Basic chords & scales on LinnStrument

video upload by Roger Linn

"Roger Linn explains where the pitches are on LinnStrument, and how to play basic chords & scales."

Luma-1 - playing lost LM1 patterns

video upload by DeftAudio

"Playing LM1 patterns on Luma-1 live, no post processing. Yamaha DMP11 used as the FX for delay and Gated Verb.

Luma-1 is an authentic recreation of the iconic LM-1, originally designed by Roger Linn in 1979 and now brought back by Joe Britt. Fully recreating the original design of the LM-1, it utilizes the same audio path (with vintage DACs and filters), runs the unmodified LM-1 software, and adds a secondary modern processor for adding highly desirable features like loadable sounds, USB connectivity, MIDI and more."

Luma-1 drum machine overview and demo

video upload by DeftAudio

"Luma-1 is an authentic recreation of the iconic LM-1, originally designed by Roger Linn in 1979 and now brought back by Joe Britt. Fully recreating the original design of the LM-1, it utilizes the same audio path (with vintage DACs and filters), runs the unmodified LM-1 software, and adds a secondary modern processor for adding highly desirable features like loadable sounds, USB connectivity, MIDI and more."

See this post for additional details.

1983 Linn LinnDrum LM2 w/ Original Box

via this auction

Pic of the inside below.

"This was bought brand-new in August of 1983 and acquired from the original owner. It is as close to a time-capsule piece as I’ve ever seen and I’ve had 10 LinnDrum’s in the last 3 1/2 years alone. There are just a few very fine marks on the face (the small flecks in the 2nd photo are just dust) that keep it from truly being ‘mint’ which is pretty wild because the original owner actually used it. These were $2,700 back in 1983, which is over $8,000 in today’s dollars, so it’s not surprising someone took great care of it. It has been meticulously restored and is functioning as well or better than it ever did even back when it was brand-new! The circuit is unmodified to retain it’s original spec and for the fact it is so well-preserved. Another huge bonus is the individual tuning pots for the voices actually function properly and sweep with consistence. A vast majority of these machines have some degree of instability in the tuning pots due to age (DeOxit does not normally fix this issue). Not this one, though. A true collector‘s piece and one you can actually use consistently.

- Full electrolytic recap

- Auxiliary board cleaned and refurbished with battery holder and new rechargeable batteries

- All buttons cleaned and rebuilt

- All 32 faders removed, disassembled, cleaned (and repaired where necessary), lubricated, greased, and rebuilt

- ZIF quick-release sockets added to 7 voices (bass, snare, congas (x2), toms (x2), and clap)

- Factory presets reloaded

This classic piece is essentially ubiquitous with popular music starting from the day it was released. Nearly every major label recording artist and/or band used one of these somewhat extensively (that had hits, anyway). Part of that is due to Roger Linn & Co. dishing them out like tic-tacs in order to promote the machine, but that’s beside the point. The fact of the matter is this machine is all over so many songs, it would be nearly impossible to catalog them all. It’s a who’s who list of household name because it clearly made the impression they’d hoped. And the best part about it is it’s as relevant to today’s scene as it was back then. You can even swap in sounds from your other favorite drum machines to create a truly versatile, desert island instrument!

Most of these are banged up, corroded from battery acid leakage, modified poorly, unrestored, or all of the above. This is the nicest, most-complete LinnDrum available anywhere in the world. Includes original box, sales receipt, user manual, promotional paperwork, and cassette with pre-sets."

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Creating LinnStrument MPE sounds in Surge XT

video upload by Roger Linn

"Roger Linn explains how to use the free Surge XT synthesizer to create sounds that play well with LinnStrument or other MPE controllers."

Meet the Luma-1 - Joe Britt's Enhanced LM-1 Drum Machine In Collaboration with Roger Linn

Joe Britt LM1+ demo video upload by Roger Linn

This one is in via Soviet Space Child.

Above is a prototype Luma-1 in an LM-1 case. Below you'll see some pics of the upcoming Luma1 branded case along with some details.

