Dave Smith, founding father of Sequential synths dies at 72

Dave Smith, the founding father of Sequential Circuits and the daddy of each MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) and the Prophet 5 synthesizer, has died on the age of 72. Smith is reported to have died of a coronary heart assault whereas attending Motion Music Competition in Detroit.

Smith is thought to be one of many trade’s most influential figures, owed not solely to Sequential, a synthesizer firm that has performed a big half in dance/digital music manufacturing {hardware} over the previous 40 years, but in addition to his pioneering efforts associated to MIDI and Prophet 5. MIDI, a protocol that helps communication between computer systems, musical devices, and different {hardware}, was developed to standardize digital music {hardware}. It stays an trade normal at this time, and in 2013, Smith was offered with the Technical Grammy Award for the event of MIDI.

Smith can be noteworthy for creating the Prophet 5, the primary totally programmable polyphonic synthesizer to make use of a microprocessor. The Prophet 5 launched in 1978 and thereafter, was utilized in Kraftwerk’s music, amongst that of different dance/digital creators.