The Legendary Drum Computer

Linn LM-1

Introducing VPROM - The Drum Machine Legend!

VPROM is a software plugin that accurately reproduces the internal circuitry and filtering of the legendary drum machine that was the talk of the town in the early 80s. Back in the day, this expensive drum computer was the first to incorporate real drum samples, making it a game-changer in the world of drum machines.

Early sample-based drum machines relied on acoustic drum sounds recorded on basic hardware without anti-aliasing. However, the unique sound they produced cut through a mix like nothing else, making them a popular alternative to the analog drum sounds of the era. The vintage drum machine that inspired VPROM is highly regarded to this day for its unique sound and character, which cannot be replicated by using samples of its analog output alone. With one DAC and clock per voice and yummy filters, this historical piece of gear takes pride of place in the 80s sound picture. With only 500 units in existence, finding a working one is rare and expensive. This machine has been used by major acts such as Prince, Phil Collins, Thompson Twins, Stevie Wonder, Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, The Human League, Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis, John Carpenter, Todd Rundgren, and The Art of Noise. ... As a musician myself, I strive to maintain the standard of excellence expected by musicians. Since there were no accurate VSTs for that legend out there, I made VPROM.

Thank you for your support - it makes things happen, such as bringing VPROM to WIN, MAC, x86, and x64 platforms.

VPROM not only reproduces the sound of the legendary drum machine but also reads and imports original, custom, or vintage EPROMs from other Drum Machines of that era, such as the Linndrum, DMX, DrumTraks, and more. (.bin files can be found on the net). An EPROM is an integrated circuit used to store short audio sample data in a compressed format. VPROM is the closest thing to the real deal and decodes original EPROM data images in real-time using the exact decode table from the AM6070 DAC at a variable sample rate. VPROM also allows you to experiment with your sample database, convert samples with external tools, and load compatible ULaw companded images (see manual for more info).

With VPROM, you can create funky grooves like never before!

Drum Machine EPROM

Get VProm 2.0!

The original name of this VST, "VLinn", has been changed at the request of the Linn Electronics copyright holder: Roger Linn. It is now named "VPROM". ALYJAMESLAB has no affiliation with Roger Linn and has not received any consent from Roger Linn.
All manufacturer and product names mentioned on this page are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with ALYJAMESLAB. The trademarks of other manufacturers are used solely to identify the products of those manufacturers whose tones and sounds were studied during ALYJAMESLAB sound development. All names of instrument and inventors have been included for illustrative and educational purposes only and do not suggest any affiliation or endorsement of VProm by any company or instrument inventor

VPromn VST

VProm VST Videos & Sounds Demos Playlists.

MOST OF THESE VIDEOS WERE DONE WITH Version 1.0 BUT NEW VIDS ARE COMING ALONG!

Product Demos by Aly james

VProm Vintage Legendary Drums VST Features and Details

AM6070 Modeled Real-Time DAC Decoding:

VPROM accurately decodes incoming data using the exact decode table from the datasheet, resulting in a realistic and gritty sound at every pitch. It eliminates the need for resampling or tuning low-quality sample packs that often sound dull at lower pitches. The plugin also provides an option to maintain high-frequency spectrum integrity at any tuning via efficient oversampling.

Hihat Data Looping & VCA:

The hihat circuitry is unique, where the hihat proms are read constantly in a loop while only a VCA is triggered. The circuitry has the ability to discharge the current through an additional way based on the decay pot setting for closed hihats, resulting in a different sound on every hit.

CEM 3320 Filters:

Unlike early version of the LM1, most popular revisions featured filters:Some voices with bass frequency content were filtered to minimize the remaining 8-bit noise using a VCF configured as a low-pass filter with no resonance. The CV frequency of the VCF was shaped by the circuitry to allow transients to pass through relatively unfiltered. VPROM offers the ability to fine-tune the CV pulse or bypass the filter completely. This is useful when a voice is tuned very low or when replacing a "Bass" slot with another EPROM that doesn't require filtering.

Separate Pitch Tuning:

VPROM allows users to tune any voice to a particular frequency using the PROMS data, which is read one byte at a time by a counter controlled by a stable oscillator. The counters reading speed could then be affected by the external tuning pots in a limited range, + or - 1 Octave. The tuning range can be tweaked and the plugin provides a useful wide range of pitch from 1000Hz to 44100Hz and anything in between based on a real mod. (See manual)

Separate Outputs:

Like the original machines, VPROM features separate outputs for every voice, and users can choose from ALL to 1 Stereo Channel or Separate Channels for each voice.