According to @luma1_drum_machine:

"Welcome! We are two US based engineers who are building and selling a few Luma1 Drum Machines with Roger Linn and Joe Britt’s consent."

"While the Luma1 hardware design is in the final stage for preparation before manufacturing, there is much work happening on the software side. Luma1 is running the original LM1 code on the Z80 CPU while the secondary ARM processor delivers new features. Those include custom sound loading, MIDI, synchronization and now added OLED support. More work needs to be done to expand it and bring brand the new functionality, but we’re really happy with the progress."

Click the pics for larger shots. You can find a full write-up on Roger Linn's website here, and additional demos and pics on Instagram here.

Roger Linn: "I've recently met a new friend named Joe Britt, founder and CEO of a tech company here in Silicon Valley called Afero, and designer of some significant tech products over the years.

Lucky for me, Joe also has a personal interest in my old drum machines. A few years ago, a friend of his gave him (!) one of my old LM1 drum machines. He enjoyed playing with it, but he wished it had a few extra features like loading alternate sounds from files, and pitch and pan knobs on the front panel.

So he decided to make his own enhanced LM1. He searched the web and found some incomplete old schematics, filled in the gaps by reverse-engineering the boards, then redesigned and replaced all of the circuit boards to include his enhancements. Note in the photo above that his redesigned boards are about half the size of the original boards, and are purple! Prince would have loved that."

Synful Orchestra Now Free

Horns 8 Patch video upload by Analog Prophet

"Synful Orchestra patch Horns 8. The timbre is controlled by mod wheel. Added Bricasti reverb (plate 2.65 s).

Synful Orchestra is now free to download and use from their site: www.synful.com"

Also see Roger Linn with Synful & the LinnStrument.

Making of LinnStrument

video upload by Roger Linn

"I (Roger Linn) talk about how I created LinnStrument."

"Over the Rainbow" on LinnStrument with Theremin sound

video upload by Roger Linn

"'Over the Rainbow', performed by Roger Linn on LinnStrument, using the 'Theremin' sound from the 'LinnStrument MPE' library in Surge XT."

Update:

The LinnStrumentalists Volume 3

video upload by Roger Linn

A third compilation of videos submitted by the more than 4000 LinnStrument players around the world.

Here's more information about each of the segments:

0:00
Name: Ernesto Domingo
From: Inglewood, CA, USA
“Sleep Walk”
Source video:

• Sleep Walk - Ern...
Sound: Jazz Guitar from Kontakt Factory Library

00:36
Player: Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater
From: New York, USA
Title: Over the Rainbow
Source video:

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Twenty synth pioneers, three signatures: one historic calendar

via The Bob Moog Foundation

Get your calendar here

"Synth icons Dave Rossum, Roger Linn, and Tom Oberheim have all signed select copies of our "Synth Pioneers" 2022-2023 18-month calendar!

Our epic Synthesizer Pioneers 18-month calendar honors 20 innovators from over the past 60 years, and keeps time through June 2023.

It's the first calendar celebrating the achievements of synthesizer pioneers from all over the world. Each one of these iconic creators is mentioned in our calendar:
Harry Olson
Herbert Belar
Raymond Scott
Harald Bode
Bob Moog
Don Buchla
Peter Zinovieff (EMS)
Alan R. Pearlman (ARP)
Ikutaro Kakahashi (Roland)
Felix Visser (Synton)
Fumio Mieda (KORG)
Dave Smith
Wolfgang Palm (PPG)
Kim Ryrie and Peter Vogel (Fairlight)
Ray Kurzweil
Makoto Fukuda (Casio)

Many of the pioneers contributed photos (some of which are suitable for framing) from their private archives for this collector's item. Also included are dates of historic importance from the timeline of synthesis, many of them provided by the pioneers themselves.

As of publication, there are
just 14 signed copies left.

Tom Oberheim signs a Synth Pioneers calendar at NAMM 2022

All sale proceeds from Synth Pioneers
benefit our work!

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Roger Linn - Adrenalinn 3 III, Synth, Multi-effects, Sequencer, Drum Machine

via this auction

See this post from 2009 for some tips.

