KVR Audio

As a new LinnStrument owner trying to just make some music with my controller, I thought the quickest path to success would be to simply find some MPE-compatible software synthesizer, load up a nice patch and start playing. Alas, it's not that simple. Most plugins do need special configuration until they play nice with the LinnStrument, and I've found these to be annoyingly idiosyncratic (i.e., each plugin has a different way of setting up the best path to getting playable, musical sounds out of them. On the other hand, the LinnStrument itself can be configured flexibly as well, meaning that potentially you have to try out multiple configuration combinations until you've finally struck gold.

I know there are some offical resources that try to address this problem, specifically https://www.rogerlinndesign.com/support ... ded-sounds. However, while this is a good starting point, it's not easy for the community to add information to it or share their own experiences, it's missing information on quite a number of plugins, and the presentation of plugin configuration recommendations is not very systematic.

Hence, I would like to propose this thread as a repository of best practices, with the intention of providing a central place of guidance to everyone (but mostly new LinnStrument owners) looking for info on how to set up a specific synth or other plugin to play nicely with the LinnStrument. If you have found a configuration for some plugin you have been using that works well for you, please share it here!

The suggested format should be something along these lines:

Plugin Name
LinnStrument settings:

• Midi Mode (or whether you can simply use MPE defaults)
• Bend Range
• Any other config options that deviate from the default settings, e.g. timbre on CC74

Plugin settings:

• All configuration options you need to set
• Tips on where to assign X/Y/Z, if applicable
• Maybe even recommended patches, if you have any

Thank you in advance for any contribution, and I hope this will become a lively thread over time

It's a valid comment, Lizzard. MPE and expressive control are on the cutting edge and the synth makers are still figuring out what it is. Most of the MPE synths seem to be offering preset sounds that are essentially piano keyboard sounds with some slight modifications for pressure and Y-axis. The synths that I list on the Recommended Sounds page under the heading "How to play sounds NOW that fully realize LinnStrument’s potential" are best but their preset sounds are still somewhat lacking in some areas. If you're on mac, I think my sounds for Logic/MainStage are very good.

In our monthly LinnStrument Users zoom call this morning (see announcement at top of forum page), we discussed the need for a single bundled synth whose preset sounds are optimized for LinnStrument. I think the free Surge synth would be a good fit and I intend to post on this forum asking LinnStrument users to submit sounds for it.

Phaseplant
(Note, I don't currently have a license so this is going on memory, please DM me if I got anything wrong and I'll correct. Note, currently Phaseplant documentation has very little documentation on MPE capability but it actually works quite well, in fact it's the easiest synth I've found yet to customize for MPE.)

Settings

• Midi Mode: Default
• Bend Range: 48 (IIRC)

Plugin Settings / Patch Design

• General: MPE control is generally assigned in the Modulator lane (bottom row). You add a modulator, then click and drag from orange (+) to an appropriate target. Note you will need to set a reasonable % value on the link directly (you drag upward after focussing on target to do this). Also, if you have more than one synth parameter you want to control, it probably makes sense to create a Macro (top row) as then you can manage everything from one place.
• Pitch/X: (Should just work)
• Volume/Z: Add Pressure Modulator. The best target is usually master Gain control. You can also assign it (using macro) to individual generators if e.g. you want to give different parts of sound different curves or control unison, distortion or other variables.
• Timbre/Y: Add MPE/Timbre. As with most subtractive synths, good targets are generally filter cutoff, etc... (Many presets already have macros that act as good generic timbre controls.)

Recommended Patches

Don't have any I can recall as standing out, you're probably better off just finding one you like and changing settings as above. It's quick and easy. IIRC Reedy something is a good one out of the box, sorry I can't remember exact name.

The synth with the most MPE enhanced presets and also with the best fine control is hands down Equator. I only have Equator I, but it applies to Equator II as well. Himalaya is a top notch sound designer who made a lot of the MPE factory presets... As its from Roli especially made for the Seaboard, the only thing to adjust are the curves for the expressions.
2nd and 3rd are the other synths from Roli Strobe 2 and Cypher 2. Their versions 2 had been also adapted for expressive MPE playing and the factory sounds have wonderful MPE presets (Himalaya again responsible for the most beautiful sounds...)

Cypher 2 and Strobe 2 as well.

Whoops, you already said that.

Nothing to see here, exits off stage left.