Recreating Billy Idol's 80s Synthesizer Sound 🎹

video upload by RetroSound

"(c)2007-25 by RetroSound
supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi

❤️ Support #RetroSound​ channel: https://retrosound.creator-spring.com

One of my favorite tracks from the 80s
Eyes Without A Face by Billy Idol from the album Rebel Yell (1983)
Written by Billy Idol and Steve Stevens

Featured the Oberheim OB-Xa, the LinnDrum and the Yamaha DX7

This cover song series contains my own recreations of my favourite songs from the last 50 years. The original music from which I take inspiration belong to their respective owners. I recreate tracks only for personal passion and to pay homage to these tracks."

Linn LM-1 Drum Computer SN 00088

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

"The very first version of the legendary Linn Drum LM-1, assembled by Roger Linn himself.

Here is one of the very first units manufactured among the 525 existing ones.

A true collector's item that made history in music.

Used by the greatest, Prince, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and all the music from that era.

Incredible and timeless sound and groove."

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Roger Linn: The King of Drum Machines

video upload by Jack Pearson

"This is the story of Roger Linn, a guitarist from Los Angeles whose innovative sample based drum machines changed the sound of music forever.

Special thanks to Roger himself for featuring my video in the September Linnstrument newsletter (https://myemail.constantcontact.com/L...) and on his website (https://www.rogerlinndesign.com).

I first learned about Roger a few years ago while making a film called “The History of Sampling in Music” [below]. While I didn’t know anything about Roger at the time, I was astounded to learn that he had created both the LinnDrum and the MPC, which shaped the punchy robotic drums of 80s pop music and the grungy experimental grooves of 90s hip-hop respectively. I did a quick bit of research about him for my video, but didn’t really dig much deeper than that… However, a few months ago I decided to rewatch my old project, which reignited my interest in Roger’s story and gave me the idea for this video.

Like my previous project, I’d initially planned to write a script and do a voice-over, but after discovering the assortment of recorded interviews that Roger has already appeared in, I realised that I could just chop them up and have Roger tell his own story. I thought 'hey that sounds pretty cool, how hard could it be?'

Well, let’s just say I’m probably never going to do something like this again. I did enjoy making this and I am proud of it, but if I had just done a voice-over not only would it have been easier to make, but I also could’ve included a lot information without it feeling incredibly clunky. The initial cut was about 26 minutes, but I cut out loads of stuff for the sake of pacing and trying to stick to narrative beats. Roger is a fascinating guy with a lot of great anecdotes though, so if you enjoyed this video then I highly recommend you seek out some of the podcasts/interviews he’s done over the years.

I planned on making all the music for this film myself, but decided it would be better to use music that relates to Roger in some way (for example, he co-wrote 'Promises' by Eric Clapton and 'Quittin’ Time' by Mary Chapin Carpenter, and first used the LM-1 Drum Computer on the Leon Russell album 'Life & Love' which featured the track 'One More Love Song'.) I salvaged one of these demo tracks for the credits, but you can listen it and a few more scrapped tracks here:

Jack Pearson · RL:TKODM (Credits Music + Demos)

Since you’ve read this far, here’s a few bonus Roger facts that got cut out of the video:

The LM-1 was featured on the best selling album of all time - 'Thriller' by Micheal Jackson, as well as other early 80s hits like 'Maneater' by Hall & Oates, 'Valerie' by Steve Winwood, and for some reason - the original 1983 Thomas the Tank Engine theme song.

Roger hired his friend, a professional session drummer called Art Wood, to record most of the sounds on the LM-1. They set up the kit in Roger’s closet, recording each of the drums one at a time… then called it a day. Given the popularity of the songs featuring these recordings - Art Wood is technically one of most prominently featured drummers of all time.

And here's two bonus facts about this video:

The title 'The King of Drum Machines' is a quote from the father of MIDI - Dave Smith, when he spoke about Roger and the Tempest drum machine (which they built together) on a Sweetwater panel in 2015. [below]

This video was released on Roger’s 70th birthday.

