Jump to content

Sequential (company): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
→2015–present: Return to Sequential and Focusrite acquisition: Removed specific day not relevant for readability
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit
 
(37 intermediate revisions by 14 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American synthesizer company}}
{{short description|American synthesizer company}}
{{distinguish|Sequential circuit}}
{{distinguish|Sequential circuit}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Sequential
| name = Sequential
Line 16: Line 17:
| logo = Sequential-Logo-Black.png
| logo = Sequential-Logo-Black.png
}}
}}
'''Sequential''' is an American [[synthesizer]] company founded in 1974 as '''Sequential Circuits''' by [[Dave Smith (engineer)|Dave Smith]]. In 1978, Sequential released the [[Prophet-5]], the first programmable [[Polyphony and monophony in instruments|polyphonic]] synthesizer, used by artists including [[Michael Jackson]], [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], and [[John Carpenter]]. In the 1980s, Sequential was pivotal in the development of [[MIDI]], a [[technical standard]] for synchronizing electronic instruments.
'''Sequential''' is an American [[synthesizer]] company founded in 1974 as '''Sequential Circuits''' by [[Dave Smith (engineer)|Dave Smith]]. In 1978, Sequential released the [[Prophet-5]], the first programmable [[Polyphony and monophony in instruments|polyphonic]] synthesizer, which was widely used in the music industry. In the 1980s, Sequential was important in the development of [[MIDI]], a [[technical standard]] for synchronizing electronic instruments.


In 1987, Sequential went out of business and was purchased by [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]]. Smith continued to develop instruments through a new company, '''Dave Smith Instruments'''. In 2015, Yamaha returned the Sequential Circuits trademark to Dave Smith Instruments, which rebranded as Sequential in 2018. In 2021, Sequential was acquired by the British audio technology company [[Focusrite]].
In 1987, Sequential went out of business and was purchased by [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]]. Smith continued to develop instruments through a new company, '''Dave Smith Instruments'''. In 2015, Yamaha returned the Sequential Circuits trademark to Dave Smith Instruments, which rebranded as Sequential in 2018. In 2021, Sequential was acquired by the British audio technology company [[Focusrite]]. Smith died in 2022.


== History ==
== History ==
[[File:Dave Smith at Sequential booth - 2 - 2015 NAMM Show (cropped).jpg|thumb|Sequential founder [[Dave Smith (engineer)|Dave Smith]] in 2015]]
[[File:Dave Smith at Sequential booth - 2 - 2015 NAMM Show (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Sequential founder [[Dave Smith (engineer)|Dave Smith]] in 2015]]


=== 1974–1980: Founding, first products and Prophet-5 ===
=== 1974–1980: Founding, first products and Prophet-5 ===
The engineer [[Dave Smith (engineer)|Dave Smith]] founded Sequential Circuits in San Francisco in 1974.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Gentile |first=Dan |date=2022-06-05 |title=San Francisco musical pioneer dies at 72 |url=https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/San-Francisco-synthesizer-designer-Dave-Smith-obit-17215048.php |access-date=2022-06-05 |website=SFGATE |language=en-US}}</ref> The first Sequential Circuits product was an analog [[Sequencer (musical instrument)|sequencer]] for use with [[Moog synthesizer|Moog]] and [[ARP Instruments|ARP]] synthesizers, followed by a digital [[Music sequencer|sequencer]] and the Model 700 Programmer, which allowed users to [[Programming (music)|program]] Minimoog and [[ARP 2600]] synthesizers.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2013-06-11 |title=Dave Smith in his own words |url=http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/dave-smith-in-his-own-words/149095 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611201044/http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/dave-smith-in-his-own-words/149095 |archive-date=2013-06-11 |access-date=2018-10-17 |website=[[Keyboard (magazine)|Keyboard]]}}</ref> The Model 800, launched in 1975, was controlled and programmed with a [[microprocessor]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Oxford Handbook of Computer Music|last=Dean|first=Roger T.|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-533161-5|date=2009|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=AuwvREYWOMEC&pg=PA58 58]|chapter=Hardware Digital Synthesizers and How They Developed|quote=''in 1975 the newly established company Sequential Circuits had, as one of its first products, an analog CV sequencer controlled and programmed with a microprocessor.''}}</ref>
The engineer [[Dave Smith (engineer)|Dave Smith]] founded Sequential Circuits in San Francisco in 1974.<ref name="Gentile2022">{{Cite web |last=Gentile |first=Dan |date=2022-06-05 |title=San Francisco musical pioneer dies at 72 |url=https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/San-Francisco-synthesizer-designer-Dave-Smith-obit-17215048.php |access-date=2022-06-05 |website=SFGATE |language=en-US}}</ref> The first Sequential Circuits product was an analog [[Sequencer (musical instrument)|sequencer]] for use with [[Moog synthesizer|Moog]] and [[ARP Instruments|ARP]] synthesizers, followed by a digital [[Music sequencer|sequencer]] and the Model 700 Programmer, which allowed users to [[Programming (music)|program]] [[Minimoog]] and [[ARP 2600]] synthesizers.<ref name="Keyboard_June2013">{{Cite web |last=Preve |first=Francis |date=23 July 2012 |title=Dave Smith in his own words |url=http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/dave-smith-in-his-own-words/149095 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611201044/http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/dave-smith-in-his-own-words/149095 |archive-date=2013-06-11 |access-date=2018-10-17 |website=[[Keyboard (magazine)|Keyboard]]}}</ref> The Model 800, launched in 1975, was controlled and programmed with a [[microprocessor]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Oxford Handbook of Computer Music|last=Dean|first=Roger T.|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-533161-5|date=2009|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=AuwvREYWOMEC&pg=PA58 58]|chapter=Hardware Digital Synthesizers and How They Developed|quote=in 1975 the newly established company Sequential Circuits had, as one of its first products, an analog CV sequencer controlled and programmed with a microprocessor.}}</ref>


