Lync

Lync

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Also known as: Lync Systems, Lync Systems, Inc.

Unclaimed

Lync was an American keytar manufacturer based in Albany, New York, active during the late 1980s and early 1990s under the leadership of president J. Sgroi. The company specialized in MIDI remote keyboard controllers worn guitar-style, a niche it pursued at a time when Casio and Roland dominated the small keytar market. Richard Lainhart, who authored the company's manuals, was among the staff a...

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Lync was an American keytar manufacturer based in Albany, New York, active during the late 1980s and early 1990s under the leadership of president J. Sgroi. The company specialized in MIDI remote keyboard controllers worn guitar-style, a niche it pursued at a time when Casio and Roland dominated the small keytar market. Richard Lainhart, who authored the company's manuals, was among the staff associated with product development.

The Lync lineup included the LN-1 (sometimes labeled simply "The Lync"), the rackmount-paired LN-4, and the LN-1000, along with a Jan Hammer Signature Edition built to the fusion keyboardist's specifications. The LN-1000, introduced in 1991, offered 49 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch across four octaves, real continuous pitch and mod wheels, and a single MIDI output, and was nicknamed "the Rolls-Royce of keytars" by enthusiasts. The LN-4 was positioned as the higher-end model, providing four separately programmable MIDI outputs from a companion rack unit.

Production was limited to a few thousand units per model, and the company ceased operations as interest in keytars faded through the 1990s. Surviving Lync instruments are uncommon on the secondhand market and are sought primarily by collectors of vintage MIDI controllers and players seeking the specific feel of the Jan Hammer-associated design.

Lync has 2 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Portable & Arranger Keyboards. Their gear is featured by 6 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Funk / Soul, and Metal. Notable users include Jordan Rudess, Teddy Riley, and Donald Fagen.

Artists Who Use Lync

Jordan Rudess uses 1 Lync product

Jordan Rudess

Keyboardist, Composer · Dream Theater

Teddy Riley uses 1 Lync product

Teddy Riley

Singer, Keyboardist · Zulu Nation

Donald Fagen uses 1 Lync product

Donald Fagen

Singer, Keyboardist · Steely Dan

Jan Hammer uses 1 Lync product

Jan Hammer

Keyboardist · The Mahavishnu Orchestra

Robert Lamm uses 1 Lync product

Robert Lamm

Singer, Keyboardist · Chicago

Bernie Worrell uses 1 Lync product

Bernie Worrell

Keyboardist, Composer · Talking Heads

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