What is next for Roger Linn

[wldmr]

A new Roger Linn MPE controller that had bigger pads and was more geared towards drums/percussion would be an insta buy for me.

There's Keith McMillen's Quneo, which kinda sorta does a little something like this. Different name in front (), but it's the closest do a Linnstrument-like drumpad conntroller I've found so far.

[Roger_Linn]

Thanks for the suggestion, pdxindy.

[pdxindy]

A new Roger Linn MPE controller that had bigger pads and was more geared towards drums/percussion would be an insta buy for me.

There's Keith McMillen's Quneo, which kinda sorta does a little something like this. Different name in front (), but it's the closest do a Linnstrument-like drumpad conntroller I've found so far.

The QuNeo has individual pads. I still prefer the Linnstrument as it is one surface so it can do pitch slides. Also, I so love that all the configuration can be done right on the Linnstrument! No software/app needed!

I recently bought the ERAE Touch, but I have not used it other than a quick try to make sure it works. The software is not Apple Silicon native yet and there is no Bitwig script for it. My music time has been fulfilling making music so have not felt inclined yet to put the time to make my own Bitwig script.

[pdxindy]

Thanks for the suggestion, pdxindy.

Thank you for the Linnstrument! It is a centerpiece of my studio and I make so much creative use of it in various different ways for expressive musical playing! I waited decades for something like it so I very much appreciate you put in the effort to create such a beautiful and well designed MPE controller!

[Roger_Linn]

Thanks!

[Tj Shredder]

A new Roger Linn MPE controller that had bigger pads and was more geared towards drums/percussion would be an insta buy for me.

There's Keith McMillen's Quneo, which kinda sorta does a little something like this. Different name in front (), but it's the closest do a Linnstrument-like drumpad conntroller I've found so far.

A just got the Erae Touch. Its completely programmable and the first layout I created was a LinnStrument inspired one with a 2*2 grid. No comparison to the real one, the resolution makes it hard to play minor seconds or any neighboring area. But as MPE drum controller with bigger areas its quite nice. Lets see if it survives longer than the Sensel… Well I will use my Sensel as LinnStruMini for the next decade for sure as a smaller MPE companion to my iPad… I could just “repair” the pitch bend range with the aid of the Mozaic au in AUM…
And there is the other MPE drum controller from McMillen as well, the BobPad. I found it less reliable than the Erea Touch and it has only 4 areas, but at least looks like a drum…

[93bpm]

I'm sorry to say that I'm no longer working on the standalone drum machine that I called LinnDrum II. It was too expensive, too much work and I'm less interested in drum machines than I was 40 years ago. However, I am interested in better human interfaces for music performance as as I'm doing with LinnStrument, so I may make a MIDI controller optimized for drum machine-style play but with expressive touch control.

Hi Roger,

A thread about LinnDrum II on Gearspace has brought me here.

While I admit quite a few of us expected this (Linndrum II being first announced fifteen years ago now back in 2007!) it is nevertheless heartbreaking news to read this. I've been a user of your drum machines since MPC60 mk1 all the way to Tempest. Never had the pleasure of owning a Linndrum, although I came very close to making a deal a couple years ago for a unit belonging to a very famous French electronic music duo now retired (and who ended keeping the unit lol).

I've read/seen all your interviews about the Linndrum II and understand you're a bit exhausted of drum machines after 40 years (I remember that quote of you saying in an interview "I could design drum machines in my sleep" lol). That said, please understand, we the public are not tired of drum machines, especially coming from you, recognised as being the GOAT! I really really hope you reconsider, even if I understand it must be a huge challenge doing so on your own at this point in time.

As we all know, Tom Oberheim had similar struggles but just recently partnered again with Sequential, under the Focusrite umbrella to make his OBX8. I know you did same with Tempest a decade ago, which had its own share of development ordeals, but from what I've heard from Chris Hector they've learned so much in the process and I think they're confident they could do better if given another shot. It would of course be incredible if you were on-board although I feel from what you've been saying that you had other ideas with LinnDrum II (namely the 3D input interface).

I remember Dave Smith (RIP) saying he would never reissue the Prophet-5. "Been there, done that" and I understood that too. As genius pioneers that you all are, you're interested in new ideas, not necessarily old ones. Yet as well all know, The Prophet-5 rev4 did end up coming back to life, and the OBX/XA/8 is coming back in the form of the OBX8. And us retro gear nuts couldn't be happier.

Now I know a simple Linndrum reissue was never on the table for you (although trust me it would sell like hotcakes and another company as you're surely aware seems to be on it). But a proper sequel would ignite the market even further.

I saw you wrote software and a controller can do it all now. That may be true for some but not for everyone. Having a hardware standalone drum machine that feels like an instrument and sounds good still holds a lot of value both in the studio and on stage. Plus the DAWless movement is growing steady. I personally hate working drums inside a DAW. So uninspiring & unmusical. And finally sonically, if you add some analog components (VCF, VCA, op-amps, distortion etc). Even the MPC60/3000 which were digital had a real special sound probably due to the era specific AD/DA converters and such. Those old Akais sure had a lot of mojo.

Anyways, sorry for the long write-up. Just wanted to let you know that you have many supporters in all parts of the world that still cherish all your creations and would be enthralled by any new drum machine related product bearing your signature (not just necessarily LD2).

Best

Alex from Paris, FR

[Roger_Linn]

Thanks for your suggestion, Alex. I could possibly make a drum machine in collaboration with another company in future, but it's too big a job for my little company. If I did, I wouldn't add any analog components, given that I've never made an analog product except for Tempest, for which Dave did the analog parts. And although I respect that many people like analog/subtractive synthesis as I did when I was a teenager, I'm not as interested in it these days. I find newer forms of synthesis more interesting. Sometimes the current retro synth movement seems to me a little like "Make Synthesizers Great Again".

For now, I'm enjoying what I'm doing with LinnStrument, and doing it on a small scale that keeps me in touch with LinnStrument players, who generally place a value on new ideas as I do.