Speedbump surface

[qryss]

I just discovered this. I would buy a black one for the 200 instantly! It's just gorgeous.

[Fannon]

I got one now, too. It's really nice - thanks to Chris! It makes slides and Timbre (Y) definitely easier. I also like that it also adds a bit more "thickness" to the pads where you play them.

It takes a bit to get used to the "bumps" not separating the notes, but actually being the center of the note. But it makes sense: This way you can feel better where the center is, which is usually where you want to land or return to.

[mrspiral]

I have had my black Speedbumpy installed for about a month now, having bought one from Chris at Superbooth. Here are my rough and disorganized initial thoughts.

Believe it or not, the first thing you notice isn’t how it feels, but what it looks like. On the black one, the visual feedback is very different than I’m used to, because the clear windows for the LEDs are very narrow. I didn’t realize how much I relied on being able to see big round lights all the time until I couldn’t. When altering settings, it does make the alphanumeric displays considerably harder to read. Just something I’m going to have to get used to.

I sort of wish I had gotten one of the white ones, where the visual feedback would be much more familiar… But it occurs to me that the black one will be much easier for me to use if I go back to performing in planetariums again on a regular basis, because the light won’t wash out the dome. I might end up getting one of each, depending on my use case.

All that having been said, however, the visual aspect is quickly forgotten once you get into the feel and the playing experience, which I find exquisite. For me, at least, this new surface is a game changer. I adapted very quickly to the shape and texture, and found that it gave me a great deal more control than I’m used to. Pitch bends are more accurate, Y axis movement is much more predictable, and pressure sensitivity isn’t adversely affected at all. I am very impressed! This is a huge upgrade for my interaction with the instrument. if your playing technique is different than mine, you may have a very different experience, but I’m sure not going back unless I absolutely have to.

Now I just have to try and get Chris’s attention, because he accidentally sent me a second one. I’m trying to give it back to him, or at least figure out whether I got charged twice for the two.

By the way, I had a chat with Roger about what’s involved in making the 200 surfaces as opposed to the 128 surfaces. Apparently the process is considerably more involved, because the larger surface has to be done in two separate molds. no clue what this will mean for difficulty, delivery times, or prices for the bigger surfaces. But I found it interesting to learn that going from 128 to 200 is actually not trivial at all.

Anyway, thanks for listening. I’ll share more of my revelations as they come up, but I’m hoping that other users will weigh in with their experiences as well.

mike

[adadcalledrichard]

Thanks for posting your detailed thoughts, can't wait to get one of these on my 200. I am red/green colour blind, so now definitely thinking of ordering the white one when it's released so I can distinguish the pads ....

[patternmusic]

Just my 2 cents.

I received my Speedbumpy for my Linnstrument 128 back in April, and I installed it without any trouble by following the pad replacement video. The fit, finish and design are absolutely first rate.

I had preordered it with a bit of ambivalence. But I thought, "what the hell, I'll give it a try."

Now I have been using it for a couple months, and I'm fully on-board with Speedbumpy. It really does improve one's sense of position on the surface. Speedbumpy combined with the Linnstrument's wooden cheeks makes it possible to keep your position without looking, more like what you might develop with a physical instrument like a guitar.

It also facilitates directional modulation significantly. With the original I never had a strong sense of Y-modulation. This completely fixes that.

Speedbumpy also makes possible some new ways to modulate Z pressure. Because of the bump shape you can easily and confidently stroke the pad from above to below or below to above with different pressures without risk of hitting the pads above and below.

Speedbumpy makes a subtle but significant difference. I recommend the upgrade without reservation.

[Roger_Linn]

By the way, I had a chat with Roger about what’s involved in making the 200 surfaces as opposed to the 128 surfaces. Apparently the process is considerably more involved, because the larger surface has to be done in two separate molds.

The process steps are actually the same for the 200 and 128. In our chat, I was referring to the fact that for the longer LinnStrument 200 playing surface, my vendor-- who Chris is using-- can't fabricate a single long and narrow metal mold, so instead it creates a squarer metal mold with two identical cavities for producing two large playing surfaces at the same time. The problems are:
1) such a long and thin silicone sheet of soft material often tears during removal from the mold,
2) the significantly higher cost of fabricating such a large two-cavity metal mold,
3) applying the non-stick coating (and black paint for the black version) on such a large sheet without catching dirt particles is more difficult than on the smaller sheet, and
4) tariffs, which may change at any time depending on whether Trump wakes up angry.

As a result, the vendor requires much higher up-front costs, minimum production quantities, and per-unit costs for the larger 200 surface.

