Dave Smith (engineer)
Encyclopedia
Dave Smith is an engineer and guitarist who pioneered many groundbreaking technologies in music technology. Smith was responsible for the first polyphonic and microprocessor-controlled synthesizer, the Prophet 5. He is also commonly referred to as the "Father of MIDI" due to his involvement in the development of the Musical Instrument Digital Interface
(MIDI) specification, which went on to become a standard interface protocol, not only for modern electronic keyboards and synthesizers, but also for recording and pro audio equipment. It was also Smith who introduced the concept of multitimbrality for electronic instruments.
, one of the most successful music synthesizer manufacturers of the time. In 1977, he designed the Prophet 5, the world's first microprocessor-based musical instrument and also the first programmable polyphonic synth, a functionality adopted by virtually all synthesizer designs ever since.
In 1981 Smith started developing the idea of MIDI. He presented a paper outlining the idea of a Universal Synthesizer
Interface (USI) to the Audio Engineering Society
in 1981 after meetings with Tom Oberheim and Roland
's Ikutaro Kakehashi
. The plan was to create a standard communications protocol between electronic instruments and equipment from different manufacturers around the world. The result was MIDI. MIDI was first publicly demonstrated at the Winter NAMM Show
in 1983, when a Sequential Circuits Prophet-600 was successfully connected to a Roland Jupiter-6
. In 1987 he was named a Fellow of the Audio Engineering Society
(AES) for his continuing work in the area of music synthesis.
After Sequential, Smith was President of DSD, Inc, a Research and Development Division of Yamaha
, where he worked on physical modeling synthesis and software synthesizer
concepts. In May 1989 he started the Korg
R&D group in California, which went on to produce the innovative and commercially successful Wavestation
synthesizer and other technology.
Smith went on to serve as President at Seer Systems
and developed the world's first software based synthesizer running on a PC
. This synth, commissioned by Intel, was demonstrated by Andy Grove in a Comdex keynote speech in 1994. The second generation of this software synthesizer sold over 10 million copies, as a result of being licensed to Creative Labs in 1996; it was responsible for 32 of the 64 voices in Creative Labs' AWE 64 line of soundcards.
The third generation of Smith's software synthesizer, now named Reality, was the world's first fully professional software synthesizer, and was released in 1997. Dave was both the lead engineer on Reality, and wrote all the low-level optimized floating point synthesis code. Reality was the recipient of a 1998 Editors' Choice Award, and earned Electronic Musician Magazine's highest possible rating.
Currently Dave is designing hardware instruments again with the Evolver
, Poly Evolver
, and recently released Prophet '08
and Mopho synthesizers from his new company, Dave Smith Instruments. He is currently collaborating with Roger Linn
(the inventor of the first drum machine
to use digital samples) to release a new drum machine utilizing analog synthesis called the Tempest.
Prophet '08'
Evolver and Evolver Keyboard
Poly Evolver Keyboard
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
MIDI is an industry-standard protocol, first defined in 1982 by Gordon Hall, that enables electronic musical instruments , computers and other electronic equipment to communicate and synchronize with each other...
(MIDI) specification, which went on to become a standard interface protocol, not only for modern electronic keyboards and synthesizers, but also for recording and pro audio equipment. It was also Smith who introduced the concept of multitimbrality for electronic instruments.
History
Smith has degrees in both Computer Science and Electronic Engineering from UC Berkeley. In the mid-'70s, he founded Sequential CircuitsSequential Circuits
Sequential Circuits Inc. was a California-based synthesizer company that was founded in the early 1970s by Dave Smith and sold to Yamaha Corporation in 1987. The company, throughout its lifespan, pioneered many groundbreaking technologies and design principles that are often taken for granted in...
, one of the most successful music synthesizer manufacturers of the time. In 1977, he designed the Prophet 5, the world's first microprocessor-based musical instrument and also the first programmable polyphonic synth, a functionality adopted by virtually all synthesizer designs ever since.
In 1981 Smith started developing the idea of MIDI. He presented a paper outlining the idea of a Universal Synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
Interface (USI) to the Audio Engineering Society
Audio Engineering Society
Established in 1948, the Audio Engineering Society draws its membership from amongst engineers, scientists, other individuals with an interest or involvement in the professional audio industry. The membership largely comprises engineers developing devices or products for audio, and persons working...
in 1981 after meetings with Tom Oberheim and Roland
Roland
Roland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
's Ikutaro Kakehashi
Ikutaro Kakehashi
is an engineer, an entrepreneur, the founder of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments.-Biography:During the 1950s, Ikutaro Kakehashi, repaired electronic organs and created new prototype organs, all the while running an electrical appliance shop...
. The plan was to create a standard communications protocol between electronic instruments and equipment from different manufacturers around the world. The result was MIDI. MIDI was first publicly demonstrated at the Winter NAMM Show
NAMM Show
The NAMM Show is one of the largest music product trade shows in the world, founded in 1901. It is held every January in Anaheim, California, USA, at the Anaheim Convention Center...
in 1983, when a Sequential Circuits Prophet-600 was successfully connected to a Roland Jupiter-6
Roland Jupiter-6
The Roland Jupiter-6 is a synthesizer manufactured by the Roland Corporation introduced in 1983 as a less expensive alternative to the Roland Jupiter-8. The Jupiter-6 is widely considered a workhorse among polyphonic analog synthesizers, capable of producing a wide variety of sounds, such as...
