new line6 pod hd500 ? anyone hear about this

[Guitar-Tiz]

I'll never really forgive them for the Vetta fiasco.

yeah ! but thats what made me buy the ultra ! :lol:

Yeah, and if I hadn't ever dated my ex-girlfriend, I wouldn't have met my wife, but I'd never thank my ex for that either. :lol:

 

[mwc2112]

Yeah, and if I hadn't ever dated my ex-girlfriend, I wouldn't have met my wife, but I'd never thank my ex for that either. :lol:

Hahaha... that must be a common theme in Texas. If not for the ex, I would have never come to Tx and would have never met my wife. But yeah, I have no inclination to thank her because that would involve talking to her first. :lol:

As for the POD HD, I hope it's a good product. I'd like to have something I'm comfortable using as a backup to the AxeFX without shelling out for another one.

 

[DADA]

Just some info copied from the Line 6 website:

"Cliff said the ULTRA has four times X3L's DSP...
Well, if the new POD runs eight effects for chain (= 2 times the M13) and has two chains (it would be an absurdity to release a new Variax with magnetc pickups and digital modeling that could only achieve its full potential in the old Vettas and X3 series ...), it will need almost the same ULTRA's DSP. If we add the DSP for running the amp and cab simulations, considering one per chain, maybe the new POD will be most powerful than the ULTRA. Of course, Cliff probably will have an AXE-FX 'MEGA' planned if the new POD generation is so powerful as it seems to be. One more information: if I'm not wrong, I read Cliff saying that the FRACTAL's pedalboard project were lass powerful than the AXE-FX STANDARD.
Maybe, Line 6 will eventually develop 'model packs' with more amplifiers for Spider IV and for the new POD, as well as new 'model packs' with effects for the M13/M9 and for the the new POD.
Regards,
Leonardo."

"Line6Renken:
No, we don't want to compete with Fractal. We want to make our new HD modeling sound like the bad a$$ amps that we modeled. We want them to feel like these amps. We set our benchmark always to take modeling as far as we can to nail the sound of the modeled amp. Wait till you get a load of these. Can't wait to hear what you guys think."

And here the link to stay informed:
http://line6.com/podhd/index.html

 

[Brick_top]

Rich also said this:

Hey guys, Rich here. I have been so busy with the new guitar that I haven't been able to jump in as much as I like to. As far as these new products you have been posting about, I can't say anything specific yet. You know as soon as I can, I will. I can tell you this, some of the speculations are way off. These things are so far beyond what anyone is doing today. And, they are only a part of the story that is coming. These are leaks, imagine when the floodgate is opened and all is revealed.

Let me put it this way. I have been working on the James Tyler Variax and if they are Iron Man, the gear that is coming that our guitar will hook up to is War Machine. Back to back destruction.

 

[javajunkie]

I've never really understood why people are so edgy about L6 competing with the Axe-FX. Some people are excitedly hoping it happens, others are paranoid about it fearing it will somehow render their Axe-FX useless or something. I just don't get either camp.

L6 has sent plenty of messages that they aren't interested in competing with Fractal Audio anytime soon. They're in a different sector of the market, and they're doing well there. I think they have the brainpower to compete if they wanted to, but they don't. People hate on them, but they do make some cool products sometimes. The M13 is a product that people wanted for a long time that didn't really exist (a quality ME box without the weight of cheesy amp modeling). I think mine is a great piece of gear and it fits nicely with my Axe-FX. The JTV line looks promising as well.

If the HD is an M series product plus some basic amp modeling it will likely be a decent hit for them. There are a lot of guys looking for something like that now and an all in one solution would beat the M13 + several character series pedals thing that a lot of players are doing now.

I hope L6 continues to put out good products. Yeah, the repackaging gets old at times, but when they do release something new of late it's been a new product that's really cool. Some of their recent stuff also works really nicely along with the Axe-FX (M series and JTV).

D

Well apparently they redid the amp modeling from the ground up. You can bet the will be adding model packs. I'm interested to see what they have done and how it inspires others (if warranted).

 

[Doc]

Well apparently they redid the amp modeling from the ground up. You can bet the will be adding model packs. I'm interested to see what they have done and how it inspires others (if warranted).

Me too. When I visited the L6 booth at Musikmesse in March this year I got the impression that the big ship (Line 6) is moving again, this time in the right direction (towards innovation).
HD = High definition.
And I´m not sure about the model packs. I´m glad they´re going the quality over quantitiy route finally.

I also learned that several of their engineers actually play and own FAS products, so it´s for sure they had to be inspired to improve.

OTOH I also learned about the restrictions in a company as big as L6 when you want to innovate but you can´t (because you´re not allowed to), yet.