I hope you enjoy it!" The History of Sampling in Music (2022)

video upload by Jack Pearson

The Inventors of Synth (Roger Linn, Dave Smith & Tom Oberheim) - Sweetwater Gearfest 2015

video upload by Sweetwater

"Join Mitch Gallagher as he moderates 'The Inventors of Synth' panel discussion at Gearfest '15. Featuring industry icons Dave Smith, Tom Oberheim, and Roger Linn discussing their thoughts on the past, present, and future of analog synthesizers and controllers.

Legendary synth designer and Grammy-winner Dave Smith was the founder of Sequential Circuits in the mid-'70s. His Prophet-5, the world's first fully programmable polyphonic synth, was the first musical instrument with an embedded microprocessor. Dave is also known as the driving force behind the development of the MIDI specification. He has continued to innovate, and recently unveiled his latest synth creation, the Sequential Prophet-6.

A pioneer of the synth and MIDI world, Tom Oberheim co-designed the Synthesizer Expansion Module (SEM), a device that allowed musicians to simultaneously combine live playing and sequenced playback - a concept that pre-dated the MIDI revolution. In 1981, he, along with Roland's Ikutaro Kakehashi and Sequential's Dave Smith, developed the MIDI spec, which changed the course of modern music. Tom recently re-released his famed Two Voice synth.

Technical Grammy award-winner Roger Linn invented the LM-1 Drum Computer (the first sample-based drum machine) in 1979. He later designed the Akai MPC60, which combined a sampling drum machine with a real-time MIDI sequencer. His guitar effects unit, AdrenaLinn, has been used on hit recordings by John Mayer and Red Hot Chili Peppers. In 2014 he released the LinnStrument, an expressive MIDI performance controller."

Linn LinnDrum LM2 Digital Drum Machine (w/ MIDI Modification)

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

Additional Perfect Circuit listings

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Synth Legends (2005): Bob Moog, Tom Oberheim, Dave Smith, Marcus Ryle, Roger Linn

video upload by moogfoundation

"Get your SYNTH LEGENDS Limited Edition T-Shirt here: bit.ly/SynthLegendsTshirt
Pre-orders open through August 25th!

Join us live on August 21, 2025 at 8 pm EDT as we present the entire 𝘚𝘺𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 symposium from April 19, 2005 - Bob Moog’s final public appearance. This historic event, originally organized by Russ Jones of AudioMIDI, brings together synth pioneers Bob Moog, Tom Oberheim, Dave Smith, and Marcus Ryle, with Roger Linn moderating. For the first time ever, the full 1-hour and 38-minute symposium will be broadcast in its entirety.

Note: the original audio recorded at this 2005 event was only captured on the camera mics and is not studio-perfect. We’ve worked to make audio enhancements, including painstaking audio mastering by Harold LaRue (https://haroldlaruemastering.com), to make this once-in-a-lifetime conversation as clear as possible. We suggest turning on closed captioning in order to not miss any of the content.

During the stream, join Tom Oberheim, Denise Smith (Dave Smith’s widow), Marcus Ryle, and Michelle Moog-Koussa (Bob Moog’s daughter and Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation) in the live chat as they share reflections, answer your questions, and provide personal insights into the legacy of Bob Moog and synthesis history.

Huge thanks to our sponsors, without whom this broadcast would not have been possible:

Platinum Sponsors:
Moog Music – https://moogmusic.com
Sequential / Oberheim – https://sequential.com https://oberheim.com
Spectrasonics – https://spectrasonics.net

Gold Sponsors:
Arturia – https://arturia.com
Korg USA – https://korgusa.com
Roland – https://roland.com

Silver Sponsors:
Cherry Audio – https://cherryaudio.com
GForce Software – https://gforcesoftware.com
ILIO – https://ilio.com
Rosen Sound – https://rosensound.com |
Softube – https://softube.com

Special thanks to: Russ Jones, Harold LaRue, Dave Gross, Mark Ethier, Marcus Ryle, Tom Oberheim, Denise Smith, Roger Linn, Axel Hartmann, and David Mash, all of whose contributions helped make this possible.

Why watch?
Experience the inspiring reflections of five synth legends.
Hear behind‑the‑scenes stories of innovation from the pioneers themselves.
Celebrate Bob Moog’s enduring legacy on the 20th anniversary of his passing.

