Linn LM-1

Drum Machine by Linn Electronics

The LM-1 is a drum machine manufactured by Linn Electronics and introduced in 1980. It was the first drum machine to use digital samples of real drums, and its crisp, punchy sound shaped 1980s pop and R&B through Prince, The Human League, and Peter Gabriel.

Specifications

Synthesis	8-bit PCM samples (28 kHz sampling rate, AM6070 DAC, EPROM stored)
Voices	12
Pads	18
Sounds	18 sounds from 12 instruments: kick (2 dynamics), snare (2 dynamics), hi-hat (open/closed/accent), cabasa, tambourine, 2 toms, 2 congas, cowbell, claves, hand claps
Sample Resolution	8-bit, 28 kHz
Sequencer	12-track, 48 PPQ resolution; real-time recording with quantize; shuffle/swing 50-70%; pattern chaining up to 99 links per chain
Effects	Per-voice tuning, per-voice decay trim, 3-position pan per instrument
Outputs	Stereo main output, 12 individual instrument outputs, 1 click output
Memory	100 user-programmable patterns, 8 song chains (up to 99 links each); battery-backed RAM
Storage	Cassette tape I/O
Display	LED numeric
Dimensions	558 x 111 x 295 mm
Weight	9.9 kg
Power Supply	Internal PSU, 110V AC
Connections	Stereo main out, 12 individual outs, click out, footswitch input, tape tempo sync I/O, tape storage I/O, pulse sync I/O
Notes	Z80 CPU. First programmable drum machine using digitally recorded samples. Approximately 500-525 units produced. No MIDI (predates MIDI standard). Polyphony varies by revision: Rev 1 = 10 voices, Rev 2/3 = 9 voices.