Steve Porcaro

According to this Keyboard magazine interview from August 1995, Steve Porcaro used the Roland JV-1080 on Michael Jackson’s HIStory album.

In a 1990 live performance of "Rosanna," Steve Porcaro is seen using the Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer.

In a photo from the Steely Dan Database, Steve Porcaro is shown playing the Yamaha SY-85 synthesizer alongside Jay Graydon.

Interview (German) with Steve Porcaro: Ja … ja. Wenn man ein Polyfusion-System als großen achtstimmigen Synthesizer nutzen will, dann braucht es Stunden, bis alle Stimmen gleich klingen. Das ist das, womit man dann seine ganze Zeit vergeudet, was völlig unsinnig ist, wenn daneben ein Jupiter-8 oder ein CS-80 steht. Das Schöne an einem achtstimmigen Modularsystem ist jedoch, dass sämtliche Stimmen völlig anders klingen können. Man ahmt damit nicht einfach einen polyphonen Synthesizer nach. Natürlich kannst du das machen, aber es ist ein verdammt undankbarer Job. Ein Modularsystem ist einfach nicht das geeignete Werkzeug dafür.

Interview (German) with Steve Porcaro: Ich habe das alles schon einmal mitgemacht, ich konnte meinen feuchten Keith-Emerson-Traum mit meinem Modularsystem auf der Bühne ausleben und habe von dem Polyfusion und all den anderen Synthesizern regen Gebrauch gemacht. Ich hatte fantastische Setups mit dem GS1, dem CS-80, Hammond-Orgeln und all diesen Geräten und jetzt bin ich einfach nur froh, nur noch hinter zwei Keyboards zu stehen.

Here’s a photo of Steve Porcaro’s microcomposer sourced from an interview with KVR audio. He used the microcomposer on Michael Jackson’s Thriller. For example, the ostinato pattern in Human Nature, which he sequenced with the Jupiter-8.

According to this Keyboard magazine feature, Steve Porcaro used a Jupiter-4 on Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

In this French translation of an interview published in Keyboard magazine in August 1995, Steve Porcaro mentions programming the drum beat of "Human Nature" on a Linn Drum (in fact referring to the Linn LM-1).

In this video, Porcaro explains how to make bass sounds with the Minimoog.

Steve Porcaro photo using Montage 6 and 8 at 2016 NAMM Show

He says that he uses Logic ES2 as his main sound source

In an interview with AMAZONA.de, Steve Porcaro discusses his use of the ARP 2600 synthesizer.

interview with Steve Porcaro (German):

Steve Porcaro: "In der Tat. Was ich jedoch öfter gemacht habe, war den Polyfusion mit dem Prophet-5 zu kombinieren..."

In this scan of a Keyboard magazine feature, Steve Porcaro mentions using an Oberheim 4 voice for the slide-ups in Michael Jackson’s "Human Nature".

According to Keyboard magazine August 1995 issue (translated into French), the Matrix 12 was one of the synths used by Steve Porcaro on Michael Jackson’s HIStory album.

On this article and on the Arturia website, Steve Porcaro claimed to use V Collection 8

appears in the video and used it

In a photo featured on the Steely Dan Database, Steve Porcaro is seen playing the Yamaha SY99 synthesizer alongside Jay Graydon.

In an interview with KeyboardMag, Steve Porcaro discusses his use of the Yamaha DX1 FM Synthesizer.

In an interview with KeyboardMag, Steve Porcaro discusses his use of the Yamaha MOTIF XF8 synthesizer.

In his interview with Keyboard Magazine, Steve Porcaro discusses his use of the Yamaha C7 grand piano.

Porcaro with a Montage 6 above his Montage 8.

Steve Porcaro praises the Spectrasonics Symphony of Voices for its impressive sound quality, highlighting the Pop Stacks and Boys Choirs as particularly remarkable. He notes the collection's comprehensive range, including Gregorian chants, as superior to other offerings. This endorsement is featured on the Spectrasonics Symphony of Voices product page.

Interview (German) Steve Porcaro: "In der Tat. Was ich jedoch öfter gemacht habe, war den Polyfusion mit dem Prophet-5 zu kombinieren. Aber hier ist der Clou … Möchtest du mehr über die Arbeit mit dem Modularsystem erfahren?"

According to Keyboard magazine August 1995 issue (translated into French), the Roland S-770 was used by Steve Porcaro on Michael Jackson’s HIStory album.

According to Keyboard magazine August 1995 issue (translated into French), the Yamaha Pro Mix 01 was used by Steve Porcaro on Michael Jackson’s HIStory album.

According to Keyboard magazine August 1995 issue (translated into French), the Korg WS was one of the synths used by Steve Porcaro on Michael Jackson’s HIStory album, on "Stranger In Moscow".

In this photo, Steve can be seen playing a CS-80 that is placed on top of a CP-70 in 1980.

In this photo, Steve can be seen with his original E-MU Emulator I that he took on tour with him in the 80s.

Interview with Steve Porcaro in which he discusses and plays CS-80 V.