This week on TDL Synth Chat, I’m joined by Chileas, a producer and synth lover from France, whose musical journey has taken him from beat-making in Paris to building a studio full of classic synths and exploring synth-pop sounds.

Listen Now:
Listen Here (download mp3)

We chat about his early days in a hip-hop scene full of samplers and soul records, and how that eventually led him to the world of analog synthesizers. From the MicroKorg to the Korg DW-8000, Casio CZ series, and classics like the DX7, D-50, and M1, Chileas shares how each instrument shaped his sound and style.

“When I got my first synth, I didn’t know what a waveform was — it was magic!” – Chileas

He explains how limitations like 4-note polyphony can drive creativity, why editing with VSTs can be a lifesaver, and why the Casio CZ-5000 is still one of his secret weapons.

We also explore:

• 
  

  His love of Kate Bush and the dream of owning a Yamaha CS-80

  
  


• 
  

  Why he prefers external FX to built-in presets

  
  


• 
  

  His approach to integrating MIDI and VST editors across his entire rig

  
  


• 
  

  Using Behringer gear like the Monopoly

  
  


• 
  

  And his upcoming synth-pop project under a brand new alias

  
  

“I don’t think your synth defines your genre — it’s how you understand the sound and shape it.”

Links from the Show

• 
  

  Listen to Chileas on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6zFR6weH7WEYAGootSfcxX?pi=BA_ouvbMTZe9G

  
  


• 
  

  My new track: https://open.spotify.com/album/1kWt85r30LqFLECfJ3I7VB?si=8FE8huldSdavhYMWYLPFiw

  
  

Synths Mentioned in This Episode

• 
  

  MicroKorg

  
  


• 
  

  Korg Minilogue

  
  


• 
  

  Casio CZ-5000

  
  


• 
  

  Yamaha DX7 / TX7 / DX100

  
  


• 
  

  Roland D-50

  
  


• 
  

  Korg M1

  
  


• 
  

  Ensoniq ESQ-1

  
  


• 
  

  Korg DW-8000

  
  


• 
  

  Roland Alpha Juno 2

  
  


• 
  

  Korg Prophecy

  
  


• 
  

  Siel DK80

  
  


• 
  

  Behringer Monopoly, CR-78 clone

  
  


• 
  

  Korg OP-6, Modwave, Multi/Poly

  
  

Whether you’re deep into synth collecting or just exploring the vintage gear world, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.

️ Subscribe to the podcast for more great synth chats, music tech stories, and gear deep dives!

If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife