Dave Smith founder of Sequential Circuits has passed away

02 Jun 2022 by Robin Vincent | Approximate reading time: 3 Minutes

Dave Smith · Source: Sequential

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Sequential has released the sad news that founder and synthesizer legend Dave Smith has died at the age of 72.

Dave Smith

Dave’s contribution to the synthesizer community is huge. He’s there with the likes of Bob Moog, Tom Oberheim and Don Buchla as the American pioneers of the electronic synthesizer of the 1970s. He founded Sequential Circuits in 1974, two years after he bought his first Minimoog. By 1977 he had built probably one of the most influential synthesizers ever conceived; the Prophet 5. It was the first synthesizer to feature a microprocessor which enabled it to become the first programmable polyphonic synth.

Dave Smith 1978 · Source: Collectorsweekly

In 1981 he wrote a paper on a new technological protocol that in collaboration with Tom Oberheim and Ikutaro Kakehashi of Roland became MIDI. That’s incredible. Dave’s interest in digital technology is often forgotten as we marvel at Sequential’s analogue legacy. But after Sequential Circuits closed in 1987 he went on to work for Yamaha building physical modelling engines and then moved to Korg where he worked on the Wavestation. The thing that blows my mind is that he invented the software synth that would end up powering the Creative Labs AWE64 soundcards.

It was thrilling to see Dave return to synthesizer building in 2002 with Dave Smith Instruments. And then in a universe aligning moment in 2015, he received his original company name back from Yamaha and in 2018 became Sequential. As if to celebrate Sequential released the Rev4 of the Prophet 5 and Prophet 10 to a hugely grateful community.

Dave Smith 70th birthday · Source: Dave Smith

Just three weeks ago the synth community was thrilled to have Dave at Superbooth with the Sequential team to present his own synths and the long-awaited Oberheim OB-X8 in which he had more than a hand. He was a guy who loved to collaborate and there was such chemistry in the way he and Tom Oberheim worked together.

On a personal note, the Prophet 5 has been the one constant instrument that I have always wanted to own. There was something about the sound and physicality of that synthesizer that gathered so many sweet spots to itself. Was it the wood, the front panel, the knobs, those 5 Curtis based voices or that gorgeous 4-pole filter? Somehow the combination of those parts was greater than the whole. I loved the release of the Rev4 because it means that one day I may still own one.

I met Dave at Superbooth. He was sitting in the middle of a packed Sequential room looking intently at his phone in a way that radiates do not talk to me! So, naturally, I walked up and interrupted him. He was instantly warm and friendly and delighted that I had come up to tell him that I thought he was awesome and wanted to thank him for all his wonderful work in the world of synthesizers. We fist pumped and I let him get back to what he was doing.

Dave Smith Superbooth – seated on the right just after I ambushed him. · Source: Robin Vincent

Dave Smith was a visionary, technological wizard and a really nice bloke. We will miss him terribly.

Sequential website.

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7 responses to “Dave Smith founder of Sequential Circuits has passed away”

Bart says:

2 June 2022 at 10:33

🤍🤍🤍🤍

iixorb says:

2 June 2022 at 11:40

Barely 22 years older than I am, yet in 1977, I was in infant school learning how to read and write, whilst Dave Smith had just built one of the most iconic synths of all time.

Gone way too soon and another synth legend lost in recent weeks (including Vangelis and Andy Fletcher).

Rpdp says:

2 June 2022 at 14:11

Well put Robin, there are so many of us for whom it might have been a one-way relationship: admiring the man, yearning for the gear over many many years – but it formed a huge part of our synthy world and is a huge loss.

Tommy says:

2 June 2022 at 17:08

What a incredible man, he pushed the entire music industry with his innovations, he will be missed, but not forgotten, this is such sad news, but I wish him well in his new journey

Julian Digby Bottin says:

3 June 2022 at 05:10

How could this be!? He seemed fine not too long ago in videos. The world already feels emptier. One of, if not my favorite synth legend. This honestly has felt like the worst year in modern times, everything going on is so mentally draining and soul crushing. My condolences to the family and friends.

Julian Digby Bottin says:

3 June 2022 at 05:13

If there is a heaven, I hope you are making synths there.

Another one bites the dust.... says:

3 June 2022 at 14:18

Aw, that’s terribly sad news. Held in high regard by all synth nuts, Dave rested on his laurels, nor was he ever bitterly blindsided by his own company’s trials and tribulations. RIP Dave Smith, a great music-tech innovator.