Roger Linn: The MPC Inventor’s Minimalist Tech Stack and VR Focus
In a recent interview with The Verge, Roger Linn outlines a workflow defined by a single browser tab, the Rhino3D application, and Meta Quest 3 headsets, while identifying the LinnStrument as his proudest creation.
Roger Linn, the seminal figure behind the MPC sampler and LM-1 drum machine, has outlined a personal technology philosophy centred on minimalism and focus. In a recent interview with The Verge, the 76-year-old inventor described his current digital habits, revealing that he maintains his workflow by keeping things simple, taking deep breaths, and utilising virtual reality to stay calm.
Linn, who created the LM-1—the first drum machine to use samples—and the LinnDrum, noted that his most notable contributions to music technology include the MPC, which became a staple for hip-hop and house producers, and the LinnStrument. He identifies the LinnStrument, an expressive 3D controller released in 2014 that predated the official MPE standard, as his proudest creation.
Regarding his daily tools, Linn cites his MacBook Pro as his most indispensable device. On new computers, he installs Rhino3D as his first application. His digital environment is notably sparse; he currently keeps only one browser tab open, which is the document he is reading, though he keeps The New York Times pinned to his tab bar. He also expressed frustration with bugs in Apple Mail.
Linn’s preferred gadgets are currently virtual reality headsets, specifically the Meta Quest 3 and the Apple Vision Pro. He described the Vision Pro as the most underappreciated product he has encountered, noting that he rarely uses it despite calling it amazing. His online "happy place" is the VR app Walkabout Mini Golf on the Meta Quest, where he plays, flies around, or meets friends in private instances.
The inventor also shared his views on industry trends and consumer products. He expressed disappointment in products designed by engineers who assume their customers are also engineers, and he wishes the tech trend of spam would disappear. Linn, who has not bought physical media for a long time, prefers digital formats and does not use social media, except to promote his monthly “All Things LinnStrument” email newsletter. His best advice remains to keep it simple.