[[Image:SCI Prophet 5.jpg|thumb|The Prophet-5 (1978), the first Sequential synthesizer]]At the time, Smith had a full-time job working with microprocessors, then a new technology. He conceived the idea of combining them with synthesizer chips to create a programmable synthesizer, but did not pursue the idea, assuming Moog or ARP would design the instrument first.<ref name=":1" /> When no instrument emerged, in early 1977, he quit his job to work full-time on a design for the [[Sequential Circuits Prophet-5|Prophet-5]], the first fully programmable [[Polyphony and monophony in instruments|polyphonic]] synthesizer. He demonstrated it at [[NAMM Show|NAMM]] in January 1978 and shipped the first models later that year.<ref name=":1" />
[[Image:SCI Prophet 5.jpg|thumb|The Prophet-5 (1978), the first Sequential synthesizer. The specific model pictured above is the "Rev 3", first released in 1980.]]At the time, Smith had a full-time job working with microprocessors, then a new technology. He conceived the idea of combining them with synthesizer chips to create a programmable synthesizer, but did not pursue the idea, assuming Moog or ARP would design the instrument first.<ref name="Keyboard_June2013" /> When no instrument emerged, in early 1977, Smith quit his job to work full-time on a design for the [[Sequential Circuits Prophet-5|Prophet-5]], the first fully programmable [[Polyphony and monophony in instruments|polyphonic]] synthesizer. He demonstrated it at the [[NAMM Show|NAMM International Music & Sound Expo]] in January 1978 and shipped the first models later that year.<ref name="Keyboard_June2013" />


Whereas previous synthesizers required users to adjust cables and knobs to change sounds, with no guarantee of exactly recreating a sound,<ref name="Analog Days">{{cite book|last1=Pinch|first1=Trevor|title=Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer|last2=Trocco|first2=Frank|date=2004|publisher=[[Harvard University Press]]|isbn=978-0-674-01617-0}}</ref> the Prophet-5 used [[Microprocessor|microprocessors]] to store sounds in patch memory.<ref name=":23">{{Cite news|date=2016-09-15|title=The 14 most important synths in electronic music history – and the musicians who use them|language=en-US|work=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]|url=http://www.factmag.com/2016/09/15/14-most-important-synths/|access-date=2018-10-17}}</ref> This facilitated a move from synthesizers creating unpredictable sounds to producing "a standard package of familiar sounds".{{r|group=|Analog Days|p=385|q1=||}} The Prophet-5 became a market leader and industry standard,<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2016-09-15 |title=The 14 most important synths in electronic music history – and the musicians who use them |language=en-US |work=FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. |url=http://www.factmag.com/2016/09/15/14-most-important-synths/ |access-date=2018-10-17}}</ref> used by pop and hip hop musicians such as [[Michael Jackson]], [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], and [[Dr. Dre|Dr Dre]], and by film composers such as [[John Carpenter]].<ref name=":2" /> It was followed by the larger Prophet-10, which was less successful as it was notorious for unreliability.<ref name="Reid 1999">{{cite web|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar99/articles/retroprophet.htm|title=Sequential Circuits – Prophet Synthesizers 5 & 10 (Retro)|last=Reid|first=Gordon|date=March 1999|work=[[Sound on Sound]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203065241/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar99/articles/retroprophet.htm|archive-date=3 February 2016|access-date=January 23, 2015}}</ref> The smaller Pro-One, essentially a monophonic Prophet-5,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1994_articles/mar94/sequentialpro1.html|title=SCI Pro1|date=March 1994|work=Sound on Sound|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607055913/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1994_articles/mar94/sequentialpro1.html|archive-date=7 June 2015}}</ref> saw more success.<ref name=":2" />
Whereas previous synthesizers required users to adjust cables and knobs to change sounds, with no guarantee of exactly recreating a sound,<ref name="Analog Days">{{cite book|last1=Pinch|first1=Trevor|title=Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer|last2=Trocco|first2=Frank|date=2004|publisher=[[Harvard University Press]]|isbn=978-0-674-01617-0}}</ref> the Prophet-5 used microprocessors to store sounds in patch memory.<ref name="FACT2016_2">{{Cite news|date=2016-09-15|title=The 14 most important synths in electronic music history – and the musicians who use them|language=en-US|work=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]|url=http://www.factmag.com/2016/09/15/14-most-important-synths/|access-date=2018-10-17}}</ref> This facilitated a move from synthesizers creating unpredictable sounds to producing "a standard package of familiar sounds".{{r|group=|Analog Days|p=385|q1=||}} The Prophet-5 became a market leader and industry standard,<ref name="FACT2016">{{Cite news |date=2016-09-15 |title=The 14 most important synths in electronic music history – and the musicians who use them |language=en-US |work=FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. |url=http://www.factmag.com/2016/09/15/14-most-important-synths/ |access-date=2018-10-17}}</ref> used by musicians such as [[Michael Jackson]], [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], and [[Dr. Dre|Dr Dre]], and by film composers such as [[John Carpenter]].<ref name="FACT2016" /> It was followed by the larger Prophet-10, which featured two keybeds and was less successful as it was notorious for unreliability.<ref name="Reid 1999">{{cite web|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar99/articles/retroprophet.htm|title=Sequential Circuits – Prophet Synthesizers 5 & 10 (Retro)|last=Reid|first=Gordon|date=March 1999|work=[[Sound on Sound]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203065241/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar99/articles/retroprophet.htm|archive-date=3 February 2016|access-date=January 23, 2015}}</ref> The smaller Pro-One, essentially a monophonic Prophet-5,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1994_articles/mar94/sequentialpro1.html|title=SCI Pro1|date=March 1994|work=Sound on Sound|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607055913/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1994_articles/mar94/sequentialpro1.html|archive-date=7 June 2015}}</ref> saw more success.<ref name="FACT2016" />


