Kemper Update adds up to 96 kHz Sample Rates and More

Huge update in the Kemper world. Under Version 5.5.0.13341 (beta, available now), KPA now supports 48, 88.1 and 96 kHz sample rates.

This is huge for sound quality from the Kemper into the coaxial S/PDIF input on Apollo. And re-amping through the Kemper is now easy. Now a project can run at high sample rates without requiring a sample rate converter on the Kemper's input.

Not confirmed yet, but I believe that Kemper still must be the master with your Apollo as slave.

Also new is a stereo monitor out capability. You can use the Monitor and Direct outs as a stereo pair. And all settings related to the Monitor Output (Monitor Cab. Off, Monitor Volume, Monitor EQ, Aux> Monitor out,..) will automatically affect both.

Third new feature is that transpose is now in the Rig Settings.
So you can set transpose for particular rig, not wasting stomp slot for that.

Very cool!

Wow!

This is a REAL update, wow!

Well, we didn't get much from the trade shows this year did we? I did beta testing for a while but have been side-tracked with MTP last half of 2017 and now want to get to recording so I don't have time for all that. Point: been out of the loop, so thanks for informing, scratch17!

Yeah, I saw that on their Facebook page this morning. Interesting that Mr. Kemper kept saying early on that it wasn't possible to go above 44.1kHz for several reasons and now it's available. I'm curious what changed since I had understood it was a hardware limitation, but it must not have been or they found a way to flash it with firmware. Maybe they found another way around that original limitation. I know he caught a lot of flak over it, so it's a good one to overcome.

The transpose actually works pretty well, I use it on 3 songs live. It's only a half step up or down, but aside from a little latency, it works just as well as my Variax. It actually has less latency than that does! But it's cool to have that option in the rig.

The monitor out thing is also interesting, I actually use the XLR and TRS outs at the same time live, one goes to FOH and one to my IEM mixer. But it's cool to have a 3rd stereo option.

His programming team is slow but very diligent and tenacious! I got mine fairly early on, so it's been interesting to see all the updates we have gotten over the years--and for free I might add. But it was a leap of faith as a platform and an expensive one there at the start.

J

This is just speculation on my part. I think Kemper may be about to release a new version. Maybe at Musikmesse next month. I doubt they would announce at a US show like NAMM. After all, they are a German company.

They sold a bunch of their demo units over the last month. Plus they lowered the retail price for the first time by $300 a few months back. And now they add high sample rate support, which as Myramyd pointed out, was something that Herr Kemper had said was not possible. Maybe this is a bone thrown to existing users and those who buy the current model until they announce the new one.

But wouldn't beta testers be working on a KPAII?

I haven't heard of any new software development or hardware development in that regard.

Beta Testers can't tell you what they are working on feature-wise, but they would hint at something new or be given new units for free to test as "insiders".

I've been out of that loop for a while, but no one has leaked a word indicating this. Maybe it's just a price adjustment the the cheaper Helix being on the market, and the flood now of cheaper FXII's because of that company's new upgrade?

All speculation from me, too. I've not heard anything either way.

Great news for Kemper users - maybe this will give OX detractors some hope, as well...

This is really interesting. I wonder how this will affect current profiles, as I'm assuming all profiles to date have been captured at 44.1 — perhaps it would be wiser to stick with 44.1 for older profiles?

I’m wondering if they are just up sampling at the digital outputs and that nothing has really been changed in the rest of the circuitry?

joe

I’m wondering if they are just up sampling at the digital outputs and that nothing has really been changed in the rest of the circuitry?

Click to expand...

That may be likely Joe. But even so, it removes SRC requirement from the equation.

Just saw this on the Kemper forum. Thought I'd pass it along. Entire performance has the DAW controlling all Kemper parameters via MIDI. Quite cool!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C439WGC3JI&feature=youtu.be

[MENTION=20601]scratch17[/MENTION]
thanks for sharing!!