The Story Behind the 3rd Wave Synth - Interview with Bob Coover

video upload by Music Journey with Paul

"The Story Behind the 3rd Wave Synth - Interview with Bob Coover

Robert Coover, founder of Groove Synthesis and the mind behind the 3rd Wave synthesizer, shares the story of how this instrument came to life at Superbooth 2025 event in Berlin.

In this 9-minute interview he talks about:
working with Dave Smith at Sequential,
why he wanted to revive the iconic PPG Wave sound,
how four synthesis methods (wavetable, analog, FM, sampling) came together in the 3rd Wave,
the challenges of creating a high-end synth as a small team,
the evolution from the keyboard version to the desktop module,
what’s next for Groove Synthesis – a new product so unique it may even get a patent.

💡 If you’re into synth history, sound design, or want to know what drives independent makers to create instruments at this level – this is for you.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:23 Working with Dave Smith at Sequential
02:07 The ambition behind the 3rd Wave
03:57 The start of Bob's career
04:38 The launch of the 3rd Wave and Groove Synethesis
05:28 3rd Wave Keyboard and Desktop
06:28 Expanding the 3rd Wave with sampling
07:19 About the built-in sequencer
08:15 The new mystery product coming in 2026!"

Did Moog ruin synths? Suzanne Ciani reveals analog's original sin.

video upload by SpectreVision Radio and Phantom Power Podcast

"Today we talk to modular synth pioneer Suzanne Ciani and MIT Spatial Sound Lab researcher Kamran V. Suzanne and Kamran both love quadraphonic sound, and they have a new quad release coming out on June 4th called Ciani/Orkest. They are on a mission to make quadraphonic music accessible to both musicians and to listeners, and in this interview, Kamran will explain how, you, with no special equipment, can listen to their new album in quad.
We'll also get into how analog synthesizers actually work, the early history of Buchla synths versus Moog synths, why Suzanne thinks keyboards diminish the potential of synths, and how Suzanne designed some of the most recognizable sounds of the 1980s.
Suzanne Ciani is a Grammy Award nominated composer, electronic musician, and neoclassical recording artist who has released over 20 solo albums, including Seven Waves and The Velocity of Love. Her work has been featured in Hollywood films, video games, and countless commercials. She was inducted into the first class of keyboard magazine's Hall of Fame, alongside Bob Moog, Don Buchla, and Dave Smith. And she was the subject of the feature documentary, A Life in Waves.
Kamran V is an arts technologist and MIT Spatial Sound Lab researcher, and he's a National Endowment for the Arts grant recipient. He's worked at Interscope Records, produced immersive music releases for Nine Inch Nails, Sting, and Beck, and he ran the music tech fest, Moogfest. He's also on the board of Dub Lab.

Cited Media:

Music & Albums:
⁠Suzanne Ciani - Ciani/Orkest (2025)⁠⁠Suzanne Ciani - Live Quadraphonic (2016)⁠⁠Suzanne Ciani - The Velocity of Love (1986)⁠⁠Suzanne Ciani - Seven Waves (1982)⁠⁠Wendy Carlos - Switched-On Bach (1968)⁠⁠Stevie Wonder - Talking Book (1972)⁠⁠The Rentals⁠
Film & TV:
⁠3-2-1 Contact, PBS (1980–1988)⁠⁠Brett Whitcomb - A Life in Waves (2017)⁠⁠Suzanne Ciani on David Letterman (1980)⁠
Events & Festivals:
⁠Moogfest⁠⁠AES Convention⁠⁠Amsterdam Dance Event⁠⁠NAMM⁠
Tools & Plugins:
⁠Kamran V - QUARK Plugin (free)⁠
Record Labels & Archives:
⁠Finders Keepers Records⁠

Chapters:

0:00 Intro
5:45 Meet the Guests
6:28 Sound Design & Commercials
13:45 High Art vs Low Culture
19:03 Ciani Orkest
24:42 Moog vs Buchla
26:36 How Modular Synths Work
36:15 Quadrophonic Sound
45:13 The QUARK Plugin
50:24 Seven Waves"

The Noiseblast Hour, Episode 14: Drum & Lace

video upload by Noise Engineering

"Sofia Hultquist is an established and accomplished solo artist as Drum & Lace. She is also a film score composer who has a pretty impressive list of credits. She'll perform a set for us, followed by a conversation about how she got into music, film scoring, and what advice she has for anyone interested in taking that route in their music career."

Links to Drum & Lace:
Bandcamp: https://drumandlace.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drumandlace
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1dq0Q...
Website: http://www.drumandlacemusic.com/
Natura, debut album by Drum & Lace: https://pitp.bandcamp.com/album/natura

You can find an interview with Sofia Hultquist and Dave Smith Instruments from 2016 here.