=== 1981–1982: MIDI ===
=== 1981–1982: MIDI ===
{{Main|MIDI}}[[Image:SCI Prophet 600 (angled).jpg|thumb|Prophet 600 (1982), the first Sequential Circuits synthesizer with MIDI functionality]]
{{Main|MIDI}}[[Image:SCI Prophet 600 (angled).jpg|thumb|Prophet 600 (1982), the first Sequential Circuits synthesizer with MIDI functionality]]
In 1981, [[Ikutaro Kakehashi]], founder of the Japanese synthesizer company [[Roland Corporation|Roland]], contacted Smith about creating a [[Standardization|standardized]] means of synchronizing electronic instruments manufactured by different companies.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|url=http://www.factmag.com/2017/04/02/ikutaro-kakehashi-life/|title=The life and times of Ikutaro Kakehashi, the Roland pioneer modern music owes everything to|date=2017-04-02|work=FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.|access-date=2018-09-06|language=en-US}}</ref> Smith and Sequential engineer Chet Wood designed an interface using Roland's [[Digital Control Bus]] (DCB) as a basis.<ref name=":15">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IbtJAgAAQBAJ&q=%22mark+vail%22+808&pg=PT72|title=Keyboard Presents the Evolution of Electronic Dance Music|last=Kirn|first=Peter|date=2011|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-1-61713-446-3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201235744/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IbtJAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT72&lpg=PT72&dq=%22mark+vail%22+808&source=bl&ots=dOOpEyQGfI&sig=nPF6yAIeQlupw3Pw0Drg6LE34r4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwir3b7qhsfRAhUFJcAKHfSNCyMQ6AEIHzAB#v=onepage&q=%22mark%20vail%22%20808&f=false|archive-date=1 February 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> This standard was discussed and modified by representatives of Roland, Yamaha, Korg, and Kawai.<ref name="chadab5100">{{cite journal|last=Chadabe|first=Joel|author-link=Joel Chadabe|date=1 May 2000|title=Part IV: The Seeds of the Future|url=http://www.emusician.com/gear/0769/the-electronic-century-part-iv-the-seeds-of-the-future/145415|url-status=dead|journal=Electronic Musician|publisher=Penton Media|volume=XVI|issue=5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928230435/http://www.emusician.com/gear/0769/the-electronic-century-part-iv-the-seeds-of-the-future/145415|archive-date=28 September 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Holmes">Holmes, Thom. ''Electronic and Experimental Music: Pioneers in Technology and Composition''. New York: Routledge, 2003</ref>{{rp|20|date=November 2012}} The protocol was named [[MIDI|Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)]]<ref name="Huber 1991">{{cite book|title=The MIDI Manual|last=Huber|first=David Miles|date=1991|publisher=SAMS|isbn=9780672227578|location=Carmel, Indiana|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/midimanual00hube}}</ref>{{rp|4|date=November 2012}} and unveiled by Kakehashi and Smith, who received [[Technical Grammy Award|Technical Grammy Awards]] in 2013 for their work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/news/technical-grammy-award-ikutaro-kakehashi-and-dave-smith|title=Technical GRAMMY Award: Ikutaro Kakehashi And Dave Smith|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822073641/http://www.grammy.com/news/technical-grammy-award-ikutaro-kakehashi-and-dave-smith|archive-date=22 August 2016|url-status=live|access-date=31 August 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/videos/technical-grammy-award-recipients-ikutaro-kakehashi-and-dave-smith-at-special-merit-awards|title=Ikutaro Kakehashi, Dave Smith: Technical GRAMMY Award Acceptance|date=9 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209022049/http://www.grammy.com/videos/technical-grammy-award-recipients-ikutaro-kakehashi-and-dave-smith-at-special-merit-awards|archive-date=9 December 2014|url-status=live|access-date=31 August 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Synthesizer|last1=Vail|first1=Mark|date=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-539481-8|location=New York|page=56}}</ref> In 1982, Sequential released the Prophet 600, one of the first MIDI-equipped synthesizers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Colbeck |first1=Julian |title=Keyfax Omnibus Edition |date=1996 |publisher=MixBooks |location=Emeryville, California, United States |isbn=0-918371-08-2 |page=124}}</ref>[[File:Sequential Circuits synths rack.jpg|thumb|Various Sequential products from the late 1970s to the early 1980s]]
