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Description
Per Linn's original brochure @ time of launch:
REAL DRUMS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Here's the most amazing rhythm machine ever – the new LM-1 Drum Computer from Linn Electronics.
Amazing because it has real drum sounds–not synthesized noises, but real drums, digitally recorded and stored in memory.
And it's programmable
You put in your own drumbeats in real time.
Odd time signatures ? No problem.
Your timing's a little off? No problem.
The LM-1 under-stands and corrects the error.
But music isn't just drum-beats.
The LM-1 can be programmed to play all parts of a song – intro, verses, lead-ins, fills, endings, etc... And it can overdub to tape.
Surprisingly easy to operate The LM-1 was created for musicians, not technicians.
Take it out of the box, hook it up, and it's ready to play.
You'll be laying down top-notch rhythm tracks in a matter of minutes.
But it doesn't have to end there. The more you work with it, the more it can do.
The possibilities are endless.
FEATURES
- Real Drum Sounds—digital recordings stored in computer memory
- 12 Drums: bass, snare, hi hat, cabasa, tambourine, two toms, two congas, cowbell, clave, and hand claps!
- All drums tunable in pitch
- 13 input Stereo Mixer
- Separate Outputs
- 100 Drumbeats—all programmable in real time
- Automatic error correction in programming
- "Human" Rhythm Feel made possible by special timing circuitry.
- Able to program flams, rolls, build-ups, open and closed hi hat, etc.
- Programmable dynamics
- Any time signature possible
- Plays Entire Song (intro, verse, chorus, fills, ending, etc.)
- All programmed parts remain in memory when power is off.
- Readout of speed in beats-per-minute
- Versatile editing
- Programmed data may be stored on cassette tape to be loaded back in later
- May be synced to tape
- Easy to understand and operate
Product specs
| Brand | Linn |
| Model | LM-1 Drum Computer |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 1980s |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Drum Machines |
| Analog / Digital | Digital |
| Polyphony | 12 Voices |
FAQs
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What makes the Linn Electronics LM-1 Drum Computer unique compared to other drum machines?
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The Linn Electronics LM-1 Drum Computer is notable for being the first drum machine to use digital samples of real drums, providing a more realistic sound compared to analog counterparts. It also allows for programmable rhythms, making it a pioneering piece of equipment in the 1980s music production.
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How many voices of polyphony does the Linn LM-1 Drum Computer offer?
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The Linn LM-1 Drum Computer features 12 voices of polyphony, allowing for the simultaneous playback of multiple drum sounds, which was groundbreaking at the time of its release.
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Is the Linn LM-1 Drum Computer suitable for live performances?
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Yes, the Linn LM-1 Drum Computer is suitable for live performances. Its programmability and ability to produce realistic drum sounds made it a favorite among artists for both studio and live settings.
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What type of sounds can I expect from the Linn LM-1 Drum Computer?
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The Linn LM-1 Drum Computer offers digital samples of acoustic drum sounds, including kick, snare, toms, hi-hats, and cymbals, providing a rich and authentic drum sound palette that was revolutionary in the 1980s.
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Which famous artists have used the Linn LM-1 Drum Computer in their music?
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The Linn LM-1 Drum Computer has been famously used by artists such as Prince, who incorporated it into hits like "1999" and "Purple Rain," as well as The Human League in "Don't You Want Me," showcasing its significant impact on popular music.
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Linn Electronics LM-1 Drum Computer.
Features and functionality
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The LM-1's downtuned rimshot is iconic, heavily associated with Prince's sound and often used for its distinctive 80s vibe.
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The Luma1 has purple boards, a detail that Roger Linn believes would have been favored by Prince, a known LM-1 enthusiast.
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The LM-1's hi-hat sound is generated by a random slice of the open hi-hat sample, shaped by an envelope for a unique, non-repetitive sound.
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The LM-1 uses a computer that cycles the sequencer first, similar to the TR808, resulting in a tighter performance feel.
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Use cases and applications
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The Linn LM-1 was pivotal in creating the "80s sound," heavily featured on Prince's albums like Purple Rain, 1999, and Sign O’ The Times.
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User experience
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Users find the LM-1 easier to operate than the original TR909, though complex rhythms require meticulous programming and additional effects.
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Potential buyers express disappointment in the Luma1's high cost, which makes it inaccessible for many working-class musicians, driving interest towards more budget-friendly options.
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Value and pricing
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The Luma1's $5k price point is a major barrier for many enthusiasts, pushing them towards more affordable alternatives like the Behringer LmDrum.
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Comparisons
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Some users compare the drum sounds on Gary Numan's "Dance" and "I, Assassin" albums to the LM-1, noting similarities to Prince's sound.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 6 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
In a 1982 photograph featured on Queenvinyls.com, Brian May is shown with a Linn Electronics LM-1 Drum Computer, highlighting his use of this iconic drum machine.
