Roger Linn
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Roger Linn is a musical instrument designer, mainly of electronic drum machines, and has recently branched out into guitar effects pedals. His products have become underground hits, being used on many famous recordings. He is also an accomplished guitarist and producer.
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[edit] The LM-1
Roger Linn first made his name by designing the world's first programmable, sampled-sound drum machine in 1979, the LM-1 Drum Computer, manufactured by his own company, Linn Electronics, located in Tarzana, California. The LM-1 was the first drum machine to use actual samples, recorded from session drummer Art Wood. The LM-1's subsequent successors, the LinnDrum and Linn 9000, became synonymous with 1980s music, early dance and rap and hip hop. Examples of the LM-1 in use can be found on ‘Ballad of Dorothy Parker’ and "When Doves Cry" by Prince.
Linn Electronics closed in 1986, at which point Linn was recruited by Akai to work on the MPC60 and the MPC3000 MIDI Production Center. Most Linn products began to utilise the relatively new technology of MIDI, allowing the drum machines to be beat-synched and communicate with other electronic musical instruments, such as keyboards, and even some early computers.
[edit] Roger Linn Design
As of 2002, Roger Linn has founded a new company, Roger Linn Design. RLD's only series of products so far are the AdrenaLinn series of guitar effects pedals, now updated to a third version. The AdrenaLinn is a digital multi-effects unit with a drum machine and amp modeller all in one, co-designed by Roger Linn and Dave Smith (credited with helping to conceive MIDI). Most notably, unlike other guitar pedals, it allows the effects section to be synched up to a particular beat, either the AdrenaLinn's own drumbeat, or an external beat via MIDI. The drum section can also be affected by the filter section, allowing dance-style beats. Other unusual aspects of the pedal are its guitar arpeggiator and guitar synth sounds. The AdrenaLinn technology was also the basis of Roger Linn's partnership with M-Audio to create their Black Box guitar recording device.
The AdrenaLinn & II can be heard on the following records, among others:
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way - Warner Bros. - 2002 (produced by Rick Rubin)
- John Mayer - Heavier Things - 2003
- Morcheeba - Parts Of The Process - Reprise Records - 2003
[edit] LinnDrum II
Linn and Smith have announced an updated version of the LinnDrum. The original development name was BoomChik, but changed to LinnDrum II in December 2007 [1] The LinnDrum II will be available in two versions: a model which features only a drum machine, and a second model called the LinnDrum II Analog, which features four analog synthesizer voices in addition to the drum machine. The synthesizer section uses the same voice generation technology used in Smith's own Evolver series as well as the newly-introduced Prophet-08. The digital-only instrument will be released through Roger Linn Design, while the Analog will be released through Dave Smith Instruments.
[edit] Music Career
Roger Linn has had a level of songwriting success, penning hits for Eric Clapton ("Promises", 1979) and Mary Chapin Carpenter ("Quittin' Time", 1991), and having toured as a guitarist with the pianist/songwriter Leon Russell in the 1970s at age 21.
[edit] External links
- Akaipro.com
- Roger Linn Design
- Sweetwater Video Interview with Roger Linn
- A BBC Radio 4 programme devoted to Roger Linn's drum machines.
