# Free LinnDrum and Linn drum machine samples > Free LinnDrum and Linn LM-1 drum machine samples: the tight 1980s kicks, snares, claps, toms and percussion behind classic pop records, with licence verdicts. 18 samples from 2 sources (Strudel sample banks 14, Openverse 4), updated 2026-10-23. Picked from a live search and refreshed daily. - Same search in the browser: https://sound.shep.bot/search?q=linn&category=drums - Same search over the API: `curl "https://sound.shep.bot/v1/search?q=linn&category=drums"` - Details, files and the credit line: `GET https://sound.shep.bot/v1/samples/{id}` with an id from the table below. - Licence verdicts: "Commercial use OK" (with or without credit) is cleared for a release; anything else must be checked or is non-commercial. See https://sound.shep.bot/docs/licences.md ## Sampled drums, 1980s style Roger Linn's LM-1 Drum Computer was one of the first drum machines to play digital recordings of acoustic drums instead of synthesised tones. Its successor, the LinnDrum (also called the LM-2), added cymbals and lowered the price, and became one of the defining sounds of 1980s pop. The samples were short and low-resolution by today's standards, which gives them their tight, slightly gritty character. ## Working with Linn samples These kits are clean and punchy and sit well in synth-pop, funk, new wave and modern retro productions. Their claps and congas are as recognisable as the kick and snare. The machines let users tune each drum, so different sample sets can sound quite different. Pitch a snare down for weight, or up for snap. Most of these samples come from community drum machine banks, where licences are often not stated. Because the LinnDrum's sounds were stored on its memory chips, a bank copied from them carries the maker's recordings rather than the uploader's own. Use the verdict on each card: green ones are cleared for a release, amber ones need a closer look first. ## Samples | Sample | id | What | Source | Licence | Commercial use | Direct download | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Akai Linn · bd · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-bd/Bassdrum.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_bd/0` | Kick, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai Linn · cb · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-cb/Cowbell.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_cb/0` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai Linn · cp · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-cp/Clap.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_cp/0` | Clap, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai Linn · cr · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-cr/Crash.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_cr/0` | Crash, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai Linn · hh · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-hh/Closed%20Hat.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_hh/0` | Closed hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai Linn · ht · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-ht/Tom%20H.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_ht/0` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai Linn · lt · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-lt/Tom%20L.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_lt/0` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai Linn · mt · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-mt/Tom%20M.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_mt/0` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai Linn · oh · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-oh/Open%20Hat.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_oh/0` | Open hat, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai Linn · rd · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-rd/Ride.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_rd/0` | Ride, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai Linn · sd · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-sd/SD.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_sd/0` | Snare, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai Linn · sh · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-sh/Shuffle.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_sh/0` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Akai Linn · tb · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/AkaiLinn/akailinn-tb/Tambourin.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/AkaiLinn_tb/0` | Percussion, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Linn 9000 · bd · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/Linn9000/linn9000-bd/BAssdrum.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/Linn9000_bd/0` | Kick, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [linn tambourine.wav](https://freesound.org/people/NoiseCollector/sounds/4353) | `openverse:58c034ed-5301-4a15-b09f-d048e1dd88a1` | Percussion, One-shot, 0.15 s | Openverse | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes | | [linn snare.wav](https://freesound.org/people/NoiseCollector/sounds/4351) | `openverse:4681afdd-93a8-412f-baa6-546d367ec659` | Snare, One-shot, 0.11 s | Openverse | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes | | [linn tom2.wav](https://freesound.org/people/NoiseCollector/sounds/4358) | `openverse:c832c74e-3704-4af5-adb9-283c253d339f` | Tom, One-shot, 0.58 s | Openverse | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes | | [linn tom 5.wav](https://freesound.org/people/NoiseCollector/sounds/4356) | `openverse:3ce385f6-0b03-4783-a5d4-51437d9a6eb6` | Tom, One-shot, 0.23 s | Openverse | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes | ## Questions **What was the LinnDrum?** A drum machine from Linn Electronics, released in 1982 as the follow-up to the LM-1 (1980). Unlike Roland's analogue machines, both played back short digital recordings of real drums, which made them sound far more like a kit. **How do I get the 1980s sound from these samples?** Use the snare and toms with a big, short reverb that is cut off by a gate, keep the kick dry, and program straight, quantised patterns. Tuning the snare down a few semitones gives it more weight. ## Related collections - [Free TR-808 drum machine samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-tr-808-drum-samples.md): Free Roland TR-808 drum machine samples: the booming kick, snappy snare, clap, cowbell, rimshot and hats that shaped hip hop, electro and trap, with licences. - [Free TR-909 drum machine samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-tr-909-drum-samples.md): Free Roland TR-909 drum machine samples: the punchy kick, clap, snare, open hat and ride behind house and techno, with previews and a licence verdict on each. - [Free tom drum samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-tom-samples.md): Free tom drum one-shots, from high rack toms to deep floor toms and electronic toms, for fills and tribal grooves, each with a licence verdict and preview. - [Free snare samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-snare-samples.md): Free snare drum samples, from tight acoustic snares and rimshots to crunchy drum machine hits, with a playable preview and a licence verdict on each. - [Free breakbeats and drum breaks](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-breakbeats.md): Free drum breaks and breakbeat loops for jungle, drum and bass, hip hop and breaks, with tempo where known and a licence verdict, including cleared breaks. - [Free clap samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-clap-samples.md): Free hand clap and snap samples, from stacked crowd claps to tight drum machine claps, ready to layer with snares, each with a licence verdict and preview. --- Source: https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-linndrum-samples