Roger Linn Design

When Rodger Linn introduced the AdrenaLinn Sync effect last week, the plugin was criticized for its dependency on Pluggo, a Cycling ‘74 product that’s no longer being updated.

Linn has released a statement on his site that clarifies the situation on this:

AdrenaLinn Sync is based on Pluggo, which is a feature of Cycling 74’s Max/MSP program that allows programs written in Max/MSP to be saved as VST/AU/RTAS plug-ins for both OSX and Windows.

AdrenaLinn Sync is written in Max/MSP and was close to completion when, earlier this year, Cycling 74 announced that they would no longer support the Save As Pluggo feature in Max/MSP. At that time, we began working on a non-Pluggo version, while also finishing up and in November, releasing the Pluggo version.

We expect the non-Pluggo version to be available around March of 2010, and it will be a free upgrade to all AdrenaLinn Sync owners.

That said, the current Pluggo-based version of AdrenaLinn Sync runs fine (with the exception of our stated incompatibilities with Cubase and Max For Live) on OSX Snow Leopard, and the pending Windows version runs fine on Windows 7.

On a personal note, I (Roger) regret the loss of Pluggo support in Max/MSP because I find Max/MSP to be a wonderful development environment compared to other options, allowing product designers to focus more on design and less on reinventing the wheel of low-level coding.

It’s good that Linn released the statement – but because the promised version is vaporware, it really comes down to whether or not AdrenaLinn meets your needs. If you’re interested in AdrenaLinn Sync, check out the review at Waveformless, and download the 14-day demo to try it out, too.

Roger Linn Design has introduced AdrenaLinn Sync – a software plug-in that offers the same unique beat-synced filter modulation and sequencing effects of their AdrenaLinn III guitar pedal.

It goes further than the AdrenaLinn III, though, adding:

• More Control — More parameters to fine-tune your filter modulation and filter sequencing effects.
• More Randomness — Random sequence generation, random LFO amplitude, plus variable probability of randomly-generated notes or envelope firing.
• More Swing — In additional to half or full swing timing for sequenced notes, you also get on randomly-generated notes.
• Noise source for Self-Generated Noise Beats — Use noise with the sequencer to create synthesized drumbeats, or to excite resonant filters into self-oscillation.
• 2 Simultaneous Modulation Paths — Separately route LFO & Sequencer, or Sequencer Level & Sequencer Envelope, to individual levels of filter frequency, volume and pan modualtion.
• Full Stereo Signal Path — Maintain full stereo from input to output.
• Self-generating sequences — Increase resonance to full for self-oscillating filter or flanger, then use the Sequencer for random or looped self-generating note sequences.
• Musical Scale Constraints — Snap the LFO or Sequencer modulation signals chromatic, major, minor, pentatonic, blues, whole tone, diminished or seven other musical scales.
• Tube-Modeled Distortion — A very warm and smooth distortion with pre-hipass and post-lowpass filters.
• Stereo phaser — A rich, 4-stage stereo phaser.
• 10 Second Stereo Delay with Ping Pong — Makes your beat-synced delays and delay loops more useful. Delay loops as long as 8 bars in length (up to 10 seconds).
• Clean & Simple User Interface — Clearly shows signal flow and modulation routing.
• 128 Great Presets — Includes all of AdrenaLinn III sequenced, random and modulation presets, plus some new self-generating pitched sequences and noise drumbeats.

AdrenaLinn Sync is currently available only for Mac OS X, but they say a Windows version is coming soon. It retails for $99.

Note: AdrenaLinn Sync is based on Cycling 74’s Pluggo which is being phased out. Roger Linn has committed to updating AdrenaLinn Sync to remove this dependency.

The Roger Linn & Dave Smith LinnDrum II, formerly the BoomChick, appears to be officially on hold. Read more…

Roger Linn Designs has released the AdrenaLinn III, the successor to Linn’s Adrenalinn II, which featured guitar effects beat-synced to an on-board drum machine. Adrenalinn II owners can buy an upgrade kit to take their machine to III status.

“AdrenaLinn III provides a guitar modeler, plus a wide variety of unique modulation and delay effects,” said Linn, “including innovative looped filter sequences–all in synch to the built-in programmable drum machine or MIDI.”

The new model adds reverb, compression, tuner, enhanced modulation effects and brings the number of amp models up to 40 (including 4 bass amps) with improved tube emulation, presence and tonal accuracy. New MIDI enhancements permit control of nearly all settings from MIDI foot switches and expression pedals, and the functions of the 2 panel foot switches may now be reassigned. User presets and drumbeats are doubled to 200 each and come filled with inspiring new examples of why this unique idea-creation box has earned the praise of Eric Clapton, John Mayer and many others.

Read more…