Linn Electronics LinnDrum Digital Drum Machine

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The Linn Electronics LinnDrum, introduced in 1982, is a digital drum machine that revolutionized music production with its high-quality sampled drum sounds and programmable interface. Following the success of the LM-1, the LinnDrum became a staple in studios and live performances due to its realistic drum sounds and versatile programming options. It was used by iconic artists such as Prince, Michael Jackson, Wally Badarou, Jean-Michel Jarre, and Madonna, contributing to its legendary status in the music industry.

The LinnDrum features 15 digitally-sampled drum sounds stored on EPROM chips, including kick, snare, toms, hi-hats, and cymbals. It offers 12-note polyphony, allowing multiple sounds to be played simultaneously. The drum machine includes a built-in sequencer with real-time or step programming and innovative features like swing, quantizing and memory storage, making it easy to create complex rhythms.

The LinnDrum also features individual outputs for each drum sound, allowing for detailed mixing and processing. Individual controls are also available to tune, pan, and mix each drum sound via dedicated knobs and sliders. An Accent is available for the kick, snare and hats. The handy upgrade options involve inserting new chips containing new sets of sampled drum sounds created by many session drummers of the time.

Although the LinnDrum does not have MIDI implementation, it can sync with other devices via its external clock input. This versatility and the ability to produce realistic drum sounds made the LinnDrum a popular choice for both studio and live performances, cementing its place in music history.