The man behind the legendary MPC, Roger Linn, stays focused with a single browser tab
The man behind the legendary MPC, Roger Linn, stays focused with a single browser tab
传奇 MPC 之父 Roger Linn：只开一个浏览器标签页，保持专注
His advice: Deep breaths, keep it simple, and maybe play a little VR mini golf. 他的建议是：深呼吸，保持简单，或许再玩一会儿 VR 迷你高尔夫。
Roger Linn is a legend in the world of musical instruments. He’s been at the cutting edge of music technology for decades. He created the LM-1, the first drum machine to use samples, and its successor, the LinnDrum, is one of the most iconic drum machines of all time. They were used on countless records in the 1980s, including hits by Tom Petty, Queen, and Tears for Fears. But the most notable fan was probably Prince, who used them extensively on Purple Rain and 1999. Roger Linn 是乐器界的传奇人物。几十年来，他一直处于音乐技术的最前沿。他创造了第一台使用采样技术的鼓机 LM-1，而其继任者 LinnDrum 更是史上最具标志性的鼓机之一。它们被用于 20 世纪 80 年代的无数唱片中，包括 Tom Petty、Queen 和 Tears for Fears 的热门歌曲。但最著名的粉丝恐怕要数 Prince，他在《Purple Rain》和《1999》中大量使用了这些设备。
Somehow, those are not his greatest contributions to the music world. That would, undoubtedly, be the MPC. Linn partnered with Akai to create one of the most popular and important samplers ever. The MPC60 and its successors became the tool of choice for countless hip-hop and house producers. J Dilla’s MPC 3000 even sits in the Smithsonian. 然而，这些并不是他对音乐界最大的贡献。毫无疑问，那应该是 MPC。Linn 与 Akai 合作创造了有史以来最受欢迎、最重要的采样器之一。MPC60 及其后续机型成为了无数嘻哈和浩室音乐制作人的首选工具。J Dilla 的 MPC 3000 甚至被史密森尼博物馆收藏。
Roger Linn was also an early adopter of MPE, or MIDI polyphonic expression. It’s a key feature of his LinnStrument, an expressive 3D controller released in 2014 — three years before the Association of Musical Electronics Industry (AMEI) officially released the MPE standard. Turns out the man stays so innovative by keeping things simple and focused. Roger Linn 也是 MPE（MIDI 复音表达）的早期采用者。这是他于 2014 年发布的表现力 3D 控制器 LinnStrument 的核心功能——比音乐电子工业协会 (AMEI) 正式发布 MPE 标准早了三年。事实证明，他保持创新的秘诀就是让一切保持简单和专注。
What is your most indispensable tool? 你最不可或缺的工具是什么？ My MacBook Pro. 我的 MacBook Pro。
Which is the most underappreciated? 哪件产品最被低估？ My Vision Pro. I called it the most amazing product I rarely use. 我的 Vision Pro。我称它为我很少使用但最令人惊叹的产品。
What is the first app you install on a new phone or computer? 你在新手机或电脑上安装的第一个应用程序是什么？ On a computer, Rhino3D. 在电脑上是 Rhino3D。
What is one thing you wish you could change about your phone? 你希望手机能改变的一件事是什么？ Apple Mail’s bugs. Apple Mail 的漏洞。
What sites do you have pinned to your tab bar? 你在标签栏固定了哪些网站？ New York Times. 《纽约时报》。
How many tabs do you have open right now? 你现在打开了多少个标签页？ One. This document. 一个。就是这份文档。
Which social media platform do you use the most (if any)? 你最常使用哪个社交媒体平台（如果有的话）？ I don’t use social media except to announce my monthly “All Things LinnStrument” email newsletter. 我不使用社交媒体，除非是为了发布我每月的“All Things LinnStrument”电子邮件通讯。
What is your happy place online? 你在网络上的“快乐老家”是哪里？ A VR app for the Meta Quest called Walkabout Mini Golf. It was a large number of artistically created open VR worlds that offer a surprising level of beauty from the Quest 3’s limited power. I go there to play a game of mini golf, fly around, or meet friends in a private instance of a particular world. Meta Quest 上一款名为《Walkabout Mini Golf》的 VR 应用。它拥有大量艺术化创作的开放 VR 世界，在 Quest 3 有限的性能下展现出了令人惊叹的美感。我会去那里打一场迷你高尔夫，四处飞行，或者在特定世界的私人空间里与朋友见面。
What is your favorite gadget you’ve ever owned? 你拥有过的最喜欢的电子产品是什么？ I don’t know about “ever”, but these days it’s VR headsets, currently the Meta Quest 3 or Apple Vision Pro. 我不知道是不是“有史以来”，但最近是 VR 头显，目前是 Meta Quest 3 或 Apple Vision Pro。
Which was the most disappointing? 哪件产品最让你失望？ In general, I’m disappointed by products that are designed by engineers who assume their customers are engineers. 总的来说，我对那些由工程师设计、却默认用户也是工程师的产品感到失望。
What game do you have the fondest memories of? 你记忆最深刻的游戏是什么？ Myst. 《神秘岛》(Myst)。
What tech trend do you wish would go away? 你希望哪种科技趋势消失？ Spam. 垃圾信息。
What creation are you most proud of? 你最引以为傲的作品是什么？ LinnStrument. LinnStrument。
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? 你收到过最好的建议是什么？ Keep it simple. 保持简单。
What is your current obsession? 你目前沉迷于什么？ VR. VR。
What do you do when you need to focus? 当你需要专注时会做什么？ Breathe. Calm down. 呼吸。冷静下来。
What do you do when you’re feeling stuck? 当你感到卡壳时会做什么？ I try to shift my perspective. 我尝试转换视角。
When was the last time you went somewhere without your phone? 你上次没带手机出门是什么时候？ I never go anywhere without my phone. Maybe swimming. 我从不带手机出门是不可能的。也许游泳的时候吧。
What’s the last piece of physical media you bought? 你最后购买的实体媒介是什么？ That would be a long time ago. I’ve only bought books, music, films, etc. in digital form for a long time. 那是很久以前的事了。很长一段时间以来，我只购买数字形式的书籍、音乐、电影等。
What do you think is worth splurging on? 你认为什么值得挥霍？ If someone made a VR headset with retina resolution, very high power, lots of beautiful open worlds, but it was expensive, I’d probably buy it. 如果有人制造出一款拥有视网膜分辨率、性能极高、拥有许多美丽开放世界的 VR 头显，即使很贵，我也可能会买。
What would the tagline for your biopic be? 如果拍摄你的传记片，标语会是什么？ “He created tools that allowed musicians to make better music.” “他创造了让音乐家能创作出更好音乐的工具。”
What’s the last GIF or meme you used? 你最后使用的 GIF 或表情包是什么？ This isn’t a GIF, but maybe it’s a meme: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) 这不是 GIF，但也许算是个表情包：( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)