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Has anyone been inspired by the isomorphic keyboard to get a Linnstrument?
manateemilitia
Austin, TXPosts: 69
in Deluge Help
Standard keyboards have never really clicked for me but I'm enjoying using the isomorphic layout with my Deluge. I find myself wobbling my finger in sync with the modulation frequency as thought the pads were velocity sensitive and this has me wondering if a Linnstrument is worthwhile. Anyone else followed this curiosity?
Comments
I realise that it's a lot less elegant, but a second hand Push 1 (around $250 in NZ, so probably sub $100 in the US) will give you quite a lot of what you get from the Linnstrument.
https://github.com/Carlborg/hardpush for a (not very recently updated) project which would allow it to work in standalone mode.
Push1 cannot touch linnstrument. The expression and sensitivity of Linnstrument is second to none.
Do you use it with the Deluge? What do you think? Pros and cons? I've been considering it for some time now, but it's quite expensive so I haven't committed yet.
Thanks for asking, I'm setting it up but I'm not successful yet. I cannot map the "Y" but I suppose there are some linn-guys here that might help. I have great results with both MODAL plastic synths and linnstrument. But with deluge super matrix we should be able to do a great expression ride. I have done after touch and velocity pretty sweet. Since aftertouch on LinnStrument is so precise. As far as expression linnstrument is my goto controller even though I owned push1 and own push2 which is collecting dust but that is because I just hate DAW. From my point there are 3 issues with the linnstrument owning it for two years. These are related to expression (regardless at which synth you hook it up)
and strictly looking at linnstrument like an instrument.
Everything else is fabulous about this controller, built in sequencer, ARP, SPLIT (!) keyboard, slider mode, presets, limitless tweaking ... basically you can fully customize it without a computer
Deluge is supposed to be able able to power up the LS but I have not tried. BTW linnstrument takes only 200mA ~ 1W so typical USB power bank can run it for days.
I don't work for Roger Linn I just enjoy playing with expression (came from guitar world) From my channel you see that I've tried almost all of them besides continuum and Seaboard (I Do have roli blocks though)
I've used a Linnstrument with the Deluge quite a bit. If you connect it to Deluge's USB port, the Linnstrument can be powered just from the Deluge, without an additional power source. I set the Linnstrument to its Low Power mode. It seemed to work fine even in normal mode, but I only tested that for a couple of seconds.
I had the Linnstrument first, and was pleasantly surprised that the Deluge uses the same layout.
Deluge doesn't support MPE (yet?), so you have to set the Linnstrument to its Single-Channel-Mode. In this mode, X (Pitch) and Y are monophonic, but Aftertouch is polyphonic. All of this worked with the Deluge's synth, though I didn't really use Y a lot.
Playing the Linnstrument translates well to the Deluge's keyboard mode, with some getting used to the Deluge's smaller pads, and that you cannot slide. You also have to lift the fingers a little more when playing fast, to not stumble at the Deluge pads' "rubber". But those are very minor problems. It's like playing a hammer action keyboard, and then a 25-key controller with smaller keys.
In my experience, "wobbling your finger" left right (vibrato) sounds most natural with synth sounds. It sounds okay with samples that have few harmonics (e.g. Fender Rhodes). With brighter piano samples, it sounds very unnatural.
Linnstrument's main advantages from my point of view:
Disadvantages:
I sold my Linnstrument just a few days ago. I used it a lot for about 8 months. It is still great, but I have had a lifelong marriage with the piano and came back to it.
noticed this too, I think the continuum has this figured the best. So I've tried bring this 'issue' up to Roger but they are not like synthstrom...they are kind of done with updating LS. For this issue I think some sort of smart Velo/After touch would be needed. After touch would be ignored for 1-3 seconds when hitting the pad hard... when hitting slow the velocity would be very low so Aftertouch gains the priority.
Thanks for this extensive pros/cons post. Excellent points