Roger Linn Design LinnStrument 128

I have not tried the LinnStrument with 200 keys, but the 128 is good enough and with a much more affordable price. The LinnStrument can truly provide full expressivity with pressure and X/Y sensors, and is easier to learn (for absolute beginners) than a keyboard layout or a guitar. The LinnStrument has become my main instrument. If you do the math, the 200-key LinnStrument only gives you 9 more notes than the 128-key LinnStrument, so I don't feel like I'm missing out something. Roger Linn treats you well, he's open to direct communication over email, and you get the feeling also with his hand written signature on the instrument, the custom-made bag, and the free content you get with BitWig 8-track, and the open source firmware. The only small disappointment I have with the LinnStrument is that the keys have virtually no "travel", so it often feels like pressing on a hard surface. And it's also a bit disappointing that very low-velocity keys are not detected, so it's less sensitive than (for instance) a touchscreen. That doesn't remove the glory of the instrument, though, it's just room for improvement. I am very satisfied with this purchase.

It still sort of mystifies me that there aren't lots more companies making controllers like this, but, while that's the case, I'm glad the Linnstrument exists.

It does look strangely like it was made 30-40 years ago, even though it's sort of an instrument from the future, but I find the simplicity of the build a huge advantage, because it suggests it will be a lot easier to fix in the long term. It's also nice to know that there's already a large community of people making accessories and modifications for the Linnstrument.

I'm personally about to modify mine slightly, by putting some small plastic rods in the indents between the pads to eliminate the "fret noise" that otherwise often happens when I play slides, but on the other hand, those indents can be very handy when playing sounds that don't have continuous pitch control.

The MIDI specs are fairly basic, but that's because it is primarily a musical instrument, not a general-purpose controller. If you want to do things significantly different from playing music with it, you'll need some sort of MIDI routing device or software, but then one would assume you'd need that anyway.

It's an isomorphic keyboard with a customisable row offset (I prefer 6 semitones over the default string-instrument 5, faster to get used to after a piano keyboard)
Very good vertical and horizontal precision and velocity sensitivity, pressure sensitivity is good
Actuation is instant, the "pads" do not move
Very sturdy
With a tiny bit of midi routing and copying, can be used with full polyphonic expression with any synth
The lights can be changed with CC or you can change the firmware yourself (it's open source)
Very useful pitch quantisation modes inbuilt or you can play "fretless"
Has a fancy step sequencer inbuilt
Well cushioned carry bag with detachable shoulder strap included
Comes with Bitwig 8-track after registration.

Cons: It's expensive; only 3 notes in a vertical column can be played

Linnstrument was the first non-keyboard controller I fell in love with, after around two decades of playing MIDI keyboards and bass - and historically, one of the earlier MPE controllers together with Roli Seaboard, but some time after Haken Continuum.

You get quite a non-pliable / hard rubbery surface with slight give, that has quite small pad-like squares that allow you to eg. stretch your fingers for big chords and easily do two-handed playing, surprising sensitivity for XYZ expression from per-note pitch slides to modulating parameters with each finger separately, and plenty of MIDI features from splits to sequencing. The low profile design means you aren't straining your wrists, and you get both normal DIN MIDI and class compliant USB MIDI, so in practise it'll be never obsolete.

I first bought and owned the full size, then the 128, and since then I'm now using Ableton Push 3 Standalone as it's similar sensitivity and includes built in sound engines. I still kind of miss the Linnstruments for their range and think of buying one again one day. They're brilliant instruments paired with a good MPE sound source - whether hardware or software.