In 1981, [[Ikutaro Kakehashi]], the founder of the Japanese synthesizer company [[Roland Corporation|Roland]], contacted Smith about creating a [[Standardization|standardized]] means of synchronizing electronic instruments manufactured by different companies.<ref name="FACT2017">{{Cite news|url=http://www.factmag.com/2017/04/02/ikutaro-kakehashi-life/|title=The life and times of Ikutaro Kakehashi, the Roland pioneer modern music owes everything to|date=2017-04-02|work=FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.|access-date=2018-09-06|language=en-US}}</ref> Smith and the Sequential engineer Chet Wood designed an interface using Roland's [[Digital Control Bus]] (DCB) as a basis.<ref name="Kirn2011">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IbtJAgAAQBAJ&q=%22mark+vail%22+808&pg=PT72|title=Keyboard Presents the Evolution of Electronic Dance Music|last=Kirn|first=Peter|date=2011|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-1-61713-446-3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201235744/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IbtJAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT72&lpg=PT72&dq=%22mark+vail%22+808&source=bl&ots=dOOpEyQGfI&sig=nPF6yAIeQlupw3Pw0Drg6LE34r4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwir3b7qhsfRAhUFJcAKHfSNCyMQ6AEIHzAB#v=onepage&q=%22mark%20vail%22%20808&f=false|archive-date=1 February 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> This standard was discussed and modified by representatives of Roland, Yamaha, Korg, and Kawai.<ref name="chadab5100">{{cite magazine|last=Chadabe|first=Joel|author-link=Joel Chadabe|date=1 May 2000|title=Part IV: The Seeds of the Future|url=http://www.emusician.com/gear/0769/the-electronic-century-part-iv-the-seeds-of-the-future/145415|url-status=dead|magazine=Electronic Musician|publisher=Penton Media|volume=XVI|issue=5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928230435/http://www.emusician.com/gear/0769/the-electronic-century-part-iv-the-seeds-of-the-future/145415|archive-date=28 September 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Holmes">Holmes, Thom. ''Electronic and Experimental Music: Pioneers in Technology and Composition''. New York: Routledge, 2003</ref>{{rp|20|date=November 2012}} The protocol was named [[MIDI|Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)]]<ref name="Huber 1991">{{cite book|title=The MIDI Manual|last=Huber|first=David Miles|date=1991|publisher=SAMS|isbn=9780672227578|location=Carmel, Indiana|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/midimanual00hube}}</ref>{{rp|4|date=November 2012}} and unveiled by Kakehashi and Smith, who received [[Technical Grammy Award]]s in 2013 for their work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/news/technical-grammy-award-ikutaro-kakehashi-and-dave-smith|title=Technical GRAMMY Award: Ikutaro Kakehashi And Dave Smith|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822073641/http://www.grammy.com/news/technical-grammy-award-ikutaro-kakehashi-and-dave-smith|archive-date=22 August 2016|url-status=live|access-date=31 August 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/videos/technical-grammy-award-recipients-ikutaro-kakehashi-and-dave-smith-at-special-merit-awards|title=Ikutaro Kakehashi, Dave Smith: Technical GRAMMY Award Acceptance|date=9 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209022049/http://www.grammy.com/videos/technical-grammy-award-recipients-ikutaro-kakehashi-and-dave-smith-at-special-merit-awards|archive-date=9 December 2014|url-status=live|access-date=31 August 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Synthesizer|last1=Vail|first1=Mark|date=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-539481-8|location=New York|page=56}}</ref> In 1982, Sequential released the Prophet 600, one of the first MIDI-equipped synthesizers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Colbeck |first1=Julian |title=Keyfax Omnibus Edition |date=1996 |publisher=MixBooks |location=Emeryville, California, United States |isbn=0-918371-08-2 |page=124}}</ref> In 1984, they released the [[Drumtraks]], one of the first [[drum machine]]s with MIDI control.<ref name="mz210-mono-mode">{{cite magazine |last=Wiffen |first=Paul |date=Dec 1986 |title=Mono Mode |url=https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/mono-mode/210 |access-date=2024-02-28 |magazine=Music Technology |publisher=[[Music Maker Publications]] (UK), [[Future Publishing]] |location=United Kingdom |pages=79–81}}</ref>
[[File:Sequential Circuits synths rack.jpg|thumb|220px|Various Sequential products [top to bottom]<ul>
<li>PRO-ONE (1981)<ref name=DaveSmith/>
<li>Model 700 Programmer (1976)<ref name=DaveSmith/>
<li>Prophet-5 (1978)<ref name=DaveSmith/>
<li>Prophet T8 (1983)<ref name=DaveSmith>{{cite web |title=About Dave Smith|url=https://www.sequential.com/about-dave-smith/ |website=Sequential.com |date=2023-04-12}}</ref></ul>]]

