The Help Page contains lots of useful hints and tips as well as information about your download options and much more. This is always a great place to start if you have questions. Click on the arrow to read more information on each topic.
Just follow our simple guide below and you can enjoy the convenience, speed, quality and flexibility of Linn Records digital downloads. You can even download the original album artwork. This service is suitable for Mac, PC and Linux users.
All titles in the Linn Records' catalogue are available to download, even if a title is out of stock. You can download an entire album or particular tracks. If you are not sure where to start why not browse our Discover page to find out what's new? All Studio Master and CD quality albums come with a free MP3 as standard.
A 24-bit Studio Master download is the highest quality music file on the market. They have a bit depth of 24-bit, and at a sample rate of up to 192 kHz - which gives you over six times the music data you get on a CD.
Available in a choice of digital music formats, Studio Master music has the same quality as the original recording, which means it has a far higher resolution than formats such as CD or MP3.
Do you want to hear music as it sounded in the recording session? Then this format is best for you.
Studio Master FLAC downloads offer true studio quality. These lossless downloads are suitable for all computer users, but please check the compatibility of your equipment before downloading, especially for 192kHz files.
Studio Master ALAC downloads offer true studio quality. These lossless downloads are suitable for all computer users, but please check the compatibility of your equipment before downloading, especially for 192kHz files.
iTunes supports playback of 24-bit Apple Lossless (ALAC) files but iOS devices (iPad, iPhone, iPod) can currently only play 16-bit Apple Lossless (ALAC) files.
Want a download that is identical to a CD? Then this format is best for you.
FLAC files are lossless which means the audio has been compressed without any loss in audio quality so your downloads will sound just like a physical CD. You can easily burn a copy onto a CD-R.
ALAC files are lossless which means the audio has been compressed without any loss in audio quality so your downloads will sound just like a physical CD. You can easily add ALAC files to iTunes or burn a copy onto a CD-R.
Want to add music to your iPod or other portable player? Then this format is best for you. Linn offers the highest quality of MP3 possible at 320kbps.
MP3s are a type of music file that has been compressed. The benefit of MP3s is that these are very small audio files, so they're faster to download. MP3s are suitable for all computer users and most portable devices.
We recommend that you download a test file before you make a purchase. This will ensure you have chosen the correct quality and file type for your system.
Now you are ready to checkout! When you have purchased your download(s) you will be given the option to 'Download Music'. Click on this link and your download(s) will be displayed. Use the bespoke Linn Download Manager (LDM) to download multiple tracks or albums and artwork together.
Click here to visit the test files album page.
If absolute sound quality is what you want then this file is best for you.
Studio Master files are lossless at various high sample rates, for example, 44.1KHz, 48KHz, 88.2KHz, 96KHz and 192KHz (check each title for actual details). The format will be dependent on the actual recording method we used originally. These files offer true studio quality and are far higher in quality than can be achieved on CD.
Where a 192KHz Studio Master is offered, this is the true recording master. Because the majority of soundcards and some media players are only capable of playing back at sample rates of up to 96KHz, we also make a 96KHz Studio Master available for these albums so all customers can still enjoy the benefits of hi-res sound.
Please note also that the 192KHz files are approximately twice the size of a 96KHz Studio Master and may consequently take up to twice as long to download.
FLAC/ALAC files can be imported into many media players, such as any Linn DS digital music player. All the Linn DS players are fully 192KHz compatible and will be able to play these files as easily as the 88.2KHz Studio Masters.
There are many other players available: iTunes supports ALAC and Songbird, Media Monkey and Foobar support FLAC. Microsoft does not yet support high bit-rate FLAC/ALAC, so you will need to convert the files if you wish to use Windows Media Player. There is free conversion software available on the web.
Before making any download purchase is very important to check using the test files to see whether your system is compatible.
All Studio Master albums come with a free MP3 as standard.
If CD sound quality is what you want then this file is best for you.
FLAC/ALAC are lossless formats which allow us to compress the music in a lossless manner ensuring that you get all the benefit of a full bandwidth audio performance, but with a file size that is around half that of a normal CD.
FLAC/ALAC files can be imported and played on a variety of media players, such as any Linn DS digital music player. There are many other players available: iTunes supports ALAC and Songbird, Media Monkey and Foobar support FLAC. Microsoft does not yet support high bit-rate FLAC/ALAC, so you will need to convert the files if you wish to use Windows Media Player. There is free conversion software available on the web.
