Engineering:LinnSequencer
The LinnSequencer is a rack-mount 32-track hardware MIDI sequencer manufactured by Linn Electronics and released in 1985 at a list price of US $1,250.[1] An optional Remote Control was available. Like the LinnDrum Midistudio, the LinnSequencer used the same flawed operating system used in the ill-fated Linn 9000,[2] released in 1984. As a result, both machines earned a reputation for being notoriously unreliable.[3][4] In addition, the optional LinnSequencer SMPTE feature could not be deployed due to flawed circuit design. The last LinnSequencer operating system released by Linn Electronics was version 5.17.[2]
When Linn went out of business in 1986, Forat Electronics purchased Linn's remaining assets[5] and completely revamped the Linn 9000 and LinnSequencer operating system. They fixed all the bugs[6] and added some new features to the LinnSequencer. The Forat LinnSequencer was released in 1987 by Forat Electronics at a list price of $1,000 (including all fixes and upgrades). The Forat LinnSequencer was manufactured and sold as a new complete unit.[1] Forat also offered software and hardware upgrades to existing LinnSequencers. [7] Forat discontinued manufacturing new complete Forat LinnSequencers in 1994. However, at the time of writing (2015), Forat still offers the LinnSequencer software and hardware upgrades to stock LinnSequencers.[7]
Features
The LinnSequencer is a state-of-the-art composition and performance tool for the professional musician. It is extremely powerful, yet amazingly simple to learn and use.
Features added by Forat Electronics include:
- 40,000-note capacity (four times the original)
- MIDI clock
- MIDI song pointer
Features of the original Linn Electronics LinnSequencer that are retained in the Forat LinnSequencer include:
- Operation is similar to a multi-track tape recorder with PLAY, STOP, RECORD, FAST FORWARD, REWIND, and LOCATE controls
- Each of the 100 sequences contains 32 simultaneous, polyphonic tracks. Each track may be assigned to one of 16 MIDI channels. Simultaneously plays up to 16 polyphonic synthesizers
- Ultra-fast 3.5-inch floppy disk drive stores complex songs in seconds and holds over 110,000 notes per disk
- One or all tracks may be TRANSPOSED at the touch of a key
- Exclusive real-time ERASE function makes editing FAST
- Exclusive REPEAT function automatically repeats any held notes at a pre-selected rhythmic value
- TIMING CORRECTION works during playback and operates without "chopping" notes
- Optional remote control
Brochure (1985)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Retro Synth Ads: Linn Electronics Inc. LinnSequencer "Imagine the possibilities." ad, Keyboard 1985". http://retrosynthads.blogspot.com/2014/05/linn-electronics-inc-linnsequencer.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Linn, Roger. "...we sent out one copy of the new version 5.17 software ROMs for the 9000 and LinnSequencer...". Bobby Nathan's Keyboard Magazine "In The Studio" Article #17 "What Happened to The Linn 9000". http://www.bobbynathan.com/key17.htm.
- ↑ "...but bugged by many OS troubles and technical issues.". Polynominal. http://www.polynominal.com/linn-9000/.
- ↑ "...it was plagued with operating system bugs...". Total Trash. The Linn 9000 Home Page. http://www.totaltrash.com/linn9000/.
- ↑ "Then in 1986 Forat Electronics Corporation was born after purchasing Linn's remaining assets...". Forat Electronics - History. http://www.forat.com/history/.
- ↑ "In the F-9000, all old software bugs of the old Linn 9000 are fixed,...". Vintage Synth Explorer. http://www.vintagesynth.com/linn/linn9000.php.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Forat Electronics - The LinnSequencer". http://www.forat.com/sequencer/.
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