Synth Icons
🎹 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.
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Synth Icons
Can You Tell Which Is the Real Alpha Juno?
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A blind Hoover sound test comparing the real Roland Alpha Juno-1 against Roland Cloud Zenology Pro. Can you tell which one is the real hardware?
Can you tell the difference between the real Roland Alpha Juno-1 and Roland Cloud Zenology Pro?
In this episode, I turn the classic Hoover sound comparison into a blind test. You’ll hear the same famous Hoover riffs played twice — one version is the real Roland Alpha Juno-1, the other is Roland Cloud — but you won’t know which is which until the reveal.
The sound is the legendary “WhatThe” preset from the Roland Alpha Juno, better known as the Hoover sound: one of the most aggressive, detuned and instantly recognisable synth sounds in rave, hardcore, jungle and techno history.
Keep score as you listen and see how many you can get right.
Featured Hoover riffs include:
Human Resource – Dominator
Second Phase – Mentasm
T99 – Anasthasia
The Prodigy – Charly
Baby D – Come Into My World
DJ Seduction – Come On
Mundo Muzique – Acid Pandemonium
X Certificate – Rising 2 The Bass
Plexus – Cactus Rhythm
Nasty Habits – Let’s Go
D.J. P.C. – Inssomniak
DJ Fresh & Sigma – Cylon
Rihanna – Birthday Cake
Played, recorded and recreated by Andy Whitmore at Greystoke Studio.
Roland Alpha Juno, Alpha Juno-1, Alpha Juno-2, Roland Cloud, Zenology Pro, Hoover sound, WhatThe preset, What The preset, blind test, synth blind test, hardware vs software, VST vs hardware, rave synth, hardcore synth, jungle synth, techno synth, oldskool rave, 90s rave, classic rave, famous riffs, vintage synth, Roland synth, electronic music, dance music, Human Resource, Dominator, Second Phase, Mentasm, The Prodigy, Charly
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For more synth breakdowns, famous riff recreations and classic keyboard content, visit Andy Whitmore online.
Andy Whitmore: https://www.andywhitmore.com/
Greystoke Studio: https://greystokestudio.com/
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Can you tell which is the real Alpha Juno? In this episode, I'm doing a blind Hoover sound test. You'll hear the same riff play twice. One version is the real Alpha Juno 1, the other is the Roland Cloud Xenology Pro. But I won't tell you which is which until the end of each round. So listen carefully, keep scoring, see if you can tell which is the real Alpha Juno. For each round, I'll play version A, then version B, then I'll reveal the answer. Let's begin. Human Resource Dominator. Version A. Version B Which one was the real Alpha Juno? The real Alpha Juno was version B. Second phase mentasm.
SPEAKER_02Version A version B Which one was the real Alpha Juno?
SPEAKER_01T The real Alpha Juno was version B T ninety nine Anastasia. Version A. Version Bichon was the real Alpha Juno?
SPEAKER_02The real Alpha Juno was version B, the Prodigy, Charlie, version A version B.
SPEAKER_01Which one was the real Alpha Juno? The real Alpha Juno was Version A. Baby D come into my world.
SPEAKER_02Version A Version Bich one was the real Alpha Juno?
SPEAKER_01The real Alpha Juno was version A. DJ Seduction come on.
SPEAKER_02Version A Version B Which one was the real Alpha Juno?
SPEAKER_01The real Alpha Juno was version B. Mundo Musique Acid Pandinomium.
SPEAKER_02Version A Version Bichone was the real Alpha Juno?
SPEAKER_01The real Alpha Juno was version B X certificate rising to the base.
SPEAKER_02Version A Version B Which one was the real Alpha Juno?
unknownAlpha.
SPEAKER_01The real Alpha Juno was version B. Cactus rhythm. Version A.
SPEAKER_00Version B.
SPEAKER_01Which one was the real Alpha Juno? The real Alpha Juno was version A. Nasty habits, let's go.
SPEAKER_02Version A Version B Which one was the real Alpha Juno?
SPEAKER_01The real Alpha Juno was version B. DJPC Insomniac. Version A?
SPEAKER_00Version B.
SPEAKER_01Which one was the real Alpha Juno? The real Alpha Juno was version B. DJ Fresh and Sigma Salon. Version A.
SPEAKER_00Version B.
SPEAKER_01Which one was the real Alpha Juno? The real Alpha Juno was Virgin A. Rihanna.
SPEAKER_02Version A Version B.
SPEAKER_01Which one was the real Alpha Juno? The real Alpha Juno was version A. So how many did you get? Could you tell the real Alpha Juno one from the Cloud Xenology? Or was it harder than expected? For me, Roland Cloud does a very good job, but the real Alpha Juno has a rawness and pitch bend response that feels different when you play it. Send me a note with your score and let me know which round fooled you most. Thanks for listening.