That's why Chris started with the less-risky 128. But now that people seem to like it, I suspect he's gradually feeling less risky about his big investment in producing the mold and a minimum-quantity production run of the larger playing surface.

I think it's wonderful that Chris makes this option for LinnStrument owners. I'd like to see more third-party add-ons. Burled walnut or birds eye maple wood sides? Differently shaped wood sides for a more organic form in standing play? White top panels with glossy white sides instead of wood?

[Gromit42]

I think it's wonderful that Chris makes this option for LinnStrument owners. I'd like to see more third-party add-ons. Burled walnut or birds eye maple wood sides? Differently shaped wood sides for a more organic form in standing play? White top panels with glossy white sides instead of wood?

Have you had a chance to try the production, Speedbumpy surface yourself?
If so, may we have your thoughts on it please?

[Roger_Linn]

Yes, Chris kindly gave me one of the surfaces. I think both have merit for different reasons.

I think the speed bumps are useful for finding the rows by feel, guiding your finger on a row during pitch slides and for finding the pitch center if you've turned quantize off, especially if you're new to LinnStrument. And the black surfaces look great against the black top panel.

By comparison, I personally prefer the original surface for playing fast melody lines, chords, or finger drumming. But I admit that I'm used to the original surface, and it's different for each person. I just wish I could add a software setting to switch between them.

[Gromit42]

Yes, Chris kindly gave me one of the surfaces. I think both have merit for different reasons.

I think the speed bumps are useful for finding the rows by feel, guiding your finger on a row during pitch slides and for finding the pitch center if you've turned quantize off, especially if you're new to LinnStrument. And the black surfaces look great against the black top panel.

By comparison, I personally prefer the original surface for playing fast melody lines, chords, or finger drumming. But I admit that I'm used to the original surface, and it's different for each person. I just wish I could add a software setting to switch between them.

Thank you. That is very helpful.

[Antobaird]

I'm really enjoying the new speedbumpy surface for all the same reasons as posted above.

Thank you Chris for creating it - and I'll definitely order one for my Linn200 when, hopefully, it's available.

[Rune_7s]

Very nice !
Best of luck with that
I'll probably be an early adopter for a black 200 one.

Hell yeah, I'll jump on that order button faster than lightning.\

[TigerBalm]

Hi folks, I wanted to share some fun updates about the LinnStrument Speedbump Surface:

1) The surface appeared in a Loopop Video

I gave Loopop a surface at Superbooth 2025 and it popped up in his video review of Artemis. About 22 minutes in he discusses Artermis' MPE capabilities and used a LinnStrument with the black surface to demonstrate it.

2) We hit 100 sales!
After the Loopop appearance about 15 sales came in over the next week, which pushed the total sales over 100. Now we've sold about 80 black surfaces and 40 white surfaces. There are 25 black surfaces left and 50 white surfaces left. (Luckily I added 20 extra black surfaces to production run at the last minute)

3) I started the process to make a 200 surface
Given the sales milestone above plus lots of DMs, e-mails, and comments about interest in a 200 surface, I feel pretty good that it will work out financially to make one. I just made the 3D model today and sent it to the vendor for a quote. That should start a 4-6 month process before parts are ready to buy.

Thanks to all of you who sent messages about the 200 surface and thanks again to Roger for the support to make this possible. I've enjoyed beginning to learn how to run a small business: selling, shipping, e-mailing, and filing taxes. If you have a surface I'd love to see it in action, please tag @sound.workshop on instagram or youtube if you upload any videos.

[John the Savage]

I'm glad to see your hardwork paying off for you, Chris... Congrats!

Cheers!

[TigerBalm]

Thank you John.

By the way, I eternally have trouble finding a name I like for this project. Speedbumpy LinnStrument Surface, LinnStrument Tactile Surface, etc. feel like a mouthfull. Here's the name I'll try for now: LinnStrument Speedbumps. This can be shortened to things like "linnstrument bumps," "the speedbumps," or even "the bumps," which all feel good.

Connor Golden just visited and we got more time to jam together on the speedbumps. It was working great. I caught some audio/video with my phone and a TX-6:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOZaAbEE ... BiNWFlZA==

Connor had set up a really cool patch in Ableton where the left split had autotune on and the right split was fully unquantized. This lets you jam expressively in the right hand while making it easy to comp in the left hand. After playing for a brief second Connor double checked the right split settings because he almost thought autotune was engaged on the right. It turned out that the centered grooves just helped him play in tune.

In the middle you can see how the bumps help with double stops. At the very end of the video I showed Connor how the bumps help you strum across rows because they apply a little downforce in the center of each row sensor as you run your finger in the Y direction.

[ElVincente]

Very nice playing! Thanks for this video.