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AdrenaLinn Sync effect last week, the plugin was criticized for its dependency on Pluggo, a Cycling ‘74 product that’s no longer being updated.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

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

Here the official statement from Roger Linn:

We’re still hard at work but regrettably won’t be able to meet our earlier estimate of a 3rd-quarter 2009 ship date. The recent changes in the economy have caused us to rethink our design, which had become too expensive. One problem is that Dave’s customers and my customers had different views of what the product should be, so we had been working on a more elaborate design that we thought would please them both. Then the economy tanked. Oops. The other issue is that Dave and his team have been having such success with their analog synths that they’ve been spreading themselves pretty thin trying to work on both projects.

So given these circumstances, we’d prefer not to state another release date estimate at this time, but when we do we promise to post it here along with any other information we’re able to release. Also, given that Dave and his team have their hands pretty full and that a beat-oriented product is more of a Roger product anyway, we’ll probably be selling it through Roger Linn Design instead of from both companies as we had previously considered.

I’d personally love to tell everybody all the details of the product design, features and price as we did with our initial designs of the product, but there’s that pesky problem of keeping the information from our competitors. So we need to keep tight-lipped for now and regrettably can’t answer any questions. Thanks also to those who have kindly asked to place advance orders. However, we don’t feel it’s right to accept orders until we are able to release the price or more information about the product.

And now I must get back to work.

- Roger

This is sad to see.

The LinnDrum, especially in its early BoomChick incarnation, which we called the 2007 NAMM Show’s sexiest vaporware, looked like it was going to follow the example of Dave Smith’s current gear, combining the best of vintage instruments with modern technology.

This video is a demo of a modded Linn LM-1 – a classic drum machine that is even more flexible with the mod, which adds tuning pots to the front panel.

What would you do if you had a vintage, classic LinnDrum Drum Machine?

If you’re this crazy half-naked guy, you’d blow it away with your S&W .500 Magnum.

I say crazy not because LinnDrums routinely sell for hundreds of dollars, even for parts, but because he could have at least given a little speech, out of respect to the vintage gear, before blowing holes through it.

Here are some suggestions half-naked guy, if you plan on shooting any more drum machines:

• “Are you feeling lucky, Linndrum?”
• “Go ahead, play another 4 on the floor house beat and make my day!”

If you’ve got other suggestions for clever things to say before you shoot vintage music gear, or other gear that you think should get shot with a  S&W .500 Magnum, let me know in the comments.

via Matrix

Roger Linn shared some renderings over the weekend of the LinnDrum II - the much-hyped new drum machine from Linn and synth guru Dave Smith.

Here’s what Linn & Smith have to say about the LinnDrum II status:

I’m sorry to report that we won’t be shipping in 2008 and I can’t yet offer a new estimated ship date. The good news is that it’s turned into a significantly more powerful and creative product.

The bad news is that we’d prefer not to release details of the new design because it’s so cool that I don’t want to show our cards to the competition. However, I do want to thank all those who wrote in with suggestions because this interactive design process has very much helped to change what we thought the product originally should be into what we now know you really want. 

For those of you who are new to LinnDrum II, its new subtitle is “Beat-Centric Digital Audio Workstation with Integrated Analog Synthesis”. Inspired by how the MPC product line that I (Roger) originally created for Akai has evolved a new genre of musical instrument, LinnDrum II aspires to raise the bar beyond the current crop of high-end pad-oriented music production station products in order to enable musicians around the world to better realize the next wave of beat-oriented music.

By now, you’re probably drooling uncontrollably, so here are a few more gear porn shots of LinnDrum II designs that got dumped:


LinnDrum II, 2nd Design

LinnDrum II, 1st Design – aka BoomChik

via Chip Collection: You can now place advance orders for Dave Smith & Roger Linn’s LinnDrum II drum machine.

There are two models: the all-digital “LinnDrum II”, available from Roger Linn Design and the “LinnDrum II Analog”, which adds four analog synth voices and 32 dual-function voicing knobs, available from Dave Smith Instruments.

Pricing is $1400 for LinnDrum II and $1800 for LinnDrum II Analog.

