Vintage Synth Explorer Forums

So finally, buying a non-working Linndrum in September of last year and not being able to fix it, I broke down and bought another, functioning one last week. Its here and I've finally been able to play with this silly thing in the flesh. My question: assuming the seller doesn't know, how can I tell if it has the original eproms in it? The snare doesn't sound like any of the demos I've heard.

Thanks,
Nate

Silly me, I have two Linndrums here, don't I? I just opened them both up - Two different snare eproms! I swapped em, and now I'm hearing the right sound! The one that was in the working Linn was strange, it looked like an eprom sitting on some kind of adapter that was plugged into the socket.

The adapter is most likely a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket which is allows the user to swap the chips more easily and safer.

I don't suppose you have an extra set of "Toms 1" chips in the non-working LM-2? My LM-2 has Toms 6 (Electronic "Simmons" style) and I'd prefer to have the original toms. I've been planning to send my LM-2 to Forat to add MIDI and the seperate side stick tuning mod. I can get the Toms 1 chips from Forat if I have to.

Is the chip itself supposed to be labelled 'Toms 1'? Because both set sets of mine say 'Toms 6A/Toms 6B'

More questions:

Regarding the 'ERROR CORRECT' function: If I understand the manual correctly, I should be able to go to a new, empty pattern, and change the error correct resolution by holding down the ERROR CORRECT button while selecting the resolution I desire via the number buttons? Not happening. The manual states I should be able to check the current resolution by pressing this button, but nothing lights up. Am I misunderstanding the procedure here?

Further more, in SONG mode, I should be able to select a song by holding down SONG# (/ERROR CORRECT) and typing in numbers. Nadda. Once again, am I misunderstanding the procedure?

It seems to me that since both of these functions share the same button and neither are working, that the button isn't working.

I believe the original toms should be labeled Toms 1. Looks like you've got the same electronic "Simmons" style toms that my LM-2 has.

Sorry, I can't help you with the Error Correct and Song mode as I never use them. Pretty much all I do is either create patterns and change them manually ot trigger up to 5 of the LM-2's sounds via its trigger inputs from another drum machine's individual outs.

You could be right that the button may not be working correctly.

Gotcha. Would you mind doing me a favor and just load up an empty pattern and hold down that button to see what lights up? I'd appreciate it!

I was thinking about messing around with those triggers as well, using my 707. It might be cool to create Linn patterns step by step!

And I can't help but wonder - why are there only two Tom eproms instead of three? Is one of them providing the third one and its a matter of tuning?

I believe I've found a website that sells the original Tom 1 eproms: http://www.cem3374.com/sales/eproms.htm
I'm going to email him to double check!

All 3 toms' sounds are produced from the 2 chips. Forat sells "2 Chip" EPROMs for $35:
http://www.forat.com/drummachines/drum.htm

hey Z, any where you know of where one can hear sound samples of the available eproms for these puppies? Didn't see any links on Forat, nor that other link I put up....

The only place I know with sound samples of STOCK Linn EPROMs is: http://www.electrongate.com/dmxfiles/linn/index.html

There were dozens of alternate EPROMs but I don't know where to hear samples. Personally, I'd like to find the gated snare that is used on the upbeats near the end of Tears For Fears' "Mother's Talk". Not sure if it's coming from the LM-2 or Fairlight.

Thanks, the stock toms are what I'm interested in. These Simmons ones are a bit...intense for my tastes.

Z - what's it mean when all of a sudden the only light on the Linn that works is the PATTERN light, and buttons/sound don't work?

Dead batteries (aftermarket holder installed)? Or the beginnings of power supply failure?

Or is it just angry that I was looking at MPC's today before it crashed? haha

You should be able to trigger the sounds from the pads even if the battery is low or dead (my battery is dead).

I am not a tech, but what you are describing does not sound good. I had another LinnDrum that I sold earlier this year. I don't remeber what its symptoms were, but it needed a new IC, which was fairly inepxensive and not too much labor in swapping.

Thanks Z, I wasn't sure how the batteries came into play outside of keeping the memory intact. So after the problem I described above, I turned it off for a few minutes and turned it back on. I was able to hit a couple of pads and make sound before it went back to just the pattern light, no sounds. From that point, if I hit a drum pad, the PATTERN# field would display a random number, and not make a sound.

I went out and bought some new rechargable batteries (before I read your post) and let them charge for a few hours, during which the Linn was off. I finally put them in, and of course, there was no change.

Frustrated I popped the hood and just stared at the guts for a few minutes. Mine is equipped with JL Cooper Midi, and I noticed one of the setup switches was in the ON position. I switched it back off, and viola! shes works just fine and hasn't given me trouble since!

In any case, I've been looking into a more flexible drum machine that I can load samples into. I'm going to end up sampling this Linn and probably sell it. I just hope the workflow of the MPC1000 I just bought is as fast as this puppy is when inspiration strikes!