Hi from Roger Linn--
Here's my November 1st, 2026 LinnStrument Newsletter, featuring some items of possible interest to LinnStrument owners or enthusiasts. If there's anything you'd like to see in future newsletters, please let me know.
- Roger
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| Vibe-Code your LinnStrument | | LinnStrument software creator Geert Bevin has created some helpful setup instructions for vibe-coding new features in LinnStrument's open source code using Claude Code: | | |
To see these instructions, visit the LinnStrument Software repository on Github and read the file "contributing.md". Or from the LinnStrument Support page, click "Source Code" then read the section about Vibe Coding, which includes a link to this page.
Geert also created a helpful tool called "Virtual LinnStrument"-- a fully functioning computer-based LinnStrument or LinnStrument 128 UI--that allows you to test your code changes immediately on your computer, including clicking the pads to play a connected MIDI synth:
| | This helpful tool saves time by avoiding the need to upload your code into LinnStrument for testing. The above-mentioned "contributing.md" page contains information about using Virtual LinnStrument. | | Remote Settings Editor for LinnStrument and more... | | |
Geert has been busy! He's created three new browser-resident apps for use with LinnStrument:
1) LinnStrument Remote Settings Editor:
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View and change any of LinnStrument's settings from your computer, even search for settings by name if you aren't sure where they are.
2) LinnStrument Designer
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Go beyond LinnStrument's settings: draw a MIDI controller on the surface: pads, keys, faders, XY pads and buttons, each sending what you choose to any DAW or synth. Switch RUN on and the lights show the layout and its state, and the control switches jump between layouts while you play.
3) LinnStrument User Firmware Editor
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See a live view of LinnStrument's User Firmware Mode, a special mode optimized for computer applications that need finer control over LinnStrument's deeper details. Get pressure and position for each pad, lights to paint, text to draw or scroll (with forthcoming firmware 2.4.0), and redefine the 8 control buttons to fit your specific need.
To try out these 3 web apps, click here or click the new links on the LinnStrument Support page. Note that these web apps require a browser that supports Web MIDI, which Apple's Safari unfortunately doesn't. But they'll run fine on Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
| | 10% Off Sale is Still Going | | |
My 10% Off sale is still going, available for orders placed on my web site and shipping to a US or (starting today) Australia address, and the normal free shipping to those destinations is still included. Maybe a good time to drop a hint for a holiday present?
To get the discount, visit my site's online store and place either LinnStrument model in your shopping cart, then enter "10off" into the "coupon code" field to lower the price. The normal free shipping is included. This sale will continue until my inventory returns to normal levels, whenever that happens.
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Rob Bressler:
Pedal Steel Guitar on LinnStrument
| | Here are some LinnStrument videos I like from Rob Bressler, who is very skilled in playing pedal steel guitar parts on LinnStrument. | | |
Here are two links to Instagram videos of Rob playing pedal steel parts:
And here's another one I liked, with Rob playing a piano piece of his own composition:
If you'd like to see more videos of Rob, here is his Instagram page.
I (Roger) actually used to play pedal steel a little, formerly owning an MSA S-10 Classic. I never became very skilled at it, but I loved its sound and the music that is inspired by its playing mechanism of the bar, pedals and knee levers. When I first created LinnStrument, I tried using its pitch slides to emulate pedal steel parts. Here's a 2014 video in which I make a feeble attempt at playing the pedal steel intro to Crosby, Stills and Nash's 1969 song "Teach Your Children Well":
| | New videos from Max Bajzek | | |
Here are some new videos by Max Bajzek, one of my favorite LinnStrumentalists because of his highly skilled expressive solo performance gestures on LinnStrument.
To start, here are two videos that use sounds from the "Pardora's Box" software synth that Max is developing. This video is called "Be Strong Enough to be Gentle":
| | And this one is "For Like the Grass They Will Soon Wither": | | |
Max has let me try out an in-progress build of Pandora's Box and I must say that I'm very excited about it. You can learn more about it here.
Finally, here's another video from Max that I like for its composition and the skill of his two-handed performance, using the Kontakt sound "Irish Harp" blended with a cello-like sound that can be heard on sustain notes. It's actually a couple years old but I haven't yet featured it in a newsletter:
| | Next Zoom Call: Tuesday Nov 3 | | |
Every first Tuesday of the month at 10 am California time is my "All Things LinnStrument" Zoom video call. To join the call of watch any of the three most recent calls, visit my site's LinnStrument Support page and click "Monthly Zoom Call with Roger". The next call is Tuesday, November 3. If you happen to live in the U.S., that's election day. So don't forget to vote!
I hope you can join a future meeting, if not this one then on any future first Tuesday of the month at 10 am California time.
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Note: The only way you got this newsletter is if you intentionally opted in to my monthly email newsletter list. If you no longer want to receive these newsletters, simply click the "unsubscribe" link below. But please don't mark this email as spam because it can result in LinnStrument owners not getting my support responses.
Please feel free to pass this message on to anyone who might be interested. If you're not on the Newsletter email list and would like to receive these monthly newsletter, visit the LinnStrument Support page and click "Email Newsletters". And thanks for owning, or having interest in, LinnStrument.
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