Synth Icons

Andy Whitmore (andy@andywhitmore.com)
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🎹 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

  1. Roland Jupiter-8: 40 Iconic Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Know Were Jupiter-8)

    MAR 19

    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 tracks by Europe, Harold Faltermeyer, Billy Idol, Duran Duran, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Journey, The Human League, Depeche Mode and more. In this episode, Andy dives into the unmistakable sound of the Roland Jupiter-8 by recreating 40 famous riffs you almost certainly know but may not have realised were played on one of the most legendary analogue synths ever made. From The Final Countdown and Axel F to Rebel Yell, Relax, Save a Prayer, Obsession, Mirror Man, 19, A Question of Lust and more, this is a fast-moving tour through the brass sounds, silky pads, biting unison leads, basses and sequences that made the Jupiter-8 such an important part of late-70s and 80s music. Everything you hear is played on Andy’s original Roland Jupiter-8. No software, no emulations, just the real instrument. If you love classic synths, iconic records, and finding out what was really used on famous tracks, this one is for you. What you’ll hear in this episode Huge Jupiter-8 brass sounds Classic analogue pads and strings Unison leads and synth hooks Basses, drones and arpeggiated parts 40 famous riffs recreated on the original synth Featured artists include Europe, Harold Faltermeyer, Billy Idol, Duran Duran, Animotion, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Journey, Tangerine Dream, The Human League, Paul Hardcastle, Depeche Mode, Blancmange, Queen, Howard Jones, Simple Minds, Michael Jackson and Tears for Fears. Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:54 Europe - The Final Countdown - Brass Lead / Pad 1:23 Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F - Main Riff 1:38 Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F - Brass Stab Riff 1:48 Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F - Bell Drop / Swell / White Noise 1:53 Animotion - Obsession - Brass 2:15 Animotion - Obsession - Flute 2:31 Billy Idol - Rebel Yell - Plucked Sound 2:39 Billy Idol - Rebel Yell - Sequence 2:51 Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax - String Intro / Sync Lead 3:22 Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax - Deep Bass Drop / Brass Riff 3:36 Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax - Bass / String Drop 3:56 Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf - Sequence 4:16 Duran Duran - Save a Prayer - Intro Arpeggiator / Unison Lead 4:46 Journey - Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) - Intro Sequence 4:58 Tangerine Dream - White Eagle - Random Arpeggiator 5:37 The Human League - Mirror Man - Pad / Swell Pad / String Line 5:54 The Human League - Mirror Man - Stab Part 6:11 Paul Hardcastle - 19 - Bells / String Pad 6:32 Depeche Mode - My Secret Garden - Brass Lick 6:44 Depeche Mode - A Question of Lust - Sound FX Intro / Bass 7:05 Blancmange - Blind Vision - Flute 7:24 Blancmange - Blind Vision - Brass Lick 7:27 Queen - I Want to Break Free - Strings Intro 7:44 Queen - I Want to Break Free - Jupiter-8 Synth Solo amped through Fender Twin Reverb 8:14 Howard Jones - What Is Love? - Brass 8:31 Howard Jones - What Is Love? - Synth Solo 8:45 Simple Minds - Don’t You (Forget About Me) - Brass Lick 9:06 Michael Jackson - Thriller - Intro Brass Pad 9:25 Tears for Fears - Mad World - Bass Intro 9:43 Tears for Fears - Mad World - Organ Part 10:02 Tears for Fears - Pale Shelter - Bass Arpeggiator Intro 10:36 Outro Listen / watch more For more synth breakdowns, famous riff recreations and classic keyboard content, visit Andy Whitmore online. Andy Whitmore: https://www.andywhitmore.com/ Support the show

    12 min
  2. Clavinet – 10 Iconic Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Know Were Clavinet)

