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Average Price: $4,550

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$150

$601+

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Description

Introducing the Linn Electronics LinnDrum, a drum machine that revolutionized drum sounds in the music industry. This iconic instrument, often known as the LM2, paved the way for advanced sampling techniques, setting it apart from synthesized alternatives like the Roland TR-808. Developed by the legendary Roger Linn, this is more than just a drum machine; it's a piece of music history, a precursor to the iconic Akai MPC series. With the ability to sequence up to 12 tracks simultaneously, the LinnDrum offers an immersive, creative experience that's still in high demand among vintage gear enthusiasts.

Key Features:

  • Developed by Roger Linn, a pioneer in music technology
  • Sequencer allows for up to 12 tracks to be played simultaneously
  • 56 user and 42 preset patterns for diverse soundscapes
  • Ability to arrange patterns into songs with 49 memory locations
  • Highly sought after in the vintage market due to its iconic status and unique sound.
zibbybone

zibbybone

Linn Electronics LinnDrum Vintage Drum Machine Basic Demo

Video thumbnail for Linn Electronics LinnDrum Vintage Drum Machine Basic Demo by zibbybone

Linn Electronics LinnDrum Vintage Drum Machine Basic Demo

zibbybone

zibbybone

Video thumbnail for We Ran a LinnDrum Through Pedals and a Neve Console | Funky Vintage Found on Reverb by Reverb

We Ran a LinnDrum Through Pedals and a Neve Console | Funky Vintage Found on Reverb

Reverb

Reverb

Video thumbnail for How to program a LinnDrum for quick jams by SynthMania

How to program a LinnDrum for quick jams

SynthMania

SynthMania

Video thumbnail for Vintage Drum Machines - LinnDrum  Samples by Simon Le Grec

Vintage Drum Machines - LinnDrum Samples

Simon Le Grec

Simon Le Grec

Video thumbnail for LinnDrum. Demonstration Record. 1982. by Adrian Täckman

LinnDrum. Demonstration Record. 1982.

Adrian Täckman

Adrian Täckman

Reviews

PROS

  • Authentic classic drum machine sounds

  • Integrates well in mixes with subtle processing

  • User-friendly sequencer feels natural, not overcomplicated

  • Pitch function and quantizing are notably effective

  • Programming beats is fun and always sounds good

  • Favored for its distinctive factory-default sounds

CONS

  • Can feel somewhat flat-sounding initially

  • Reliability issues reported in some units

  • Learning curve due to older interface design

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Linn Electronics LinnDrum.

Features and functionality

  • Separate outputs are common, allowing for individual treatment of sounds, similar to real drum recordings, but stereo outputs are used in smaller studios.

    Source
  • EPROMs can be swapped to create varied sounds, with different playback circuitry for outputs tailored to specific frequencies, enhancing sound customization.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Noise is a concern; gating or strip silencing is often necessary to manage noise from multi-tracks.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The LinnDrum often blends with real drums, typically adding sub-bass synth to the kick for depth.

    Source

User experience

  • The LinnDrum's imperfect clock timing contributes to its unique charm, as it doesn’t perfectly stay in rhythm with a grid.

    Source
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 15 Ratings

5 star
4 star
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1 star
jordansynth

My favorite drum machine.

I consider the Linndrum my very favorite drum machine. It is used on some of my favorite songs, it is my favorite to use/program and it has my favorite factory-default sounds. Much like the 808, programming a beat on it feels wonderful and is extremely fun (and also just like the 808, it always sounds good).

modernsoulrec

Amazing swing

Sounds great. Very unreliable machine. At least mine is.

jimmarchi1

they all are, yeah

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Charly Alberti uses Linn Electronics LinnDrum

Charly Alberti

Drummer

Soda Stereo

...
Verified via YouTube

En este video (minuto 4:34) podemos ver cómo la toma enfoca a Charly y de fondo se ve la Linn Drum.

See how Weyes Blood uses Linn Electronics LinnDrum

Weyes Blood

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via 88Nine Radio Milwaukee

In this article, Weyes Blood mentions using the LinnDrum on the track, "Andromeda" from her 2019 album, "Titanic Rising."

See how Erick Sermon uses Linn Electronics LinnDrum

Erick Sermon

Keyboardist, Rapper

EPMD

...
Verified via Complex

Erick Sermon: “We got the idea from ZZ Top's 'Cheap Sunglasses.' So it was ZZ Top, looped underneath the Lindrum drums. A Lindrum was a beat machine that Charlie had. So while we looped the loop, we put the drums on top of it to make it harder.”

