Reprinted from Mix Magazine July 2003

TECHNOLOGY
Auditions: Snapshot Product Reviews

Roger Linn Design Adrenalinn
Groove Filter FX/Amp Modeler/DrumBox

From the father of the LinnDrum digital drum machine and Akai's MPC Series groove boxes, Roger Linn's AdrenaLinn takes the stompbox concept to the limit by adding a bank of filters, a looping sequencer, synth-style modulators and amp modeling for a wide array of rhythmic effects. Playing in sync to MIDI or its internal 40-sound drum machine, effects range from traditional (tremolo/flanging/auto pan, etc.) to sequence-driven, dynamically looped filter tones, creating a bazillion sounds that you've never heard.

Adrenalinn is housed a 4.5x7x2-inch stompbox chassis. The back panel has 1/4-inch jacks for instrument input (mono), stereo main outputs, a headphone jack, MIDI In/Out ports and a connector for the (included) wallwart DC supply; there's no provision for onboard batteries.

Considering the unit's power, the interface is deceptively simple. Besides its two momentary footswitches (for bypass/tempo entry and sequence start/stop), the top panel has a three-digit alphanumeric LED, an input level pot, four selector pushbuttons, four multifunction rotary controls that either set presets/drumbeats/tempo/output volume or--in Edit mode--control dozens of parameter settings.

This box could really use a nice rack enclosure and a large LCD, as navigating the interface takes some getting used to and editing can be a chore. Alternatively, all parameters are MIDI-accessible, and one can edit using Emagic's SoundDiver editor/librarian program, which also provides unlimited preset storage on a PC or Mac. Adrenalinn does include 100 cool factory presets and space to store 100 user settings, so finding the right sound is often a case of starting with a preset, tweaking it a bit and storing the result.

Functions can be used in combination or separately, so it's just punch and go if you just need drum grooves (100 presets or make your own from the 40 onboard sounds) or excellent amp modeling (choice of 12: Fenders, Marshalls, Vox, Boogie, fuzz, clean DI and more). But what really sets Adrenalinn apart is its Groove Filter Effects, which alter tone dynamically, synched to the drum machine or an external MIDI clock. These beat-synched effects include modulation, (flange, tremolo, delays, rotary and more), filter sequences (looped patterns of filtered tones) and filters (auto-wah, envelope filter or talk box, etc.).

Adrenalinn does a have a few minuses-- such as no line input (guitar input only), tiny knobs and a sometimes-vexing edit interface-- but considering Adrenalinn's power and miniscule $395 retail, nothing else comes close. On guitar, bass or keys, the sounds are amazing (even otherworldly), but when the drums are routed through the superb filter effects, you're into some huge, slamming stereo grooves that nobody's ever heard--fast!

Adrenalinn inspires. Plug in, click it on and ideas start flowing. And that may be its most valuable feature.

Roger Linn Design, 510/898-4878; www.rogerlinndesign.com. --George Petersen