Velocity Control:

VPROM allows users to limit themselves to only 2 velocity levels or use the full range of MIDI velocity for convenience.

GUI & Automation:

The VPROM GUI features the original trigger buttons for quick listening and controls over every aspect of the drum machine. Most parameters like volume and pitch knobs can be MIDI learned and controlled by an external MIDI hardware.

Loading External EPROM Data:

VPROM provides the ability to replace some voices with external compatible 8-bit companded EPROM data, opening up the machine to LINNDRUM (LM-2), LINN 9000, DMX, DX, DRUMTRACKS, etc. samples or even load custom-made samples. Users can switch between custom-loaded and stock EPROMs on the fly.

VPROM supports the following type and size EPROMS binaries (.bin)

2716(2048_Bytes) 2K

2732(4096_Bytes) 4K

2764(8192_Bytes) 8K

27128(16384_Bytes) 16K

27256(32768_Bytes) 32K

Load & Save Full Patch & Banks in FXB/FXP:

Users can easily load and save full patch and banks in FXB/FXP format with additional technical information available in the manual.

In addition to cross platform capability, VPROM version 2 boasts a range of exciting new features and improvements compared to its predecessor.
The highlights include:


  • A new MIDI panel with MIDI learnable custom trigger maps for more personalized and flexible control.
  • A change in the default MIDI trigger map, which can be found in the manual.
  • The addition of new panning capability per drum, with panning knobs replacing the tuning knob row through a popup box selection that's available by clicking on the TUNE label on the GUI.
  • An improved GUI for a smoother and more intuitive user experience.
  • All EPROMS can now be replaced, rather than just seven of them in version 1.
  • Easier and faster custom EPROMs loading and management, with no need to specify the size anymore as VPROM does it for you. Custom EPROMs are saved with the patch once loaded.
  • The additional CUSTOM voice is now renamed to EXTRA and loaded by default with a modified delay-less stock Snare. Check out the Manual -> EPROM Loading for more information.
  • Double-clicking a control resets it to its default value on most of the GUI controls.
  • ALT+Left clicking on each Tune Knob allows you to set the clock rate precisely by typing in a value. The main info display now only displays the last edited parameter info or value, such as which EPROM .bin is loaded or the knob, slider, etc. current value.
  • In addition to the original velocity mode, 2 Full velocity modes are now available with linear and exponential response.
  • Incoming MIDI Pitch-Bend messages are now recognized and will act as a Global tuning offset, making it easier to live tweak the whole set or transpose up or down.
  • VPROM now transmits its triggers as MIDI OUT, allowing for greater flexibility and integration with other devices.
  • External MIDI learn for controls can now only be attached to MIDI CC messages (no more Sysx nor aftertouch).
  • A new feature allows you to change the mixer volume slider's response between Linear (original VST behavior) or Log Tappers (closer to hardware).
  • A new feature enables you to instantly stop the playing of the Extra voice, which is useful for choking cymbals. This feature is only available with the EXTRA voice, and the CHOKE event trigger is permanently fixed to note C4. When the note is triggered, it will stop the EPROM playing immediately and be held in CHOKE until the EPROM is played again normally. The CHOKE is reflected on the EPROM playing status.
It was not necessary to model the original sequencer because regardless of all the urban legends, this is mainly a 48 PPQN (pulse per quarter note) resolution thing. Modern DAWs features a finer resolution usually around 960PPQN or higher, this simply means that the same beat with some swing will not groove exactly the same at 960 or 48PPQN... An easy thing to do is to export your beat in MIDI at 48 PPQN and import it back.

While it's true that modern DAWs generally have much higher resolutions than the 48 PPQN of the original LM-1 sequencer, the lower resolution of 48 PPQN can actually give a unique feel to the quantized sequence.

With a lower resolution, there's less room for each note to be placed within a quarter note, which can create a slightly more "jittery" or "off-grid" feel to the rhythm (see diagram below). This can be particularly noticeable when playing back sequenced hi-hats or other fast, repetitive patterns.

