My Life Like A Guitar

LINE 6 GUITAR EFFECT

Line 6, founded in 1996 and based in Calabasas, California, is a manufacturer of digital modelling electric guitars, acoustic guitars, amplifiers and effects processors.

The company underwent a rapid expansion in the early 2000s due to the success of their POD product line, which imitates the sound of various classic and modern guitar amplifiers, effects pedals, amplifier cabinets and microphones. The PODx3 and Podx3 Live products are the most recent development, and they further extend the features of the original POD with more simulations, effects and output options in a 'bean' or in a pedalboard package.

Line 6 currently has several other product lines in production:

Their current flagship amplifier is the Vetta II, which can model two amplifiers at once, plus multiple effects and effects chains, both pre and post amplification. The unit is software-upgradeable, so as new amplifier and effects models become available they can be added to the device. The Vetta I can be upgraded to a Vetta II with a software upgrade and the addition of a hardware interface. This interface provides both digital input and output for the amplifier, in both AES/EBU and S/PDIF formats, as well as a digital signal path for the Line 6 Variax brand of guitars. The interface takes the form of a standard RJ 45 connector, which provides not only the signal path, but power to the Variax as well. The Variax portion of this interface is available on the PODxt Live and Bass PODxt Live.

Line 6 has an active user community, and provides software that allows users to easily download and share patches or device settings. This software covers all of Line 6's existing flagship products.

AX2 - An updated version of the original AxSys, was released in 1997. The new amp featured upgrades in tone and a larger amount of amp models. Owners of the original AxSys could upgrade to the new version by replacing the software EPROM.

AxSys - The original flagship instrument amplifier from Line 6. Released in 1996 in the form of a 2x12 combo powered by 100 watts. It featured many different types of amp models that appeared original, as well as common effects such as tremolo, chorus, distortion, reverb, and delay. The amp could be controlled using an external Line 6 floorboard (either the Floor Board or FB4) or MIDI controller. In addition, the amp also shipped with inputs to control expression pedal settings.

Flextone - A line of guitar amplifiers made by Line 6, basically the POD 2.0 (Flextone II series) or PODxt (Flextone III series) in an amplifier form, with 32 modeled amp tones, 3 reverb types, gate and compressor. The Flextone III series comes in a variety of configurations, from a 1x12" combo with 75 watts to a 2x12" combo with 150 watts. Line 6 flextone article

Floor Pod - A limited floorboard incarnation of the Pod 2.0 effects processor with 12 amp models from the original POD 2.0 series. It features three foot pedals and an expression pedal to control volume and wah. It also contains 12 studio effect models including the Line 6 "Insane" setting among others.

Floor Pod Plus - A more advanced version of the Floor Pod. Now featuring 32 amp models and 16 cab models from the POD2.0. Also included are 16 modulation effects (including chorus, flanger, and tremolo), 6 delay models, and 2 different types of reverb. All can be controlled from the seven foot pedals and expression pedal.

GuitarPort - Hardware that includes amp and effect modeling software and an offer to subscribe to GuitarPort Online where lessons and information can be viewed. The software includes a player which can play tracks downloaded from GuitarPort Online or from CDs played on the computer. The software player allows tracks to be slowed to half speed without changing the pitch.

HD 147 - A 300-watt stereo amplifier head featuring 14 Line 6 amp models, 10 modern amp models, and 8 vintage amp models, as well as 12 vintage effect models based on previous Line 6 delay and modulation modeler pedals , and MIDI compatibility allowing access to deeper editing than possible on the amps manual controls.

Lowdown - A new line of bass guitar amplifiers similar to their Spider amps. Currently there are 4 combos available ranging from the 75 watt 1x10" StuarPortdio version up to the 300 watt 1x15" Pro version. Like the Spider series they contain various amp models and effects.

