Synth Icons with Andy Whitmore

The Yamaha CS-80 Explained Through 28 Famous Riffs

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529875/fan_mail/new] 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 film scores. In this episode, I’m playing 28 famous riffs you definitely know, all recreated on the Yamaha CS-80. From lush string pads and bold brass lines to flute-style leads and expressive glides, this is a tour of just how wide-ranging — and musical — the CS-80 really is. All parts are played on the CS-80 itself, using light, record-style effects where needed to match the original vibe. Use the chapter markers to jump between songs, and listen closely to how often this synth shows up in places you might not expect. Intro  Kate Bush – “Babooshka” Intro Lead  Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder – “Ebony and Ivory” Lead Synth  Doctor Who (Peter Howell, 1980s) Signature Sting  Doctor Who (Peter Howell, 1980s) Theme Bass  Toto – “Takin’ It Back” Sine Glissando Pad  Toto – “Africa” Brass Pad  Toto – “Rosanna” Brass Pad  ELO – “Time / Prologue” String Intro  Genesis – “Behind the Lines” Intro Brass (may have been Quadra)  10cc – “Tokyo” String Pad  10cc – “Tokyo” Flute Line  ELO – “Twilight” Brass Line  Michael Jackson – “Human Nature” Brass Pad  Paul McCartney – “Wonderful Xmas Time” Middle 8 Lick  Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder – “Ebony and Ivory” Intro Brass  Kate Bush – “Babooshka” Flute Glide  10cc – “Dreadlock Holiday” Lead Line  10cc – “For You and I” String Pad  ELO – “Yours Truly, 2095” Flute Line  Quincy Jones – “Betcha’ Wouldn’t Hurt Me” Lead Synth  Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean” String Part  10cc – “For You and I” Flute Line  Bruce Springsteen – “Born in the USA” Intro Synth Chordal Melody  Prefab Sprout – “If You Don’t Love Me” Intro Brass  Genesis – “Duchess” String Glide  Genesis – “Duchess” Pluck Line  Genesis – “Turn It On Again” Brass Line  Paul McCartney – “Wonderful Xmas Time” CS-80 Solo  Outro & Summary Questions for you: * Which riff did you recognise instantly? * Which one surprised you the most? * And which synth should I cover next? If you enjoy these quick-fire famous riff episodes, check out my other synth specials and let me know what you’d like to hear next. 🎧 More Synth Icons episodes: * Hohner Clavinet D6 – Famous Riffs You Instantly Know * Roland Jupiter-4 – Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were Jupiter-4) * Korg M1 – Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were M1) 🔧 Work with Andy * Production, mixing & mastering: https://www.andywhitmore.com/ [https://www.andywhitmore.com/] * Studio: https://greystokestudio.com/ [https://greystokestudio.com/]   📲 Connect with Andy * YouTube: @AndyWhitmore [https://youtube.com/@AndyWhitmore] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/ [https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndyWhitmoreMusic [https://www.facebook.com/AndyWhitmoreMusic] * TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@andywhitmore9583 [https://www.tiktok.com/@andywhitmore9583] 🔧 Need professional production, mixing, or mastering?  🎧 Work with Andy Whitmore → andywhitmore.com [https://www.andywhitmore.com/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529875/support]

Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon | Richard Wright Keyboard Sounds

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529875/fan_mail/new] 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, recreated on the original instruments associated with Richard Wright’s parts on the album. In this episode, I break down the signature keyboard sounds of Dark Side of the Moon using Hammond C3 with Leslie 147, Steinway Model O grand piano, EMS Synthi AKS, and Wurlitzer 200A. From the swirling synth sequence of On the Run to the haunting textures of The Great Gig in the Sky, these are the sounds that helped define one of the most important albums ever made. Everything is played on the real instruments associated with the album — no plug-ins, no software emulations, just the real thing. Tracks covered Breathe On the Run Time The Great Gig in the Sky Money Us and Them Any Colour You Like Brain Damage Eclipse Credits Engineered by Sam Lofthouse and Alex Hargreaves. Follow the podcast for more keyboard breakdowns, famous riffs, and original-instrument synth content. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529875/support]

