The LM-1, along with the Oberheim DMX, was one of the first drum machines to use samples. It features twelve 8-bit percussion samples, which can be individually tuned: kick, snare, hi-hat, cabasa, tambourine, two toms, two congas, cowbell, claves, and hand claps. The machine also introduced features such as "timing correct" and "shuffle" and the ability to chain patterns.
Development
The LM-1 was designed by American engineer Roger Linn. In 1978, Linn, a guitarist, was dissatisfied with drum machines available at the time, such as the Roland CR-78, and wanted "a drum machine that did more than play preset samba patterns and didn't sound like crickets". He took a voice generator from a Roland drum machine and wrote software to create patterns. At the suggestion of Toto keyboardist Steve Porcaro, Linn recorded samples of real drums to a computer chip. By the late 1970s, the technology required to store and play samples had become small and affordable enough to use in his drum machine. As the samples were digital, they would not degrade like those of earlier devices, such as the Chamberlin Rhythmate, which used tape loops. Cymbal sounds were not included, due to the cost of long sound samples. The LinnDrum sounds were sampled from real drums played specifically for the machine by Los Angeles drummer Art Wood, a friend of Linn, who played with Linn and musicians including Peter Frampton, Gary Wright, Cher, Tina Turner, Bette Midler and James Brown. However, "The LM-1 was the first drum machine to use samples of a real drum kit, Roger Linn confirms that it was indeed Art Wood session drummer that played the majority of the sounds that he used. To further add to the mystery, an entry in the online museum of the Roger Linn Design company credits L.A. session drummer Art Wood with most of the samples." While the Roger Linn Designs Past Products Museum page credits Art Wood for "most" of the LM-1 sounds, there is no credit for the drummer who played the sounds for the LinnDrum. Linn introduced the shuffle feature after he discovered that his code would record his playing and play it back in perfect sixteenth notes, effectively correcting his timing. To implement swing beats, he delayed the playback of alternate sixteenth notes.
Release
The LM-1 was announced in 1979, and released in 1980 as the first Linn Electronics product. It retailed for $5,500. Only 525 machines were built; Linn sold them by bringing prototypes to showbusiness parties. Early adopters included Peter Gabriel, Fleetwood Mac, and Stevie Wonder. The machine became a staple of 1980s pop music, and appeared on hit records by artists including the Human League, Gary Numan, Michael Jackson, Giorgio Moroder, and particularly Prince. According to The Guardian, the LM-1, along with Oberheim DMX, helped establish drum machines as "credible, powerful instruments" rather than toys. In 1982, it was succeeded by the cheaper and more stable LinnDrum, which was a commercial success.
