El Jaguar – Afro-Caribbean Percussion Virtual Instrument

El Jaguar is a powerful virtual instrument inspired by the rich Afro-Caribbean rhythms of Barranquilla, Colombia. To create it, we followed the pulse of the city’s legendary Picó sound systems—vibrant, hand-built towers of sound that have defined Colombia’s coastal music scene since the 1950s. These iconic speaker stacks transform percussion into raw energy, shaping Latin music culture with their bold aesthetics and booming personality.

Handcrafted Sound Library Capturing the Spirit of Picó Culture

In the heart of Quebec’s wintery forests at La Hacienda Creative Studios, we began recording the soul of El Jaguar. The instrument features traditional Afro-Colombian percussion, wooden drums, marimbas, modular synth textures, plucked electric strings, and vintage drum machines including the 808 and LinnDrum. Every sound was saturated, distorted, and reimagined with analog warmth to create a sonically rich, high-energy library unlike any other.

Authentic Re-amping Through Real Picó Sound Systems

To capture the true Colombian sound, we brought our recordings to Barranquilla and re-amped them through authentic Picó sound systems. These towering stacks added real-world ambience—raw textures shaped by concrete walls, open air, and massive volume. We collaborated with Circuito Sonoro Lab to live-perform modular synths through the Picó, creating a sound that’s organic, unpredictable, and deeply rooted in Latin American sonic identity.

Bold Sound Design, Built for Creative Expression

El Jaguar is designed with the same bold spirit as the Picó itself. Each hand-built stack in the interface features a unique name, color scheme, and sonic profile, giving users access to a diverse palette of playable textures. This is more than a sample library—it’s a living instrument designed for music producers, composers, and sound designers seeking rhythmic depth and cultural authenticity.

El Jaguar is the fourth entry in our Portals series—immersive virtual instruments that transport you to new musical landscapes. This library brings Latin America’s vibrant underground music directly into your DAW, providing access to authentic Colombian soundscapes rarely heard in mainstream production.

Features:

• Presets: 190
• Atelier Presets: 73
• Sample Maps: 240
• Library Size: 9.20 GB
• Round Robins: Up to 20
• SSM-Powered Samples: All sample maps enabled
• Recording Format: 384 kHz / 32-bit
• Sample Format: 384 kHz / 32-bit
• Multimic Capability: Up to 4 microphone channels