Before making any download purchase is very important to check by downloading our free test files to see whether your system is compatible.
All CD quality albums come with a free MP3 as standard.
This file type should work with all computer types including PC, Mac and Linux. This is similar to what most other download sites refer to as "CD" quality. In fact, what they normally mean is that the file is digital, most other compressed music delivery sites deliver very poor audio quality. The audio that we offer is compressed but only to the point that sound quality doesn't suffer unduly (320kbps compared to other sites which are 128kbps).
If the download speed of your internet connection is a concern then this file is best for you. This type of download file is the only one to consider if you have dial up, the others are much too large to download over a dial up connection.
There are thirty second sound samples available for every track on LinnRecords.com. To start listening to a track simply hover on the track and a little play button will appear. Click to listen.
The three dots to the left of the play button will reveal full track information such as soloists, conductor, orchestra etc.
If you would like to listen to longer samples all of Linn's music is available to stream on Apple Music which would give you the option to hear the tracks in full.
Visit the album page of your selected album by clicking on the title link or the album image.
You will see the option to 'Buy the album' and the price displayed in yellow. To the left of the 'Buy the album' button you will find a dropdown box with all the different qualities and file types that are available for that particular album.
Click into the dropdown to choose from options including MP3, CD Quality (FLAC or ALAC), Studio Master (FLAC or ALAC) at 192KHz, 96KHz, 88.2KHz, 48KHz or 44.1KHz. For more information on which quality level is best for you please click on the topic called 'Beginner's Guide to Choosing a Download'.
Only the options that are available for that particular album will be shown. Select the one you would like.
Click the 'Buy the album' button for your chosen quality.
The album will be added to your basket via a pop-up. All the items in your basket will be displayed.
At this point you can choose to 'Checkout' or 'Continue Shopping'.
If you wish to remove items from your basket you can do so by clicking 'My basket' and amending the quantity.
Once you have selected all your items for purchase, proceed through the checkout (for more information please click on the topic called 'Completing a Purchase') until your order is complete.
Once your payment has been accepted you will then be able to download the available artwork such as the cover, booklet or inlay, and your tracks.
You will not be charged for shipping on any download purchase.
We recommend that you use a download manager if you are downloading several tracks. This enables you to leave your computer to download all the tracks together. Otherwise you will need to download each individual track. You can use the Linn Download Manager or another of your choice (download managers are usually free and can be found by typing "download manager" into your search engine).
Visit the album page of the album from which you wish to purchase a track by clicking on the title link or the album image.
Ignore the yellow 'Buy the album' button and instead click the 'buy' button next to the track you would like to buy.
The track will be added to your basket via a pop-up. All the items in your basket will be displayed.
If you wish to remove items from your shopping cart you can do so by clicking 'My basket' and amending the quantity.
If you are purchasing downloads for the first time, please ensure that you have chosen the correct format and quality for your system by downloading the free test files.
When you have added all the music you wish to order to your basket, simply click on the 'My basket' button at the top of the screen.
This will open your basket and give you the option to 'Checkout'.
The first step asks you to complete your billing address details (this must match the address at which your payment card is registered).
The second step is the payment page.
If you have a discount code you should enter it in the appropriate box and click 'update'. If the discount code is for a free album, and you are not buying anything else, then you will not be asked for any payment information, just your name and email address.
If you are paying by card you should complete your name (which should match the name on your payment card), email address and card payment information, including card number, expiry date and security code.
If you are paying by PayPal you will be redirected to you PayPal account to complete payment.
Then complete your order by clicking the 'Pay' button.
You will receive confirmation of your order to the email address provided during checkout, or, if you paid via PayPal, the email address associated with your PayPal account.
Once your payment has been accepted you will then be able to download the cover art and your tracks.
We recommend that you use a download manager if you are downloading several tracks. This enables you to leave your computer to download all the tracks together. Otherwise you will need to download each individual track. We recommend that you use the bespoke Linn Download Manager (LDM).
We accept Mastercard, Visa Credit and American Express. You can also pay by PayPal.
We do not store any of your credit card data and in fact have no access to this data. The card transaction is handled by our credit card service provider and no credit card data is held by Linn at any time.