Dave Smith (Sequential Circuits) - Waveshaper TV Ep.21

video upload by Waveshaper Media

"In 2014, we had the privelege of interviewing legendary synthesizer designer Dave Smith of Sequential Circuits, who passed away on Sunday May 29 2020. This interview has never been released. We present it in its unedited form, the day after the public announcement his passing. R.I.P. (1950-2022)."

Synth legends talk at Superbooth 2022

video upload by Sound On Sound magazine

"Synth legends Dave Smith & Marcus Ryle at Superbooth 2022

SOS grab some downtime to interview two legends of the industry. Sequential's Dave Smith and Oberheim's Marcus Ryle.

More info here. https://oberheim.com/

Apologies for the poor audio quality on Marcus Ryle's mic."

SYNTHFEST UK 2020 GEOSynths Interview with Dave Smith

Prophet 5 video upload by GEOSynths

Soundmit & Museo del Synth 2021 - Virtual Edition - DAY 1

video upload by SOUNDMIT

Dave Smith interview about an hour and a half in. Note the video is a live feed running over 6 hours as of this post. You can use the player controls to get to the beginning and scroll around.

"SOUNDMIT & MUSEO DEL SYNTH MARCHIGIANO Edizione 2021

13 e 14 Novembre • On-Line

PROGRAMMA ONLINE:
IT https://soundmit.com/it/programma
EN: https://soundmit.com/en/schedule

SoundMit e Museo del Synth Marchigiano e Italiano, per la prima volta insieme nella nuova edizione della fiera/evento internazionale dedicata agli strumenti elettronici.

Dopo i grandi successi delle ultime edizioni le due realtà italiane attive su diversi, molteplici fronti nel mondo delle musica elettronica, uniscono le forze per dar vita ad una inedita collaborazione, un'edizione on-line articolata su un programma ricchissimo che ne armonizza le diverse anime dando nuova linfa ad una cooperazione che dura da alcuni anni.

In questa nuova edizione, SoundMit e Museo del Synth presenteranno una successione di eventi in streaming per connettere e raccontare passato, presente e futuro del suono elettronico: showcase, live, interviste, pillole formative e dimostrazioni saranno dedicate ai protagonisti dell'industria musicale contemporanea e alla riscoperta dello storico patrimonio italiano del mondo dei sintetizzatori vintage."

Googlish:

"SoundMit and Museum of the Marchigiano and Italian Synth, together for the first time in the new edition of the international fair / event dedicated to electronic instruments.

After the great successes of the last editions, the two Italian realities active on different, multiple fronts in the world of electronic music, join forces to give life to an unprecedented collaboration, an online edition articulated on a very rich program that it harmonizes the different souls giving new life to a cooperation that has lasted for some years.

In this new edition, SoundMit and Museo del Synth will present a succession of events in streaming to connect and tell the past, present and future of electronic sound: showcases, lives, interviews, training pills and demonstrations will be dedicated to the protagonists of the contemporary music industry and to the rediscovery of the historic Italian heritage of the world of vintage synthesizers."

Sequential Joins the Focusrite Team Interview with Dave Smith & Tim Carroll

video by Sweetwater Sweetwater

"Sequential has joined the Focusrite team! Mitch Gallagher is joined by Sequential founder Dave Smith and Focusrite CEO Tim Carroll to talk about the acquisition."

0:00​ - Intro
0:34​ - How Did this Partnership Form?
5:16​ - What Does the Future Hold?
9:45​ - Any New Products You Can Tease for Us?
12:20​ - Thanks for Watching!

SOUNDMIT 2020 - Dave Smith - Interview with the Prophet of the Silicon Valley

SOUNDMIT

"At Soundmit 2020, we had the honor and the pleasure of interviewing Dave Smith, the true Prophet of Silicon Valley who, interviewed by Felice Manzo, told us some curious anecdotes about the new prophet and his story.

►WEB: http://www.sequential.com"

Sequential In The Spotlight Interview with Patrik FK of Kommunity FK

You can find the interview on Sequential's website here.

"Patrik FK, founder/composer/shapeshifter of the highly influential Amerikan Deathrock/Gothic Rock group Kommunity FK, is a multi-instrumentalist, electronic, avant art-rock solo artist and composer who is creating within a genre that he refers to as “Avant Synth Pop Minimalism.”

“I only apply synthesizers to my sonic creations. No guitars are allowed within the making of my music. I compose all of my songs instrumentally first, then reflect on how the result evokes my inner feelings and thoughts. I improvise and just follow my muse. I draw from the DaDaists, Surrealists, and German Expressionists, which have been and influence since my childhood together with my own inner visions.”