=== 1987: Closure ===
=== 1987: Closure ===
In 1987, Sequential Circuits went out of business. Smith blamed the decision to move to computer audio in 1985: "We were too small and under-capitalized, and we were a few years too early in the market ... It drained our resources, so by the time we pulled back to professional instruments, it was too late."<ref name=":1" /> Sequential Circuits was purchased by the Japanese corporation [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]]; Yamaha shut it down in 1989,<ref name=":1" /> and released no products under its name.<ref name=":0" /> Smith moved to [[Korg]], where he worked mainly on the [[Korg Wavestation|Wavestation]] synthesizer.<ref name=":1" />
In 1987 Sequential Circuits released their final product, the Prophet 3000 digital sampler.<ref name=sos-retrozone-p3000>{{cite web|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/sequential-prophet-3000-retrozone|title=Sequential Prophet 3000 [Retrozone]|work=[[Sound on Sound]]|first=Robert|last=Alexander|date=October 2000|access-date=2023-06-12}}</ref> Only several dozen units were produced before the company went out of business. Smith blamed the closure on the decision to move to computer audio in prior years: "We were too small and under-capitalized, and we were a few years too early in the market ... It drained our resources, so by the time we pulled back to professional instruments, it was too late."<ref name="Keyboard_June2013" />

Sequential Circuits was purchased by the Japanese corporation [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]]. They released no products under the Sequential name and shut it down in 1989,<ref name="Keyboard_June2013" /><ref name="FACT2017" /> following the failure of the [[Yamaha TX16W|TX16W]] digital sampler.<ref name="sos-retrozone-p3000" /> Smith and much of the development team moved to [[Korg]], where they worked mainly on the [[Korg Wavestation|Wavestation]] synthesizer.<ref name="Keyboard_June2013" /><ref name="sos-retrozone-p3000" />


=== 2002–2014: Dave Smith Instruments ===
=== 2002–2014: Dave Smith Instruments ===
In 2002, after several years working on [[Software synthesizer|software synthesis]], Smith opened a new company, Dave Smith Instruments, to build new hardware. Its first product was the [[Evolver (synthesizer)|Evolver]] synthesizer in 2002.<ref name=":1" /> In 2008, Dave Smith Instruments launched the [[Prophet '08]], conceived as an affordable eight-voice analog synthesizer.<ref name=":1" />
In 2002, after several years of working on [[Software synthesizer|software synthesis]], Smith opened a new company, Dave Smith Instruments, to build new hardware. Its first product was the [[Evolver (synthesizer)|Evolver]] synthesizer in 2002.<ref name="Keyboard_June2013" /> In 2008, Dave Smith Instruments launched the [[Prophet '08]], conceived as an affordable eight-voice analog synthesizer.<ref name="Keyboard_June2013" />