CLICK FOR MORE »

LinnStrument's Hidden Settings

video upload by Roger Linn

"In this video, Roger demonstrates the many hidden settings in LinnStrument, settings that aren't printed on the panel but which may be interesting to advanced users."

TRiED / vaporwave / eurorack jam / resonator, reverb and delay

video upload by Roger Linn

"Roger Linn demonstrates some of the sounds for the 'LinnStrument MPE' library of sounds that he and other LinnStrument players created for the free Surge XT software synthesizer."

www.rogerlinndesign.com
https://surge-synthesizer.github.io

LinnStrument MPE sounds for Surge XT

video upload by Roger Linn

"Roger Linn demonstrates some of the sounds for the "LinnStrument MPE" library of sounds that he and other LinnStrument players created for the free Surge XT software synthesizer."

www.rogerlinndesign.com
https://surge-synthesizer.github.io

Synthplex Podcast

video uploads by Synthplex

Use the player controls to skip around.

Playlist:
Ian Martinez with Arturia talks what's in store for Arturia at Synthplex 2022
Artesia Pro talks the rise of their EFNOTE Drums and other gear showing at Synthplex
Platinum Producer Jeff Weber talks Synthplex and the state of the music recording industry
Roger Linn Interview live from Synthplex 2022 Expo Floor
Jordan Rudess Interview at Synthplex 2022
Interview with Emu Systems Legend, Dave Rossum at Synthplex 2022
Alan Howarth, horror movie composing legend, talks danceable Halloween soundtrack and more!
Sam Mims of Synth Wizards & Syntaur talk Synthplex and Modding Synths

LinnStrument Theremin, played by Roger Linn

video upload by Roger Linn

"LinnStrument, theremin, Roger Linn, Roger Linn Design, MPE, MPE controller, expressive controller"

Bad Gear - Tempest

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the DSI Tempest Analog Drum Machine. Is this hybrid drum machine created by two of the most influential figures in music technology, Dave Smith (creator of the Prophet 5 and important contributor to the midi standard) and Roger Linn (father of the Akai MPC and all that fancy 80s drum machines), the gold standard for hardware-based music production or did the two legends aim too high?

Thanks to my neighbor Paul for lending me his Tempest, check out his Insta:
https://www.instagram.com/jasbjb

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:13 Overview Dave Smith Instruments Tempest
01:45 Sounds, analog/digital oscillators, Prophet VS waveforms
02:07 Filter, high pass, feedback
02:30 Delay
02:39 Envelopes, LFOs
02:54 Modulations, mod matrix
03:01 MPC elements, pad modes, roll, arpeggiator, aftertouch, reverse
03:20 Sequencer, 16 Beats
03:40 Touch strips, real time FX
03:59 Distortion, compressor
04:12 Controversy, limitations
04:46 UI/UX, menu diving
05:10 Synth Voices = Drum Voices???
05:24 Polyphony, note stealing, voice allocation, outputs
05:51 Sample import (or lack thereof), memory limitations, pricing, thanks
06:11 Hate
06:37 Jam 1
07:31 Jam 2
08:35 Finale
09:07 Verdict"

Instrumental Innovators DVD Featuring Dave Smith, Roger Linn, and Tom Oberheim

via this auction

I believe this was released back in 2007 based on this post. Description from that post:

"Dave Smith founded Sequential Circuits in the mid-70s, and in 1977 he designed the Prohet-5 - the world's first microprocessor-based musical instrument and first completely programmable and polyphonic synth, which set the standard for all synth designs that have followed. In the last few years Dave has returned to the hardware instruments with the Evolver and Poly Evolver synths, which combine real analog electronics with digital processing to create yet another new world of unique instruments. This DVD includes a 90 minute complete history of Dave Smith from Prophet to MIDI to the PolyEvolver and roundtable discussion with Dave Smith, Roger Linn and Tom Oberheim."

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VProm V 2.0 - Linn LM-1 Based Soft Synth by AJLAB aka Aly James Lab

VProm plug-in vs Hardware LM-1 video upload by Aly James

"Direct comparison* between Linn LM-1 direct output and VProm plug-in.
LM-1 recorded straight, VProm direct, no FX, no EQ, no dynamics."

