The Focusrite Group Acquire Sequential

US Dave Smith's synth brand will continue business as usual as a separate entity 27/04/21

Breaking news today: We've been hearing rumours for a couple of months now that Sequential were in negotiations to sell - and today we finally find out who the new owners are. We confess, that it wasn't any of the people we'd flagged up, but hey it still looks like a good fit. Focusrite, already having plenty of their own synth history through the Novation brand, will now have a much expanded offering of instruments, though there is some crossover with the Summit and Peak polyphonic instruments. We wonder if there will be some cross-pollination between the ranges, although the two businesses will operate independently.

Here's the official word:

Sequential, Dave Smith's legendary synthesizer brand, has been acquired by Focusrite plc.

Sequential's synths have made a huge impact in music for decades, and continue to inspire music makers all over the world. Instruments such as the classic Prophet 5 -- the world's first fully programmable polysynth, designed by Dave Smith and launched in 1977 -- and the futuristic Pro 3 hybrid monosynth, which combines analogue and digital in a powerful paraphonic instrument, show Sequential's dedication to the craft of synthesizer design.

Sequential will operate as a separate entity to the other brands in Focusrite Group, and will continue business as usual. Operationally, Sequential will retain its existing company structure, with Dave Smith leading engineering, product development and mentorship of Sequential's new breed of designers.

Commenting on the news, Focusrite's Executive Chairman Phil Dudderidge said, "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 Smith 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."

Sequential's Dave Smith commented, "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."

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