=== 2015–present: Return to Sequential and Focusrite acquisition ===
=== 2015–present: Return to Sequential and Focusrite acquisition ===
In January 2015, Yamaha returned the Sequential Circuits brands to Smith in a goodwill gesture. This was at the encouragement of Kakehashi, who had worked with Smith to create MIDI. Kakehashi said: "I feel that it’s important to get rid of unnecessary conflict among electronic musical instrument companies. That is exactly the spirit of MIDI. For this reason, I personally recommended that the President of Yamaha, Mr. Nakata, return the rights to the Sequential name to Dave Smith."<ref>{{cite journal |title=Yamaha Returns Sequential Brand to Dave Smith |journal=Music Trades |date=March 2015 |volume=163 |issue=2 |page=30}}</ref>
In January 2015, Yamaha returned the Sequential Circuits brands to Smith in a goodwill gesture. This was at the encouragement of Kakehashi, who had worked with Smith to create MIDI. Kakehashi said: "I feel that it's important to get rid of unnecessary conflict among electronic musical instrument companies. That is exactly the spirit of MIDI. For this reason, I personally recommended that the President of Yamaha, Mr. Nakata, return the rights to the Sequential name to Dave Smith."<ref>{{cite journal |title=Yamaha Returns Sequential Brand to Dave Smith |journal=Music Trades |date=March 2015 |volume=163 |issue=2 |page=30}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Prophet-6}}
⚫
In 2015, Sequential released the Prophet-6,<ref name="Keyboard_October2018">{{Cite news|url=https://www.keyboardmag.com/gear/review-sequential-prophet-6-analog-synth|title=Review: Sequential Prophet-6 Analog Synth|work=KeyboardMag|access-date=2018-10-20|language=en-us}}</ref> followed in 2018 by the Prophet-X, which featured [[Sampling (music)|sample]] playback and digitally controlled oscillators.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/news/dave-smith-reveals-sequential-prophet-x|title=Dave Smith reveals Sequential Prophet X {{!}}|website=www.soundonsound.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-10-20}}</ref> On August 31, 2018, the 40th anniversary of the Prophet-5, Dave Smith Instruments rebranded as Sequential.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/42428|title=Dave Smith Instruments rebrands as Sequential|work=Resident Advisor|access-date=2018-10-20}}</ref> In September 2020, Sequential announced an updated reissue of the original Prophet-5.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rogerson|first=Ben|date=October 2020|title=Sequential announces a new Prophet-5, a faithful reboot of one of the greatest synths of all time|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/sequential-announces-a-new-prophet-5-a-faithful-reboot-of-one-of-the-greatest-synths-of-all-time|access-date=2020-11-27|website=[[MusicRadar]]|language=en}}</ref> Sequential reported revenues of $18.3 million in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-27|title=In tune: Synth makers Sequential snapped up by Focusrite for £18m as revenues grow|url=https://www.cityam.com/sequential-snapped-up-by-focusrite-for-18m-after-strong-turnover/|access-date=2021-04-27|website=CityAM|language=en-GB}}</ref> In April 2021, Sequential was acquired by the British audio technology company [[Focusrite]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-27 |title=Focusrite acquires Dave Smith-led synth-maker, Sequential |url=https://www.musictech.com/news/industry/focusrite-acquires-analogue-synth-powerhouse-sequential/ |access-date=2021-04-27 |website=MusicTech |language=en-GB}}</ref>


Smith died on May 31, 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |date=2022-06-08 |title=Dave Smith, Whose Synthesizers Shaped Electronic Music, Dies at 72 |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/08/arts/music/dave-smith-dead.html |access-date=2023-06-12 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
⚫
In 2015, Sequential released the Prophet-6,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.keyboardmag.com/gear/review-sequential-prophet-6-analog-synth|title=Review: Sequential Prophet-6 Analog Synth|work=KeyboardMag|access-date=2018-10-20|language=en-us}}</ref> followed in 2018 by the Prophet-X, which featured [[Sampling (music)|sample]] playback and digitally controlled oscillators.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/news/dave-smith-reveals-sequential-prophet-x|title=Dave Smith reveals Sequential Prophet X {{!}}|website=www.soundonsound.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-10-20}}</ref> On August 31, 2018, the 40th anniversary of the Prophet-5, Dave Smith Instruments rebranded as Sequential.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/42428|title=Dave Smith Instruments rebrands as Sequential|work=Resident Advisor|access-date=2018-10-20}}</ref> On September 30, 2020, Sequential announced an updated reissue of the original Prophet-5.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rogerson|first=Ben|date=October 2020|title=Sequential announces a new Prophet-5, a faithful reboot of one of the greatest synths of all time|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/sequential-announces-a-new-prophet-5-a-faithful-reboot-of-one-of-the-greatest-synths-of-all-time|access-date=2020-11-27|website=[[MusicRadar]]|language=en}}</ref> Sequential reported revenues of $18.3 million in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-27|title=In tune: Synth makers Sequential snapped up by Focusrite for £18m as revenues grow|url=https://www.cityam.com/sequential-snapped-up-by-focusrite-for-18m-after-strong-turnover/|access-date=2021-04-27|website=CityAM|language=en-GB}}</ref> On 27 April 2021, Sequential announced that it had been acquired by the British audio technology company [[Focusrite]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-27|title=Focusrite acquires Dave Smith-led synth-maker, Sequential|url=https://www.musictech.com/news/industry/focusrite-acquires-analogue-synth-powerhouse-sequential/|access-date=2021-04-27|website=MusicTech|language=en-GB}}</ref> Smith died in June 2022.<ref name=":3" />


==References==
==References==
Line 58: Line 70:
[[Category:Synthesizer manufacturing companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Synthesizer manufacturing companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Yamaha Corporation]] <!-- former owner -->
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1974]]
[[Category:Electronics companies established in 1974]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in California]]
[[Category:1987 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2021 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:American brands]]

Latest revision as of 12:27, 26 October 2024

Not to be confused with Sequential circuit.