 

[javajunkie]

Well apparently they redid the amp modeling from the ground up. You can bet the will be adding model packs. I'm interested to see what they have done and how it inspires others (if warranted).

Me too. When I visited the L6 booth at Musikmesse in March this year I got the impression that the big ship (Line 6) is moving again, this time in the right direction (towards innovation).
HD = High definition.
And I´m not sure about the model packs. I´m glad they´re going the quality over quantitiy route finally.

I also learned that several of their engineers actually play and own FAS products, so it´s for sure they had to be inspired to improve.

OTOH I also learned about the restrictions in a company as big as L6 when you want to innovate but you can´t (because you´re not allowed to), yet.

That is a huge area where fractal has an advantage.

 

[FractalAudio]

My guess is the new Pod is using the new ADSP-21469 DSP. The fastest version runs at 450 MHz. It's a decent DSP for the price. About half as powerful as the TigerSHARC in my tests. My guess is they're using the 400 MHz version.

If it has two of them then it will rival a standard Axe-Fx in power. For the price it seems unlikely it will have two unless they really cheaped out on the rest of the parts.

With only 16 amp models you know that the marketing angle will be to sell model packs. Either they'll sell downloads or get you on a subscription. Kind of like the cell phone business model. Sell the hardware cheap and then keep the revenue stream flowing after the initial sale. That's been a successful approach so far. Time will tell if consumers become weary of it.

 

[Jay Mitchell]

Well it's bound to happen that at some point someone will come with similar quality product (maybe a little bit less, but not by much) but at a fraction of price. You might get weaker AD/DAs or opamps,

You just contradicted yourself. If you get "weaker AD/DAs or opamps," you will not be getting a "similar quality product."

but you will pay 25% of what you pay now or less.

The Axe-Fx has been out four years now, and it hasn't happened yet. If there eventually is a product with similar quality hardware that sells for less, there's still the issue of the algorithms in the Axe-Fx.

High end "have a record deal" market rarely uses modellers for anything,

Wrong. Just plain wrong.

Anyway, modellers are computers.

No. A dedicated DSP hardware platform with associated firmware is not a "computer" in the generic sense in which you use the word.

They become obsolete in a couple of years,

See above. The Axe-Fx has already disproven this statement.

 

[javajunkie]

My guess is the new Pod is using the new ADSP-21469 DSP. The fastest version runs at 450 MHz. It's a decent DSP for the price. About half as powerful as the TigerSHARC in my tests. My guess is they're using the 400 MHz version.

If it has two of them then it will rival a standard Axe-Fx in power. For the price it seems unlikely it will have two unless they really cheaped out on the rest of the parts.

With only 16 amp models you know that the marketing angle will be to sell model packs. Either they'll sell downloads or get you on a subscription. Kind of like the cell phone business model. Sell the hardware cheap and then keep the revenue stream flowing after the initial sale. That's been a successful approach so far. Time will tell if consumers become weary of it.

My guess it will uses basically the same parts (switch, converters, jacks, etc, as the m13). My guess is they will make up for the low price by selling the model packs. Perhaps even selling cab models.

They also have the adaptive amp thing coming out. I have no idea what that is all about. I'm going to guess a FRFR amp and cab w/ features integrated with the new line.

Time to come out with the dual processor Ultra
Imagine the possibilities

You'll also notice they added a master volume knob

 

[Scott Peterson]

I've never understood the need to somehow outguess each other on what will come.

I'll check it out for sure once it has come and is available out of curiosity if nothing else. Nothing else matters one bit to me, including all the muscle flexing you see on speculation threads like this.

Line 6 does marketing well, if no one remembers how the Pocket POD, SpiderValve or X3 series was marketed and the boards on the Net went nuts with the speculation threads. They sort of beg the question, work the 'dealers leaked it, we didn't' angle and create the hype. It's similar to how movies are often marketed, social networking and so forth. They have Rich Renkin out there doing yeoman's work and his attitude and emotional control on the boards is spot on for the job. He's very good at what he does on the Net.

If nothing else, it's yet another case study in how to generate interest and product awareness before going to market. Creating and fueling the demand excites the buyers on the retail level and that activates dealer/distributor orders before the sales channel is opened. They work it very well.

Kudos to them on it.

 

[hoss]

Great post, Scott.

Good marketing people know how to take classic "Guerilla Marketing" to social websites like forums, Facebook, etc.

A question about what Jay wrote above:
We know the Axe is more than just great hardware, it features incredible algorithms which are probably impossible to reverse engineer.
Is there an emergency plan, if Cliff should decide to quit or - heaven forbid - happens to be in a plane crash? Are people in the know, who can take over?

 

[javajunkie]

I've never understood the need to somehow outguess each other on what will come.

I'll check it out for sure once it has come and is available out of curiosity if nothing else. Nothing else matters one bit to me, including all the muscle flexing you see on speculation threads like this.