Mata performs with a Sequential Mopho x4, drum loops, and drum machines. Patrik performs all vocals as well. No MIDI is used in the design of his music. His synth comes from a blessed endorsement given to him by Dave Smith Instruments in the mid-2000s.

We chatted with Patrik about how he uses the Mopho x4 in his music"

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You can find previous posts featuring Sequential's Spotlight series here.

Sequential Founder Dave Smith Talks About the Pro 3 Monosynth

Published on Jan 21, 2020 synthandsoftware

"In an exclusive interview with Synth and Software, pioneering synth designer Dave Smith discusses the new Sequential Pro 3 monophonic synthesizer and other topics.

For more information, visit online at https://www.sequential.com"

NAMM 2020: Sequential Pro 3 Sounds & Dave Smith Interview

Published on Jan 17, 2020 Perfect Circuit

Funny intro by Dave Smith. :) Anyone that's been to NAMM knows how hectic it can be.

"Straight from NAMM 2020, we take a look at the Sequential Pro 3.

Dave Smith himself gives us an overview of Sequential's newest monosynth, quickly revealing that there is much more to this instrument than first meets the eye.

The Pro 3 is the newest in a long line of amazing monosynths from Sequential, following in the footsteps of the Pro-1 and Pro-2. Like its predecessors, the Pro 3 features a remarkably robust modulation section, enabling the creation of complex tapestries of sound. When combined with the internal effects, 16-track sequencer, arpeggiator, and the option for three-note paraphonic behavior, the Pro 3 can be basically whatever synth you want it to be.

Two VCOs, a wavetable oscillator, three classic filter types, CV/Gate I/O, and a world's worth of modulation make the Pro 3 one of the most exciting announcements at NAMM this year.

Pro 3 Standard available here: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/sequen...

Pro 3 SE available here: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/sequen...

#PerfectCircuit #NAMM2020 #Sequential"

Grid Kids with Nicholas Semrad - #10 - Dave Smith and Andrew McGowan of Sequential

Published on Dec 27, 2019 Nicholas Semrad

"In this tenth episode of 'Grid Kids with Nicholas Semrad', Nicholas interviews the inventor of polyphonic synthesis and midi Mr. Dave Smith and his cohort over at Sequential, Mr. Andrew McGowan. They chat about the early years over at Sequential, their favorite synth patches and synth tips, and their thoughts on the usage of synths within the music community.

Produced in collaboration with "Charts and Leisure" (www.chartsandleisure.com)"

Dave Smith & Andrew McGowan interview.

NAMM 2019: Interview with Dave Smith of Sequential

Published on Jan 26, 2019 CatSynth TV

"We chat with Dave Smith of Sequential at NAMM 2019.

He shows us the new Prophet XL and we talk about evolving and the company's change from "Dave Smith Instruments" to Sequential.

For more information and Sequential's full instrument catalog, please visit www.sequential.com

For more NAMM 2019 coverage, please subscribe to this channel and visit www.catsynth.com"

Sequential In The Spotlight Interview With Caspar Hesselager

You can find an interview on Sequential's website here.

"Caspar Hesselager is a classically-trained pianist working with a wide range of genres. He works in Copenhagen as a composer, producer, and pianist, as well as a mixing and mastering engineer, and has worked with a great many Danish bands in genres ranging from free-jazz to pop, indie-rock, and techno. He has recorded and released music as a solo artist under the moniker My Heart the Brave and currently works with Australian-native singer/guitarist Carl Coleman on their joint venture, Palace Winter. Having just released their second album, “Nowadays,” Palace Winter have received praise from The New York Times, NME, The Guardian, KEXP, KCRW, The Line of Best Fit, BBC 6 Music, Guy Garvey (Elbow), and Elton John on his Beats 1 show. Caspar has also composed music for radio, TV, and film, as well as having played hundreds of shows across Europe and Denmark as a synth player."

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Note, Sequential was formally Dave Smith Instruments. You can find previous posts featuring Dave Smith Instruments's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments In The Spotlight With the REV2 and SHANNON HEMMETT

You can find the full interview on DSI's website here.

"Shannon Hemmett is a musician and graphic artist from Vancouver, Canada. She plays synth and sings backing vocals in Vancouver post-punk/darkwave band ACTORS and is the lead vocalist for her own darkwave/dream-pop project, LEATHERS. ACTORS’ modern take on post-punk is a synth-drenched, cinematic brand of new wave with anthemic hooks and a compelling live presence. In 2018, ACTORS released their critically acclaimed debut, It Will Come to You on Artoffact Records and are currently touring in the USA, Canada, and Europe.

