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Synth Icons with Andy Whitmore
🎹 Synth Icons is the podcast where legendary keyboards come back to life. Hosted by producer and synth expert Andy Whitmore, each episode dives into the world’s most iconic synthesizers — from the lush analog power of the Yamaha CS-80, to the digital sparkle of the DX7, to the unmistakable sounds of the Korg M1.
Andy recreates famous riffs, compares hardware to modern software emulations, and reveals the stories, sounds, and production secrets behind the instruments that shaped pop, film, and electronic music.
If you're a synth enthusiast, a producer, or just love classic hits, Synth Icons lets you hear the legends for yourself.
👉 Follow for more synth deep-dives, blind tests, and studio stories.
🎧 Watch the full video versions on YouTube → @AndyWhitmore
Episodes
32 episodes
Rhodes Clav Pro vs Hohner Clavinet D6 — Which Is Real? | 16 Iconic Riffs
Andy Whitmore compares the Rhodes Clav Pro directly with an original Hohner Clavinet D6 across 16 iconic riffs from Stevie Wonder, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, Bill Withers and more. Can the software really capture the sound and character of the r...
Roland Jupiter-4: 23 Iconic Riffs You Know — But Didn’t Realise Were Jupiter-4!
Andy Whitmore recreates 23 iconic synth riffs, sequences, bass lines and pads on an original vintage Roland Jupiter-4.The Roland Jupiter-4 was Roland’s first polyphonic synthesizer—and one of its most distinctive. Andy Whitmore recreates...
Oberheim OB-8: 20 Iconic Riffs You Know — But Didn’t Realise Were Oberheim!
Twenty famous riffs and keyboard parts from Prince, Van Halen, Rush, Eurythmics and more, recreated on an original Oberheim OB-8. Andy also explores the history of the OB-X, OB-Xa, OB-SX, OB-8 and modern OB-X8.In this episode of Synth...
Roland D-50 – 20 Iconic Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Know Were D-50)
In this Synth Icons episode, Andy Whitmore dives into the digital, glassy world of the Roland D-50 – with 20 iconic riffs you definitely know, but maybe never realised were D-50.Every sound in this episode comes from...
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Yamaha CS-80 – Vangelis’ Blade Runner & Chariots of Fire (Real Hardware, Full FX)
In this Synth Icons episode, Andy Whitmore fires up the real Yamaha CS-80 to recreate some of Vangelis’ most iconic moments – this time with the full effects chain rebuilt. Big reverbs, delays and chorus bring the CS-80 rig...
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Sequential Prophet-5 – Famous Riffs You Instantly Know! (Radiohead, D Train, Cameo + more)
Paste this into the main description box:In this Synth Icons episode, Andy Whitmore puts the Sequential Prophet-5 Rev 3.2 through its paces with a stack of famous riffs – from moody pads to punchy bass lines and full-on synth lead...
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Hohner Clavinet D6 – 12 Famous Riffs You Instantly Know! (Superstition, Trampled Under Foot + more)
In this episode of Synth Icons, we funk things up with one of the most instantly recognisable keyboards in music history — the Hohner Clavinet D6.With its sharp, percussive tone and rhythm guitar-like attack, the Clavinet b...
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Roland Jupiter-4: 15 Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were Jupiter-4!)
In this episode of Synth Icons, we shine a light on one of the most underrated classic analog synths of all time — the Roland Jupiter-4. Before the Juno-60 and Jupiter-8 stole the spotlight, this synth helped shape the sound of
Korg M1: 14 Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were M1!)
The Korg M1 is one of the most iconic keyboards ever made — the sound of late-’80s and early-’90s pop, dance, and film music. In this episode of Synth Icons, producer and synth collector Andy Whitmore recreates 13 lege...
Yamaha DX7: 21 Iconic Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were DX7!)
The Yamaha DX7 is one of the most iconic synthesizers of all time, shaping the sound of pop, rock, funk, electronic, and film music throughout the 80s and 90s.In this episode, I recreate 21 legendary riffs that defined decades of ...
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CS-80 Blind Test | Yamaha vs Arturia, Softube, Cherry Audio & XILS
🎧 Can you tell the difference between the legendary Yamaha CS-80 and today’s best software emulations?In this blind test, I compare the real CS-80 with recreations from Arturia, Softube, Cherry Audio, and XILS Lab — and the result...
