Line 6 (company)
Line 6 is a founded in 1996 and headquartered Agoura Hills, California, United States. The American company now offers a wide range of products. From Software about music -effects pedals, amplifiers, modeling Basses and modeling guitars, recorders, and digital wireless microphones and wireless systems for guitar and bass.
The first hardware product came on the market in 1996: " Axsys 212 " was called the first "Guitar Modeling Amp" of the company. This amplifier type is the sound of various classic and modern guitar amplifiers, effects pedals, guitar speakers and microphones digitally calculated and as close as possible according to the analog model. For this first model a whole family of amplifiers for electric guitar and bass evolved over time. In addition, effect devices are offered that are based also on analog models. In 2009, the product range to wireless systems for guitar and bass has been extended.
In the early 2000s, the business of the company continued to develop rapidly, especially due to the success of the red, kidney-shaped " POD " guitar preamp. In 2007, there were - certainly for the sake of expansion of the product range - with the introduction of tube amplifiers is a partial departure from the pure digital sound production.
Some Line6 devices can simulate multiple amplifiers simultaneously (eg Vetta II), thus allowing the so-called bi- amping, which was operated for example by Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Line 6 has developed the so-called " Variax " models, digital modeling guitars and basses. " Variax " instruments can simulate a wide variety of instruments sound convincing. The material the designs and the Tonabnehmerbestückungen a guitar can be selected via a rotary switch on the instrument. The pitch of each individual string can be digitally changed: different moods of the electric guitar are playable within seconds without the need to tune the instrument mechanically. In 2010, the second generation of the " Variax " was introduced, in addition to modeling ( piezo pickup in the bridge of the electric guitar ) has installed also traditionally used in guitar pickups. This take on the tone pickup from the strings when either the battery ( Holds 12 hours of play ) the guitar modeling is empty or you support the modeling sound (you can piezo and regular pickups continuously mix with each other). A virtual Capo transposed the chords when needed and overall, the modeling has evolved from an impressively realistic way. Here is a serious alternative has been developed to the classical instrument.
A special feature is that amplifiers and guitars are often upgradeable software and download different sound settings in the Internet or replaced. These Line 6 provides its users with a software ( Line 6 Monkey) available that makes this possible. In addition, the possibility for some products offer the functionality of the devices through a fee-based Modeling pack to expand or install a free update of the modeling software (DT amps, Pod hfs, Variax )
Beginning of 2014 the modeling amplifier series Amplifi was presented. The key innovation is that the devices using a smartphone or tablet (currently only Apple products ) are connected via Bluetooth and the sound settings (presets) can be transmitted from an online database about it right into the amp.
Artists who are using Line 6 products are, for example, James Hetfield of Metallica, Matthew Bellamy of Muse, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, and The Edge of U2, or the group Black Sabbath, Scissor Sisters, Esbjörn Svensson Trio Tears for Fears.
Product Portfolio: Meanwhile including radio microphones, guitars broadcasting equipment and PA systems for product range.