We chatted with Shannon about how she’s using the Prophet Rev2"


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You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments In The Spotlight With the Pro 2 and Zardonic

You can find the full interview on DSI's website here.

"An icon, a globetrotter, an innovator and an outstanding performer, Federico Ágreda Álvarez is a multi-talented award winning keyboardist, DJ, composer, producer, and remixer. He is best known for his rock-infused, Electronic Dance Music, one-man-DJ project, Zardonic, which seamlessly encompasses Glitch Hop, Breakbeat, Electro House, Dubstep, Drum & Bass, and Hardcore Techno with shredding Metal guitars and commanding vocals. Donning one of the Top 10 Best DJ Masks in the world, Zardonic has peaked at #1 on Beatport Drum & Bass, and Amazon’s Hard Rock & Metal Bestsellers, with original releases in Skrillex’s own OWSLA imprint, UK’s legendary renegade hardware, Dieselboy’s Planet Human, AK1200’s Big Riddim Recordings, and now exclusively signed with multiplatinum label entertainment One Music and released in Japan through JVC Kenwood Victor Entertainment Corporation.

Having remixed platinum-selling british legends Bullet For My Valentine, crème de la crème Industrial rock pioneers Nine Inch Nails, Billboard top charters Pop Evil, Norwegian black metallers Gorgoroth, Ukranian pop rockers Semargl, Japanese metalcore revelation Crossfaith, award winning producer Celldweller and UK electronic rock pioneers The Qemists, while getting remix treatments from Heavygrinder, Black Sun Empire, Neonlight, State Of Mind, Evol Intent, Counterstrike, The Outside Agency, and producing the debut album Freakshow by New Jersey shock rockers American Grim as well as the comeback album of the legendary New York metallers Eve To Adam, Ágreda represents an undeniable genre-defying force that relentlessly pushes all boundaries and standards of the mainstream and the underground scene, never settling for any rules, and pioneering the sound that is now predicted by the curators as the future of music."

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You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments In The Spotlight With the OB-6 and Holly Jamieson of MONOWHALES

You can find the full interview on DSI's website here.

"Holly Jamieson has been an active member of the Toronto Indie Rock scene since her work with Wide Eyed Tour Guide back in 2010. A self-taught piano-player-turned-synth-player, Holly has quite a varied musical background, ranging from classical violin to a Bachelor of Music in Voice. Yet despite her training in multiple disciplines, nothing grabbed Holly as much as working with synthesizers. In 2012 she joined MONOWHALES (formerly Ginger Ale & The Monowhales) as the synth player and backup vocalist. In 2016, MONOWHALES garnered attention when the music video for their single Home went viral, receiving over a million views. Holly and the band followed this up with the single Take It Back, which climbed to number 25 on the Canadian Alternative Rock Chart. Their most recent EP Control Freak is where Holly expands her approach to include synth bass, which is featured on most tracks on the EP. Holly has always loved performing with MONOWHALES and has performed alongside bands such as Matt & Kim, The Beaches, The Pack AD, and Coleman Hell. Holly’s most recent personal project has involved combining her love of synthesis with an interest in 3D printing. This has led her to study engineering, synth design, and 3D design."

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You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments In The Spotlight With the Prophet-6 and Julian Cisneros

You can find the full interview on DSI's website here.

"Julian Cisneros is a passionate, creative, full time composer based in Los Angeles, California. Julian’s professional career began in 2010 composing music for iOS apps and progressed to working with a multitude of clients in the corporate, film, and television industries. Some of Julian’s clients have included Disney, Lucasfilm, RED Digital Cinema, Warner Bros., Hasbro, Chris Burkard Studios, Patagonia, Huxham Creative Studio, Vizio, Dolby Digital, Panasonic, and many more. Julian currently resides in Santa Clarita, California with his wife Briana, daughter Ayla, and son Jude.

We chatted with Julian on how he’s using the Prophet-6"



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You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

Dave Smith Instruments In The Spotlight With the Prophet Rev2 and Neara Russell

You can find the full interview on DSI's website here.

"Keyboardist Neara Russell combines creative musicality with diverse technical skills. A native Wisconsinite, Neara graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston with a full-ride Presidential Scholarship before relocating to Los Angeles as a full-time performing musician and writer/producer. Neara is currently touring as bandleader/keyboardist for Atlantic artist Hayley Kiyoko. She is music director for artists Skylar Grey and Bonnie McKee, and has toured with Alina Baraz, Duke Dumont, Betty Who, and Bridgit Mendler. As a writer/producer, Neara recently co-wrote & produced the title track for Monogem’s “100%” EP and has released three albums of original music.


We chatted with Neara about how she’s using the Prophet Rev2."

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You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.