While this may not be desirable for all genres or styles, it can be a key component of the sound and feel of certain classic drum machines, including the LM-1. However, as mentioned before, it's possible to export a sequence at 48 PPQN and import it back into a modern DAW to achieve this same feel.
"This won't make or break your groove anyway, it's subtle and almost unnecessary but it will give you street creds and confidence." AJ.

Linn LM-1 Groove and Swing explained

Linn LM-1 Groove and Swing explained

Windows:

Windows 7 to 11 and higher, 32 or 64bit host, plugin provided formats are VST2 and VST3.

Mac OS:

Snow Leopard (10.6) to Monterey or higher, 32 or 64bit host, plugin provided formats are VST2, VST3 and AU (AudioUnits).

Protools:

Avid Protools only supports its proprieratary format AAX at the moment but you can still easily load an AU or VST plugin with the help of a VST/AU host plugin, some popular solutions are DDMF Metaplugin or BlueCat's Patchworks, others might be available that I am not aware of yet.

Other info:

Working fine on Mac M1 (even if not native ARM yet). Working perfectly using Apple Rosetta 2 compatibility (only needed for VST format) AU format should load fine without doing anything else. Native ARM support is of course planned with VProm 3

Read the VProm Manual

Get amazing details about the first sample based drum machine and master the beast!

VPROM VST EPROM BASED VINTAGE DRUM MACHINE USER MANUAL V2.

VProm User Manual


EPROM VARIABLE SAMPLE RATE ENGINE ENHANCEMENT

Powerful optional X16 oversampling keeping high frequency harmonics intact like on real hardware

Vprom

VOLUME SLIDER RESPONSE

New feature to change the mixer volume slider's response between Linear (original VST behavior) or Log Tappers (closer to hardware). Some people might have better habits with audio tapers so now you have the choice, keep in mind that default presets have been made using linear mode. The difference is Similar to this: linear will have finer detail over a small Db range of full volume, while Log can be easier for overall balance

Log Linear response

HIHAT

Hihat curve, timing and range updated, closer to hardware Some more advanced tests on hardware have been done to tailor the hihat VCA, timing and curve is now more accurate (new curve in RED)

Linn LM-1 Hihat

CHOKE action

New feature to instantly stop the playing of the Extra voice, useful for choking cymbals.. This is working only with the EXTRA voice and the CHOKE event trigger is permanently fixed to note C4, when the note is triggered it will stop the EPROM playing immediately and will be held in CHOKE until the EPROM is played again normally, the CHOKE is reflected on the EPROM playing status. You cannot assign note C4 anymore to custom MIDI mapping as it is reserved for CHOKE, if you still do, VPROM will warn you anyway :)

GUI

Voice names are now kept marked on top of the GUI panel when not in Mixer view: useful so you can actually use the tuning easily from every panel without using the tooltip naming of the tune knobs

TUNE & PANNING

Tune/Pan selection is now done in one click like a toggle switch

Change Log

You can check your current version from the GUI INFO panel.

pending - v3.0.0
11/12/18 - v2.0.4
  • Color change, closer to the original LM-1 hardware, darker and lighter orange
  • New feature to change the mixer volume slider's response between Linear (original VST behavior) or Log tappers (closer to hardware)
  • Hihat curve, timing and range updated, closer to hardware
  • Fixed the NoDelay SNARE default Extra voice EPROM, previous one had some noise at the end
  • New CHOKE feature to instantly stop the playing of the Extra voice at any point, useful for choking cymbals and other creative ideas..
  • Optional x16 powerful and efficient oversampling processing to get rid of any unwanted high frequency artifacts on TAMB, CAB, HIHAT and EXTRA voices
  • CPU usage reduced: Mainly code optimization
  • Voice names are now kept marked on top of the GUI panel when not in Mixer view
  • Tune/Pan selection is now done in one click ala toggle switch: faster, better
13/08/15 - v2.0.3
  • VLINN is renamed VPROM, graphic changed accordingly
14/06/15 - v2.0.2
  • Actually fixed occasional crash on MIDI panel
  • VLINN-midiccs.ini file created if folder exists but file has been deleted
12/06/15 - v2.0.1
  • fixed occasional crash on MIDI panel
24/05/15 - v2.0.0
  • initial release

Get It!

VProm 2 for PC & MAC

VProm 2.0 comes with both Windows & Mac Installers and Manual.
*works on Mac M1 even if not native ARM yet (see compatiblity info tab)