KVR Audio

Earlier in the week, Chris (TigerBalm) of Sound Workshop posted an update about the LinnStrument Speedbumps 200 surface in another thread.

I thought that it might be helpful to post a link (below) to the update, in this thread?
Subject: The Linnstrument's surface notches against slow bends/slides

Thank you for linking Gromit.

Yes for the upcoming 200 surface I decided to do a design change and reduce the size of the grooves to make it possible to slide your finger around them for smoother glissando.

It's a tradeoff between tactility and smoother playing. I almost did this on the 128 surface but decided to optimize for tactility. For the 200 surface I wanted to try the other option.

A handful of 128 bumpy surface customers told me they also have a 200 LinnStrument and were interested in a bumpy surface for that as well (including me). So hopefully a fair number of people try both options and we can learn which one is the "best" in an AB comparison.

Chris, how deep and how wide are the hotdogs/soybeans?
Have you by chance published the engineering files somewhere?

Put me down as excited to try the 200 surface when it’s available!

TallKite wrote: Fri Sep 26, 2025 7:59 am Chris, how deep and how wide are the hotdogs/soybeans?
Have you by chance published the engineering files somewhere?

Here are the dimensions of the grooves

Factory Surface: 17 x 2 x 0.5 mm, sharp edge
128 surface, "hot dogs": 8.4 x 1.9 x 0.3 mm, 0.75mm radius edge
200 surface, "soy beans": 3.8 x 1.9 x 0.3 mm, 0.75mm radius edge

I haven't considered sharing the engineering files yet. I think I'll share them after I've broken even on the 200 surface.

TigerBalm wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2025 8:51 pm I think I'll share them after I've broken even on the 200 surface.

Sure, makes sense. I hear that steel mold wasn't cheap!
Thanks for going to the trouble and expense to create this

Hot dog!! I got one!

Installation was easy. Roger's reassembly video is an important help for proper surface tension.

I'm intending to use the SpeedBumpy primarily for playing LinnStrument while standing with a strap. The surface bumps and notches will help me feel my way with LinnStrument hanging sideways.

Looks great too.

Thanks Chris (TigerBalm) for your design.
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How to get better "Played Note" visual feedback with Speed Bumpy surface.

One difference with the Speed Bumpy surface is it doesn't allow as much light to show "played note" color because your finger covers the tiny hole.

Linnstrument has a hidden menu item that works well for me to get more visual feedback.

1. Under "per-split settings" menu, go to "color / played" (column 11, row 3)
- Pressing button briefly changes color.
- HOLD this button to bring up hidden menu for played note display options.

2. The default is "cell". This means cell played lights up with "played" color selected.

3. By swipping surface different lighting options will appear for "played" note, including various animations.

4. My favorite note "played" light setting for Speed Bumpy is "UP" (or if Linnstrument is in vertical orientation use "LEFT"). This gives player focus of which column is being played in area hand isn't covering. (See pics).
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Just chimming in here. I'd love to get a 200 surface as soon as they are available possibly two and I'm a two linnstrument guy.

Is there a way we can express interest in the 200 surface aside from this thread? Basically a cumulative sum of everyone who wants one so you can size a production run properly? Or is that not actually helpful.

Surgo wrote: Thu Oct 16, 2025 2:46 pm Is there a way we can express interest in the 200 surface aside from this thread? Basically a cumulative sum of everyone who wants one so you can size a production run properly? Or is that not actually helpful.

I guess you could join the newsletter:
https://soundwork.shop/linnstrument

I just got my 128 black Speed Bumpy surface installed. I have the original blue overlay one for my 200 and this seems like it will be much better. Will probably get a black one for my 200 when they are available, although I’m not sure I would want smaller slits. The size on the 128 doesn’t bother me at all. Really like the feel and finish of the material. Finger slides work well and it doesn’t feel sticky. Keep us posted on the progress of the 200 version.

Gil

That's so cool that you have one of the blue surfaces!

I appreciate all the encouragement people are giving to go ahead with the 200 surface. I made a dedicated waitlist for it which you can find at this link here:

https://tiger-lynx-g7r2.squarespace.com ... le-surface

I received the initial samples and currently working on getting input from some friends to decide if this is the final geometry or if we should make any adjustments. As you can see in the picture it has the smaller "soy bean" grooves which makes it the "glissando edition" for extra smooth playing. I'm on the fence about keeping the grooves this size or growing them slightly.

Because of Surgo's comment, I'm open to the idea of doing a discounted preorder to help size the production run correctly. So please join the waitlist to know when preorders and general orders are ready.

I was looking at the white/clear surface, mostly because I'm cheap and also I worry that I won't see the lights as well. OTOH, there is not denying that the black surface looks so much cooler, which you know ... is important too.

And, with the potential slide stutter thing is making me wonder if the white version could not have grooves at all. I'm also curious *why* this creates an issue for grooves but not for original tiles. I guess something to do with mid placement rather than border. Thinking the Linnstrument software might have an algorithm to deal with the border case so that's why it isn't an issue there. So perhaps there is a similar algorithmic solution here.

Anyway, I personally don't really have a hard time finding the right note and I think I'd prefer a very small dot/groove or non at all. But I realize that it probably doesn't make sense to create all the molding etc for this case.

MilesParker wrote: Mon Nov 10, 2025 8:45 pm I was looking at the white/clear surface, mostly because I'm cheap and also I worry that I won't see the lights as well. OTOH, there is not denying that the black surface looks so much cooler, which you know ... is important too.

I had the exact same thoughts -- so I decided to try both white and black speed bumpys and compare to original surface that comes with LinnStrument ... see pic.
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My thoughts:

- Black and White Speedbumpy 128 units feel and play exactly the same.
- Black looks best IMO and looks best to most friends I've shown comparison.
- Black is harder for player to see lights than white or original (dimmer but readable).
- Black hotdog version is harder to read the setup menu readouts (numbers and words)
- Black photographs better than others, which may be important if you're photographing / doing performance videos that are non-tutorial. However viewer won't see played note your finger covers (see my alternate solution earlier in this thread).

- White Speedbumpy looks very similar to original. With a casual glance you wouldn't even notice it was an aftermarket change from original by looks.
- White Speedbumpy and Original Surface is far superior than Black for visual feedback.
- White costs less. There are additional processing steps to create black surface (painting, coating) adding to the cost difference.

- Original surface is great. I bought multiple LinnStruments based on Roger's original surface.
- Speedbumpy offers better user control of Y axis which is the most significant reason I'd buy a Speedbumpy surface.
- Speedbumpy feels like a thick bass string and better orients me tactile-wise for playing the LinnStrument. Playing it percussively feels like a pad.
- Either Speedbumpy is easier to track finger location when not looking, especially playing hanging LinnStrument with strap.

My personal conclusions:

- My favorite of 3 surface options for the LinnStrument 128 is the White Speedbumpy. It provides improved performance while retaining the visual feedback and looks of the original. White is my preference as a player and have purchased several for all of my 128 units.
- I have one black surface I plan to use when playing with a strap where I'm not looking at it but others can see it.
- Note: while installation is fairly easy, I wouldn't want to be swapping surfaces on a unit regularly other than for a special occasion.

I have had an opportunity to demo the new "soybean" surface prototype for the 200 note unit and it is fantastic. I plan to use Speedbumpy surfaces on all 5 of my LinnStruments when white 200 note version is available.