Line 6
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Line 6, founded in the mid-1990's and based in Calabasas, California, is a manufacturer of digital modelling electric guitars, acoustic guitars, amplifiers and effects processors.
After years of research and playing, Line 6 launched a patented technology in 1996, with the world's first digital modeling guitar amplifier, the AxSys 212. The company underwent a rapid expansion in the early 2000's 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 dual tone capability, 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 RJ45 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.
Contents |
[edit] Line 6 Products
[edit] Guitar Amplifiers
- AxSys - A 100 watt 2x10 combo instrument amplifier released in 1996. It contained amplifier and effect modes and could be controlled using an external floorboard controller (either the Floor Board or FB4) or MIDI controller.
- AX2 - An updated version of the original AxSys, released in 1997. Owners of the original AxSys could upgrade to the new version by replacing the software EPROM.
- Duoverb - A 100-watt stereo amplifier head/combo which provides the ability to model 16 different classic amps such as the '53 Fender Tweed Deluxe and the '65 Marshall JTM45. This amplifier really shines in its dual mode, allowing it to model two different amplifiers at the same time, either splitting or blending the two tones through to the speakers.
- Flextone - A line of guitar amplifiers which was 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, the smallest being a 1x12" 75 watt combo and the largest being a 150 watt 2x12" combo.
- HD 147 - A 300-watt stereo amplifier head.
- Spider - A line of guitar amplifiers including the Spider I, Spider II, Spider III, Spider Valve, Spider Jam and the Micro Spider. The Spider Valve was created in in conjunction with Bogner Amplification principal designer Reinhart Bogner.
- Vetta I & II - A 300-watt stereo amplifier which provides 79 amp models, 27 speaker cabinet models, over 50 stompbox and studio effects models, 6 different mic models. Inputs and outputs include 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), a Variax digital guitar input, and a 1/4-inch programmable stereo effects loop, and MIDI in and out. It is offered in both head and 2x12 combo versions (the combo produces 150 watts stereo).
[edit] Bass Amplifiers
- Lowdown - A line of bass guitar combo amplifiers similar to their Spider line of guitar amplifiers. There are 4 combos available, the smallest being a 75 watt 1x10" and the largest being a 300 watt 1x15" version.
[edit] Pedalboards/Stomp Boxes
- Floor Pod - A pedalboard based on a subset of sounds from the Pod 2.0. It contains 12 amp models, 12 effect models. It is controlled via three foot pedals and an expression pedal.
- Floor Pod Plus - A updated version of the Floor Pod. It includes 32 amp models and 16 cab and 24 effect models. It is controlled via seven foot pedals and expression pedal.
- "Tonecore"
[edit] Audio Interfaces/ Effects Processors
- GuitarPort - an audio interface, replaced by the TonePort line.
- TonePort GX, UX1, UX2, KB37, and UX8 - an audio interface based on tones from the PODxt and Bass PODxt line, designed for recording vocals, guitar, or bass. 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.
- Pod 2.0 - An effects processor with 32 amp models and many effects models.
- Pod XT - An update to the Pod 2.0, based on newer modeling technology, with an LCD screen, and more detailed editing of parameters. It comes in both the "kidney bean"-shaped version, the Pod XT Live (pedalboard) version, and rack-mountable Pod XT Pro version. All are expandable through the activation of additional "Model Packs" (add-on software that includes additional models). There is a similar line of products for bass guitar.
- Pod X3 - The most recent model in the POD series. It comes in both the "kidney bean" shaped version and the Pod X3 Live pedalboard version. The X3 is the first POD to feature dual tones, allowing the user to set up two separate rigs, either blended together or sent through separate outs. 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.
[edit] Musical Instruments
- Variax - A line of acoustic, bass and electric guitars which include 26 different guitar models, including Gibsons, Fenders, Rickenbackers, a Gibson banjo, a Coral electric sitar, and ten different acoustic guitars. Current models include the Variax 600 and 700 (electric modeling guitars), the Variax Acoustic 300 (both nylon- and steel-string models) and the Variax Acoustic 700. Discontinued models include the Variax 300 and 500 electrics, and the Variax Bass 700 (4-string) and the Variax Bass 705 (5-string).
[edit] Software
- 64 bit driver support - Line 6 software supports 64 bit Windows on XP x64 and Vista 64. 32 bit and 64 bit ASIO drivers are available for 64 bit Windows, which can be installed from a single installer. Line 6 software downloads are available for free at http://software.line6.com.
- Variax Workbench - A software application that can interface a home computer with a Variax electric guitar to create new types of virtual guitars, allowing the user to change the body type, number and position of pickups and even allowing the specification of alternate tunings. The Variax Digital Interface (available as a package with the Workbench software) allows the user to upgrade and/or modify the software on most versions of the Variax that have the digital connector. It has slightly different functions for the Variax Acoustic 700 series, and no editing functions for the Variax basses or the newer 300 model acoustics (which have no digital interface).
- Gearbox - A tone editing software providing a visual interface that is easy-to-navigate interface for dialing up the perfect tone for your guitar, bass, and vocals. Access meticulously crafted models of 18 guitar amp models, 24 speaker cab models, 5 bass amp models, and 30 stompbox and studio effects plus 6 mic preamp models. See screenshot![1]
[edit] Line 6 users
- Black Sabbath[1]
- Blue Öyster Cult[2]
- Dawn Of Azazel
- Buckethead[3]
- Dethklok[4]
- Guns N' Roses (current)[5]
- Jimmy Page
- Jonny Buckland(Coldplay)
- Jeff Beck
- Brian Chippendale
- Devo
- Eric Johnson
- Ihsahn[6]
- Keane[7]
- Lightning Bolt
- Meshuggah[8]
- Megadeth[9]
- Metallica[10] [11]
- Muse[12]
- Nine Inch Nails[13]
- Porcupine Tree[14] [15]
- Public Enemy[16]
- Radiohead
- Rammstein
- Avenged Sevenfold
- Linkin Park
- Korn
- Richard Coleman
- Mike Oldfield
- Scissor Sisters[17]
- Sebadoh (during acoustic tour)
- Slipknot[18]
- Symphony X[19]
- Taking Back Sunday[20]
- Tears for Fears[21]
- These Arms Are Snakes
- U2[22]
- Weezer
- Garbage [23]
- Maroon 5 [24]
- Never Ending Circle
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Blue Öyster Cult website"
- ^ "http://www.bingeandgrab.com/bucketgear.html"
- ^ "http://youtube.com/watch?v=hrbmTWQRqlw"
- ^ "[http://line6.com/news/artist/553 Line6 - Line 6 Evanescence Artists]"
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line 6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line 6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line 6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line 6 - Line 6 Artists"
- ^ "Line 6 - Line 6 Artists"
