Roger Linn's Innovations: From Drum Machines to VR

Roger Linn is a legend in the world of musical instruments. He’s been at the cutting edge of music technology for decades. He created the LM-1, the first drum machine to use samples, and its successor, the LinnDrum, is one of the most iconic drum machines of all time. They were used on countless records in the 1980s, including hits by Tom Petty, Queen, and Tears for Fears. But the most notable fan was probably Prince, who used them extensively on Purple Rain and 1999.

Somehow, those are not his greatest contributions to the music world. That would, undoubtedly, be the MPC. Linn partnered with Akai to create one of the most popular and important samplers ever. The MPC60 and its successors became the tool of choice for countless hip-hop and house producers. J Dilla’s MPC 3000 even sits in the Smithsonian.

Roger Linn was also an early adopter of MPE, or MIDI polyphonic expression. It’s a key feature of his LinnStrument, an expressive 3D controller released in 2014 — three years before the Association of Musical Electronics Industry (AMEI) officially released the MPE standard. Turns out the man stays so innovative by keeping things simple and focused.

What is your most indispensable tool?

My MacBook Pro.

Which is the most underappreciated?

My Vision Pro. I called it the most amazing product I rarely use.

What is the first app you install on a new phone or computer?

On a computer, Rhino3D.

What is one thing you wish you could change about your phone?

Apple Mail’s bugs.

What sites do you have pinned to your tab bar?

New York Times.

How many tabs do you have open right now?

One. This document.

Which social media platform do you use the most (if any)?

I don’t use social media except to announce my monthly “All Things LinnStrument” email newsletter.

What is your happy place online?

A VR app for the Meta Quest called Walkabout Mini Golf. It was a large number of artistically created open VR worlds that offer a surprising level of beauty from the Quest 3’s limited power. I go there to play a game of mini golf, fly around, or meet friends in a private instance of a particular world.

What is your favorite gadget you’ve ever owned?

I don’t know about “ever”, but these days it’s VR headsets, currently the Meta Quest 3 or Apple Vision Pro.

Which was the most disappointing?

In general, I’m disappointed by products that are designed by engineers who assume their customers are engineers.

What game do you have the fondest memories of?

Myst.

Which tech trend do you wish would go away?

Spam.

What creation are you most proud of?

LinnStrument.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Keep it simple.

What is your current obsession?

VR.

What do you do when you need to focus?

Breathe. Calm down.

What do you do when you’re feeling stuck?

I try to shift my perspective.

When was the last time you went somewhere without your phone?

I never go anywhere without my phone. Maybe swimming.

What’s the last piece of physical media you bought?

That would be a long time ago. I’ve only bought books, music, films, etc. in digital form for a long time.

What do you think is worth splurging on?

If someone made a VR headset with retina resolution, very high power, lots of beautiful open worlds, but it was expensive, I’d probably buy it.

What would the tagline for your biopic be?

“He created tools that allowed musicians to make better music.”

What’s the last GIF or meme you used?

This isn’t a GIF, but maybe it’s a meme:

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)