Mark your calendars and bookmark this page! You won’t want to miss this very special tribute. Feel free to share with fellow synth lovers, and join us live on the 21st to celebrate the magic of synthesis together.
–
Synthesizer pioneer Bob Moog passed away on August 21, 2005. Throughout the month of August, we will share an informal remembrance video series, Voices for Bob, featuring musicians, technologists, innovators, and colleagues as they remember and reflect on Bob's indelible legacy.

▶️ "Voices For Bob" Shorts series:



 
▶️ "Moog Memories” video: bit.ly/MoogMemories [posted here]

Help us carry Bob's legacy forward to inspire future generations through the intersection of science, music, history, and innovation. Support our work by doing one (or all) of the following:

🌐 Visit the Bob Moog Foundation: https://www.moogfoundation.org"

Luma-mu - Tutorial 06 - A true in-tune polyphonic synth

video upload by DeftAudio

Luma-mu tutorials

"This tutorial is on the latest integration of Luma-mu and Teensy 4.1 MIDI interface to drive Luma-mu clock input directly. This not only gives you the precise tuning of Luma-mu for perfect pitch stability but radically simplifies the integration in modular setup and makes it possible to use as a part of the polyphonic synth setup.

Teensy 4.1 1U MIDI Interface Firmware updates: https://github.com/Deftaudio/Midi-boards
Download Luma-Mu Synth sound ROM here: https://github.com/Deftaudio/Luma/blo..."

Maniac/Michael Sembello (Circuit Tracks Version)

video upload by Guinan

"Feeling a yearning for a bit of LinnDrum action I loaded up a bunch of samples and it occurred to me to try this song - a bit of a musical 'guilty pleasure' as it has such a distinctive rhythm. I put the song on, donned my legwarmers and had a bit of a 'spin' around the room to the track in my best 'Flashdance' impression. Straight away it became apparent it shouldn't be possible to do it on the Tracks as it has too many tracks. Bass, electric piano chords, arpeggio, melody...and a distinctive 80's guitar solo! Not to be deterred I shrank it down as much as I could and used the layering and extra voices hacks I've talked about elsewhere * and what you hear is the end result.

It was a fun challenge and I hope you enjoy the end result. All you hear was programmed into a single Circuit Tracks and played 'live' just recording the audio outs.

More details for synth nerds

The excellent ‪@CaptainPikant‬ had a great video breaking down how the rhythm track was constructed so I largely followed this guide.

• MANIAC - The most INSANE drum pattern of t... [below]

BPM 155bpm
Synth 1 - mono bass synth
Synth 2 - 'piano'ish patch playing chords, arepeggio and melody lines (at different velocities/ranges)
Drum 1- LM1 bass drum
Drum 2 - LM1 snare and sidestick
Drum 3 - LM1 hihats and combined HH and fake guitar (see below)
Drum 4 - LM1 cowbell and clap

The 'guitar' is faked I'm sorry. My lead guitar skills are not up to this (I did try!) and my friendly local 'shredder' was busy. I used instead the Native Instruments Electric Sunburst plug in instrument to fake a short solo and drenched it in guitar effects. I recorded to 4 bar loops with the hihat pattern duplicated along with them and then triggered the samples at the right moment on the hihat track."

MANIAC - The most INSANE drum pattern of the '80s | Drum Patterns Explained

video upload by Captain Pikant

"The drum pattern of Michael Sembello's 'Maniac' is positively insane. It's what you'd get if you made a Synthwave drum track, decided it wasn't complex enough, glitched it up with a tiny dash of Aphex Twin and then put a second drum track on top of that with over a dozen Tom fills for good measure. Pure '80s maximalism with two of the most iconic drum sounds of that era."

And the original:


video upload by Maniac

SWEET DREAMS are made of BEATS (Eurythmics) | Drum Patterns Explained

video upload by Captain Pikant

"► / captainpikant Support us on Patreon and get access to lots of drum patterns, cheat sheets and more!

Sweet Dreams is a brilliant example of how a deceptively simple drum beat (if done right) can make a song hit even harder. We're going to recreate it on a modern sequencer so you can follow along and use those techniques in your own beats. Milk bottles and cows on fake grass included. As a bonus The Intern will pick apart the iconic synth riff :)"

And the original:


video upload by Eurythmics

See the Movement-MCS label below for additional posts.

