Kemper Profiler Support

Morningstar Software Bug Reports and Feature Requests
1

The feature would add support for the Kemper Profiler … with a special focus on the Kemper Profiler Player which has no display and limited buttons.

Here’s what I’m thinking:

  • Display the names of the 5 presets in current bank and indicate which is selected.
  • Display the state of each effect block (on/off and a color/icon for the type)
  • Toggle the state of each effect block (we get that for free with current midi CC messages).
  • Change banks (just a CC command)
  • Display values of parameters
  • Handle the tuner (Morningstar has that already)

The Paint Audio midi controllers have great support for Kemper … and there’s an open source fork of the firmware which is gaining lot of features and very configurable (especially if you’re a nerd). There’s a vibrant set of users here. It’s also very configurable. Here are a few examples:

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Kemper has one of the most complete and well documented midi implementations I’ve seen. There are some gaps, but it’s pretty compelling. The PySwitch guys have done a great job finding what’s possible and identifying the gaps.

This could be a dedicated Kemper mode … or this could be a set of features that a user could use to setup a bank however they like (for example via special display variables like %K1 for the name of the first preset, %KA for the type of the first block, %Ka for the on/off state of the first block, and the ability to display text with multiple display variables on the MC Pro display in various locations).

That’s just off the top of my head. There’s probably a few more useful features (like expression to NPRN to get 14 bit expression versus 7bit).

My guess is will likely be a MC6/8/4 Pro only feature due to display, memory, and possibly cpu needs.

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Two way communication - kemper
2

Card created

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A Trello card has been created for this request: Kemper Profiler (Player) Support

3

I wholeheartedly agree Quad.
The Kemper profiler player is a serious downsized down weight of any of their previous products and it makes it a lot more guitar Gig Bag friendly rig on the go. Having the accurate bidirectional communication between any kind of remote pedal, and the profiler player is Paramount!
I hope to see more integrated support from Morningstar soon!
I bought the MC6 Pro Ii And used it on a big orchestral pops gig without the bidirectional communication where it was OK I know that it could be better!
Thanks for the suggestion Quad
Al

4

Another Midi Captain Kemper Mode (official, not the fork):

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I think the PySwitch fork can handle this layout as well.

Player Level III would need more slots.

5

The Kemper Remote features would be a good target and source of inspiration.

Callouts:

  • Effect Group Buttons can control multiple blocks
  • Roman numbers on the Blocks display indicate they are tied to the Effects Group Buttons
  • Looper Mode (changes some foot switches to secondary Looper functions)

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6

My guess is enabling Looper, Tap Tempo, and Tuner would be a personal preference.

If the mode had multiple pages or multiple layouts that would help. Not sure I’d want to give up a button to navigate to another page. Maybe long press?

7

Status updated

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Card has been moved from MC Requests to Selected
URL: Kemper Profiler (Player) Support

8

There hasn’t been integration for the regular Kemper yet which has been requested years ago. It was stated due to third party documentation being complicated. If this goes through hopefully it will facilitate that request also.

9

I thought there was a tuner for the Kemper.

Good news is that there’s basically no little difference between the player and the bigger units for most things.

10

No, I’m talking about syncing performances and state of effect blocks.

11

There’s now a next gen Kemper Toaster Mk II hardware coming (and presumably a Stage Mk II) with trickle down features to current the Kemper Player including more blocks … sadly lacking a display (hint, hint). Also an improved looper, next gen profiling/speaker timbre tech, etc.

Now there’s even more reason for a Kemper mode.

Would be really nice to control this from an MC8 Pro (or MC4 Pro) with the nice, large display the Kemper Player really deserves.

Source of Information: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/d4m9rijIce2scIC7oNeY4w

Kemper today announced the immediate availability of the revolutionary PROFILER MK 2 series. Covering all PROFILER products (Head, Rack, Stage, and Power), this upgrade redefines the standard for modern guitar/bass gear with breakthrough innovations that deliver unprecedented performance, flexibility, and creative potential. Innovation doesn’t stop at upgrades. With faster speed, more performance and a no-compromise design, the KEMPER PROFILER MK 2 SERIES SETS A NEW BENCHMARK FOR TONAL PRECISION AND SMOOTHNESS TO CREATE THE MOST COMPLETE FUTURISTIC MUSIC PLATFORM YET.

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Core Upgrade: New Processing Engine

The PROFILER MK 2 Series features an upgraded processing engine that reduces start-up time to approximately 20 seconds and pushes the boundaries of performance in modern musical instruments with a number of innovative features.

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A new era of effect matrix: 20 modules in series, zero latency operation

With the addition of 7 effects modules to the PROFILER MK 2 series, up to 20 audio effects modules can now be run simultaneously with zero signal latency. It’s like having a complete pedal matrix at your feet – but it only takes seconds to start, no complicated wiring, and no permanent memory required.

