopped using those on amps 30 years ago.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2014 12:13:13 GMT -6
I'll take an AC15 before any software, emulator, profiler anytime. Jordan : You're canadian right? Listen to Heavens Coming Down from The Tea Party. Yeah......that's a mid 90s AC15 right there on the 12 strings E GTR. Yep sure am. Huge song here in Canada, thanks to Cancon I hear it all the time haha. I love my AC15 I would just like to add a choke and change out the speaker and transformer on it. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2014 12:14:46 GMT -6
A modern Juarez SM-57 makes all of my amps sound small. They are a big filter. I pretty much stopped using those on amps 30 years ago. Could be worse, I think the 421 is awful on amps. 57 has always worked for me. |
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Post by Koln on Jun 3, 2014 17:55:11 GMT -6
I'll take an AC15 before any software, emulator, profiler anytime. Jordan : You're canadian right? Listen to Heavens Coming Down from The Tea Party. Yeah......that's a mid 90s AC15 right there on the 12 strings E GTR. Yep sure am. Huge song here in Canada, thanks to Cancon I hear it all the time haha. I've got quite a good story about that song. We had all guitar amps imaginable available except for a Vox. On this song i call Steve's music in Montreal asking for a vox amp. The manager told me they just sold their last one but the costumer was still in the shop. He talked to the costumer and the guy accepted to lend us his brand new Vox AC15 for a week. We ended up using it on this song later that same day. I ran it through a Matchless 4x12. Of course being at Le Studio Morin Heights did help a bit... |
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Post by levon on Jun 4, 2014 3:04:08 GMT -6
Johnkenn you have to demo S-Gear!! I'd be interested in your observations about it. Absolutely. I was a skeptic too, but S-Gear 2 is amazing. Try it. There's a bunch of additional sounds by users on the Scuffham forum that you can download. I also just got a good deal on a Palmer PDI-03, looking forward to trying that. You can still use your good old tube amp but save the hassle of putting a mic up. And you play full tilt at night.  You won't have the flexibility and choice that a Kemper gives you, but it's way cheaper. |
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Post by levon on Jun 4, 2014 3:06:42 GMT -6
JK, Have you compared the scuffham s-gear to amplitude? I think you can still download a free demo. I have both and prefer S-Gear. Mike Scuffham was a product designer at Marshall, he sure knows about tone. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2014 17:06:00 GMT -6
Yep sure am. Huge song here in Canada, thanks to Cancon I hear it all the time haha. I've got quite a good story about that song. We had all guitar amps imaginable available except for a Vox. On this song i call Steve's music in Montreal asking for a vox amp. The manager told me they just sold their last one but the costumer was still in the shop. He talked to the costumer and the guy accepted to lend us his brand new Vox AC15 for a week. We ended up using it on this song later that same day. I ran it through a Matchless 4x12. Of course being at Le Studio Morin Heights did help a bit... Wait you worked on that song?!?! If so holy shit. |
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They're awesome. I was lusting after a real Supro and the the 1694T was one of my favorite profiles from 
You won't have the flexibility and choice that a Kemper gives you, but it's way cheaper.