Line 6

Founded in California in 1996, Line 6 manufactures digital modelling instruments, amplifiers and effects processors. Digital modelling is a process whereby a series of software equations and algorithms are used to emulate a specific audio sound source such as a popular guitar amplifier. Digital modelling is Line 6's core business and they produce a range of products that use modelling technology such as the Pod x3 and the Pod x3 Live multi-effects units - both of which helped to establish the company within the digital effects market.

Thanks to the success of both of these products, Line 6 underwent rapid expansion in the early years of the new millennium and extended their product portfolio with a range of digital modelling guitar amplifiers and combos along with a series of digital modelling instruments known as the Variax range.

Line 6 Differentiators

Line 6's products are essentially good at imitating the sound of a wide range of classic and modern guitar amplifiers, effects pedals, amplifier cabinets and microphones. The Variax range, released a few years ago, actually takes this concept one step further and emulates classic and modern instruments. At the push of a button, the Variax transforms the sound of modern electric guitars, basses and acoustic guitars' into any number of their classic counterparts. By establishing themselves as market leaders within this niche parameter, Line 6's extensive digital modelling expertise has become the main differentiator between themselves and their competitors.

A secondary important differentiator is that many Line 6 products have the ability to update their core system software, so that as new digital modelling sounds are created the product can be updated to include the latest releases.

Line 6 Today

Today Line 6 is one of the leading innovators within the realms of digital modelling. Over the past few years they have produced guitar amplifiers such as the Spider range, which included a variety of brand new pre-programmed modelling emulations and on-board effects. The Line 6 Toneport range have recently been replaced with the new POD Studio GX Guitar Effects module that provides a full and comprehensive range of guitar and amplifier modeling effects and includes the new POD Farm Modeling Software interface that connects to a PC or Mac via USB connectivity.

In 2007 Line 6 released its latest modelling guitar amplifier, the Spider Valve range. Designed in collaboration with famous LA amp guru Reinhart Bogner, the Spider Valve actually uses real valves to create true harmonic distortion - something that was never quite convincing enough when done by the software algorithms.

Line 6 are now an established player in the modelling and effects market
and will undoubtedly continue to expand their portfolio of products by
pushing the boundaries of digital modelling in the future.