Can YOU tell the difference between the legendary Yamaha CS-80 and today’s best software emulations? In this blind test, host Andy Whitmore — producer, synth expert, and collector of 65 keyboards — compares the original CS-80 with recreations from Arturia, Softube, Cherry Audio, and XILS Lab.

You’ll hear iconic sounds from Vangelis, Michael Jackson, Toto, and even Doctor Who — but only ONE is the real hardware. Play along, make your guesses, and see if your ears can spot the legendary CS-80 among the plugins.

👉 Don’t forget to follow for more synth deep-dives, blind tests, and music production stories from the studio.

⏱️ Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:35 Round 1: Jon & Vangelis – I Hear You Now (Main Theme)
1:20 Round 2: Michael Jackson – Human Nature (Brass Pad)
2:14 Round 3: Pitch Strip
3:07 Round 4: Doctor Who Theme (Bass)
3:56 Round 5: Vangelis – Blade Runner (String Pad)
4:37 Round 6: Toto – Africa (Brass Pad)
5:14 Round 7: Polyphonic Aftertouch
6:09 Round 8: Vangelis – Chariots of Fire (Brass Lick)
6:54 Round 9: Doctor Who (Signature Sting)
7:49 Summary

🎹 Follow the YouTube channel for the full video version: [@AndyWhitmore]