Bad day for electronic music - from MusicTech:
Dave Smith, founder of Sequential and ‘father’ of MIDI, has died at 72
Dave Smith, the founder of Sequential and whose contributions to MIDI development were instrumental to the world of music, has died at the age of 72.
The synth pioneer’s passing was made known in a statement from Sequential, shared to its website. At press time, no cause of death was given.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Dave Smith has died,” the statement read. “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.”
Smith’s passing comes just shortly after it was announced he was collaborating with fellow engineer Tom Oberheim on a brand-new synth, the Oberheim OB-X8. The collaboration was to be the second between the two synthesis pioneers, after 2016’s OB-6.
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is used everywhere:
In 1981, he began collaborating with Tom Oberheim and Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi on a language which would allow instruments from all makes to communicate with one another. At the 1983 Winter NAMM show, that technology was unveiled as Musical Instrument Digital Interface – or MIDI for short.
Today, MIDI is ubiquitous in not only synthesizer keyboards and drum machines, but DAWs, guitar pedals, controllers, plug-ins and much more. It was the groundwork of which MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) was built, powering modern, touch-sensitive controllers such as the Roli Seaboard.
The sound of the Prophet is unique - lush. It was a very practical performance synth. He will be missed.
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