Features common to both products:

• Operating system is optimized for realtime live performance, with the ability to switch between beats, drop in and out of record on different beats, switch in and out of song mode and much more, all without stopping play.
• Digital voices have nearly the same signal and modulation path–including modulated filters and resonators–as shown on the LinnDrum II Analog panel. Total number of voices is not yet determined.
• 16 standard 1.1 inch square velocity- and pressure-sensitive drum pads, used for sounds, sound mutes, tunings, sequences, track mutes, sequence stutter or step recording.
• Both MPC-style real time and 808-style step recording are provided, and the 16 pads are backlit for visual animation.
• Real-time stereo digital effects on output mix–modulated multi-mode filtering, guitar amp model and bit/sample rate reduction distortion, modulated resonator, compressor, delay, reverb and EQ–with 6 dedicated on/off keys to switch them individually in or out in real time.
• Compact flash slot for data save/load/backup, or for expansion of internal sound storage.
• Internal RAM and flash size is yet to be decided.
• 128 x 64 dot graphic LCD.
• USB port for transferring samples and other files, MIDI messages and audio I/O to and from computer.
• 4 pushbutton soft knobs below the LCD, acting either as soft knobs or soft keys.
• 48 lit buttons for extensive real-time performance control.
• 2 sliders assignable to a large variety of real-time functions.
• HELP key gives descriptive text for any screen, data field, function key or knob.
• Pressing DETAILS key followed by any panel key presents a screen of settings related to the key pressed.
• 4 pairs of stereo outputs (8 digitally-generated audio outputs), with phones output fed from either main stereo out or Aux A Stereo Out.
• Stereo inputs for sampling, audio processing or triggering sounds.
• One MIDI in and two MIDI outs.
• 2 inputs for either foot switches or expression pedals, assignable to a wide variety of functions.

Additional features on Dave’s LinnDrum II Analog:

• Four complex analog voices based on the same Curtis-chip synth voices used in the highly-aclaimed Prophet ‘08 and Evolver keyboards.
• Four direct ouputs for the four analog voices.
• 32 dedicated dual-function rotary encoders for voicing the analog and digital voices. Also used for mixer, step sequencing and other functions.

Details here.

We’ve already mentioned tons of great new gear that we saw at NAMM in the last couple of weeks, but, following in the footsteps of last year’s modular analog synthgasm, here are our picks for 2008’s most synthgasmic gear:

Future Retro XS Semi-modular Analog Synthesizer

We saw the XS in a sort of beta state last year, but this year the Future Retro XS is ready to play.

The XS is a semi-modular synth, with internally normalized routing. Plug it into a MIDI controller and it’s ready to play. Put in a patch cord, though, and you can do some mad science.

Designer Jered Flickinger (interview link) says the XS is designed to be used as either a rackmount or desktop instrument, and its compact size makes it an ideal modular synth for musicians on the go.

Arturia Analog Factory Experience Hybrid Synthesizer

Based on Analog Factory 2.0, a software instrument offering 3500 classic synthesizer sounds, Arturia’s Analog Factory Experience includes a 32-key MIDI keyboard that’s designed to make virtual analog synth-tweaking a no-brainer.

Spectrasonics Omnisphere Virtual Instrument

Spectrasonics previewed their new flagship virtual instrument Omnisphere, and kicked off what looks like it will be a massive hype campaign for a synth that’s not due until September.

While it is the most vaporous of the synths that made the list, it looks like it will definitely be synthgasmic.

Omnisphere combines a wide variety of hybrid realtime synthesis techniques, an epic library of ‘Psychoacoustic’ sounds, and some innovative features. The new instrument is the first to be based on Spectrasonics’ STEAM Engine, the company’s newly developed core technology.

And it sounds pretty wicked.

Roger Linn & Dave Smith’s LinnDrum II

Speaking of vaporous, Dave Smith was showing the LinnDrum II.

Last year, he was showing the Boomchik, a new drum machine that we called NAMM’s sexiest vaporware.

Well, the new drum machine is still a bit vaporous, the Boomchik is now the LinnDrum II, and Smith had a full scale model of it on hand.

And while it may be vaporware now, Smith has delivered some of the most exciting analog synths ever designed over the last few years, and we’ve got no doubt that when he and Roger Linn are done with it, the LinnDrum will be one of the coolest drum machines ever created.

