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 a real D-50, using classic factory presets like Pizzagogo, DigitalNativeDance, Staccato Heaven, Glass Voices, Metal Harp, Cathedral/pipe organs, Shakuhachi, Griitttarr and more. No other synths, no samples – just the D-50 doing what it does best.

🎧 Tracks & sounds featured include:

• Michael Jackson – Man in the Mirror (I-84 Afterthought)
• Enya – Orinoco Flow (I-44 Pizzagogo)
• Eric Clapton – Bad Love (I-77 O K Chorale)
• Gary Numan – America (I-37 Soundtrack)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 1 theme / OST (I-51 Glass Voices)
• Paula Abdul – Straight Up (I-15 Horn Section)
• Christopher Cross – Sailing (I-43 Basin Strat Blues)
• Taylor Dayne – Tell It to My Heart (I-15 Horn Section)
• George Michael – Faith (I-38 Cathedral Organ)
• Mica Paris – My One Temptation (I-15 Horn Section)
• Phil Collins – Another Day in Paradise (I-12 Metal Harp)
• Bananarama – Love in the First Degree (I-15 Horn Section)
• Mr. President – Coco Jamboo (I-16 Living Calliope)
• Boy Meets Girl – Waiting for a Star to Fall (I-21 DigitalNativeDance)
• Sabrina – Boys Boys Boys (I-15 Horn Section)
• Spagna – Call Me (I-15 Horn Section)
• George Michael – Father Figure (I-66 Shakuhachi)
• Pink Floyd – Run Like Hell (I-26 Griitttarr – reimagined on D-50)
• Michael Jackson – Dirty Diana (I-21 DigitalNativeDance)
• Michael Cooper – Shoop Shoop (Never Stop Givin’ You Love) (I-61 Staccato Heaven)
• Plus preset demos: Intruder FX and Staccato Heaven

Expect plenty of “wait… that’s a D-50?!” moments as these factory patches pop up in huge pop, rock and TV themes from the late 80s and early 90s.

🎹 More Synth Icons episodes:

• Korg M1 – Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were M1)
• Sequential Prophet-5 – Famous Riffs You Instantly Know
• Roland Jupiter-8 & Jupiter-4 – Hidden 80s Synth Gems
• Hohner Clavinet D6 – Famous Riffs You Instantly Know
• CS-80 / Vangelis sounds and Yamaha DX7 specials

✏️ 1-to-1 lessons & synth help
If you want one-to-one lessons on how to program or produce in Logic Pro – or you’d like help programming synths (hardware or analogue-style VSTs) – head over to Andy’s website and get in touch.

📲Connect with me:

🌐 Website → https://greystokestudio.com/

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/

📺 YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@AndyWhitmore

👍 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/AndyWhitmoreMusic

𝕏 X → https://twitter.com/andywhitmore

🎵 TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@andywhitmore9583

If you enjoy this D-50 special, follow the Synth Icons podcast, leave a rating or review, and let Andy know which synth – or which artist – you’d like to hear next.

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