In my opinion and for my style of play, this is by far the greatest drum machine ever. Absolutely love the snare sound! The sound of the Linn Drum is huge and fat, very easy to program and love all the individual outs and real time control via sliders. Ok, now I will watch the video...
We are so lucky to have synthmania giving us this free resource of music history/instruction. Paolo, would you say the Linn is your favorite drum machine of all time?
I have to say my favorite is the TR-909, because as much as I love all types of eras and music (including the '80s of course), at the end of the day I'm a Techno guy from the early '90s at the heart, that was the time of my life.
@@SynthManiaDotCom I can never make up my mind which I prefer... it's always a toss up between the 909 and LinnDrum. The 909's kick and those hihats have so much character and a real deep, earthy quality to them... nothing grooves harder than a 909 hammering out those four on the floors. But then I think of the LinnDrum as more of a direct kick to your face of computery awesomeness. It really depends on the song/mood.
I love techno I used to go to this club in London in the 90s called trade@turnmills started 6am Sunday mornings and the music and clubs was outrageous , techno hardhouse , I grew up with the sound of the 909 loves it
Yas wanted to say thank you fir this wonderful tutorial, it really made me look at drum work generally in a different light, my latest track is getting a ton more views than most of my previous ones and I think a big part of it is that I followed your example in the way I used my drum machine: 16-bar pattern, kick+snare first, then tom/claps/etc. on top. Thanks!
@SynthMania thank you for telling him that it's a Linndrum. So many naive people call it an "LM-2" when Moffett had NOTHING to do with the company at that point. So refreshing to hear someone NEVER refer to it as an LM-2! It actually disgusts me when people call it an LM-2, it's so ignorant. It's a Linndrum!
Yeah, it's one of my pet peeves too, but I'm trying to be more "zen" minded these days... I used to get ticked off for things like people calling staccato "stacatto", not putting hyphens where they are needed and viceversa - i.e. DX-7 instead of DX7, D50 instead of D-50, M-1 instead of M1 etc., but today I try to take it easy.
I was just becoming a teenager when the synth revolution in pop/chart hit us in the early '80s, I could only dream of using the gear that we heard on the radio and saw on Top Of The Pops. So now, 40 years later, it is a *partial* dream-come-true to have these epic instruments, that influenced over a decade of sounds and defined the backtrack to the '80s, available in VST form, and for free in some cases! So now I do actually "own" a LinnDrum, an 808, an SH-101, a DX-7, a Jupiter-8, an OBXa, a PPG Wave and an Emulator - albeit in virtual form ;-)
I bought the v-prom last week. It's fantastic, only 46 euros, and it's NOT just playing back samples. For anyone looking for the linn sound (I think it's based on the lm1) from a plugin it's a no brainer.
Thanks for making this. I didn't realize that sounds like cabasa had different buttons with the varied volumes for accented performances. Very fun to watch you at work.
Great video. I was lucky enough to own a Linndrum back in the 80’s. Great drum machine. If you can’t find an original today try roger linns Tempest which has some of the classic sounds.
Great video, Paulo! I love my LinnDrum! Would absolutely love more videos on the LinnDrum. There just aren't that many in depth videos on it here on RU-vid. Thanks!
Paolo this is embarrassing..... I own a Linndrum and *I didn’t even* *know* you could do step programming on it.... wow!....I always thought it was the single missing feature - in my personal book this is the best drum machine ever made. It’s a pleasure to use it - I just had the power supply swapped for a new one, as it’s quite problematic in the way it was designed - can anyone recommend a good online shop for eproms?
I rarely use the step programming anyway.... musicians use the Tap Write method. If someone can't play / has no sense of rhythm, they typically use only the step mode.
@@SynthManiaDotCom I guess what’s a bit tricky is maybe ‘tapping’ those fast 16th hi hat on the same button. I guess a solution is to lower the tempo and then going back to the target tempo
I would not be surprised if the "ext" button generates an internal clock pulse which makes the sequence advance one step - so step programming is something you get for free by virtue of having an external sync function. I just wonder if you can also alternate - like, if you'd play CH-CH-OH-CH (repeat) or whether you have to record one instrument at a time.
