Line 6's most powerful POD yet, the POD X3 Pro was unleashed at Musikmesse this year. Their flagship effects processor comes with the amp and effects models you'd expect and demand and the myriad of inputs and outputs should satisfy serious cable collectors.

The POD X3 Pro includes the Dual Tone modeling and routing options you've grown to love about its relatives on the X3 line. If you're unfamiliar with how this system works, it translates to the ability to split your signal from one input to two separate amp / effect chains, or connect two instruments and process them individually at the same time.

The POD X3 Pro includes USB 2.0 connectivity for easy multi-track recording, or use the S/PDIF or AES/EBU Stereo Digital ins and outs to send a signal directly to your DAW of choice. Have a glance at all the inputs the X3 Pro affords you.

• Dual 1/4" instrument inputs
• Dual XLR microphone inputs [with phantom power, trim controls and low-cut filters]
• Stereo 1/4" line inputs
• S/PDIF digital input
• AES/EBU digital input
• Variax Digital Interface [VDI]

And now the outputs:

• Stereo unbalanced 1/4" outputs
• Stereo balanced XLR outputs [mic or line level]
• Multi-channel USB 2.0
• S/PDIF digital output
• AES/EBU digital output

Of course the main reason Line 6 fans are drawn to its units is the modeling. The X3 Pro impresses with 78 guitar amps and 24 guitar cabinets. 28 Bass amps are modeled through 22 different cabs.

In terms of effects, Line 6 asks you to imagine a 30 foot long pedal board with almost 100 different stompboxes. To paint a clearer picture, imagine five party sized submarine sandwiches lined up back to back -- except instead of delicious cold cuts, it's full of meaty effects topped with classic models of compressors, reverbs, EQs and vintage preamps. Delicious.