Payment will be taken in the same currency that is displayed, based on your location: British Pounds, Euros or US Dollars.
Linn Records discount codes can be used to obtain a discount on a purchase at LinnRecords.com.
When you receive your discount code you will be informed which titles, artists, genres and formats it applies to.
Some discount codes are valid for more than one use, while others are valid for a single use. If it is valid for a single use you should ensure you purchase all the items you want in one transaction.
Add your chosen items to your basket (keeping in mind that for the discount code to work your music must be eligible and the discount code mustn't have expired).
The second step of the checkout process (where you enter your name, email address and payment information) includes a prompt which reads 'Got a code?'. Click this before you enter any card details and you will see a box appear for you to input your discount code.
Once you have done so click update and the basket will recalculate the total due.
If the discount applied by the discount code leaves a zero total due you will not be asked for any payment details. Otherwise proceed through the checkout as normal.
Please note only one discount code can be used per transaction.
We recommend using a download manager rather than downloading your music manually, since it organises your music for you as part of the download process. The instructions below refer to manual downloading, an option which does not include the additional benefits of using a download manager. If you would rather use the Linn Download Manager (recommended) please click on the arrow entitled 'The Linn Download Manager'. You can find the Linn Download Manager (LDM) links on the footer of the homepage. There are links for Windows and Mac users. Please choose the correct one and follow the automated install process.
When you have completed your purchase you will receive an email with a link to download your music. When you click on the link a new Download tab will open and you will see all the tracks that are included on that order. You can either click 'download' on each track, or you can scroll down to the bottom of the Download tab and choose to 'download all' or 'save to dropbox'.
If you select 'download' on each track or 'download all', you will not be given an option to indicate where the downloads should be saved, so they will typically be saved in your default download location.
If you select 'save to dropbox' you will be able to select the location in your dropbox in which to save the files.
Please note that all Studio Master and CD quality albums come with a free MP3 as standard. An MP3 download will appear on the Download tab as an icon with 2 musical notes and the CD quality and Studio Master downloads will appear as an icon with a downward pointing arrow.
All lossless album downloads include the embedded sleeve artwork.
If there is additional artwork available to download, such as a booklet or inlay, you will be able to download these after your have purchased the album by visiting the album page and clicking on the link. In order for the website to recognise that you have purchased the album and are therefore entitled to download the artwork, please make sure you are logged in.
Additional artwork is not included with track purchases.
You can find the Linn Download Manager (LDM) links on the footer of the homepage. There are links for Windows and Mac users. Please choose the correct one and follow the automated install process. Please note the old Linn Download Manager will no longer work, so please delete it from your machine.
The LDM has been created to enable you to download multiple tracks, albums and sleeves together and organise your music library so that you can always find your music. Using the LDM saves time and effort in comparison to downloading each track and album sleeve individually. For this reason when downloading a full album or several tracks we recommend you use the LDM.
Once you have installed the LDM you can log in to your account. You must have firstly created and activated your Linn account. If you do not have one, you can create one here. Once you are logged in please set your 'Download Location'. The default folder is usually your Music folder, but it can be any location you wish. To update it simply click on the current location and it will open a browser window where you can select your preferred location. Once you have done so click 'OK' to save your preference.
You will see two headers: 'New Downloads' and 'Previous Downloads', plus a cloud type symbol which allows you to download 'All Available' downloads with one click.
You can also choose to download only certain tracks or albums at a time by selecting each one and then using the download selector at the bottom of the app.
If you do not see your new downloads immediately just hit 'Refresh' at the top of the app to refresh the list.
If you cannot access your music in this way it is likely because you have used up your download allowance or you are trying to download a purchase made before November 2018. In either of these cases we can simply re-set your download for you. To ask for a re-set please contact us at info@linnrecords.com.
You can access a missing track in one of two ways. You can use the download link which was included in your order email or you can use the Linn Download Manager (LDM) and find what you are looking for in 'Previous Downloads'.
A new website calls for a new password. Don't worry if you've got your current password memorized, you can use the same one again, but the first time you log in you will need to reset your password by clicking on 'Forgot Your Password?'. If you prefer you can use this opportunity to create a new uncrackable password worthy of protecting all your favourite music!
Have you noticed our new Discover page? This is where you can discover new music and artists, watch the latest videos and keep up to date with exclusive content created especially for LinnRecords.com.