The LinnStrument should be out this fall

The last time we talked about the LinnStrument was back in 2011. Roger Linn has been working on the project all this time and posted yesterday new videos as well as more complete information about it.

The LinnStrument is designed to translate into MIDI the natural movements of any type of music instrument (guitar, sax, violin…). For this, the controller is equipped with a multitouch surface with RGB backlit 3/4” silicone pads that include sensors for pressure, right/left and up/down movements for each finger, continuously and polyphonically. This should allow for a better handing of the vibrato, slides, tremolos and bends.

Dimensions of the LinnStrument (570 × 209 × 25.4mm) allow for installing it on a small table or playing it like a guitar or a cello. In total, the LinnStrument offers 200 pads on a 25 × 8 grid, for a full 2-octave range from C to C.

As for use, Roger Linn announces three MIDI Message sending modes: Channel per note (each note is sent to its own MIDI channel), One Channel / Poly Pressure (all the notes are sent to a single MIDI channel and the pressure messages are used to send a continuous pressure to each note) and One Channel / Channel Pressure (all the notes are sent to a single MIDI channel and the pitch and aftertouch CC messages apply to all notes on a single channel).

Last, you’ll find on the rear of the device a USB port for MIDI In and Out communication, MIDI DIN In and Out and a footswitch input.

Roger Linn is expecting a release this fall. The price is still to be set, it should be in the $1000 – $2000 range. You’ll find more info, including the manual, at www.rogerlinndesign.com.