Artifact Details

Title

Smith, Dave oral history

Catalog Number

102746585

Type

Document

Description

Dave Smith begins his oral history interview by discussing his early life and interest in music. He attended the University of Calfornia, Berkeley where he studied and earned his degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Uninspired by his initial work in aerospace engineering with Lockheed Corporation, he discovered and bought a Minimoog synthesizer. Smith states that this purchase is what launched him on his career in the design and creation of musical instruments. Throughout his oral history, Smith discusses the important developments in synthesizers, including his own innovations with the polyphonic synthesizer. He also describes the development of MIDI, or the Musical Instrument Digital Interface, and its importance in the music industry. Mr. Smith’s interview concludes with a discussion of his recent and current work in his company, Dave Smith Instruments.

Date

2012-10-29

Contributor

Bochannek, Alex, Interviewer
Dennis, Eric, Videographer
Nelson, Lauren, Editor
Plutte, Jon, Director
Radzik, Gene, Interviewer
Smith, Dave, Interviewee

Publisher

Computer History Museum

Place of Publication

Dolby Laboratories Inc., San Francisco, California

Extent

20 p.

Format

PDF

Category

Transcription

Subject

Dave Smith Instruments; Musical Instruments Digital Interface (MIDI); Prophet-5; Prophet-10; Moog Music, Inc.; National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM); ARP Instruments, Inc.; CMOS; Prophet VS; Atari ST; Tempest; Mopho

Collection Title

Oral history collection

Lot Number

X6702.2013