Pod 2.0 - An effects processor with 32 amp models and an array of effects such as delay, chorus, reverb, flanger, etc. It can be controlled with the FB4 pedal or a more advanced floorboard. The floorboard adds both a volume pedal and a "wah" pedal. Both are connected using a CAT-5 or ethernet cable. It is also available in a 'Pro' studio rack mount package, for expanded input and output capability. A new version was released in 2006, updating the display to a three-digit display, and making the POD only compatible with Line 6's next generation of foot controllers, the FBV series.

Pod XT - A more advanced version of the Pod 2.0, based on their newer modeling technology, with an LCD screen, and deeper editing of parameters. It comes in both the "kidney bean"-shaped version, the Pod XT Live version and rack-mountable Pod XT Pro version. The Pod XT Live includes a floorboard and expression pedal. Its DSP models are expandable through the activation of additional "Model Packs" when the latest firmware is installed. There is a similar line of products for bass as well.

Pod X3 - The latest model of the Pod series. It is based on the Pod XT. It comes in both the "Kidney bean" shaped version and the Pod X3 Live pedalboard version. The Pod X3 live is similar to the Pod XT live, it comes preloaded with the expansion packs that were available for the PODxt but includes an added XLR input option and double amp output. The Pod X3 Live contains both electric guitar and bass guitar DSP amp models, and effect pedal models, plus vintage cabinet and mic simulation (A.I.R).

Spider III - A line of guitar amplifiers, following the Spider I and Spider II series. The Spider III is a solid state amp that models various other amps and also has built-in effects. In addition to the built in models and effects the Spider III series adds in artist presets allowing the user to have tones similar to their favorite bands.

TonePort GX, UX1, UX2, KB37, and UX8 - Digital recording and modeling interfaces, giving the user access to tones available from the PODxt and Bass PODxt and more, for vocals, guitar, or bass on a home computer. All units except the GX come with recording software, so the user can dial in their own sound, or use a preset tone with the software to create quality recordings that can be manipulated using the software. The KB37 features a 37 note keyboard in addition to all the features of the UX2. The UX8 is a rack-mountable interface with inputs for eight simultaneous channels.

Variax - A line of electric guitars developed and marketed by Line 6. The first series of Variax guitars can model around 25 different types of guitars, including Gibsons, Fenders, Rickenbackers and a banjo, an electric sitar, and ten acoustic models. A series of acoustic modeling guitars followed, and after that both 4- and 5-string modeling basses. Current models include: Variax 300, 500, 600 and 700 (electric modeling guitars), Variax Acoustic 300 (both nylon- and steel-string models), Variax Acoustic 700, Variax Bass 700 (4-string) and the Variax Bass 705 (5-string). link

Variax Workbench - A software application that can interface a home computer with a Variax electric guitar to create new types of virtual guitar, allowing the user to change the body type, number of and position of pickups and even allows specifying alternate tunings. It has slightly different functions for the Variax Acoustic series, and no editing functions for the Variax basses and the newer acoustics with no digital interface. The Variax Digital Interface (available for sale as a package with the Workbench software) allows the user to upgrade the software on all versions of the Variax with the digital connector.

Vetta I & II - A 300-watt stereo amplifier that can deliver full power into 4, 8, or 16 ohms speaker cabinets. With its latest software (version 2.5) it offers 79 classic and modern amp models, 27 speaker cabinet models, Over 50 stompbox and studio effects models (including filter and synth), Line 6 A.I.R. II modeling technology with 6 different mic models and positions, Stereo XLR balanced +4dBu direct outputs (with ground lift switch), Stereo 1/4-inch unbalanced –10dBV direct outs, AES/EBU and S/PDIF digital audio ins and outs (up to 24-bit/96k), and a Variax® digital guitar input. It also has a 1/4-inch programmable stereo effects loop, a built-in chromatic tuner, and offers MIDI in and out. It's offered in both head and 2x12 combo versions.

Spider Valve - The newest amp created by Line 6, in conjunction with Bogner Amplification principal designer Reinhart Bogner. The amp is Line 6's first tube offering, and promises to produce more faithful modeling with the addition of real tubes to the Spider III preamp.