Sequential Circuits Founder & ‘Father Of MIDI’ Dave Smith Has Died

Sequential announced today that founder Dave Smith has died:

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Dave Smith has died.

We’re heartbroken, but take some small solace in knowing he was on the road doing what he loved best in the company of family, friends, and artists.

Dave was both the founder of Sequential Circuits, where he designed the Prophet-5, among other legendary synths, as well as the father of MIDI, the lingua franca that allows electronic music gear from different manufacturers to all work together.

via Synthtopia and CDM


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1 Comment

  1. I still have a ring binder filled with pages of notes that Dave sent me in the early 1980s when I kept asking him questions about Z-80 programming. He was probably the kindest of all the engineers I knew in the electronic music field. He had intended on being at NAMM (happening in Anaheim this weekend) as he was at Superbooth just three weeks ago showcasing his latest project, a joint venture with Tom Oberheim called the OB-X8. The loss to the music engineering world cannot be overstated. RIP Dave.

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