Seems like the folks at Line 6 never sleep! The company has announced Variax Workbench version 1.1, the interactive, virtual custom shop available exclusively for Line 6’s Variax Electric 300, 600, and 700 guitars. Originally released in early 2005, the hardware/software package is now available as a free software download for users who connect their Variax directly into Vetta II and PODxt Live using the digital RJ45 cable.
Variax Workbench 1.1 runs on both a Windows PC or Mac OS X computer. Variax Workbench provides access to an amazing collection of pickups, controls and bodies, allowing guitarists to mix and match parts to create their ideal tone. In real time, guitarists can easily listen to and tweak the placement and settings of each until they’ve come up with a guitar that is truly unique and meets their creative needs. In addition to the customization of bodies, pickups and sound, guitarists will also be able to create and store custom tunings and retain bank names when transferring models to and from Variax.
Next up, the company has added a new effects pedal to its popular Tone Core line. This one is called Roto-Machine, and it’s going to please a lot of guitar players (and many keyboard players, as well) who have lusted after a really accurate rotary speaker emulation. Roto-Machine delivers rotating speaker sounds with 145, L16, and 122 filter models. From dreamy clean to swirling overdrive, Roto-Machine features separate controls for Fast and Slow speeds, Drive, and a Blend knob for fine-tuning the drum to horn mix.A selectable Fast, Medium, or Slow switch allows fine-tuning of the ramp time.
The two-in-one footswitch switches between Fast and Slow speeds yielding authentic rotating speaker sounds right from any pedalboard. Roto-Machine can be powered by a standard 9 Volt battery, or the optional DC-1 power supply.