Thanks for the instructive video. I found a couple more things that don't work on the Linndrum I'm servicing right now thanks to you. I saw one small fact fault in the video though: It's not at all X0X-style programming, it's "serial step recording", meaning you can't access every step at any time like on the X0X.
¡¡Amo tus vídeos Paolo, me encanta la gran dedicación y paciencia que tienes para enseñarnos sobre éste gran instrumento y gracias al mismo tiempo por éste fantástico tutorial sobre el LinnDrum!! Me encantaría muchísimo que hicieras un tutorial sobre cómo usar el sintetizador de batería electrónica Simmons SDSV y verte tocarlo en vivo también. ¡¡Gracias por todo Paolo y sigue con más tutoriales como éste!!.
One more request for a more in-depth video of the LinnDrum. I'd really like for you to include what effects are recommended to get the best '80s sound out of the LinnDrum. Reverb, but which one? Compressor? Delay? I'm a novice, but look forward to your pro tips. Thanks, Paulo!
Will do! But remember, as a novice - today we see a lot of people paying attention only to the mixing side (reverb, compressor, delay etc.) while all those things are minutiae in the grand scheme of things. The most important thing is the song, and know how to play an instrument. That said, the machines they used often in the '80s were Lexicon reverbs and delay but also other brands like EMT, AMS, Eventide, T.C. Electronic, Sony, Yamaha, Roland, compressors like dbx 160, UREI 1176, Neve, SSL, Drawmer, ADR etc. etc. - I do have some of those classic machines, and will do a video on how to hook it up to the Linn via mixing console. However, please remember to always focus on learning an instrument and making a song that moves people - that's the real important thing - not which brand of compressor or reverb...
Once again, great video! I haven't seen video that explains how to use LinnDrum like this... Easily this has to be the best one on RU-vid, no doubt. Question: what's the sequencer resolution of LinnDrum? How to play busy hi-hat pattern (like often used on trap beats)? How to sequence triplet?
Glad you enjoyed it! The LinnDrum has "Error Correct" (as they call it) resolution of 1/8, 1/8 triplet, 1/16, 1/16 triplet, 1/32, 1/32 triplet, and HI (high is the maximum resolution). To do the "busy" hi-hat pattern often used on modern DAW-based Trap, you use the 1/32 resolution. The LinnDrum could do this in 1982.
@@DJShoji My pleasure! I plan to do a long'ish video at some point (I'll need an hour at a minimum) to show all the functions (including saving / loading tape data) but doing the "Trap" hi-hat is easy and should only take a few minutes to do, I have some time now, I'll post a video with it
Stellar review. Paolo you are a great musician and also very kind showing us your amazing gear and the workflow. i know that you used a Linn 9000 in couple of your videos so please make a review of it. Have a great day 👌👌✋✋
Just got a LinnDrum. Wanted one for years. And this video is so helpful. All the basics that I need. A question... If syncing with an external clock, the pattern does not reset when the sequencer stops. Is there an easy, one-button way to reset the patter so it starts at the beginning next time the sequencer triggers it... ? Many thanks for your awesome videos, Paul.
@@SynthManiaDotCom Hi there, I'm using an audio pulse sent out of Ableton at 92ppqs. It works well to keep the LinnDrum in time, but when I stop Ableton I have to reset the pattern on the LinnDrum by hitting start-stop, external sync, start-stop. It would be great to have a solution where when I hit stop on the sequencer, the LinnDrum knows to reset back to step 1, or maybe a one-button solution where I could just hit one button on the LinnDrum to tell it to play from step one when it next receives a start pulse. Thanks for the reply, and I love your method of doubling up LinnDrum patterns to create long jams. Very user-friendly way to work. Nick
The LinnDrum works at 48 pulses - you might want to check the sync settings on Ableton to make sure it sends a return to zero when you stop the sequencer - if everything fails with this method I would invest in a dedicated sync box such as the Kenton, new Roland etc.
Great video, as always!! I have a LinnDrum just like yours but, somehow, i cannot enter step mode. Do you know if there are different versions of this machine ? Thank you!
