The Line 6 Floor POD is a compact floor unit that packs Line 6's POD amp modeling and effects into a pedalboard-style controller. MusicRadar described it as "yet another take on the 'amp modeller with effects' format" and "a stripped-down POD in pedalboard form"1. It is a legacy product: Line 6 states that the Floor POD is no longer made2.
What it does and how it is controlled
The Floor POD's amp model selector offers six models: Clean, Class A, Classic, Hi Gain, Treadplate and Insane, a selection MusicRadar called rudimentary1. Amp models are shaped by just three controls, drive, bass and treble, although these have dual functions1.
Effects are handled by single controls for the modulation and delay/reverb modules. Each knob covers three effects, with a third of the control's sweep given to each effect, and three red LEDs provide feedback on which effect is active1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Amp model selector | Chooses one of six amp models1 |
| Drive, bass, treble | Amp model tone controls, with dual functions1 |
| Modulation knob | Covers three modulation effects, a third of the sweep each, with three red LEDs1 |
| Delay/reverb knob | Covers three delay/reverb effects the same way1 |
| Expression pedal | Volume by default, wah when the toe switch is clicked1 |
A curved metal bar separates the footswitches from the main control panel, as on the PODxt Live, protecting against accidental adjustments1. The base is metal, but the main molded shell, pedal and footswitches are all made from plastic1.
Footswitches and modes
The unit has three footswitches3 and two operating modes1:
- Patch mode: the first two footswitches scroll up and down through the patches, while the third acts as a bypass switch1.
- Stompbox emulation mode: reached by holding down the third footswitch, the three switches turn the distortion, modulation and delay modules on and off1.
The 64 patches are stored in a simple linear format rather than being split into banks1.
The expression pedal as a wah
The expression pedal normally controls volume, but clicking the switch underneath the toe end converts it to a wah-wah pedal1. It is a simple two-role arrangement rather than a freely assignable pedal, which is worth knowing if you want the pedal to control other parameters.
How it differs from the Floor POD Plus
The Floor POD Plus is the expanded version, also now discontinued4. MusicRadar's comparison of the two units sets out the differences clearly3:
| Floor POD | Floor POD Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Footswitches | Three3 | Five main, plus a pair of bank switches3 |
| Presets | 64 patches, linear1 | 124 presets across 31 banks, 120 factory-filled and overwritable3 |
| Amp models | Six1 | 32, familiar from the POD 2.03 |
| Effect models | Modulation and delay/reverb modules1 | 16 effect models covering standard stompbox types plus more unusual sounds3 |
| Design | Kidney bean style | Conventional floor effects unit dimensions3 |
The Plus also adds back-panel connections the original lacks: left/right outputs (L only for mono), MIDI connections, a headphone output, an aux input and an amp/direct switch3. Its expression pedal works the same way, defaulting to volume and switching to wah via the footswitch under the toe end, with generous movement that MusicRadar found easy to calibrate3.
The Plus runs two modes of its own: channel memory mode, and an on/off mode where the first four footswitches function as a row of traditional stompboxes controlling amp model, solo boost, FX and delay, with three rotary switches above them selecting the amp model, effect and delay type3.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's review of the original Floor POD praised its handling despite the compromises of a three-switch layout13:
"Excellent user interface, despite the navigation compromises."
MusicRadar review of the Line 6 Floor POD1
Of the Floor POD Plus, the same publication found it "very clearly laid out," unlikely to need the manual, with the full range of functions usable in minutes, and summed it up as filling a gap in the Line 6 range with more sonic versatility than the standard Floor POD but without the complexity of the PODxt Live3. On the expression pedal, the reviewer noted it "isn't as sophisticated as the assignable pedals found on many rivals, but it's a well-designed solution for players" who only need wah and volume3.
Players comparing floor units today can also look at later Line 6 designs such as the POD Go and Helix Floor, or the broader multi-effects pedals category.
Videos
Line 6
Gearfacts
Gearfacts
Questions
How many presets does the Floor POD have?
The Floor POD stores 64 patches in a simple linear format rather than splitting them into banks. In patch mode, the first two footswitches scroll up and down through the patches and the third acts as a bypass switch. The expanded Floor POD Plus instead offers 124 presets arranged across 31 banks, with 120 of them filled with factory sounds that can be overwritten.
What amp models are in the Floor POD?
The Floor POD has a rudimentary selection of six amp models: Clean, Class A, Classic, Hi Gain, Treadplate and Insane, selected from a single rotary control. The Floor POD Plus expands this to 32 amp models, which MusicRadar notes will be familiar to anyone who has used the POD 2.0.
Can the Floor POD expression pedal work as a wah?
Yes. The expression pedal normally controls volume, and clicking the switch concealed underneath the toe end converts it to a wah pedal. The Floor POD Plus works the same way, and MusicRadar found its generous movement easy to calibrate, though less sophisticated than the assignable pedals on many rivals.
How many footswitches does the Floor POD have?
The Floor POD has three footswitches. In patch mode the first two scroll through patches and the third is a bypass; in stompbox emulation mode all three turn the distortion, modulation and delay modules on and off. The Floor POD Plus increases this to five main footswitches plus a pair of bank switches.
What is the difference between the Floor POD and the Floor POD Plus?
The Plus adds footswitches (five plus two bank switches instead of three), expands the presets to 124 across 31 banks, offers 32 amp models instead of six, adds 16 effect models, and includes MIDI, a headphone output, an aux input and an amp/direct switch. It also drops the kidney bean design for a conventional floor unit shape.
Sources (4)
- Line 6 Floor POD review, MusicRadar, 2008-01-03
- Line 6 | Legacy Products, Line 6
- Line 6 Floor POD Plus review, MusicRadar, 2008-01-03
- Line 6 | Legacy Products, Line 6