VProm Linn LM-1 VST drum machine overview & tutorial

video upload by Tech Raven

"VProm, by Aly James Lab, VST plugin of the famous Linn LM-1 drum machine. In my opinion, Vprom is the last word on Linn LM-1 plugins, nothing compares, not even close."

via AJLAB

A legend never dies!
The VProm was originally based on THE killer drum machine in town back in the early 80s, this expensive drum computer was also the first to include real drum samples back in the days!

Early sample based drum machines used samples of acoustic drum sounds recorded on the fly through some basic hardware. The way they were recorded without any kind of anti-aliasing makes them cut better in a mix than anything available at the time, they sounded so great that they became an alternative to the analog drum sounds of that era. To this day, the unique sound of this vintage machine is highly regarded because only using samples of the analog output is not enough to reproduce the wide range of sound and character of this beast. One DAC(converter)and clock per voice and yummy filters! Yes it is a historical piece of gear that take a huge place in the 80s sound picture. Only around 500 of these things are out there so don't count on finding a working one easily and forget for cheap. It has been used by major acts like Prince, Phil Collins, Thompson Twins, Stevie Wonder, Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, The Human League, Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis, John Carpenter, Todd Rundgren,The Art of Noise... The Machine was made by a musician for musicians and I tried to stick to that standard :) So as there were no accurate VST for that legend out there... I had to make the VProm!

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! IT MAKES THINGS HAPPEN, SUCH AS VProm ON WIN, MAC, x86 AND x64 Platforms!

VPROM accurately reproduces the internal circuitry and filtering of the first legendary Drum Machine but is also perfectly able to read and import original, custom or vintage EPROMs from other Drum Machines of that era, legendary 80s machines such as the Linndrum, DMX, DrumTraks etc.(.bin files that you can find on the net) An EPROM is an integrated circuit that was used to store short audio sample data in a compressed format. VPROM is the closest thing to the real deal - reading and decoding original EPROM data images in real time using the exact decode table from the AM6070 DAC at a variable sample rate. VPROM also allow experimenting with your own sample database. You can convert samples with external tools and load compatible ULaw companded images (see manual for more info).

I hope you enjoy making funky grooves with VPROM as much as I do!

Disclaimer: The original name of this VST, "VLinn", has been changed at the request of the Linn Electronics copyright holder, Roger Linn. It is now named "VPROM". Aly James Lab has no affiliation with Roger Linn and has not received any consent from Roger Linn. We do not claim to reproduce the sounds of Roger Linn s product but rather this product creates sounds inspired by Roger Linn s past products.

Dave Smith Was an Ironman Triathlete

In case you missed it in this post, Roger Linn noted Dave Smith was "an avid athelete, cyclist and triathlete. He actually participated in the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon in his younger years..."

@birdkids reminded me of an article on the development of the Prophet VS archived on the WaybackMachine. In it, Chris Meyer mentions Dave was in Hawaii prepping for the tournament during that time. I thought it was interesting and worth sharing. I captured it below.

"Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 07:55:41 -0800
From: Xrystal
MIME-Version: 1.0
Subject: Birth of the Prophet VS

I thought the following might be of interest to you. Xrystal
_____________________________________________________________________


The Birth of the Prophet VS

By Chris Meyer, ex-employee of Sequential Circuits

reprinted from the VS WaveWrangler User Guide by permission of Interval Music Systems,
©1991 Interval Music Systems.

It all started somewhere in 1985. We were still working on the Prophet 2000 sampler,
and as resident historian (in other words, I had the most magazines and manuals) another
engineer was asking me to explain how various instruments performed crossfades. I had
finished discussing the Fairlight, and had moved on the PPG - explaining its wavetables,
and the ability for it to scan a group of waves first in one direction and then back again,
While I was scrawling this back and forth motion in my notebook, suddenly a little twinge
went off in the back of my head, and myhand drew the next line arcing down the page.. and the
concept of crossfading beween waves in two dimension, not just one, was born.

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