Linn LM-1 LinnDrum Computer SN 00035 Built In Roger Linn's Home

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

"RARE piece of Linn Drum LM-1 history. This machine has been updated by the one and only Bruce Forat from Forat Electronics. Bruce is THE repairman for these machines and he has this one cleaned up oh so nice.

Debuting in 1980, these first LM-1 were $5,000 then! During my research, I found that Roger Linn created the first 35 of the machines in a room in his house.This gem is #00035 meaning this was the last one built by Roger before mass production!

This comes with a custom made dust cover and I'm guessing an original manual in a cool shade of Chevy Chase pool blue 80s folder! It will be shipped in a SKB 24x24 case built like a tank.

I've held onto this machine for 25 years and had Bruce tweak it along the way. Now it's time for me to purchase a vehicle so I hope someone else can love it as much as I have. I had Bruce to add the exact signature Prince clap sound as heard on the Purple Rain album. I can also give the winner Bruce's contact information as he is a tremendous resource."

Additional resources: Linn LM-1 page on Culture Wikia

Roger Linn on Sessiondays

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Using an MPC as a Looper

video upload by Roger Linn

"Roger Linn talks about using the MPC as the ultimate looper, including doing things that even DAWs can't do."

Luma-mu - Tutorial 05 - Recreating the magic of LM-1 Hi-Hat

video upload by DeftAudio

"Let's dive into the magic of Linn LM-1 Hi Hat. Will look on how it was created and make our own bank for Luma-mu. This continues a tutorial series of Luma-mu Eurorack module.

Download free Luma-mu ROMs here:
https://github.com/Deftaudio/Luma/tre..."

Linn Electronics LinnDrum FORAT RESTORED and full MIDI + Manual, Data Tape and more! LM2

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this Reverb listing

Pics of the inside below.

"This unit was originally owned by Skyline Studios, New York, NY and featured on dozens of records during the 80's and 90's.

Included is the original owners manual, original DATA Cassette tape, a copy of the cassette on CD, the Forat MIDI manual, and brand new wood end cheeks should you choose to install them for a beautiful Rosewood look (like the Yamaha DX1 Rosewood).

The LinnDrum is a digital drum machine designed by Roger Linn in the early 1980s, known for its realistic sampled drum sounds and its impact on 1980's pop music. It was a successor to the Linn LM-1, and was one of the first drum machines to use samples of real acoustic drums, rather than synthesized sounds.

Design and Functionality: The LinnDrum was designed to be a more affordable and widely available alternative to the LM-1. It featured a library of 8-bit digital samples of real drum sounds and allowed musicians to create and store their own drum patterns.

Key Features:

Sample-based sound generation: Unlike earlier drum machines that used synthesized sounds, the LinnDrum utilized samples of real acoustic drums, creating a more realistic and natural drum sound.

Sound sample changeability: The LinnDrum uses samples of real acoustic drums stored on eprom chips, these eprom chips are replaceable inside the unit giving the user the ability to buy or even make thier own and install thier own sounds/samples in the unit. Many are widely available on Reverb and elsewhere plus there are also people offering their services to custom make them for you.

Programmability: Musicians could program their own rhythms and sequences, rather than relying on pre-set patterns.

Individual outputs: Each drum sound could be routed to a separate output for further processing and mixing.

MIDI integration: Later versions and modifications of the LinnDrum included MIDI capabilities, allowing for greater control and integration with other instruments and recording equipment.

Impact on Music: The LinnDrum became a staple in 1980s pop music, appearing on countless hit records. Its realistic drum sounds and programmable features revolutionized the way music was produced and played. It's considered a landmark instrument in the history of electronic music and drum machines.

Successor to the LM-1: While the LinnDrum is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the LM-2, it was actually the successor to the Linn LM-1. The LM-1 was the first drum machine to use sampled sounds, but the LinnDrum was a more refined and better version."

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FairLight CMI EPROMs Inside a Sequential Circuits Drumtraks. #sequentialcircuits

video upload by Program 17

"This is fairly CMI Eproms I programmed inside of a sequential circus Drum track. I programmed them to hit harder. This is the best set I ever designed. I made more drums too. I made most of the CMI drums. When I designed the Fairlight CMI for originally for Bon Jovi’s guitar player John Shanks. He wanted the exact tears for Fears sound. Doing my research. All I kept on seeing was Fairlight CMi. I downloaded all the original sounds for the fairlight. I used a Oberheim prommer to design the binary files, I made them hit really hard. These have to be the best drums I ever designed.

