In a personal video message that complements the announcement, Dave Smith says he intends to stay with the company and focus on developing synthesizers, which is what he knows and likes to do. But why did he sold the company that took him so long to rebuild since the decision to sell the original Sequential Circuits to Yamaha in the mid eighties?
According to the joint-announcement, both companies stand to benefit from the synergy created by the acquisition. The Focusrite Group will add the venerable Sequential line of instruments to its already-impressive portfolio of products, which includes Focusrite, Martin Audio, Optimal Audio, ADAM Audio, and Novation, also a synthesizer company, well positioned in the musical instruments world. Also, as the announcement says, Sequential will benefit from greater resources to expand its global markets and future R&D efforts.
But Dave Smith’s company is based in San Francisco where he has easy access to venture capital and could have easily found a great management team to lead the daily business operations while he could focus on R&D and creativity. That doesn’t explain the decision to give up his hard-earned independence by selling to a remote British company. Apparently he has seen something there, or they simply offered him a check big enough to refuse.
“With Focusrite, we’ve found an ideal home and a perfect cultural and technological fit. Phil Dudderidge and his team have a long history of quality, vision, and focus on what musicians and audio professionals really want. We’re excited to join such an industry powerhouse and contribute to our mutual success. I expect great things,” Dave Smith says.
Sequential has been a leading force in the resurgent popularity of analog synthesizers over the last decade. Its instruments, which include the Prophet 5 Rev4 polyphonic synth, Pro 3 hybrid monosynth, and Prophet X Samples + Synthesis keyboard, are known for their versatility, ease of use, and excellence of sound. They are a mainstay of performing and recording artists and can be seen and heard on countless stages and recordings.
“We’re excited and pleased to add Sequential’s instruments and pedigree to Focusrite Group’s portfolio of world-class audio and music production tools. Dave Smith’s history as an innovator speaks for itself. From his creation of the world’s first fully programmable polysynth, the Prophet 5, to his co-invention of MIDI, Dave has literally changed the world of music several times. We’re looking forward to continuing his history of innovation and expanding the global market for Sequential’s instruments,” Focusrite founder Phil Dudderidge comments.
Under the terms of the agreement, Sequential has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Focusrite plc. Sequential’s day-to-day operations and product development remain unchanged and will continue to be guided by Dave Smith and his team. Only the analog synthesizers will be rebranded as analogue synthesizers.
Tim Carroll, CEO of Focusrite Group, remarks: “Sequential is a premium analog synth brand with a big stake in music creation. The products are exceptional and the company is run extremely well, and the passion of the people at Sequential aligns perfectly with our Focusrite Group ethos. It’s tremendously exciting to be able to bring Sequential into the Focusrite family, further the incredible journey that Dave Smith started, and keep growing together.”
The Focusrite Group trades under seven brands: Focusrite, Focusrite Pro, Martin Audio, Optimal Audio, ADAM Audio, Novation and Ampify Music. Focusrite and Focusrite Pro offer audio interfaces and other products for recording musicians, producers and professional audio facilities. ADAM Audio are what is left of the professional monitoring company founded in Berlin and made famous for its ART ribbon tweeter. Martin Audio is a respected professional audio and sound reinforcement powerhouse. Optimal Audio is the new brand created by Focusrite for commercial audio applications. Novation and Ampify products are used in the creation of electronic music, from synthesizers and grooveboxes to industry-shaping controllers and inspirational music-making software and apps. Ampify the company that sounds like a spelling mistake is a music software business born out of Novation, focusing on music creation tools.
Sequential was originally launched in 2002 as Dave Smith Instruments. Dave’s many accomplishments include the creation of the Prophet 5 — the world’s first fully programmable polyphonic synthesizer — and his legacy as the primary driving force behind MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface).
www.focusriteplc.com | www.sequential.com
