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.

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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.

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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 comes straight from Andy’s own Jupiter-8 – no plugins, no emulations, just authentic analogue.

🎧 Riffs & tracks featured:

• Queen – I Want to Break Free (strings intro, solo + sequence stabs)
• Howard Jones – What Is Love? (brass & synth solo)
• Duran Duran – Save a Prayer (sequence and lead lines)
• Prince – 1999 (Jupiter-8 brass intro)
• Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me) (brass lick)
• Michael Jackson – Thriller (intro pad)
• Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls (strings + bass)
• Tears for Fears – Mad World (bass intro & organ part)
• Tears for Fears – Pale Shelter (bass intro)
• Tears for Fears – Everybody Wants to Rule the World (main pad)

Each part is played note-for-note from the original recordings, showing why the Jupiter-8 became one of the most loved polysynths of the 80s.

🎹 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)
• Yamaha DX7, Prophet-5 and more classic synth deep-dives

✏️ 1-to-1 lessons & mentoring
If you want one-to-one lessons on how to program or produce in Logic Pro – or you’d like help programming synths, analogue or VST – head over to Andy’s website and get in touch.

📲 Connect with Andy

• YouTube: @AndyWhitmore
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andywhitmore2014/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndyWhitmoreMusic
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andywhitmore9583

If you enjoy this Jupiter-8 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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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 leads from artists like Underworld, Daft Punk, Madonna, Tame Impala, The Weeknd, Com Truise, Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein (Stranger Things) and more – all recreated live on my Juno-106 in the studio. No samples, no stems, just the real hardware with some chorus and FX.

Along the way we talk about why the 106 keeps turning up on records, how producers layer it with other Junos and synths, and what makes its chorus, filter and envelopes so addictive.

Riffs featured in this episode (in order):

· The Weeknd – Blinding Lights

· Underworld – Born Slippy (Nuxx) Part A

· Underworld – Born Slippy (Nuxx) Part B

· Daft Punk – Around the World

· Stranger Things – Kids

· Daft Punk – Voyager

· Charlie Puth – BOY

· Tame Impala – Nangs

· 808 State – Pacific State

· Dr. Alban – No Coke

· Com Truise – Memory

· Talk Talk – It’s My Life

· Daft Punk – Rollin’ & Scratchin’

· Madonna – Ray of Light

· Tame Impala – Eventually

Listen with headphones if you can – there’s a lot of chorus movement, filter detail and low-end weight that phone speakers won’t give you.

Tell me in the comments / reviews:

• Which Juno-106 riff surprised you most?
• Which synth should I feature next in the Synth Icon series – Juno-60, JD-800, DX7, M1… or something weirder?

🎧 Watch the live performance video on YouTube: search for “The Juno-106 Hit Machine | 15 Iconic Riffs – Andy Whitmore” - https://youtu.be/KzA9ZHBn06M

🔗 For more synth demos, recreations and deep dives, check out my YouTube channel and socials in the show notes - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Dj_f71KJlNyPbuR4efYpxQXUtmRuX5B&si=voZg2MznmUrowl11

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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.

Support the show

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 right back into that huge, cinematic Blade Runner / Chariots of Fire space.

Across the episode you’ll hear eight classic Vangelis riffs, all played on an original CS-80, focusing on brass, strings, flutes and pads – with no soft synths and no emulations, just pure vintage hardware.

🎧 Riffs featured:

• Vangelis – Chariots of Fire – Brass melody
• Vangelis – Blade Runner – Brass line
• Vangelis – Blade Runner – String pad
• Jon & Vangelis – I Hear You Now – Main theme
• Vangelis – Chariots of Fire – Brass lick
• Vangelis – To the Unknown Man – Intro melody
• Vangelis – Blade Runner – Flute intro line
• Vangelis – Blade Runner – Brass line (no bass)

Expect long, evolving notes, expressive vibrato and that unmistakable CS-80 warmth, all swimming in reverb and delay just like the original recordings.

🎹 More Synth Icons episodes:

• Korg M1 – Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were M1)
• Yamaha DX7 – Classic 80s Riffs & Presets
• Roland Jupiter-4 & Jupiter-8 – Hidden 80s Synth Gems
• Sequential Prophet-5 – Famous Riffs You Instantly Know
• Hohner Clavinet D6 – Famous Riffs You Instantly Know
• Roland D-50 – Iconic Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Know Were D-50)

✏️ 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 CS-80 / Vangelis special, follow the Synth Icons podcast, leave a rating or review, and let Andy know which Vangelis moment, which CS-80 sound, or which synth you’d like to hear next.

Support the show

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 leads.

You’ll hear classic parts from Radiohead, D Train, Cameo, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Phil Collins, Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Daryl Hall & John Oates – all played on Andy’s own Prophet-5, with no other synths in the chain. The episode finishes with a fuller Prophet-5 recreation of “You’re the One for Me” by D Train.

Riffs & Sections

• Radiohead – Everything In Its Right Place (main riff)
• The Cars – Let’s Go (intro melody)
• Talking Heads – This Must Be the Place (flute-style lead)
• Phil Collins – In the Air Tonight (Prophet-5 pad)
• Pink Floyd – Run Like Hell (driving synth line)
• Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Relax (bass drops & brass licks)
• D Train – You’re the One for Me (bass, lead, extra synth parts, bass drops & organ-style solo)
• Cameo – She’s Strange (moody Prophet-5 lines)
• Daryl Hall & John Oates – I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do) (filter swell, main riff & flute lick)
• D Train – You’re the One for Me (Prophet-5 song recreation)

🎧 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

If you enjoy this Prophet-5 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.

Support the show

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 became a cornerstone of funk, soul and rock throughout the 70s and early 80s. I recreate 12 classic riffs that defined its legendary sound — all played on a real Clavinet D6, no software, no emulations.

🎧 Featured riffs include:

• Stevie Wonder – Superstition
• Stevie Wonder – Higher Ground
• The Gap Band – Oops Upside Your Head
• Bob Marley – Could You Be Loved
• Kool & The Gang – Jungle Boogie
• Led Zeppelin – Trampled Under Foot
• The Commodores – Machine Gun
• The Meters – Just Kissed My Baby
• Steely Dan – Kid Charlemagne
• Billy Preston – Outa-Space
  …and more!

From Motown to rock arenas, reggae to jazz fusion — this keyboard changed groove music forever. If you love funk history, vintage keyboards and iconic riffs, this episode is for you. 🎹🔥

🎛️ Work with me (production, mixing & mastering):
https://www.andywhitmore.com

🔗 Connect with Andy Whitmore
Website: https://greystokestudio.com
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@AndyWhitmore
Instagram: https://instagram.com/andywhitmore2014
Facebook: https://facebook.com/AndyWhitmoreMusic
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@andywhitmore9583

#HohnerClavinet #ClavinetD6 #FunkRiffs #VintageKeys #StevieWonder #Superstition #KeyboardLegends #FunkMusic #SynthIcons #MusicPodcast

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