Linn LM-1
The LM-1 drum computer , manufactured by Linn Electronics , was the first programmable drum computer to use digital samples from acoustic drums . It was conceived and developed by Roger Linn .
history
Roger Linn was a semi-professional guitarist in California . In 1978 he began developing the LM-1 as an accompaniment instrument for his home studio. He wanted "a drum machine that could do more than just play preset samba rhythms and sound like a cricket." Linn had learned to program in BASIC and assembler and began to work on a computer program that played user- programmed rhythm patterns and made them one the whole song. Linn was the first to come up with the idea of using digital samples . He does not remember who recorded the sounds used for the samples. It is believed that there were several studio drummers from Los Angeles , possibly James Gadson , Art Wood, Ron Tutt or Jeff Porcaro .
Linn used an 8-bit compander digital-to-analog converter chip to convert the built-in, digitized sounds into an analog audio signal. His first prototype, built around 1979, was housed in a cardboard box and Linn sold it at parties to his co-musicians, including Peter Gabriel , group members of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Wonder . A total of about 525 units were built and sold until 1983, when the LinnDrum came on the market. The first 35 devices were assembled in Linn's house before "360 Systems" took over production and marketing.
distribution
It sold for $ 4,995 in early 1980, then went up to $ 5,500 as additional features were added. After that, the price sank again to 4,995 US dollars and was reduced to 3,995 US dollars due to cost reductions before production was discontinued after the release of the successor LinnDrum . It was used in the 1980s by artists such as Prince , Michael Jackson , Madonna , The Human League , Peter Gabriel , Wally Badarou , Kraftwerk , Ultravox , Falco , Kate Bush and others.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Synthmuseum.com Linn