IG program_1700 if you want any sounds or email me

Going.up.up.up.up@gmail.com"

Linn LinnDrum LM2

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

Pics of the inside below.

"FROM THE COLLECTION OF ACCLAIMED PRODUCER AND ENGINEER TOM MALLON.

1984 LINN DRUM IN EXCELLENT WORKING AND COSMETIC CONDITION.

TWO E-PROMS (OPEN HAT AND CRASH CYMBAL, EXIBIT STRANGE DECAY CHARACTERISTICS)"

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Multitracking the Luma-mu: All Drums, All Linn

video upload by INHALTVIDEO

"All drum sounds in this demo come straight from the Deft Audio Luma-mu module—a real Linn LM-1 voice in Eurorack form.

No samples, no microcontrollers—just direct hardware playback, multitracked and sequenced for maximum punch.

The Luma-mu delivers that classic ‘80s snap and swing, but with CV control and modular flexibility. If you’re into vintage drum sounds with analog immediacy, this one’s worth checking out."

Linn LinnDrum LM2 Legendary 🔥 Drum Machine (Serviced)

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

"This LinnDrum is fully functional and in great condition for its age. It has some wear on the panel but over all lookds good .

This unit has been serviced to ensure another lifetime of reliability. It features a brand new Power Supply from Synthronics.

Service notes include (06/18/2025)

Replacing outdated/corroding Power Supply with brand new Power Supply from Synthronics

New battery on new PSU

Replacing all old and aging electrolytic capacitors

Installing New Molex Connector on CPU Board

Disassembling all front panel buttons, cleaning internal contacts to to restore button functionality.

Disassembling all mixer sliders, cleaning, and lubricating sliders to ensure smooth, like-new feel and alleviate scratchy symptoms.

Cleaning and flushing all potentiometers to alleviate scratchy pot symptoms

Cleaning all input/output jacks.

Cleaning all socketed PROM contacts

Testing for a burn in period of several hours to ensure reliability"

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Behind The Drums Ep 16 - The Cars "Drive" Linndrum

video upload by Controlled Voltage Sound Labs

"An in depth look at the making of The Cars' classic single 'Drive.' Video includes a re-creation of the drum beat + synthesizer arrangement using a Linndrum, Roland Juno 106, and Roland JX-8P."

Drum Processing
Kick - Teletronix LA-2A + Lexicon 224 (Room Setting)
Snare - Teletronix LA-2A + Lexicon 224 (Plate Setting)
Hat + Crash - Teletronix LA-2A + Lexicon 224 (Hall Setting)
Clave - Teletronix LA-2A + Lexicon 224 (Hall Setting)
Tambourine - Teletronix LA-2A + AMS DMX + Lexicon 224 (Hall Setting)

Linn 9000 Integrated Digital Drum Machine (FORAT)

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

Pics of the inside below.

The legendary Linn 9000 integrated digital drum machine & sequencer. This one has been serviced and overhauled by Bruce Forat. Upgraded power supply, OS, floppy disk emulator to read SD cards, new battery etc. This one includes a very rare, massive sound library from Bruce that cost a pretty penny. This thing sounds incredible. A truly inspirational piece to work with. These machines are notoriously temperamental. Occasionally you have to re-seat a sound card. Other than that it works perfectly.

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Behind The Drums Ep 15 - Flashdance "Maniac" - Michael Sembello Linndrum

video upload by Controlled Voltage Sound Labs

"An in depth look at the making of Michael Sembello's number one hit 'Maniac,' from the Flashdance movie soundtrack. Video includes a re-cretion of the drum beat using a Linndrum."

Drum Processing
Kick - Teletronix LA-2A (No Reverb)
Snare + Tamb - Teletronix LA-2A + Lexicon 224 (Plate Setting)
Cowbell - Teletronix LA-2A (No Reverb)
Clap - AMS Reverb (Non Lin Short decay)
Stick - Teletronix LA-2A (No Reverb)
Hat - Teletronix LA-2A + Lexicon 224 (Room Setting)

*SERVICED* Linn LinnDrum LM2 w/ Parts & Paperwork

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

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