Pro Audio, Music & Mac Blog

Just in from Line6… If you have a PODxt and have been thinking about adding some of the model packs or their GearBox plug-in, this is a pretty awesome deal!

2nd Chance: get it all for one low price. 

Worth up to $400 if purchased separately.

We ran this special offer in April, and it was so popular we’ve decided to make it available again. You can add full VST / AU / RTAS plug-in functionality plus get every model pack available to max out the tone of your GuitarPort, PODxt family, or TonePort for one ridiculously low price, $169.95

Everything is included:

- Metal Shop model pack. 
- Collector Classics model pack. 
- FX Junkie model pack. 
- Power Pack. 
- Bass Expansion model pack. 
- GearBox Plug-in Download.

Amounts shown in US Dollars (USD).

Order from:
line6.com/store/storefront.html

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Questions? Read on…

- What is a Plug-in? 
It provides seamless integration and flexibility with your computer recording application, allowing you to: 
- “Re-amp” to change your sound after it’s been recorded. 
- Run multiple plug-ins on a single track to create intricate effects chains. 
- Create doubling effects and dual amp tones. 
- Automate GearBox effects and settings with your recording application. 
- Apply effects and amp processing to pre-recorded loops. 
- Mix and master with studio-quality compressors, reverbs and preamps.

- What compatibility does GearBox Plug-in Download provide and on which computers? 
Mac® RTAS®/AU, Windows® RTAS®/VST®

- What is a Model Pack? 
It is a bundle of additional amplifier models and effects that can be enabled in your Line 6 gear to give you a whole new range of flexibility to dial in just the tone you need. There are different Model Packs available, depending on what style you would like to explore. This bundle includes them all.

- Exactly what amps and effects are included in each Model Pack? 
Please see the following question. Each of the links contains the complete list of amps and effects, plus some audio samples.

- What if I already own a Model Pack? 
If your gear came with a model pack pre-installed or if you purchased one already, this is still a great way to max out your tones and effects without paying for all of the rest of them separately.

- What if I already own the GearBox Plug-in? 
If your gear came with the GearBox Plug-in or if you already purchased it separately, this is still a great deal for the complete set of model packs.

- Will all the tones and effects in the Model Packs work as plug-ins too? 
Yes, any Model Packs you already own or included with this bundle will also have plug-in capability (as long as you have the Line 6 device with the activated plug-in and model packs connected to your computer).

- Is this bundle compatible with POD 2.0 or POD X3? 
No, but you will end up with practically all the models in a POD X3.

- Exactly what Line 6 device do I need for this bundle? 
Model Packs and GearBox Plug-in download are compatible with: GuitarPort, GuitarPort RiffTracker, PODxt, PODxt Live, PODxt Pro, TonePort GX, TonePort KB37, TonePort UX1, TonePort UX2, TonePort UX8, TonePort DI.

- How is this Gold Bundle offer different from the GearBox Plug-in Gold product offered in stores? 
This Gold Bundle offer is only available as an electronic delivery from the Line 6 online store, but the GearBox Plug-in Gold is available from retailers and websites as a boxed product. Both offer the same model packs and plug-in functionality. The GearBox Plug-in Gold (box) comes with a TonePort DI device that must be connected to your computer. The Gold Bundle online offer does not come with any hardware because it is designed to be used with your existing compatible hardware in the place of the TonePort DI.

- What if I purchased a Model Pack or GearBox Plug-in Download at the original price? 
Line 6 does not offer price protection, but if you purchased within the last 30 days, just return your license key for a refund and re-purchase now.

- Do I need to download anything after I purchase a Model Pack or GearBox Plug-in? 
Probably not (just the “Monkey” if you do not have it already). Line 6 will give you a License Key after your purchase (found on the Thank You page, also in your account page, as well as in an email receipt we will send).

- How do I install the License Key 
Line 6 Monkey is the utility used to install the license key. If you don’t have it already, we will give you a download link and complete instructions (it’s easy).

- Can I transfer some or all of the Model Packs or GearBox Plug-in to another Line 6 device? 
Yes, you can transfer all of them together. This is another advantage of the Gold Bundle online offer versus the GearBox Plug-in Gold box version.

- What if my computer crashes, what will happen to my Model Packs? 
The Model Packs and GearBox Plug-in are enabled in your Line 6 gear, so computer crashes will not affect them.

- Is there a Money-back Guarantee? 
Of course, you can return it within 30 days for a full refund, no problem. It is as simple as pasting your license keys into a web page on the line 6 website, and then running Line 6 Monkey with your gear connected to your computer.

What is the cost in Euros? 
This depends on your local rates and any fees from your credit card provider, but 25 USD is approximately 16 EUR now.

Got more questions? 
Read the FAQ: http://line6.com/modelPacks/faq.html

Dudes…

It’s been a long time since I really posted any new Gear Porn.  That’s about to change!