    MAR 12

    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 and disco to rock and deep funk cuts, this is the clavinet doing what it does best: snappy, percussive, and ridiculously funky. Play along: try to name each riff before the title is revealed, then tell Andy your score — and which one surprised you most. Track list (short clavinet snippets) Electric Light Orchestra — Last Train to LondonRufus — Tell Me Something GoodGreg Kihn Band — JeopardyBill Withers — Use MeThe Rolling Stones — HeartbreakerHeatwave — Super Soul SisterTina Turner — Nutbush City LimitsJohn Paul Young — Love Is in the AirBetty Davis — Don’t Call Her No TrampSherbet — Howzat🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8U-Z6kGx5QE 🌐 Andy Whitmore: https://www.andywhitmore.com/ 🏛️ Greystoke Studio: https://greystokestudio.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/ Note: This audio episode accompanies the YouTube video and includes short performance snippets for commentary/demo purposes. YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AndyWhitmore Podcast site: https://andywhitmore.buzzsprout.com Studio enquiries: info@greystokestudio.com Support the show

    4 min
  3. Wurlitzer Piano – 11 Iconic Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Know Were Wurly)

    MAR 5

    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 Supertramp, The Beatles and Marvin Gaye to Ray Charles, Queen and Beck, this is the Wurlitzer doing what it does best: bark, bite, and that warm, chewy midrange that cuts straight through a mix. Play along: try to name each riff before it’s revealed, then tell Andy your score — and which one gave you the biggest “NO WAY!” moment. Track list (short Wurlitzer snippets) Supertramp — DreamerMarvin Gaye — I Heard It Through The GrapevineThe Beatles — Get BackSupertramp — The Logical SongCannonball Adderley — Mercy, Mercy, MercyBeck — Where It’s AtSupertramp — SchoolRay Charles — What’d I SaySupertramp — Goodbye StrangerQueen — You’re My Best FriendSupertramp — Bloody Well Right🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1fRHQauzfOw 🌐 Andy Whitmore: https://www.andywhitmore.com/ 🏛️ Greystoke Studio: https://greystokestudio.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/ Note: This audio episode accompanies the YouTube video and includes short performance snippets for commentary/demo purposes. Episode links (optional) YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AndyWhitmore Podcast site: https://andywhitmore.buzzsprout.com Studio enquiries: info@greystokestudio.com Support the show

    4 min
  4. The Synths That Defined the 80s/90s (10 Hits Recreated: Full Tracks + Riffs)

    FEB 26

    The Synths That Defined the 80s/90s (10 Hits Recreated: Full Tracks + Riffs)

    You know these riffs — but do you know which synths played them? I recreate 10 iconic tracks/hooks on the original (or closest practical) keyboards: DX7, Korg M1, JD-800, JP-8080, Jupiter-4, Prophet-5 and more — with quick narration before each performance. This is a performance-based recreation: I’m playing the parts, rebuilding the patches, and giving a quick intro to each track — then straight into the music. Accuracy note: Some originals are well-documented; others vary by source or studio method. Where a part is recreated on a closely related synth (or a plug-in), I’ve stated it clearly below. Watch the full video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eeRGPLkKNEg Tina Turner — What’s Love Got To Do With It (1 min edit)  Fender Rhodes + DX7 (flute) + Roland MKS-80 pads + Minimoog bass (played live to match the original line) + harmonica solo The Prodigy — Poison (riff)  Recreated on Roland JD-800 (JD-era Prodigy texture recreation) Depeche Mode — Just Can’t Get Enough (intro + verse 1)  Roland Jupiter-4 for bass/lead + Korg Rhythm 55B style drums Usher — Yeah! (riff)  Nord Lead 3 recreation of the classic intro hook Nightcrawlers — Push The Feeling On (track)  TR-909 drums + 3x Korg M1 parts: sax lick, organ riff, and the string riff from the MK Mix vibe  Prince — When Doves Cry (track)  DX7 mallet sound + LM-1 style drum recreation D-Train — You’re The One For Me (track)  Prophet-5 parts + LinnDrum drum recreation Darude — Sandstorm (riff)  JP-8080 recreation of the classic synth string hook The Prodigy — Charly (track)  Alpha Juno lead + full backing recreation Mouse on Mars — Future Dub (track)  All parts recreated using JD-800 plug-in (Roland Cloud) Tina Turner — What’s Love Got To Do With It (full version)  Full-length recreation using the same keyboard/synth setup as Track 1 Chapters / timestamps 0:00 Intro  0:24 Tina Turner — What’s Love Got To Do With It (1 min edit)  1:31 The Prodigy — Poison  1:57 Depeche Mode — Just Can’t Get Enough  2:46 Usher — Yeah!  3:02 Nightcrawlers — Push The Feeling On  3:53 Prince — When Doves Cry  4:29 D-Train — You’re The One For Me  5:58 Darude — Sandstorm  6:34 The Prodigy — Charly  7:11 Mouse on Mars — Future Dub  7:45 Tina Turner — What’s Love Got To Do With It (full version)  9:38 Outro Thanks @SamB-z4r (YouTube) for engineering 🔧 Work with Andy · Production, mixing & mastering: https://www.andywhitmore.com/ · Studio: https://greystokestudio.com/ 📲 Connect with Andy · YouTube: @AndyWhitmore  · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/ · Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndyWhitmoreMusic · TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andywhitmore9583 Support the show Comment prompt: Which riff surprised you most — and which synth did you think it was? Support the show

