

‘Ask First’ – Roger Linn shares views on Behringer LM Drum
Roger Linn, the mastermind behind the iconic LinnDrum and LM-1, recently shared his thoughts with Attack Magazine following his viral statement about Behringer’s LM Drum machine.
Known for revolutionizing drum machines by introducing sampled sounds and real-time beat programming, Linn offered insights into his views on instrument cloning, copyright, and innovation. When asked about Behringer’s recreation of the LinnDrum, Linn’s position was straightforward. “Asking my permission would be appreciated,” he stated simply.
While he isn’t interested in pursuing legal action against Behringer, he questions the ethics of the launch. In a blog written by Roger Linn dated January 4, 2025, he also stated that Uli Behringer had approached him to work on a drum machine, but he declined because of concerns about Behringer’s past business ethics and legal practices. Behringer, on the other hand, hasn’t responded to the allegations and in fact shared a success post on their social media.Linn also spoke positively about the Luma-1, an LM-1 recreation by his friend Joe Britt, which he supports because it was created “just for fun” with minimal profit motivation. Similarly, he praised GForce’s approach with their IconDrum software, noting their respectful outreach and offer of compensation, which he declined.
Reflecting on his own innovations, Linn acknowledged his debt to predecessors, particularly highlighting Ikutaro Kakehashi, Roland’s founder, as a crucial figure in drum machine evolution. While his own contributions – sampled sounds, real-time beat programming, quantization, and swing timing – revolutionized the industry, he remains modest about his role in the larger history of electronic music.
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