I have a HUGE BONER for some new stuff that I’m going to write about over the next few weeks. I’d like to get your feedback on:

The new MOTU 828MK3 with onboard effects

The new Line6 POD X3 Live

I’m also going to do a review of Digital Perfomer 6 (anyone know when DP6 is really gonna ship?).

Plus, my pal just turned me onto a GREAT new drum sampler  – Addictive Drums

Talk you soon…

Brian

    via Yahoo Music News  Radiohead’s much discussed “free” album, “In Rainbows” has hit #1 with 122,000 sales.  

There’s a great thread going on at the R-E-P Forum at ProSoundWeb.com killing dead, once and for all, the wretched notion that you need to slam as hot of a signal as possible into the A/D converters to “make use of all the bits”…  

Some really cool tangential discussion about all the reasons why it’s so counterproductive with today’s modern digital recordings. Even at 24 bit 44.1k, the noise floor is a complete non-issue.  The biggest problem being available headroom for plug-ins to do their math and the summing buss trying to make sense of everything being slammed so hard. 

I’ve been saying it for years. One of the reasons digital sounds “harsh” to people is that they try to run everything too damn hot!

Read the thread here: Digital Tracking with Low Levels

 Line6 has released the new PocketPOD (check out the video). It’s about the size of a tuner (5″ long by 3 1/2″ wide by 2″ deep, and weighs only 6 ounces) and has the same onboard USB digital interface has onboard USB for connecting to your computer to control the device via MIDI (no audio over USB), or to move patches in and out, making this super cool to load up with your favorite sounds from your PODxt, PODxt Live, or POD Pro, then throw it in your gig bag or guitar case. It’s really like a Rockman on steroids! Couple of things to note:  

1. It has a 1/8″ mini-jack (headphone style) so you’ll need an adaptor or 1/8″ to TRS cable. 
2. Has a mini-jack input so you can connect your iPod or whatever and jam away…
3. Has one unbalanced line out you can connect to a PA.

Amp Models based on*:
Marshall® JTM-45 meets Budda Twinmaster
’60 Tweed Fender® Champ®
Budda Twinmaster head
	’65 Blackface Fender® Twin Reverb®
’60 Vox® AC 15
’60 Vox® AC 30 non-Top Boost
	’85 Mesa/Boogie® Mark IIc+ Clean Channel
’85 Mesa/Boogie® Mark IIc+ Drive Channel
Dumble® Overdrive Special Clean Channel
’95 Mesa/Boogie® Dual Rectifier® Head
’89 Soldano SLO Super Lead Overdrive
Dumble® Overdrive Special Drive Channel
1987 Roland® JC-120 Jazz Chorus
Line 6® Insane
Cabinet Models based on*:
1960 Fender® Tweed Champ®
1952 Fender® Tweed Deluxe Reverb®
1960 Vox® AC-15
1964 Fender® Deluxe Reverb®
1965 Fender® Blackface Twin Reverb®
1967 Vox® AC-30
1995 Matchless Chieftain
1959 Fender® Bassman®
1996 Marshall® with Vintage 30s
1978 Marshall® with stock 70s
1968 Marshall® Basketweave with Greenbacks
Line 6® 4×12
Line 6® 1×12
Line 6® 2×12
Line 6® 4×10

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Apple’s PC market share rises to 5.6 percent in Q2

The Cupertino-based Mac maker was bested only by Dell, HP and Gateway, respectively. Dell maintained its rank as the top U.S. vendor, having shipped 4.85 million units for a 28.4 percent U.S. share. However, it continued to see its share of the market eroded by rivals, registering a near 11 percent yearly decline.

No question about it… There is a fundamental change afoot in the desirability of a new Mac to average PC users that NEVER would have previously dared think such a heretical thought just a few short years ago.

I’m thinkin’ AAPL @ 160 by summer’s end, 180 by EOY 07… Hmm.

So, my son got Guitar Hero II for Playstation 2 this past Christmas and it’s a BLAST, but it can be really tricky if your are actually a proficient guitar player because it requires that you 1) hit the notes as the guy plays them, not as you might 2) the way the track is played in the game is sort of subjective – not exactly as the song goes in some cases.

I just watched the hilarious video below of Anthrax guitar player Scott Ian getting his ass kicked playing his own song in Guitar Hero II. He gets PWNED and booed off the stage! His response is classic, “my monitors were terrible.. couldn’t hear myself…” LOL!

Watch video of Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian SUCK at his own song playing Guitar Hero II.

GML makes some of the finest audio gear on earth and George Massenburg’s contribution to the art and science of audio recording and production are deservedly legendary. A buddy recently turned me onto a GREAT long-form DVD style movie featuring George demonstrating the GML 8900. The links are below and you simply need to watch it.BUT, I snipped out this quote because I thought it was funny as hell.[wp_youtube]oFXCr3_9R7Y[/wp_youtube] George Massenburg Labs Support Page has a great in-depth video “white paper” on using the GML 8900 compressor, but it’s really a great lesson in itself about compression in general.Here’s the direct links to the Quicktime movies:Hi Res – 87.3MBLo Res – 12.5MB