See how George Michael uses Linn Electronics LinnDrum

George Michael

Singer

WHAM!

...
Verified via Soundonsound

George Michael used a Linndrum on his "Faith" album.

See how Tony Visconti uses Linn Electronics LinnDrum

Tony Visconti

Music Producer

T. Rex

...
Verified via Muzines

"For monitoring I've got a pair of little Akai speakers and I find the better Sony lightweight headphones good for monitoring in the presence of neighbours. As well as the odd few guitars and a sadly neglected sitar, there are a few synths including a Roland Jupiter 8 and a DX7 and of course a LinnDrum."

See how David Ball uses Linn Electronics LinnDrum

David Ball

Keyboardist

Soft Cell

...
Verified via The Electricity Club

"In retrospect I actually prefer the TR808 drum machine on the previous album, as opposed to the Oberheim DMX and Linn Drum MkII on ‘The Art Of Falling Apart’."

See how Paul Waaktaar-Savoy uses Linn Electronics LinnDrum

Paul Waaktaar-Savoy

Guitarist, Composer

A-ha

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Paul programmed a LinnDrum for most of a-ha's earliest demos and their debut album, Hunting High And Low.

"When they came to RG Jones, my equipment was already there,” adds Tarney. "This included a [Roland] Juno 60 that provided the song's main theme and which I still use, as well as a UMI computer system that a friend of mine put together, and which Vince Clark also used. That's what I used to drive the instruments, and there was a LinnDrum that Pål programmed. He was absolutely brilliant at doing that — I've never seen anyone as good as him at programming a Linn.”

This is somewhat ironic in light of Neill King's aforementioned statement that, since the Linn was already outdated, he and the band had opted to use the Synclavier.

"I was still using the Linn in conjunction with my UMI,” Tarney continues. "It worked for the boys and they loved that idea. It gave Pål the freedom to write these Linn Drum parts and he was brilliant at that. So, all of their musical ideas went through my equipment, and that meant I could then control the sounds that were being used and put them together exactly as I wanted them to be. There's a fine line between a demo and a record, but it's a crucial difference.

See how Ian Stanley uses Linn Electronics LinnDrum

Ian Stanley

Keyboardist, Music Producer

Tears for Fears

...
Verified via Mixonline

"Their layered style of recording also made it easier to work from Stanley's home studio, which the band had recently upgraded using advance money from the second album. Stanley's newly expanded home studio included a 32-channel Soundcraft console, a 24-track analog tape machine and room for the band's keyboard and synthesizer collection, which included such classic designs as Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, Fairlight CMI, Roland Jupiter 8, Yamaha DX7 synthesizer and PPG Wave. They also had a LinnDrum LM-2, another recent acquisition."

See how Jean Michel Andrè Jarre uses Linn Electronics LinnDrum

Jean Michel Andrè Jarre

...
Verified via Free

Albums which use LINN LinnDrum : • The concerts in China

• Music for supermarket

• Zoolook > Zoolookologie Sound demo

Zoolookologie (remix)

See how Steve Hillage uses Linn Electronics LinnDrum

Steve Hillage

Guitarist

Gong

...
Verified via Muzines

"Then the LinnDrum came along, and I started using it on record because it was using samples and it sounded, at the time, more like a real drummer - although now if you listen to a LinnDrum it sounds really bizarre!"

See how Battlecat uses Linn Electronics LinnDrum

Battlecat

Music Producer, DJ

...
Verified via YouTube

At 3:09 it shows a Linn Electronics Linndrum while Battlecat is in the studio making a beat

Album Usage

The Linn Electronics LinnDrum has been featured on the following albums:

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Hurry Up Tomorrow by The Weeknd (2025)

Hurry Up Tomorrow

The Weeknd (2025)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Animal In Me (The Lost Album Vol 2) by Christopher Saint Booth (2024)

Animal In Me (The Lost Album Vol 2)

Christopher Saint Booth (2024)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Ulterior Motives (The Lost Album) by Christopher Saint Booth (2024)

Ulterior Motives (The Lost Album)

Christopher Saint Booth (2024)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Doctor Who - Time and The Rani (Original Television Soundtrack) by Keff McCulloch (2023)

Doctor Who - Time and The Rani (Original Television Soundtrack)

Keff McCulloch (2023)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Give Me The Future + Dreams Of The Past by Bastille (2022)

