Line 6

Line 6 was founded in 1996 in Los Angeles, California and is one of the most innovative companies in the music business. With the AxSys 212, Line 6 was the first company to introduce a modeling amp, thus creating a completely new category of guitar amplifiers. The special thing about a modelling amp is the fact that it recreates countless classic and modern amp types on a software basis, which then sound just as convincing as the originals. So you have a complete collection of different guitar amps in just one device.

Line 6 POD – Foundation of Amp Modeling

In 1998, the manufacturer then introduced Line 6's most famous device: the POD. The Line 6 POD is a kidney-shaped preamp that, in its first incarnation, combines 16 models of well-known amplifiers as well as the matching cabinet models and the most important effects in one portable device. Thanks to the clever A.I.R circuitry, these amps sound as if they were recorded by an experienced engineer in a professional recording studio with the right microphones. So you can make professional-sounding recordings in the studio or at home without lugging around a truckload of guitar amps. POD is now available in a variety of versions - from the small Pocket POD to the stage-ready POD X3 Live - and can be heard on countless productions. In addition to amplifiers, Line 6 models classic effects and brings them to market in the form of the 4x4 stompboxes. There are now four different units - DL 4, DM4, MM4 and FM 4 - each specialising in a particular effects group.

Line 6 Stompbox Modeler and Modeling Amps

The latest addition is the Line 6 M13 Stompbox Modeler, which combines all stompboxes and is also equipped with a looper. After the first modeling amp AxSys212, the Line 6 continued with the amplifiers of the Spider and Flextone series. In the meantime, the Spider III amplifier series has become one of the most successful worldwide. The Spider III 15 and Spider III 30 are particularly popular with beginners and pros alike as practice amps. The Spider JAM takes a special position, which, in addition to the amp simulations, also contains hundreds of professional backing tracks from well-known session musicians, as well as a loop recorder, making it the ultimate "have fun and get better" machine. Likewise, with the Spider Valve series, Line 6 now has modelling amps that use analogue tube technology and offer the best of both worlds: The diversity of amp modelling and the performance of a tube amp. Line 6 collaborated with American-based German amp guru Reinhold Bogner to produce th1e Spider Valve. Reinhold Bogner is considered one of the best amp designers in the world and has tuned the amps of legends such as Eddie van Halen, Steve Vai and Steve Stevens, in addition to his own custom shop amps.

The flagship of Line 6 amplifiers is the Vetta II. This offers an incredible number of amp models, effects, cabinets and mics as well as the unique possibility of bi-amping. This means that by using two separate amps and their effects etc. you are able to play at the same time. This is the method of amplification used by guitarists such as Eric Johnson or Stevie Ray Vaughan in their recordings and often live.

Line 6 Variax – electric guitar with modeling technology

As a solution for guitarists, Line 6 offers the Variax Guitar, an instrument that simulates 25 different guitars at the touch of a button. So you can jump from a single-coil guitar to a humbucker guitar and from a 12-string acoustic to a sitar in the blink of an eye. The Variax is available in the electric guitar version Variax 600 and Variax 700, as well as in the acoustic guitar version Variax 300 Acoustic and Variax 700 Acoustic. With the additional Variax Workbench, you can create your own guitar model on the computer.

Line 6 in the Recording Studio

As computer recording has grown in recent years, Line 6 offers products that give guitarists professional sound and are easy to use. With the latest POD Studio audio interface series, Line 6 has created powerful tools for guitar recording. There are many different amps, effects, cabinets and mics to choose from in modelled form and, as with the Vetta II and POD X3, you can process two signals simultaneously. Alternatively, you can connect two instruments at the same time. And with amplifiers for bass and vocals available alongside guitar amps, you can produce a complete production using POD Studio Interfaces and the included POD Farm software. In addition to latency-free, Line 6-specific Tone Direct monitoring, you can use POD Farm software as a plug-in within your DAW. All common formats such as VST, AU, RTAS are supported.