    11 min
  5. Roland JD-800: Iconic Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Know Were JD-800)

    FEB 19

    Roland JD-800: Iconic Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Know Were JD-800)

    Iconic JD-800 riffs you know—Faithless, Prodigy, Depeche Mode, Prince, Genesis—plus hardware vs plug-in A/B comparisons and patches programmed from scratch. Take a tour through the punchy, glossy world of the Roland JD-800 with a stack of iconic riffs and signature hooks you’ve definitely heard before… but maybe didn’t realise were JD-800. You’ll hear Faithless, The Prodigy, Depeche Mode, Prince, Genesis—plus a few deeper cuts. For this episode I programmed most of the sounds from scratch (very few factory presets). My original JD-800 is working great, but the YES/NO buttons are dead, so I can’t easily tweak/save lots of edits on the hardware. To solve that, I built many parts using a JD-800 plug-in that sounds scarily close to the real thing. And where the track uses a factory preset (unedited), I play it on both so you can compare hardware vs plug-in. Question for you: Which riff surprised you most—and can you hear a difference in the A/B tests? 🎧 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/ ·       Studio: https://greystokestudio.com/   📲 Connect with Andy ·       YouTube: @AndyWhitmore ·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/ ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndyWhitmoreMusic ·       TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@andywhitmore9583 Support the show

    10 min
  6. Top 11 Most Expensive Synthesisers in the World (GX-1, CS-80, Moog & Jupiter-8)

    FEB 12

    Top 11 Most Expensive Synthesisers in the World (GX-1, CS-80, Moog & Jupiter-8)

    A fast countdown of the 11 most valuable synthesizers of all time — famous owners, iconic tracks, and the wild prices behind the GX-1, CS-80, Moog modular systems, Jupiter-8 and more. Welcome to the top 11 most valuable synths of all time. From the Yamaha CS-80 to the legendary Yamaha GX-1, this episode counts down the rarest, most iconic synthesizers ever made — the ones with the biggest reputations and the most stratospheric values. You’ll hear the famous owners, classic songs they’re associated with, and what makes each machine special — including the EMS Synthi AKS, Roland Jupiter-8, Moog Model 15, Analogue Solutions Colossus, Polyfusion System 2000, Moog System 55, Yamaha DX1, EMS Synthi 100, and the ultra-rare Emerson Moog Modular System. Chapters: ·       Intro ·       EMS Synthi AKS ·       Roland Jupiter-8 ·       Moog Model 15 ·       Analogue Solutions Colossus ·       Yamaha CS-80 ·       Polyfusion System 2000 ·       Moog System 55 ·       Yamaha DX1 ·       EMS Synthi 100 ·       Emerson Moog Modular System ·       Yamaha GX-1 ·       Summary / Outro 💥 YouTube: @AndyWhitmore  🧢 Website: andywhitmore.com  🎛 Studio: greystokestudio.com If you enjoyed it, leave a comment or review — your comments are our oxygen. 🎧 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/ ·       Studio: https://greystokestudio.com/   📲 Connect with Andy ·       YouTube: @AndyWhitmore ·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/ ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndyWhitmoreMusic ·       TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@andywhitmore9583 Support the show