A New Era of Tone Simulation: Cutting-edge technology released this summer

Kemper’s new Tone Simulation technology for the MK 2 Series (expected to be available this summer) is now being tested with third-party sound vendors, with breakthrough features including:

  • Precise analysis of over 100,000 frequency points: the most accurate speaker simulation in history
  • Dynamic Box Resonance Capture: The industry’s longest and most complex impulse response technology is used to restore the real dynamics
  • Liquid Timbre Simulation Technology: Seamlessly integrates the gain and timbre control of the original speaker, so that a single timbre file can be transformed into a fully dynamic “live speaker”.
  • Hybrid Modeling Technology: Combines deterministic analog measurement with AI intelligent analysis to achieve an unparalleled playing feel
  • MK 2 Series In-Depth Analysis of the New Effect Module: 7 Classic Pedal Functions
  • Seven new “Required Effects” modules have been added: Noise Gate (Palm Ninja), Compressor, Pure Booster, and WahWah), Vintage Chorus, Air Chorus, and Double Tracker. Combined with the original 10 modules, users can now freely configure 20 simultaneous effects chains, enjoying show-level presets right out of the box, while retaining room for deep customization.
  • Lightweight design, professional-grade rugged
  • The PROFILER Stage Mk 2 features a new lightweight aluminum that delivers military-grade durability while reducing weight, making it the most portable, full-featured Profiler device ever available.

Player users are upgraded synchronously

Please note that KEMPER PROFILER Player is already at the “MK 2 level” and will also receive free new features with the upgrade of the MK 2 series (OS 13.0 system).

Existing PROFILER Player users will receive for free:

16 Sync Effect Modules

New signal flow extensions

Timbre emulation will be added soon

Create a professional-grade performance recording solution in a compact form factor and at an affordable price.

8-channel USB direct recording

The whole system supports native 8-channel USB audio, which can achieve multi-track recording and real-time reamping without an external sound card.

Loop recording upgraded

The integrated looper has an extended recording time of up to 2 minutes, and supports real-time layered soundscape construction (Player users need to upgrade to LVL 3).

Fully optimized for performance

The startup speed, preset switching, and interface responsiveness have been significantly improved, and the performance mode is particularly smooth.

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12

Spending more time with the Kemper.

The Kemper Player really needs this. The MC4 Pro would be a perfect pairing for portability. The 8 Pro would be great for control.

The MidiCaptain with PySwitch is a stopgap due to a very tiny display and low memory (it’s in python and there’s about 140K left in userspace with nothing loaded).

13

Also useful to display/toggle FX 1 & 2, Effects I though IIII, and the Fixed Effects.

A bank navigator would be nice: see and select from the current 5 presets and the prior 5 and next 5.

14

Not using the Player myself, but I’m considering the MC8 Pro mainly as a stomp controller (and for expanded expression CC# control, since the local Kemper connections only control a selected few parameters) for my Stage. Sooo..I’ll vote for any solution that makes the MC able to read the state of the stomps!
Possibly a somewhat different request than a pure Kemper mode though…

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15

Here’s how the Kemper displays the Fixed Effects blocks as those blank, narrow, unlabelled boxes at the front and third from last in the chain.

I suspect each quadrant of the Pre Fixed Block (and each half of the Post Fixed Block) turn display on/off independently via fill/no-fill. Rig Manager does this (with each quadrant a different color).

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16

Retrokits just released Retrovision which is a small display for the Kemper via USB. It has two small buttons (5 actions total with short press, long press, combo) and is a Bluetooth Midi Proxy (forwards all Midi to/from Kemper to attached BLE device). This is the missing display and Bluetooth MIDI for the Player.

It also supports the tuner and has a gig timer. Note how it displays the fixed effects as two slim bars with colored dots. There is a version for the non-Player models.

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Hoping I can connect my MC6 Pro (via Widi) or the forthcoming MC4 Pro (hopefully with integrated Midi) via Bluetooth. Always fun pairing two headless Bluetooth devices together.

Would love a version with a slightly larger display.

17

I bought the retrovision.
Not sure what went wrong

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18

Much better to post on Retrokits’s forum https://bla.retrokits.com/ where the the creators of the product will be able to respond. This has little to do with Morningstar.

  • Is this the version of the RetroVision for the Profiler Player or the Profiler? It should say on the box. My version info says connected to the Profiler Player, not Profiler.
  • Try with another USB cable?
    • What’s that silver cap at the end of the cable. I’ve never seen that before.
  • Unplug everything else from the Kemper?
  • Is your Kemper set to receive midi on all channels (or Omni)? The manual suggests it uses CH 1, but I doubt this matters at this point.
19

Actually it was the midi channel. Once I set it to Channel 1, it works.

20

Good to know.

Is that cable with silver cap from Retrokits?