An Evening with Roger Linn
February 23rd, 2017 • 6:30 pm
Tickets $10
Roger Linn is a designer of electronic music products, best known for his invention of the first digital sampling drum machine in 1980 and used on countless 80s hits. He also designed Akai’s MPC series of drum machines, used on countless 90s hip hop hits and credited as a significant influence in the evolution of hip hop.
In this event, Roger will be demoing his new LinnStrument, an innovative MIDI instrument that brings the subtle expressive performance gestures of fine acoustic instruments to the control of modern electronic sounds. After tonight, you will understand how limiting your one-dimensional MIDI keyboard and drum pads really are. You’ll be able to try out LinnStrument for yourself toward the end of the event.
About Roger Linn:
Roger Linn is a designer of electronic music products, best known for his invention of the LM-1 Drum Computer, the first programmable, sampled-sound drum machine in 1979. Manufactured by his company Linn Electronics, the LM-1 and its successors the LinnDrum and Linn9000 provided the drums for countless hit records during the 1980s by artists including Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Peter Gabriel, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Devo and Bruce Hornsby, and are considered a major influence on the music of the era.
In 1988, he designed the innovative MPC60 MIDI Production Center for the Japanese Akai Company, with his signature appearing on the product’s front panel. Combining a sampling drum machine with a real-time MIDI sequencer, this product gradually became the industry standard in the production of hip-hop, dance and related music styles throughout the 1990s, and has been credited as a significant influence in the evolution of hip hop music. This was followed in 1994 with the enhanced MPC3000 and others. In addition to these designs for Akai, he also helped design products for a variety of companies during the 1990s, including the Japanese Roland company.