. In 1987 he was named a Fellow of the Audio Engineering Society
Audio Engineering Society
Established in 1948, the Audio Engineering Society draws its membership from amongst engineers, scientists, other individuals with an interest or involvement in the professional audio industry. The membership largely comprises engineers developing devices or products for audio, and persons working...
(AES) for his continuing work in the area of music synthesis.
After Sequential, Smith was President of DSD, Inc, a Research and Development Division of Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
, where he worked on physical modeling synthesis and software synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
concepts. In May 1989 he started the Korg
Korg
is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
R&D group in California, which went on to produce the innovative and commercially successful Wavestation
Korg Wavestation
The Korg Wavestation is a vector synthesis synthesizer first produced in the early 1990s and later re-released as a software synthesizer in 2004. Its primary innovation was Wave Sequencing, a method of multi-timbral sound generation in which different PCM waveform data are played successively,...
synthesizer and other technology.
Smith went on to serve as President at Seer Systems
Seer Systems
Seer Systems developed the world’s first commercial software synthesizer in the early 1990’s. Working in conjunction with Intel, then Creative Labs, and finally as an independent software developer and retailer, Seer helped lay the groundwork for a major shift in synthesis technology: using...
and developed the world's first software based synthesizer running on a PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
. This synth, commissioned by Intel, was demonstrated by Andy Grove in a Comdex keynote speech in 1994. The second generation of this software synthesizer sold over 10 million copies, as a result of being licensed to Creative Labs in 1996; it was responsible for 32 of the 64 voices in Creative Labs' AWE 64 line of soundcards.
The third generation of Smith's software synthesizer, now named Reality, was the world's first fully professional software synthesizer, and was released in 1997. Dave was both the lead engineer on Reality, and wrote all the low-level optimized floating point synthesis code. Reality was the recipient of a 1998 Editors' Choice Award, and earned Electronic Musician Magazine's highest possible rating.
Currently Dave is designing hardware instruments again with the Evolver
Evolver (synthesizer)
The Evolver is an analog-digital hybrid synthesizer designed by Dave Smith and manufactured by Dave Smith Instruments. It was first released as a desktop version in 2002, then later a 37-key keyboard bearing the same synth engine as the Evolver desktop was also released...
, Poly Evolver
Evolver (synthesizer)
The Evolver is an analog-digital hybrid synthesizer designed by Dave Smith and manufactured by Dave Smith Instruments. It was first released as a desktop version in 2002, then later a 37-key keyboard bearing the same synth engine as the Evolver desktop was also released...
, and recently released Prophet '08
Prophet '08
The Prophet '08 is a polyphonic analog synthesizer created by Dave Smith of St. Helena, California, USA, for Dave Smith Instruments , released in late 2007...
and Mopho synthesizers from his new company, Dave Smith Instruments. He is currently collaborating with Roger Linn
Roger Linn
Roger Linn is an industrial designer, mainly of electronic drum machines, and has recently branched out into guitar effects pedals. His products have become underground hits, being used on many famous recordings...
(the inventor of the first drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
to use digital samples) to release a new drum machine utilizing analog synthesis called the Tempest.
Awards
Dave Smith- Induction into the TECnology Hall of Fame at the AES show by Mix Foundation in September 2005.
- Received (AES) Fellowship Award in 1987, which is given to a member who had rendered conspicuous service or is recognized to have made a valuable contribution to the advancement in or dissemination of knowledge of audio engineering or in the promotion of its application in practice.
Prophet '08'
- Key Buy Award (Keyboard Magazine, November 2007)
- Muzikmesse International Press (MIPA) Award, March 2008
- Musiciplayers WIHO Award (2008)
Evolver and Evolver Keyboard
- Key Buy Award (Keyboard Magazine, March 2003)
- Key Buy Award (Keyboard Magazine, August 2006)
- Musicplayers WIHO Award (2006)
Poly Evolver Keyboard
- Future Music 2006 Ace Award
- TEC AwardTEC AwardsThe TEC Awards is an annual program recognizing the achievements of audio professionals. The awards are given to honor technically innovative products as well as companies and individuals who have excelled in sound for television, film, recordings and concerts...
nomination (Mix Magazine, 2006) Technical Excellence & Creativity in the category of Outstanding Technical Achievement, Musical Instrument Technology. - Synthesizer Of The Year Award (Electronic Musician Magazine, 2006)
- "Most psychedelic electronic instrument 2005" (Psychedelickitchen.org, 2005)
External links
- 2006 audio interview: Sequential Circuits, Korg, Yamaha, soft synths, and his new Evolver synths.
- Dave Smith: The father of MIDI — interview with Smith, from MacMusic
- Dave Smith Instruments