The LM-1 was elite gear. Only 525 machines were ever made, and inventor Roger Linn managed to flog them by dragging around a little cardboard-box prototype to showbiz parties. Notching up pre-orders with Peter Gabriel, Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Wonder, the Drum Computer became a bourgeois must-have object, and was quickly put to use in hit records from the Human League, Gary Numan, and, most notably, Prince.
This Linn LM-1 was used in Queen's 1982 album Hot Space. It can clearly be heard in the songs Body Language and Staying Power. The Programming for the LM-1 was done by Roger Taylor. You can see in the promotional photos of guitarist Brian May presenting the LM-1 (of which he hated)
In the Kreativsound article "Chemical Brothers – Tom Rowlands – In Studio," The Chemical Brothers discuss using the Linn Electronics LM-1 Drum Computer to approach music creation on a more instinctive level.
Quote from Zoolook album (1984) booklets (cd and vinyl): "... Keyboard and electronic devices: Fairlight CMI, Emulator, Moog 55, ARP 2600, DX7, Prophet V, OBXA, AMS, Simmons SDS V, Matrisequencer, AKS, EMS Vocoder, Eminent, Doctor Click, Linn 1, Linn 2 ..."
More information at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoolook
"Ah yes, another thing we haven't used much. The snare in 'Night by Night' is a sample of this. But somewhat like the Minimoog, it's almost too ubiquitous. When you start using it you recognize that. What's really amazing about the LinnDrum is that we haven't really ever used it. P has it just to have it for the archives. What's amazing about the LinnDrum is, well obviously the sounds because you hear them like you do in a Prince record, but also it's the internal sequencer because you have that groove that's just like the Prince - that kind of internal swing. You can't really recreate that with anything else. But we don't sequence on those machines, we use an old-school 90s computer sequencer. So we have our own - just have our own groove, as cheesy as that sounds."
On the 1986 album Electric Cafe:
- a Linn LM-1 Drum Machine was used on album Electric Cafe but only on the first 2 tracks (Boing Boom Tschak, Tecno Pop) and then on the title track (Electric Cafe).
In this article (originally published in Keyboard magazine), a Linn LM-1 drum computer is listed among Vangelis’ gear.
Stevie Wonder is mentioned as an early user of the Linn LM-1 Drum Computer in this article from "The Guardian".
Who uses them? The LM-1 was elite gear. Only 525 machines were ever made, and inventor Roger Linn managed to flog them by dragging around a little cardboard-box prototype to showbiz parties. Notching up pre-orders with Peter Gabriel, Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Wonder, the Drum Computer became a bourgeois must-have object, and was quickly put to use in hit records from the Human League, Gary Numan, and, most notably, Prince.
According to an article by Ethan Hein on MusicRadar titled "This track is an undeniable banger, but it’s also extremely weird": The borrowed hooks and unstable grooves behind Michael Jackson's Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', Michael Jackson programmed the beat on a Linn Electronics LM-1 Drum Computer.
Used on Monster, as specified in Herbie Hancock’s Electronic Instrument Glossary from September 14, 2016.
Linn LM-1 – This was the first drum machine to use digital samples of real drums and also had the ability to be programmed. This was used by Herbie on his 1980 album Monster.
Album Usage
The Linn Electronics LM-1 Drum Computer has been featured on the following albums:
Even As We Speak: The Music of David Van Tieghem
David Van Tieghem (2025)
Zoolook
Jean Michel Jarre (2015)
Unflesh
Gazelle Twin (2014)
Cause and Effect
Steve Smith & Tom Coster & Larry Coryell (1998)
Songs From The Big Chair
Tears for Fears (1985)
A Cappella
Todd Rundgren (1985)
Shout
Devo (1984)
Purple Rain
Prince & Prince (1984)
Oblivion
Utopia & Todd Rundgren (1983)
The Hurting
Tears for Fears (1983)
The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect
Todd Rundgren (1982)
The Luxury Gap
Heaven 17 (1982)
Hot Space
Queen (1982)
Peter Gabriel 4: Security (Remastered Version)
Peter Gabriel (1982)
Oh No! It's Devo
Devo (1982)
1999
Prince & Prince (1982)
Penthouse And Pavement
Heaven 17 (1981)
New Traditionalists
Devo (1981)
Monster
Herbie Hancock (1980)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Linn Electronics LM-1 Drum Computer, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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Add recommendation1 alternative for Linn Electronics LM-1 Drum Computer, curated by the Equipboard community.
VProm is a thorough, loving-detailed software emulation of the original LM-1. Even though the LM-1 is sample-based, the way its crunchy 8-bit samples were pitched up/down can't be emulated by a modern sampler. VProm models the unique behavior and sonic signature of the LM-1s original sample playback engine, while also allowing you to load ROM images of other 8-bit drum machines of the era that utilized the same basic 8-bit architecture, such as the EMU Drumulator and DMX.
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