Two models are planned: the all-digital LinnDrum II and the LinnDrum II Analog, which adds a 4-voice analog synth and 27 dual-function voicing knobs.

Prophet 8 Monster Synth

The most drool-worthy new synth at the show was probably Dave Smith’s Prophet ‘08 – an eight-voice synthesizer with a 100% analog signal path.

While the Prophet ’08’s overall sonic character will be familiar to anyone who knows Dave’s work from the ’70s and ’80s, its got massively improved modulation possibilities, starting with 4 LFO’s per voice.

MicroKorg Bizarro Edition

Nothing too innovative here, but the reversed-color keyboard is a funky throwback to old synths.

The Limited Edition microKORG is a portable synthesizer offering modeling synthesis, vocoding, real-time control, onboard effects and external audio processing.

Quantum Leap Forbidden Planet

EASTWEST previewed Quantum Leap Forbidden Planet, a virtual sample-based synth collection focusing on edgy sound design and controls that let you easily combine, morph, process and modulate the sounds.

Yeah – it’s another big sound library – but it’s got over 1000 presets and offers parallel programs using the unprocessed analog waves and all of the digital filters, modulators and FX.

If you like abstronica – this could be up your alley.

Livewire Modular Synthesizer

Nothing can beat a large format modular synth, but they were hard to find at this year’s NAMM show. In fact, most of the modular synth action seems to be happening in the smaller formats.

One of the most interesting new modular synths is Mike Brown’s Livewire line of Eurorack synth modules. I had a chance to talk with Mike in depth about his modules, and he’s doing some really interesting things.

He’s got some great new modules in the works, including an amazingly non-boring VCO. You can’t build a complete Livewire synth at this point – Mike is more interested in creating new modules designs that no one has ever though of before than in making a Livewire envelope generator.

Roland FR-2 Series V-Accordions

Finally – something out of left field.

While the most interesting gear seemed to come out of smaller manufacturers, Roland introduced the slightly out there FR-2 series V-Accordion.

The virtual accordion offers physical behavior modeling technology, providing the tone and characteristics of the world’s best accordions, plus MIDI so you can lay on so funky-ass bass while you play Lady of Spain.

We’re looking forward to checking out Roger Linn & Dave Smith’s LinnDrum II (formerly the BoomChik) at the upcoming 2007 NAMM Show.

Here’s what Dave Smith has said about it:

Many of you have been anxiously awaiting news of BoomChik, the collaboration between Dave and Roger Linn announced at Winter NAMM 2007. As information becomes available, we’ll be posting it to this page. The most obvious development over the last year is that it is no longer called BoomChik: it is now the LinnDrum II. There will be two models: the all-digital LinnDrum II and the LinnDrum II Analog, which adds a 4-voice analog synth and 27 dual-function voicing knobs. The LinnDrum II will be available from Roger Linn Design and the LinnDrum II Analog will be available from Dave Smith Instruments.The operating system emphasizes real-time performance with the ability to drop in and out of record on different beats, play multiple beats simultaneously, switch in and out of song mode, and much more, all without stopping play. Both MPC-style real time and XOX-style step recording are provided, and the 16 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads—backlit for visual sequence animation—can be assigned to sounds, tunings, beats, pad mutes, or sequence steps. Dedicated buttons exist for touch sensitivity, sound restart, real-time erase and pressure-sensitive note repeat or rolls. 16 megabytes of internal flash memory exist for sound storage, but because sound data is read directly from flash, expanding sound memory is accomplished merely by plugging a compact flash card into the rear panel slot. Inputs and outputs include four audio outs, two sampling/audio processing/drum trigger inputs, phones, USB, MIDI in/out, two expression pedal/foot switch inputs, and four additional direct voice outputs for the Analog model.Sample playback is enhanced with 8-level velocity switching, dynamic filters and resonators, distortion and lo-fi algorithms, two complex modulation matrices and the ability to use sequence events as modulation sources. The Analog model enables significantly richer voice timbres with its four Curtis chip-based analog voices, analog feedback resonator paths, and dedicated voicing knobs. Performance enhancements include two programmable sliders and dedicated on/off buttons for filter, resonator, amp sim/compressor, EQ, delay and reverb effects.

