Dave Smith, Synthesizer Pioneer and “Father of MIDI,” Has Died at 72 – EDM.com
Dave Smith, a trailblazer in synth design revered because the “father of MIDI,” has died on the age of 72.
Sequential, the synthesizer design firm Smith based, introduced his dying earlier this week in an announcement shared by way of social media.
“We’re heartbroken, however take some small solace in figuring out he was on the highway doing what he beloved finest within the firm of household, pals, and artists,” Sequential wrote.
Maybe Smith’s most impactful creation was the Prophet-5. Inbuilt 1978 whereas Smith was in his twenties, the Prophet-5 broke floor on two fronts: it was the primary synth with an embedded microprocessor and the primary totally programmable polyphonic synth.
Previous to the invention of the Prophet-5, synths concerned manually adjusting cables and knobs with no method of reproducing precise settings. By storing patches in reminiscence by way of microprocessors, Smith’s innovation empowered musicians to reliably recreate sounds. The Prophet-5 set the usual for poly synths, and over 50 years later, most proceed to take design inspiration from it.
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Other than this crowning achievement in analog synth innovation, Smith additionally made a mark in digital music expertise.
In 1982, annoyed by an absence of normal communication between several types of synths, Smith labored with Tom Oberheim, Ikutaro Kakehashi of Roland and representatives from Korg, Yamaha and Kawai to develop a standard communication protocol for computer systems and synthesizers from various producers. Smith dubbed the protocol “MIDI” (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) and created the primary MIDI synth later that 12 months, the Prophet-600. The next 12 months, on the January 1983 NAMM present, the Prophet-600 and a Roland Jupiter 6 have been efficiently linked and carried out collectively. It marked the primary time synthesizers from completely different producers built-in with one another.
MIDI revolutionized the craft of digital music manufacturing, standing robust because the “common language for digital devices” to this present day. It’s the explanation a myriad of DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations), controllers and keyboards can seamlessly combine with one another. Smith, alongside Kakehashi, received the Technical Grammy in 2013 for his or her work bringing MIDI to life.
Smith’s synths impacted generations of musicians throughout the gamut, like Dr. Dre, Radiohead, Madonna, Michael Jackson and John Carpenter. However trendy digital dance music producers owe lots to Smith’s creations too. Many have taken to social media to pay tribute, like Flying Lotus, Richie Hawtin, Nina Kraviz, Skream and extra.
The Sequential crew has opened an email inbox for all to share ideas and reminiscences. We at EDM.com specific our honest condolences to the household, followers, pals, and family members of Dave Smith.