MusicRadar

• Review

Clean as a whistle

Clean tones are mostly very usable, and if that's your thing, it's a big selling point because most amp sims we've tried have their strengths in blues, rock and metal sounds.

Pod Farm has just one dedicated EQ module, but EQ is always available from the various preamps, which include models of studio favourites like API and Neve pre/EQ setups - there's even an LA-2A. All of these audibly enhance your signal.

The bass amps should not be overlooked either, and we particularly enjoyed the Amp 360, which gave a rich tone reminiscent of its Ampeg inspiration.

The list of presets is vast and mostly named after well-known songs and gear. We found that most needed tweaking for dynamics, EQ and level - some presets are calibrated lower than others, as Line 6 points out in the manual.

Dualling axes

Pod Farm 2's Dual Tone feature allows your signal to be split into two and then processed independently in parallel, using up to 20 components in each chain.

An A/B/Y switchbox routes your signal into 'Tone A' or 'Tone B', or both simultaneously. This mimics some high-end live rigs and gives potential for unusual hybrid sounds and fatter-sounding bespoke patches.

The screen above shows the mixer view, with a channel for both paths of the split signal, and the dual signal path configured to play a blend of beefy rock tone and 'guitar synth'.

The Dual Tone feature also has practical benefits, particularly if using Pod Farm 2 live. For example, if you have a 'dry' sound on Tone A and a delay-soaked setup on Tone B, when you switch from B back to A, the delay will decay naturally because you aren't muting the output, just redirecting the input.

It's also worth noting that as of v2, you can have as many effects as will fit in each chain, and in any position (pre- or post-amp), which certainly opens a few sonic doors.

Something to beware of is that switching between single and dual tones currently causes a jump in volume to maximum if your volume happens to be at zero to start with, which Line 6 cites as a known issue.

New for Pod Farm 2 is MIDI control support, and we put this to the test with Line 6's own FBV Express MkII foot controller, although any standard MIDI controller will work. Setup possibilities are fairly detailed, with global controls like preset switching, tap tempo and so on available, as well as parameters of individual modules within a specific preset. You can also use MIDI to move between entries in a Setlist, these being a new feature for v2 that allow you to create a 'playlist' of presets, for instance, representing your band's set list.

Line 6 has been peddling quality digital amp simulations for over a decade now, but these days there's some stiff competition. We're pleased to report that Pod Farm 2 holds up well and even betters some rivals in certain aspects.

As an upgrade, it's disappointing that there aren't actually any new or improved modules here, so for those using v1, the decision to upgrade will depend on whether you see the value in features like Elements and the improved routing. On its own merits, though, Pod Farm 2 is a highly versatile plug-in with much to offer.

Hear what Pod Farm 2 can do with our audio demos of a few of its presets:

80s Chorus

90s Indie

Acoustic-Like

Amp 360 Bass Amp

Little Wing

Manchester Britpop

Midwest Rock Band

Rock Classic Bass Amp