“I doubt Behringer is making any money from it”: Roger Linn says Behringer CEO did not ask permission to “copy” his LinnDrum machineRoger Linn, the creator behind the iconic LinnDrum, has slammed Behringer for allegedly releasing an unauthorised clone of his instrument.
Launched in 1982 by Linn Electronics, the original LinnDrum was as popular as it was groundbreaking, being the first drum machine to use samples of real drums and feature quantisation capabilities. Along with its predecessor, the Linn LM-1, it quickly became a staple in the music industry, used by artists like Michael Jackson, Prince and Trevor Horn.
Behringer’s LM Drum, which launched last month at $399, is marketed as a modern reinterpretation of this classic device – but with extra features like MIDI support and sampling while closely mimicking the original’s design and sounds.

READ MORE: Azealia Banks is obsessed with Teenage Engineering and the OP-XY: “They’re really s**tting on every audio hardware company out there. Nobody is this cool”

Sharing his thoughts on the release of the LM Drum, Linn claims that the firm’s CEO Uli Behringer “never asked my permission to either copy my visual design or my drum sounds.”
The engineer reveals that while Uli had invited him to collaborate on a future drum machine in 2020, he “respectfully declined” due to “concern about Behringer’s past business ethics and legal practices.”
“My feelings are mixed,” Linn explains, though he notes that it’s “not unusual for companies to borrow ideas from older products”. He adds, “Plus, my old drum sounds are all over the web, controlling copying is difficult, and I don’t enjoy legal stuff so I’ve generally ignored the issue so far.”
However, Linn makes it clear that even if the copying of the “visual design, logo style, and sound circuit” of the LinnDrum were overlooked, the LM Drum still replicates his sounds: “So I’d have preferred for Uli to ask my permission. Even if he thinks it is legal, I question whether it is ethical.”
Linn, who received an LM Drum from Uli last August, also describes Behringer’s latest drum machine as “a bit of a head-scratcher.”
“It is clearly intended to evoke my 1982 LinnDrum drum machine, borrowing its visual style, control layout, colours and logo style, as well as copying its sounds and those of my LM-1 and Linn9000 drum machines,” he explains. “I took it apart and it even copies much of my LinnDrum sound generation circuit, even my bad ideas like the inability to tune any drums except the snare, toms and congas.”
“However, it uses an entirely different operating system and user interface, one that is based on earlier Behringer drum machines.Personally, I found it somewhat confusing and difficult to use, though I was given an unfinished manual,” Linn describes his experience.

He also expresses confusion over the LM Drum’s $399 price tag, stating: “Having taken it apart and seeing how complex the copied old circuitry was to reproduce, I doubt Behringer is making any money from it.”
“I suspect that they originally intended to sell it for much more, then discovered that while many people may say they want a LinnDrum clone, few are willing to pay more than a low price for it.”
Linn concludes his statement by questioning the music tech industry’s supposed obsession with “nostalgia”. He argues that modern alternatives offer greater capabilities in this day and age.
“I can understand that some people value analogue synthesis, though I find the many types of innovative software synthesis created in recent decades to be far more capable, versatile and interesting. But even if people value vintage analogue synths, why vintage digital drum machines?” He questions. ”I ask this because an old bit is no different than a new bit.”
Read Linn’s full statement on his website. 
The post “I doubt Behringer is making any money from it”: Roger Linn says Behringer CEO did not ask permission to “copy” his LinnDrum machine appeared first on MusicTech.