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Roland JD-800 Plug-In vs Real JD-800 (Iconic Riffs A/B Test)
A straight A/B test: iconic riffs played first on the Roland Cloud JD-800 plug-in, then on my real vintage JD-800—same parts, same context, no tricks. Can you hear a difference?Roland JD-800 plug-in vs real JD-800 hardware sound compa...
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Wurlitzer Piano – 11 Iconic Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Know Were Wurly)
That “wait… I know that song!” moment — but it’s all Wurlitzer electric piano. 🎹⚡️In this episode, Andy plays 11 instantly recognisable Wurly riffs as short solo snippets — no backing tracks, no full songs, just the hook. From Supertr...
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Roland Jupiter-8 – 20 Hidden 80s Synth Gems (Queen, Prince, Tears for Fears + more!)
In this Synth Icons episode, Andy Whitmore powers up the legendary Roland Jupiter-8 to uncover 20 hidden 80s synth gems. From shimmering pads and string intros to bold brass, sequences and moody bass lines, every sound you hear co...
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Clavinet – 10 Iconic Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Know Were Clavinet)
That “wait… I know that song!” moment — but it’s all clavinet. 🔥In this episode, Andy plays 10 instantly recognisable clavinet riffs as short solo snippets — no backing tracks, no full songs, just the hook. From pop ...
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Synth Icon: Roland Juno-106 – The Hit Machine (15 Iconic Riffs)
The Roland Juno-106 has been quietly sneaking onto hit records for decades. In this Synth Icon episode, I put it front and centre and show you why it became a true studio workhorse.I’ll play you 15 famous basslines, pads and le...
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Roland Jupiter-8: 40 Iconic Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Know Were Jupiter-8)
Roland Jupiter-8: 40 Iconic Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Know Were Jupiter-8)Andy Whitmore explores 40 iconic riffs played on the legendary Roland Jupiter-8, recreating famous brass hooks, pads, leads, basses and sequences from classic tra...
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The Yamaha CS-80 Explained Through 28 Famous Riffs
Yamaha CS-80 — 28 Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Know Were CS-80)The Yamaha CS-80 is one of the most expressive analog synthesizers ever made — and its sound is hiding in plain sight across classic pop, rock, TV themes, and fil...
Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon | Richard Wright Keyboard Sounds
A keyboard-focused breakdown of Dark Side of the Moon, using the original Richard Wright instruments: Hammond C3, Wurlitzer 200A, EMS Synthi AKS and Steinway piano.Hear The Dark Side of the Moon as a keyboard-focused journey, re...
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The Minimoog Model D A/B: What Changed From Vintage to Reissue? (21 Iconic Riffs)
The Minimoog Model D is one of the most recognisable synth sounds ever recorded — from funk basslines to prog leads and classic pop hooks. In this episode, I’m doing a straight-up A/B comparison: a Vintage Minimoog Model D versus the 2016 Re...
Roland Jupiter-4: 8 Famous Songs You Know Instantly
A real Roland Jupiter-4 playing 20 classic riffs across 8 famous songs — no plug-ins, no software, just the original vintage synth.Hear 20 classic riffs across 8 famous songs, recreated on the original Roland Jupiter-4.In this epi...
Genesis: Tony Banks’ JD-800 Live Patches Recreated (90s Tour Sounds)
Watcher • Carpet Crawlers • Invisible Touch • Mama • Follow You Follow Me • I Can’t Dance — live-style JD-800 patch recreations + partsTony Banks used the Roland JD-800 throughout Genesis’ 1990s tours—here are my closest recreatio...
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13 Famous Hoover Riffs You Know Instantly!
Andy Whitmore recreates 13 famous Hoover riffs on the real Roland Alpha Juno-1, using the legendary “WhatThe” preset that helped define rave, hardcore, jungle and techno. In this episode, I recreate 13 famous Hoover riffs on ...
Korg M1: 21 Iconic Riffs You Know (But Forgot Existed!)
Pure nostalgia and pure presets: the Korg M1 — one of the most recognisable keyboards of all time — and 21 famous parts you’ve definitely heard on records.This is the talky companion to my YouTube riffs video. In the...
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Yamaha CS-40M – 9 Famous Songs, 27 Classic Synth Parts
Andy Whitmore explores the underrated Yamaha CS-40M, recreating 27 classic synth parts from 9 famous songs by The Stranglers, Duran Duran, Ultravox, Simple Minds, Landscape, Section 25, Bill Nelson and Our Daughter’s Wedding.In this epis...