Sequential
Formerly
  • Sequential Circuits
  • Dave Smith Instruments
Founded1974; 50 years ago (1974)
Headquarters1527 Stockton Street
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Key people
Dave Smith (founder)
ProductsSynthesizers
BrandsProphet
ParentFocusrite
Websitesequential.com

Sequential is an American synthesizer company founded in 1974 as Sequential Circuits by Dave Smith. In 1978, Sequential released the Prophet-5, the first programmable polyphonic synthesizer, which was widely used in the music industry. In the 1980s, Sequential was important in the development of MIDI, a technical standard for synchronizing electronic instruments.

In 1987, Sequential went out of business and was purchased by Yamaha. Smith continued to develop instruments through a new company, Dave Smith Instruments. In 2015, Yamaha returned the Sequential Circuits trademark to Dave Smith Instruments, which rebranded as Sequential in 2018. In 2021, Sequential was acquired by the British audio technology company Focusrite. Smith died in 2022.

History

[edit]
Sequential founder Dave Smith in 2015

1974–1980: Founding, first products and Prophet-5

[edit]

The engineer Dave Smith founded Sequential Circuits in San Francisco in 1974.[1] The first Sequential Circuits product was an analog sequencer for use with Moog and ARP synthesizers, followed by a digital sequencer and the Model 700 Programmer, which allowed users to program Minimoog and ARP 2600 synthesizers.[2] The Model 800, launched in 1975, was controlled and programmed with a microprocessor.[3]

The Prophet-5 (1978), the first Sequential synthesizer. The specific model pictured above is the "Rev 3", first released in 1980.

At the time, Smith had a full-time job working with microprocessors, then a new technology. He conceived the idea of combining them with synthesizer chips to create a programmable synthesizer, but did not pursue the idea, assuming Moog or ARP would design the instrument first.[2] When no instrument emerged, in early 1977, Smith quit his job to work full-time on a design for the Prophet-5, the first fully programmable polyphonic synthesizer. He demonstrated it at the NAMM International Music & Sound Expo in January 1978 and shipped the first models later that year.[2]

Whereas previous synthesizers required users to adjust cables and knobs to change sounds, with no guarantee of exactly recreating a sound,[4] the Prophet-5 used microprocessors to store sounds in patch memory.[5] This facilitated a move from synthesizers creating unpredictable sounds to producing "a standard package of familiar sounds".[4]: 385  The Prophet-5 became a market leader and industry standard,[6] used by musicians such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Dr Dre, and by film composers such as John Carpenter.[6] It was followed by the larger Prophet-10, which featured two keybeds and was less successful as it was notorious for unreliability.[7] The smaller Pro-One, essentially a monophonic Prophet-5,[8] saw more success.[6]

1981–1982: MIDI

[edit]
Main article: MIDI
Prophet 600 (1982), the first Sequential Circuits synthesizer with MIDI functionality

In 1981, Ikutaro Kakehashi, the founder of the Japanese synthesizer company Roland, contacted Smith about creating a standardized means of synchronizing electronic instruments manufactured by different companies.[9] Smith and the Sequential engineer Chet Wood designed an interface using Roland's Digital Control Bus (DCB) as a basis.[10] This standard was discussed and modified by representatives of Roland, Yamaha, Korg, and Kawai.[11][12]: 20  The protocol was named Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)[13]: 4  and unveiled by Kakehashi and Smith, who received Technical Grammy Awards in 2013 for their work.[14][15][16] In 1982, Sequential released the Prophet 600, one of the first MIDI-equipped synthesizers.[17] In 1984, they released the Drumtraks, one of the first drum machines with MIDI control.[18]

Various Sequential products [top to bottom]
  • PRO-ONE (1981)[19]
  • Model 700 Programmer (1976)[19]
  • Prophet-5 (1978)[19]
  • Prophet T8 (1983)[19]

1987: Closure

[edit]

In 1987 Sequential Circuits released their final product, the Prophet 3000 digital sampler.[20] Only several dozen units were produced before the company went out of business. Smith blamed the closure on the decision to move to computer audio in prior years: "We were too small and under-capitalized, and we were a few years too early in the market ... It drained our resources, so by the time we pulled back to professional instruments, it was too late."[2]

Sequential Circuits was purchased by the Japanese corporation Yamaha. They released no products under the Sequential name and shut it down in 1989,[2][9] following the failure of the TX16W digital sampler.[20] Smith and much of the development team moved to Korg, where they worked mainly on the Wavestation synthesizer.[2][20]

2002–2014: Dave Smith Instruments

[edit]

In 2002, after several years of working on software synthesis, Smith opened a new company, Dave Smith Instruments, to build new hardware. Its first product was the Evolver synthesizer in 2002.[2] In 2008, Dave Smith Instruments launched the Prophet '08, conceived as an affordable eight-voice analog synthesizer.[2]

2015–present: Return to Sequential and Focusrite acquisition

[edit]

