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Roger Linn is such a down to earth, genuine guy. I was one of the first to buy a linnstrument and he has also been so nice every time I've interacted with him.

by oidar 2y ago

zxv 2y ago
Yeah, Roger is awesome. I bought a linnstrument recently, and he went to great effort to ensure some complicated shipping went flawlessly.
mkl 2y ago
I am quite curious about LinnStrument, but hesitant because of the price. How well has it stood up over time?
- elihu 2y ago
  I don't own a Linnstrument, but I know a couple people who have them and they all seem pretty impressed with it. If you want something less expensive, you might take a look at the Roli Lightpad Block. It's kind of like a miniature Linnstrument. In 5x5 grid mode you get 2 octaves. I find it more fun and usable than the Seaboard Block. I'm a little hesitant to recommend it though, because Roli is awfully controlling. To configure the device you have to use their software (which runs on Mac and Windows only), and it won't talk to the device unless it's registered to you. So if, like myself, you bought it second hand, you have to file a support ticket and have it de-registered from the previous owner before you can register it to yourself and actually use it. (To their credit, the process was pretty quick.) The Linnstrument is the complete opposite -- the device firmware is Apache 2.0 and available on github.
  - LegitShady 2y ago
    as far as I know the lightpad block is no longer in production, so if you want it you have to look around the used market.
- mikelevins 2y ago
  I got one a year or two ago from Detroit Modular for about $1500. I've been very happy with it. I'm primarily a guitar player with some ability to muddle through on piano on simple parts if I have to. The Linnstrument feels to me like a cross between a guitar and a piano. The notes are all laid out side-by-side like a piano, but in parallel rows like a guitar, and it respnds like a string instrument to wiggling your finger for tremolo or sliding it along the row for portamento. In the default tuning the "strings" are tuned a fourth apart, like the lower 4 strings on a guitar, which helps a guitarist adapt quickly. The sensors are quite sensitive, with very quick response, which makes it feel alive and responsive. It came with access to downloadable content that included MPE instruments for Logic Pro. I've used Logic for years, so I just made a reference project with all the supplied instruments in it and use that as a starting point for new projects that use the Linnstrument. I quite happy with it and don't regret the price paid one bit. Here's a little thing I made with it: https://mic11.net/assets/audio/Ribbon.mp3 https://mic11.net/assets/audio/Ribbon.mp3 I did all the parts on the Linnstrument with Logic and my reference project.
- atoav 2y ago
  I own one as well. It is stellar for controlling all kind of Blade Runner/Vangelis-style pad sounds and there are some things where nothing compares. E.g. I played a gig last week where each key on the left split was an individual drum loop (e.g. bassdrum beating on one key, snare on another, hihat on yet another) and the pressure controlled the level of each individual loop. This way you can create very organic, reactive, structures with one hand. Another thing it is great at is when you play with multiple fingers into a arppeggiated synth that reacts to the channel pressure and the timbre, as you can still emphazise or de-emphasize single notes within the arpeggio organically. It certainly still holds up for me at least. In a way it has become even better, as MPE support has developed. One thing however is: most synthesizer presets work fine on the Linnstrumment, but you will have to make your own if you're willing to unlock the full potential of the thing, as the emphasis is so much more on pressure than on velocity/envelopes.
cesaref 2y ago
Agreed, I had a long chat with him at an audio conference years ago, and I have a LinnStrument 128. One of the very cool things people may not know is the LinnStrument has open firmware under the Apache License, and you can download the source here: https://github.com/rogerlinndesign/linnstrument-firmware https://github.com/rogerlinndesign/linnstrument-firmware So grab an instrument, and start hacking!

Roger Linn is such a down to earth, genuine guy. I was one of the first to buy a linnstrument and he has also been so nice every time I've interacted with him.

by oidar 2y ago

Roger Linn is such a down to earth, genuine guy. I was one of the first to buy a linnstrument and he has also been so nice every time I've interacted with him.

zxv 2y ago

Yeah, Roger is awesome. I bought a linnstrument recently, and he went to great effort to ensure some complicated shipping went flawlessly.

mkl 2y ago

I am quite curious about LinnStrument, but hesitant because of the price. How well has it stood up over time?

elihu 2y ago
I don't own a Linnstrument, but I know a couple people who have them and they all seem pretty impressed with it. If you want something less expensive, you might take a look at the Roli Lightpad Block. It's kind of like a miniature Linnstrument. In 5x5 grid mode you get 2 octaves. I find it more fun and usable than the Seaboard Block. I'm a little hesitant to recommend it though, because Roli is awfully controlling. To configure the device you have to use their software (which runs on Mac and Windows only), and it won't talk to the device unless it's registered to you. So if, like myself, you bought it second hand, you have to file a support ticket and have it de-registered from the previous owner before you can register it to yourself and actually use it. (To their credit, the process was pretty quick.) The Linnstrument is the complete opposite -- the device firmware is Apache 2.0 and available on github.
- LegitShady 2y ago
  as far as I know the lightpad block is no longer in production, so if you want it you have to look around the used market.
mikelevins 2y ago
I got one a year or two ago from Detroit Modular for about $1500. I've been very happy with it. I'm primarily a guitar player with some ability to muddle through on piano on simple parts if I have to. The Linnstrument feels to me like a cross between a guitar and a piano. The notes are all laid out side-by-side like a piano, but in parallel rows like a guitar, and it respnds like a string instrument to wiggling your finger for tremolo or sliding it along the row for portamento. In the default tuning the "strings" are tuned a fourth apart, like the lower 4 strings on a guitar, which helps a guitarist adapt quickly. The sensors are quite sensitive, with very quick response, which makes it feel alive and responsive. It came with access to downloadable content that included MPE instruments for Logic Pro. I've used Logic for years, so I just made a reference project with all the supplied instruments in it and use that as a starting point for new projects that use the Linnstrument. I quite happy with it and don't regret the price paid one bit. Here's a little thing I made with it: https://mic11.net/assets/audio/Ribbon.mp3 https://mic11.net/assets/audio/Ribbon.mp3 I did all the parts on the Linnstrument with Logic and my reference project.
atoav 2y ago
I own one as well. It is stellar for controlling all kind of Blade Runner/Vangelis-style pad sounds and there are some things where nothing compares. E.g. I played a gig last week where each key on the left split was an individual drum loop (e.g. bassdrum beating on one key, snare on another, hihat on yet another) and the pressure controlled the level of each individual loop. This way you can create very organic, reactive, structures with one hand. Another thing it is great at is when you play with multiple fingers into a arppeggiated synth that reacts to the channel pressure and the timbre, as you can still emphazise or de-emphasize single notes within the arpeggio organically. It certainly still holds up for me at least. In a way it has become even better, as MPE support has developed. One thing however is: most synthesizer presets work fine on the Linnstrumment, but you will have to make your own if you're willing to unlock the full potential of the thing, as the emphasis is so much more on pressure than on velocity/envelopes.

cesaref 2y ago

Agreed, I had a long chat with him at an audio conference years ago, and I have a LinnStrument 128. One of the very cool things people may not know is the LinnStrument has open firmware under the Apache License, and you can download the source here: https://github.com/rogerlinndesign/linnstrument-firmware https://github.com/rogerlinndesign/linnstrument-firmware So grab an instrument, and start hacking!