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]

Remote Control
LinnSequencer - rack mount 32 track hardware MIDI sequencer

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)
page 1
page 2

References
  1. "Retro Synth Ads: Linn Electronics Inc. LinnSequencer "Imagine the possibilities." ad, Keyboard 1985".
  2. 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". Archived from the original on 2015-01-08. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
  3. "...but bugged by many OS troubles and technical issues". Polynominal.
  4. "...it was plagued with operating system bugs..." Total Trash. The Linn 9000 Home Page.
  5. "Then in 1986 Forat Electronics Corporation was born after purchasing Linn's remaining assets..." Forat Electronics - History.
  6. "In the F-9000, all old software bugs of the old Linn 9000 are fixed,..." Vintage Synth Explorer.
  7. "Forat Electronics - The LinnSequencer".
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