Multo Grazie per fantastico video Mr. Paolo!! I'm slowly starting to understand the whole algorythm of drum programming! Looks like linndrum made such impact that all next drummachines have something borrowed. My MC-303 is very similar, but volume and panning are hidden beneath function and set by rotary encoder.Now i now what they are for and panning gives nice improvement ! Please do whole set of linndrum lessons as it would be great to see what this "Yoda master of drummachines" is capable Thank You!!
Hi, thanks to you for making this video, I loved the machine, since I can never get one of these in my country, could you tell me what is the closest thing to this machine in software? or if there is any software drum machine that brings its sounds? thanks and regards
Just download LinnDrum samples, they are freely available on the Internet. If you want software, most DAWs these days contain LinnDrum samples in their package too. This site has a list of software emulations: www.gearnews.com/linndrum-software-tools-to-get-the-80s-drum-sound/
Whoa! I wasn't ready for how well my speakers are adjusted when it comes to stereo. I proably did a good job when mounting them to a wall. (Insert clip of Marty McFly trying out Doc Brown's extreme guitar amplifier here)
What's your preferred method of clocking the Linndrum if not being used standalone? I have used the SBX80 and recorded the SMTPE to my DAW to clock it with great results. I am trying to find solid midi-to-din 48ppq solutions. I have heard mixed things about the SBX10 and the KMS30. I have been interested and trying the SBX-1. What are your thoughts?
Well, my LinnDrum is MIDI-retrofitted these days, but all those devices should be fine. I heard very good things about the SBX-1, although personally I haven't tried it.
Could you do a deeper Linndrum tutorial showing us how it would have been set up for studio recording using all the individual outputs to a mixer, utilising the eq's, panning, fx sends, gated snare and overall bus compression.
Great demo. 😃 Such a beautiful drum machine, such an iconic sound. I have a nerdy question, by the way. Can you say something about the relative volumes of the different articulations for the snare. How many dB does the volume drop from button 3 to 2 to 1? Same goes for the other drums with multiple triggers. I only have normalized samples and I'd like recreate the original behavior. I've also asked this here: music.stackexchange.com/questions/109249/linndrum-lm-2-drums-with-multiple-buttons
Sweet! Such an iconic sound. I guess there's not too many of these to be had for sale nowadays judging by how few were originally produced. Have you had this in your collection since new?
Hi paolo, another great vid, can you do a vid on the sr16 and tr8 because the instructions are so poor. Hope you are all ok cheers from rainy Sheffield, England.
why don't you do a track or demo with the Linndrum like the 80S electro track by Elektrik Dred Butter Up with these ingenious tom fills? By the way, I love this track, especially the instrumental version, which I also have on vinyl
I have a well looked after tape with nice linndrum patterns that used to work when dumping them back into the machine. Now they get rejected. is there any Linndrum owner interested in trying to see if the dumps work on their machine?
If I understand correctly, the rests are in 16th note "increments" so it depends on how you program it. you could start with a rest and have the bass hit on the 'and' of the beat or wherever you want
@@sergeipelissier5690 I haven’t seen a prototype yet,that’s why I said what I said. I would love to get one but I don’t get my hopes up til it’s ready to order. I also heard someone bought tears for fears linndrum at auction,possibly behringer.
Roland: learn, this is a real machine, really simple to program and with the best percussion sounds, not like that nightmare impossible to program: the TR-8s
@@offworldnetwork Yeah, I have an RZ-1 and know it well. Unfortunately it's not as use friendly as the Linn. I invite you to get ahold of a LinnDrum and compare the total ease of use the RZ-1 vs the LinnDrum. That way you can form a based opinion on the matter, as I have done.
Re: The Linn LM2. There never was a LM2. The M stands for Alex Moffett, who wasn't involved in the production of the LinnDrum. Kudos to you for avoiding this in the presentation. ✌✌
1:47 you know a drum machine is legendary when a particular pad at a particular pitch immediately brings to mind a particular song from the 80s. In this case New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’. Had one of these early 2000. Bought it for $500. Sold it for $500. They’re worth about $5000.00 now🤦🏽♂️
