A Beat In Time: (Premium Color Edition) Paperback – March 15, 2026

‘A Beat In Time’ documents the history of Linn Electronics, the manufacturers of the LM-1 - a programmable drum computer designed by Roger Linn and the first to use digitally recorded drum samples stored on EPROM chips. Once the $5000 LM-1 become commercially available in 1980, many records would soon feature the sounds and programmed patterns of the LM-1, including chart hit recordings from Elton John, The Human League, Heaven 17, Prince & The Revolution, and others.Following the success of the LM-1, and with competition from the lower-priced Oberheim DMX, Roger Linn revised the design to become the LinnDrum, released for a retail price of $2995 in mid-1982, and which was to sell around 5000 units over a three year period, The LinnDrum was to feature on countless hit records from Michael Jackson, Madonna, Billy Idol, Tears For Fears, Wang Chung, A-ha, Mr. Mister, and many others, and established Linn Electronics as the company firmly at the forefront of drum machine design.The Linn 9000 model released in the first quarter of 1985 was highly innovative in combining a programmable (and later sampling-capable) drum machine with an advanced onboard sequencer for recording of notes triggered from keyboards and other MIDI-equipped instruments. However, sales of the highly complex $4995 unit were hit hard by hardware and software-related issues that would take several months to iron out, and Linn Electronics was forced to close down in early 1986.‘A Beat In Time’ covers all the products commercially released by Linn Electronics, with contributions (including photographs) from former staff members and musicians, and information on all Linn Electronics products - including the LinnDrum Midistudio that was shown at trade shows just prior to the company’s closure, and other future design concepts that were being developed.This edition is printed in superior high-quality color pages. A standard color edition is also available for sale, along with a limited edition superior color hardback. Read more