    14 min
  7. Roland JD-800 Plug-In vs Real JD-800 (Iconic Riffs A/B Test)

    FEB 5

    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 comparison. In this episode I do a proper A/B test: the Roland Cloud JD-800 versus the original vintage Roland JD-800 hardware. Here’s the format: for each track you’ll hear two quick clips—first the plug-in, then the real JD-800—using the same riff/lick and the same musical idea so you can judge the differences (or similarities) for yourself. The JD-800 is one of the most iconic early-90s digital synths: bright, “produced,” and instantly recognisable for aggressive leads, glassy keys, and expressive patches. Featured A/B riffs from: ·       The Prodigy — “Voodoo People” (Wailing Guitar 15 / snarling riff) ·       Depeche Mode — “In Your Room” (intro bass motif) ·       Prince & The New Power Generation — “Damn U” (“Crystal Rhodes”) ·       Prince & The New Power Generation — “7” (Iceman intro → weird FX) ·       The Prodigy — “Their Law” (wailing guitar part) ·       Genesis — “I Can’t Dance” (“Bruiser Tines”) Question for you: Which one fooled you? Which version do you actually prefer—plug-in or hardware? Leave your pick in the comments, and tell me what synth A/B test 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/ ·       Studio: https://greystokestudio.com/   📲 Connect with Andy ·       YouTube: @AndyWhitmore ·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/ ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndyWhitmoreMusic ·       TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@andywhitmore9583 Support the show

    7 min
  8. Korg M1: 21 Iconic Riffs You Know (But Forgot Existed!)

    JAN 29

    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 video I reveal the song name + the preset before I play each part, so this isn’t a guessing game. It’s more like: here’s the sound, why it matters, and what to listen for. Important note: these are M1 recreations / M1-style parts. That doesn’t automatically mean the original record used only a Korg M1 — many tracks were layered with other synths, samplers and effects. The goal here is to spotlight the signature M1 character: Piano 16’, Organ 2, Choir, pads, and that famous Slap Bass. If you want a Part 3, tell me what to include: artist + track + the exact section you want recreated (timestamp appreciated). Intro Black Box — I Don’t Know Anybody Else — I01 Piano 16' Robin S — Luv 4 Luv — I17 Organ 2 N-Joi — Anthem — I01 Piano 16' Sabrina Johnston — Peace — I01 Piano 16' Nightcrawlers — Surrender Your Love — I17 Organ 2 Kraze — The Party — I01 Piano 16' 49ers — Touch Me — I01 Piano 16' Sandra — Hiroshima — I00 Universe Tasmin Archer — Sleeping Satellite — I30 Lore Law & Order Theme — I46 Slap Bass Madonna — Vogue — I01 Piano 16' Aerosmith — Janie’s Got a Gun — I46 Slap Bass OMD — Sailing on the Seven Seas — I00 Universe (not confirmed) OMD — Pandora’s Box — I23 Choir OMD — Call My Name — I23 Choir Awesome 3 — Don’t Go — I01 Piano 16' Dream Frequency — Feel So Real — I01 Piano 16' M.A.N.I.C. — I’m Comin’ Hardcore — I01 Piano 16' Jaydee — Plastic Dreams — I17 Organ 2 Playahitty — The Summer Is Magic — I17 Organ 2 Whigfield — Gimmie Gimmie — I17 Organ 2 Summary A fast, talky companion to my YouTube riffs video: 21 instantly recognisable Korg M1-style hooks with the presets explained and called out up front.   🎧 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/ ·       Studio: https://greystokestudio.com/   📲 Connect with Andy ·       YouTube: @AndyWhitmore ·       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/ ·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndyWhitmoreMusic ·       TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@andywhitmore9583 Support the show

    10 min
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About

🎹 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

Information

  • Creator
    Andy Whitmore (andy@andywhitmore.com)
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Synth Icons
  • Show Website
    Synth Icons