Line 6 does marketing well, if no one remembers how the Pocket POD, SpiderValve or X3 series was marketed and the boards on the Net went nuts with the speculation threads. They sort of beg the question, work the 'dealers leaked it, we didn't' angle and create the hype. It's similar to how movies are often marketed, social networking and so forth. They have Rich Renkin out there doing yeoman's work and his attitude and emotional control on the boards is spot on for the job. He's very good at what he does on the Net.

If nothing else, it's yet another case study in how to generate interest and product awareness before going to market. Creating and fueling the demand excites the buyers on the retail level and that activates dealer/distributor orders before the sales channel is opened. They work it very well.

Kudos to them on it.

Spot on.

 

[VegaBaby]

No matter if it's gonna be good, bad or better than the Axe, they sure know how to create a buzz on the internet, the place for marketing.

Pictures and details were leaked...my a** ! I worked freelance for them as a demonstrator/product specialist for around 6-7 years (before FAS was born) and if I had leaked anything back then, with all the NDAs signed, they would have sued my a** once around the planet, not even talking about that I would have never been hired again.

Then they let it sink in for a few days on the forums until (and I never met him personally since that was after my time) one of their team leaders comes in to put a couple of things straight, eventhough 'he's not supposed to talk about anything' and 'could get into trouble if they found out'...Yeah right :lol: .Psychology one on one anybody ?

It's great how they play it. Will I check it out ? Nah...I'd say maybe to probably not. But what I find dangerous (eventhough part of advertizing) is to verbally set a bar: 'the best ever', 'better than anything you've heard before' etc... Maybe it's just the way I am, but I prefer letting actions speak rather than words. It'll sure be interesting to see if they can back up their huge words...

 

[mba]

According to Rich Renkin the effects of the M13 will be available into the pod hd.
If this is the same quality than the M13 IMO they didn't play in the same league but of course the always can be useful for some people.

 

[Guitar-Tiz]

Line 6 does marketing well..

Unfortunately, good marketing, and a good product don't always go hand in hand.

Also unfortunate is the fact that Line 6 is a good example of GREAT marketing, and poor product.

But I, like you, will go check it out, if only to satisfy the gear addict in me.

 

[mark_melling]

I miss acousticwizard AKA tonefreak, he could tell us everything we need to know... :lol:

 

[Brick_top]

According to Rich Renkin the effects of the M13 will be available into the pod hd.
If this is the same quality than the M13 IMO they didn't play in the same league but of course the always can be useful for some people.

More specifically he said this:

The M13 effects are in the HD500. They fit. They would not fit in the X3. So that should tell you where we are going with this HD500.

Should be a nice upgrade from the x3? apparently lots of people are using m13/9s for effects on their pedalboards.

I would guess they have "matched" the quality of the effects from m13/9 with the new amp models.

The adaptive amp thing is a bit puzzling though

 

[Scott Peterson]

The adaptive amp thing is a bit puzzling though

How so? It is obviously some sort of powered monitor. Remains to be seen, but that seems pretty straightforward to me.

 

[boleary2]

quote from Dann Huff, who has played on or produced probably more records than anyone
on the planet (as far as number of units sold) and his take regarding modeling technology:


"How has technology changed the way you make records?

It’s not like it was five years ago. I usually don’t endorse things. I prefer to buy and not be beholden to a company. I don’t use stuff because I get it free. Several engineer friends are flabbergasted at the guitar parts I bring in thanks to the DAW and plug-ins. All I have to do is plug in and do it, and they’re shocked because they hear it for what it is, not for a direct recording process. These are discerning ears, so if they don’t hear the difference …. This virtual guitar stuff sits in the track differently. The new POD Farm has a list of effects, twenty distortion pedals, ten delays; they’ve gotten so good at modeling these things. Ultimately, my favorite lesson about sound came from my hero, Mutt Lange, the greatest producer of all time. I didn’t do this on purpose, but I modeled my take on sound from him. I worked with him a lot as a guitar player, and whatever was there, you used. He’s used Rockmans on massive records and you’d never know. He says there is no bad sound—turn it up and it becomes greater sound! All sound is usable. The trick is how you use it. "

I love my axe and wish Dann would get ahold of one and give us some presets (like tri-stereo chorus!), but he has not (at least not that i know of)
but this just proves to me that anything can be a great musical tool in the hands of someone that can dial it in. Yes, axe-fx is the best on the planet and
the tones are steller and so usable, but line6 is doing some good stuff too and I am excited about hearing the hd500. it will at least mean that those
that cannot/will not buy the axe but use modelers, will sound less awful! Cannot wait to start hearing demo's of the hd500 and see what rich
and his people have cooked up that they state will be a game changer.