Roger Lynn is a legend in the world of musical instruments. He has been a pioneer in the field of music technology for decades. He created the LM-1, which was 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. purple Rain And 1999.
By no means is this his greatest contribution to the music world. Of course, she will be an MPC. Lin partnered with Akai to create one of the most popular and important samples of all time. The MPC60 and its successors became the instrument of choice for countless hip-hop and house producers. J Dilla’s MPC 3000 also sits in the Smithsonian.
Roger Lynn was also an early adopter of MPE, or MIDI Polyphonic Expression. This is a key feature of their LinInstrument, 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 remains so innovative by keeping things simple and focused.
What is your most indispensable tool?
My MacBook Pro.
Who is least 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?
On computer, Rhino3D.
What’s one thing you wish you could change about your phone?
Apple Mail bugs.
Which sites have you 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 most (if any)?
I don’t use social media except to announce my monthly “All Things Linstrument” email newsletter.
What is your happy place online?
A VR app for Meta Quest called Walkabout Mini Golf. It was a massive number of artfully created open VR worlds that deliver a level of beauty surprising from the limited power of the Quest 3. 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 of all time?
I don’t know about “ever”, but these days it’s VR headsets, currently the Meta Quest 3 or the Apple Vision Pro.
Which was the most disappointing?
In general, I am disappointed by products that are designed by engineers who believe their customers are the engineers.
What sport do you have the fondest memories of?
Mystery.
What tech trend do you wish would take off?
Unsolicited email.
What creation are you most proud of?
LinnInstrument.
What is the best advice you ever received?
keep it simple.
What is your current passion?
VR
What do you do when you need to concentrate?
breathe. Calm down.
What do you do when you feel stuck?
I try to change 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 purchased?
This must have been a long time ago. I’ve only bought books, music, movies, etc. in digital form for a long time.
What do you think is worth spending on?
If someone made a VR headset with Retina resolution, very high power, lots of beautiful open worlds, but it’s expensive, I’d probably buy it.
What will be the tagline of your biopic?
“He created tools that helped musicians make better music.”
What was the last GIF or meme you used?
It’s not a GIF, but maybe it’s a meme:
( ° ʖ °)
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