They expect to be shipping by mid-2008.

Every year at NAMM, some of the sexiest gear and software that is shown is stuff that isn’t available. Typically, about time for the summer NAMM show, companies announce that they are finally shipping the product.

In addition to the products that actually ship, though, there are items announced that you never hear about again. We’re still drooling over a virtual analog keyboard that Kurzweil announced in 2004, the Kurzweil VA1.

This year, Dave Smith and Roger Linn, two electronic music gear pioneers, provided the sexiest vaporware of the 2007 NAMM Show, showing an artist’s rendition of a possible product, the Boomchik drum machine.

Here’s what Dave Smith has to say about the drum machine concept:

We announced a new gem in the works at the NAMM show last month, a new drum machine tentatively called BoomChik. I am designing this with Roger Linn, the undisputed king of drum machines, who not only invented them back in the late 70s/80s (LM-1, Linndrum, Linn 9000), but also designed the MPCs that just about everyone uses now.

We’re about a year away from production, so it’s currently in the vaporware, uh, I mean, computer simulation stage. The image above is the current vision, though it will likely go through a number of changes over the year. We will update the website every few months with the latest status, so in the meanwhile please don’t ask about features or specifics on the design – it’s all subject to change anyway! As far as price, best guess is $1000 – $1500 range. We’re shooting for the lower, but we all know how that can go.

Basically, it is meant to be a drum machine, not an MPC. It will have both real analog percussion and normal sample playback, plus a bunch of novel processing. The idea is to produce sounds with some real, unique personality, different from everything else out there. Those of you with Evolvers can likely imagine what sounds will be possible, but it should go beyond that also.

It’s vaporware, but it’s damn sexy vaporware. Linn’s background with drum machines & the MPC is unparalleled, and Dave Smith is one of the top living synth designers in the world.

We’re hoping we can check this out at the 2008 NAMM Show!

The Black Box can be used as a stand-alone amp-modeling and effects unit featuring extremely realistic models of 12 of the greatest guitar amps of all time. 99 built-in drum patterns with tap tempo make it easy to try out different grooves and tempos.

The Black Box incorporates Roger Linn’s AdrenaLinn DSP technology for a palette of unique effects that automatically beat-sync to your drum patterns. A built-in microphone preamp is also included for recording and processing vocals and acoustic instruments. One simple USB connection sends your output to your favorite computer-based recording software—and syncs the Black Box’s drums and effects to your tracks. The Black Box gives you great tone, innovative effects, inspiring beats and recording convenience all in a single, easy-to-use package.

Features

12 virtual amp models with programmable drive and tone controls based on*:

• Fender Bassman
• Fender Deluxe
• Fender Twin
• Vox AC 30
• Marshall JTM-45
• Marshall Plexi
• Marshall JCM-2000
• Hiwatt DR-103
• Soldano SLO-100
• Mesa Boogie Maverick
• Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier
• Bogner Uberschall

43 beat-synced effects based on Roger Linn’s AdrenaLinn™ DSP technology including:

• tremolo
• flanger
• chorus
• random filters (1/8, 1/8th triplets and 1/16)
• tremolo sequences
• filter sequences
• wah wah
• auto wah
• talk box
• arpeggiators
• MIDI effects

Other features:

• 99 drum patterns
• effects processing of guitar, mic or drums
• effects and drum machine sync to tap tempo or external MIDI clock
• 99 factory presets, 99 user presets
• built-in USB audio interface (24-bit/44.1kHz)
• guitar preamp (1/4” TS input)
• microphone preamp (XLR input)
• signal and clip LEDs on inputs
• 1/4” headphone jack
• balanced outputs (1/4” TRS)
• S/PDIF digital output (24-bit/44.1kHz)
• integral tuner
• easy-to-use interface with LCD and multi-function rotary encoders
• expression pedal input for amp gain, wah, delay volume, delay repeats, effects depth, wet/dry and more
• two momentary pedal inputs for tap tempo, tuner activation and preset selection and more
• field upgradable for future
• mic stand adapter for convenient mounting
• 9V AC power supply connection
• Kensington lock slot
• includes special edition of Ableton Live software