Give Me The Future + Dreams Of The Past

Bastille (2022)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Dawn FM by The Weeknd (2022)

Dawn FM

The Weeknd (2022)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Ghostbusters Remix (Yago Boss Remix) by Ray Parker Jr. (2021)

Ghostbusters Remix (Yago Boss Remix)

Ray Parker Jr. (2021)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Aa∆zhyd China Doll by Edward Ka-Spel (2021)

Aa∆zhyd China Doll

Edward Ka-Spel (2021)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on After Hours by The Weeknd (2020)

After Hours

The Weeknd (2020)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Living on Video by Trans-X (2019)

Living on Video

Trans-X (2019)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Titanic Rising by Weyes Blood (2019)

Titanic Rising

Weyes Blood (2019)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Metamatic by John Foxx (2018)

Metamatic

John Foxx (2018)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Slide (feat. Frank Ocean & Migos) by Calvin Harris (2017)

Slide (feat. Frank Ocean & Migos)

Calvin Harris (2017)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Don't Take The Money (Organized Noize Remix) by Bleachers (2017)

Don't Take The Money (Organized Noize Remix)

Bleachers (2017)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on A Deeper Understanding by The War on Drugs (2017)

A Deeper Understanding

The War on Drugs (2017)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Zoolook by Jean Michel Jarre (2015)

Zoolook

Jean Michel Jarre (2015)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Day of the Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by John Harrison (2014)

Day of the Dead (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

John Harrison (2014)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on 808s & Heartbreak by Kanye West (2008)

808s & Heartbreak

Kanye West (2008)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Discovery by Daft Punk & Daft Punk (2001)

Discovery

Daft Punk & Daft Punk (2001)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Alive 1997 by Daft Punk & Daft Punk (2001)

Alive 1997

Daft Punk & Daft Punk (2001)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Homework by Daft Punk & Daft Punk (1997)

Homework

Daft Punk & Daft Punk (1997)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Music from Graffiti Bridge by Prince & Prince (1990)

Music from Graffiti Bridge

Prince & Prince (1990)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Hats by The Blue Nile (1989)

Hats

The Blue Nile (1989)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Doctor Who: Ghost Light (Original Television Soundtrack) by Mark Ayres & Keff McCulloch (1989)

Doctor Who: Ghost Light (Original Television Soundtrack)

Mark Ayres & Keff McCulloch (1989)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Faith by George Michael (1987)

Faith

George Michael (1987)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Bring On The Night (Live) by Sting & Sting (1986)

Bring On The Night (Live)

Sting & Sting (1986)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on No Jacket Required (2025 Mix) by Phil Collins (1985)

No Jacket Required (2025 Mix)

Phil Collins (1985)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on No Jacket Required (2016 Remaster) by Phil Collins (1985)

No Jacket Required (2016 Remaster)

Phil Collins (1985)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Hunting High and Low by A-ha (1985)

Hunting High and Low

A-ha (1985)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Points On The Curve by Wang Chung (1984)

Points On The Curve

Wang Chung (1984)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Axel F (From "Beverly Hills Cop") by Harold Faltermeyer (1984)

Axel F (From "Beverly Hills Cop")

Harold Faltermeyer (1984)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on War Baby - Hope & Glory by Tom Robinson (1984)

War Baby - Hope & Glory

Tom Robinson (1984)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on A Walk Across the Rooftops by The Blue Nile (1984)

A Walk Across the Rooftops

The Blue Nile (1984)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Junk Culture by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (1984)

Junk Culture

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (1984)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on The Art Of Falling Apart by Soft Cell (1983)

The Art Of Falling Apart

Soft Cell (1983)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on The Fugitive by Tony Banks (1983)

The Fugitive

Tony Banks (1983)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Lullabies by Cocteau Twins (1982)

Lullabies

Cocteau Twins (1982)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Happy Families by Blancmange (1982)

Happy Families

Blancmange (1982)

Linn Electronics LinnDrum as heard on Magic Windows by Herbie Hancock (1981)

Magic Windows

Herbie Hancock (1981)

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 LinnDrum, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

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rflob

rflob

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global_wave

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1 alternative for Linn Electronics LinnDrum, curated by the Equipboard community.

Aly James Lab VProm

 

similar sound cheaper alternative

VProm is a software emulation of the Linn LM-1 that can also load and playback the original ROM files of most 8-bit era drum machines, including the LinnDrum.

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