Roger Linn is a legend in the world of musical instruments. It has been at the forefront 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 popular 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 the most Purple Rain again 1999.
In some ways, those are not his greatest contributions to the world of music. That would be, arguably, the MPC. Linn collaborated with Akai to create one of the most popular and important samples. The MPC60 and its fans have become the instrument of choice for many 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, a clear 3D controller released in 2014 – three years before the Association of Musical Electronics Industry (AMEI) officially released the MPE standard. It turns out that the man always innovates by keeping things simple and focused.
What is your most important tool?
My MacBook Pro.
Which one is most appreciated?
My Vision Pro. I called it the most amazing product that I rarely use.
What’s the first app you install on a new phone or computer?
For PC, Rhino3D.
What’s one thing you wish you could change about your phone?
Apple Mail bugs.
What sites have you pinned to your tab bar?
New York Times.
How many tabs do you have open right now?
One. This document.
What social media 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 happiest place on the internet?
A VR app for Meta Quest called Walkabout Mini Golf. It was a huge amount of creatively created open VR worlds that offered a level of awesomeness from the limited power of Quest 3. I go there to play a game of miniature golf, fly, or meet friends in a secret world.
What’s your favorite gadget you’ve ever owned?
I don’t know about “always”, but these days VR headsets, currently Meta Quest 3 or Apple Vision Pro.
Which was the most disappointing?
In general, I’m disappointed by products designed by developers who think their customers are developers.
What game do you have the fondest memories of?
Myst.
What tech trend do you wish would end?
You are spam.
What creation are you proud of?
LinnStrument.
What is the best advice you ever received?
Keep it simple.
What is your current obsession?
VR.
What do you do when you need to focus?
Take a breath. Calm down.
What do you do when you feel stuck?
I am trying to change my opinion.
When was the last time you went somewhere without your phone?
I don’t go anywhere without my phone. Maybe swimming.
What was the last piece of physical media you purchased?
That would have been a long time ago. I have only bought books, music, movies, etc. in digital form for a long time.
What do you think you should spend on?
If someone made a VR headset with retina resolution, super high power, lots of beautiful open worlds, but it was expensive, I’d probably buy it.
What would be the tagline of your biopic?
“He created tools that allow musicians to make better music.”
What was the last GIF or meme you used?
This is not a GIF, but maybe a meme:
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
