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Behringer LM drum front

Behringer LM Drum
Sampling Drum Machine

In December 2024, Behringer launched their re-imagination of the 1980's Linn LM1 and Linn Drum drum machines.

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I have called out these two classic drum machines:

  • the new instrument is styled after the Linn Drum which was the later instrument release by Roger Linn (1982).  Often referred to as the Linn LM2 although many will tell me this is wrong.

  • the instrument includes functionality from both the Linn LM1 (1980) and the Linn Drum.  

 

The Linn LM1 holds the position as being one of the first programmable drum machines using audio samples loaded on Eprom chips that you physically installed into the machine.  When you wanted to change the sound of the drum machine you had to physically remove the eprom with the current drum sounds and install eprom with the new drum sounds.

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As a side Behringer did a YouTube series on restoring the Linn LM1 owned by Tears for Fears and used on the album 'Songs from the big chair'.  It is muted that this sound set is included in the 109 drum sounds that ship with the Behringer LM Drum.  

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As stated above the LM1 drum machine differed from the other classic machines of the era in that you generated the sound by installing samples of drum machines as opposed to the Roland TR-808 and Roland TR-909 which used circuitry to generate the tone.​

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Again Behringer have brought the LM Drum up to date with the inclusion of USB and 5-Pin DIN and an ability to load new samples into the instrument.  It has a 16-voice concurrent architecture and a 64-step step sequencer.  Plus something I like, which is a very tactile user interface which I personally favour over virtual instruments.​

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So do I want one?  Yes.  I am a sucker for drum percussion machines.  I have acquired the Behringer re-imaginations of the Roland TR-808, Roland TR-909 and Roland TR-606 being the Behringer RD-8, Behringer RD-9 and Behringer RD-6 respectively.  And honestly have been happy with the build quality of the instruments and more importantly the sound quality.

 

Am I going to get one?  Already ordered and expecting it to turn up in February 2025. 

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Watching the channel for more content in 2025.​

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