Dave Smith and Chet Wood Devise the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)

In 1981 Dave Smith, president of Sequential Circuits in San Jose, CA and Chet Wood proposed the MIDI standard initially calling it "The USI, or Universal Synthesizer Interface," in a paper with that title presented on October 1, 1981 at the Audio Engineering Society. 

"The standard was discussed and modified by representatives of Roland, Yamaha, Korg, Kawai, and Sequential Circuits.^[12][13]:20 Kakehashi favored the name Universal Musical Interface (UMI), pronounced you-me,^[8] but Smith felt this was "a little corny".^[14] However, he liked the use of "instrument" instead of "synthesizer", and proposed the name Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI).^[14][11]:4 Moog Music founder Robert Moog announced MIDI in the October 1982 issue of Keyboard.^{[15]:276) ....}

"MIDI's appeal was originally limited to professional musicians and record producers who wanted to use electronic instruments in the production of popular music. The standard allowed different instruments to communicate with each other and with computers, and this spurred a rapid expansion of the sales and production of electronic instruments and music software.^[13]:21 This interoperability allowed one device to be controlled from another, which reduced the amount of hardware musicians needed.^[25] MIDI's introduction coincided with the dawn of the personal computer era and the introduction of samplers and digital synthesizers.^[26] The creative possibilities brought about by MIDI technology are credited for helping revive the music industry in the 1980s.^[27]

"MIDI introduced capabilities that transformed the way many musicians work. MIDI sequencing makes it possible for a user with no notation skills to build complex arrangements.^[28] A musical act with as few as one or two members, each operating multiple MIDI-enabled devices, can deliver a performance similar to that of a larger group of musicians.^[29] The expense of hiring outside musicians for a project can be reduced or eliminated,^[3]:7 and complex productions can be realized on a system as small as a synthesizer with integrated keyboard and sequencer" (Wikipedia ariticle on MIDI, accessed 9-2020).