The Minimoog Model D A/B: What Changed From Vintage to Reissue? (21 Iconic Riffs)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529875/fan_mail/new] 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 Reissue, playing 21 famous riffs, leads, basslines, and effects back-to-back so you can hear what’s changed… and what hasn’t. To keep these riffs true to the records, I’m using light, “record-style” effects where needed (chorus/delay/reverb), but the core sound is always the Minimoog. Both synths are treated the same, so the comparison stays fair. Format * Each riff is played on both Model Ds (quick-fire, short, and punchy). * Each chapter is labelled Definitely (documented Minimoog) or Likely (strongly associated / commonly credited as Moog/Minimoog). Your call: which one wins — Vintage or Reissue? Definitely * Intro * Parliament — Flash Light (Bass) * Rush — Tom Sawyer (Intro/Bass) — BONUS (originally Oberheim OB-X era) * Pink Floyd — Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Lead) * DEVO — Smart Patrol / Mr. DNA (Effects) * Michael Jackson — Rock With You (Lead) Likely * Madonna — Holiday (Lead Line) * Madonna — Holiday (Bass) * Rick Wakeman — Catherine of Aragon (Bass Melody) * Dr. Dre — Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang (Lead) * D-Train — You’re The One For Me (Bass) * Madonna — Borderline (Lead Line) * Madonna — Borderline (Bass) * Gary Numan — Are “Friends” Electric? (Theme) * Gary Numan — Are “Friends” Electric? (Lead Line) * Michael Jackson — Workin’ Day and Night (Bass) * Michael Jackson — Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough (Bass) * Chaka Khan — We Can Work It Out (Bass) * Barclay James Harvest — Victims of Circumstance (Lead) * Stevie Wonder — I Wish (Bass) * Stevie Wonder — Isn’t She Lovely (Bass) * Stevie Wonder — That Girl (Bass) * Outro If you enjoy these quick-fire, famous-riff shootouts, check out my other classics (M1, D-50, CS-80, DX7, Prophet, Jupiter series and more) — and tell me which synth you want next.   🎧 More Synth Icons episodes: ·       Hohner Clavinet D6 – Famous Riffs You Instantly Know ·       Roland Jupiter-4 – Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were Jupiter-4) ·       Korg M1 – Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were M1) 🔧 Work with Andy ·       Production, mixing & mastering: https://www.andywhitmore.com/ [https://www.andywhitmore.com/] ·       Studio: https://greystokestudio.com/ [https://greystokestudio.com/]   📲 Connect with Andy ·       YouTube: @AndyWhitmore [https://youtube.com/@AndyWhitmore] ·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/ [https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/] ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndyWhitmoreMusic [https://www.facebook.com/AndyWhitmoreMusic] ·       TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@andywhitmore9583 [https://www.tiktok.com/@andywhitmore9583] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529875/support]

Roland Jupiter-4: 8 Famous Songs You Know Instantly

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529875/fan_mail/new] 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 episode, I focus on the real sound of one of the most distinctive vintage analogue synths of the early 80s, known for its raw tone, punchy filter, unique arpeggiator and unmistakable character. From The Human League and Depeche Mode to Simple Minds, Thomas Dolby, Styx and John Foxx, everything is played on the actual Jupiter-4 — no plug-ins, no software, just the real thing. Where the original records used layered Jupiter-4 parts, those layers are recreated here in the same spirit on the real synth.  Featured songs The Human League – Open Your Heart The Cars – Shake It Up Depeche Mode – Photographic Simple Minds – Love Song / Themes for Great Cities Thomas Dolby – Windpower Spandau Ballet – To Cut a Long Story Short Styx – Too Much Time on My Hands John Foxx – Europe After the Rain Jupiter-4 programmed by Paul Soulsby Mixed by Alex Hargreaves Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529875/support]

Genesis: Tony Banks’ JD-800 Live Patches Recreated (90s Tour Sounds)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529875/fan_mail/new] Watcher • Carpet Crawlers • Invisible Touch • Mama • Follow You Follow Me • I Can’t Dance — live-style JD-800 patch recreations + parts Tony Banks used the Roland JD-800 throughout Genesis’ 1990s tours—here are my closest recreations of his live patches, with the parts transcribed and played in Tony’s live style across six iconic songs. Tony Banks’ Genesis JD-800 live tour patches recreated (1990s). In this episode, I recreate Tony Banks’ Roland JD-800 live patches as heard on Genesis’ big 90s tours—then I play the parts the way Tony performed them on stage. A lot of these lines began life in the studio on totally different instruments (Mellotron, Prophet-10, ARP 2600), but the live JD-800 versions have their own character: big, authoritative pads, punchy stabs, and that unmistakable 90s touring sheen. Technical note: I’m playing the parts on my JD-800, but what you’re hearing here is the Roland Cloud JD-800 plug-in. Also, my hardware JD-800 buttons aren’t behaving, so I can’t reliably save patches—everything you hear is my best “get it right in the moment” recreation. If you’re into Genesis keys, Tony Banks parts, and classic synth textures, you’ll enjoy this one.  Tell me your favourite patch/part, and what Genesis/Tony Banks sound I should tackle next (song + section if possible). Chapters / Timestamps Intro  Watcher of the Skies — Main string pad (studio origin: Mellotron)  Carpet Crawlers — Main string pad (studio origin: Mellotron layer)  Invisible Touch — Stabby keyboard (studio origin: Prophet-10)  Mama — Main pad (studio origin: Prophet-10)  Follow You Follow Me — Chorus lead riff (studio origin: ARP 2600)  I Can’t Dance — “Bruiser Tines”  Summary / What should I recreate next?   Note on authenticity: Live rigs aren’t always about perfectly matching the studio source—they’re about making the part translate through a PA, night after night. This episode focuses specifically on the live JD-800 vibe. 🎧 More Synth Icons episodes: ·       Hohner Clavinet D6 – Famous Riffs You Instantly Know ·       Roland Jupiter-4 – Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were Jupiter-4) ·       Korg M1 – Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were M1) 🔧 Work with Andy ·       Production, mixing & mastering: https://www.andywhitmore.com/ [https://www.andywhitmore.com/] ·       Studio: https://greystokestudio.com/ [https://greystokestudio.com/]   📲 Connect with Andy ·       YouTube: @AndyWhitmore [https://youtube.com/@AndyWhitmore] ·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/ [https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/] ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndyWhitmoreMusic [https://www.facebook.com/AndyWhitmoreMusic] ·       TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@andywhitmore9583 [https://www.tiktok.com/@andywhitmore9583] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529875/support]