In January 2015, Yamaha returned the Sequential Circuits brands to Smith in a goodwill gesture. This was at the encouragement of Kakehashi, who had worked with Smith to create MIDI. Kakehashi said: "I feel that it's important to get rid of unnecessary conflict among electronic musical instrument companies. That is exactly the spirit of MIDI. For this reason, I personally recommended that the President of Yamaha, Mr. Nakata, return the rights to the Sequential name to Dave Smith."[21]

In 2015, Sequential released the Prophet-6,[22] followed in 2018 by the Prophet-X, which featured sample playback and digitally controlled oscillators.[23] On August 31, 2018, the 40th anniversary of the Prophet-5, Dave Smith Instruments rebranded as Sequential.[24] In September 2020, Sequential announced an updated reissue of the original Prophet-5.[25] Sequential reported revenues of $18.3 million in 2020.[26] In April 2021, Sequential was acquired by the British audio technology company Focusrite.[27]

Smith died on May 31, 2022.[28]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Gentile, Dan (June 5, 2022). "San Francisco musical pioneer dies at 72". SFGATE. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Preve, Francis (July 23, 2012). "Dave Smith in his own words". Keyboard. Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  3. ^ Dean, Roger T. (2009). "Hardware Digital Synthesizers and How They Developed". The Oxford Handbook of Computer Music. Oxford University Press. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-19-533161-5. in 1975 the newly established company Sequential Circuits had, as one of its first products, an analog CV sequencer controlled and programmed with a microprocessor.
  4. ^ a b Pinch, Trevor; Trocco, Frank (2004). Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01617-0.
  5. ^ "The 14 most important synths in electronic music history – and the musicians who use them". Fact. September 15, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "The 14 most important synths in electronic music history – and the musicians who use them". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. September 15, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  7. ^ Reid, Gordon (March 1999). "Sequential Circuits – Prophet Synthesizers 5 & 10 (Retro)". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on February 3, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  8. ^ "SCI Pro1". Sound on Sound. March 1994. Archived from the original on June 7, 2015.
  9. ^ a b "The life and times of Ikutaro Kakehashi, the Roland pioneer modern music owes everything to". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. April 2, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  10. ^ Kirn, Peter (2011). Keyboard Presents the Evolution of Electronic Dance Music. Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1-61713-446-3. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017.
  11. ^ Chadabe, Joel (1 May 2000). "Part IV: The Seeds of the Future". Electronic Musician. Vol. XVI, no. 5. Penton Media. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012.
  12. ^ Holmes, Thom. Electronic and Experimental Music: Pioneers in Technology and Composition. New York: Routledge, 2003
  13. ^ Huber, David Miles (1991). The MIDI Manual. Carmel, Indiana: SAMS. ISBN 9780672227578.
  14. ^ "Technical GRAMMY Award: Ikutaro Kakehashi And Dave Smith". Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  15. ^ "Ikutaro Kakehashi, Dave Smith: Technical GRAMMY Award Acceptance". 9 February 2013. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  16. ^ Vail, Mark (2014). The Synthesizer. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-19-539481-8.
  17. ^ Colbeck, Julian (1996). Keyfax Omnibus Edition. Emeryville, California, United States: MixBooks. p. 124. ISBN 0-918371-08-2.
  18. ^ Wiffen, Paul (December 1986). "Mono Mode". Music Technology. United Kingdom: Music Maker Publications (UK), Future Publishing. pp. 79–81. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d "About Dave Smith". Sequential.com. April 12, 2023.
  20. ^ a b c Alexander, Robert (October 2000). "Sequential Prophet 3000 [Retrozone]". Sound on Sound. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  21. ^ "Yamaha Returns Sequential Brand to Dave Smith". Music Trades. 163 (2): 30. March 2015.
  22. ^ "Review: Sequential Prophet-6 Analog Synth". KeyboardMag. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  23. ^ "Dave Smith reveals Sequential Prophet X |". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  24. ^ "Dave Smith Instruments rebrands as Sequential". Resident Advisor. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  25. ^ Rogerson, Ben (October 2020). "Sequential announces a new Prophet-5, a faithful reboot of one of the greatest synths of all time". MusicRadar. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  26. ^ "In tune: Synth makers Sequential snapped up by Focusrite for £18m as revenues grow". CityAM. April 27, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  27. ^ "Focusrite acquires Dave Smith-led synth-maker, Sequential". MusicTech. April 27, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  28. ^ Pareles, Jon (June 8, 2022). "Dave Smith, Whose Synthesizers Shaped Electronic Music, Dies at 72". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 12, 2023.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Pogan, Chuck (November–December 1981). "Instrument Review: The Pro-One". Polyphony. Vol. 7, no. 3. p. 32. ISSN 0163-4534. OCLC 1090378445.
  • "Sequential Circuits Pro One". Music Technology. Vol. 4, no. 11. October 1990. p. 22. ISSN 0957-6606. OCLC 24835173.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Sequential_(company)&oldid=1253519144"