Sound, in its truest form, goes beyond tone — it’s kinetic, dynamic, and spatial. Carlos Peña’s work—especially in MNDALA 2—clearly illustrates this.
In this two-part tutorial, Venezuelan pianist, synthesist, and producer Carlos Peña guides us through how simple, performance-driven gestures inside MNDALA 2 can transform static samples into vivid, expressive soundscapes. By diving into mic function controls, envelope shaping, and dynamic axis modulation, Carlos offers an inspiring look into a more tactile and immersive way of making music.
🎥 Watch the Videos
Short, to-the-point, and ready to level up your workflow. In these tutorials, Carlos demonstrates two powerful ways to shape sound inside MNDALA 2:
🔊 What Makes El Jaguar Unique?
In showcasing these ideas, Carlos turns to El Jaguar. El Jaguar is just one example—these creative possibilities run through the entire MNTRA lineup, from Atma to Orakle X to Huracan.
El Jaguar is one of the most powerful and culturally rich instruments in our collection. We crafted this instrument from raw sounds, re-amping them through towering Picó sound systems in Barranquilla, Colombia. The instrument channels the energy of a unique street-party culture. It creates cinematic, percussive textures.
What are Picós?
Picós are large, handmade sound systems deeply woven into Afro-Colombian musical traditions. Born in the Caribbean coastal cities of Colombia, these vibrantly painted loudspeakers are cultural symbols infused with rhythm and energy. They’re symbols of cultural identity and sonic celebration.
Each Picó system is custom-built, often towering several meters high and painted in bright colors that reflect local pride. The sound they project is massive, gritty, and full of life. This character defines El Jaguar. Here, the resonance of the walls, distortion of the amps, and the sound system itself become part of each sample.
Through this process, El Jaguar evolves into a portal to an entire sonic ecosystem, one built on tradition, community, and high-voltage energy.
MNDALA 2 is the heart of our instrument ecosystem. MNDALA 2 doesn’t just triggers the sound. It animates the sound.
This free, standalone plugin hosts all MNTRA instruments and transforms how you perform and shape textures in real time. Key features include:
This approach unlocks a deeply organic and human feel that you simply can’t get from traditional MIDI mapping.
A vibrant sonic journey into Barranquilla’s underground music culture, El Jaguar captures the raw sonic energy. It does this by re-amping through Colombia’s iconic Picó sound systems. Fusing Afro-Caribbean percussion, marimba, vintage drum machines, and modular synths, each re-amped through a towering Picó—this toolbox of sounds pulses with warmth, distortion, and movement.
That same spirit sparked a live collaboration with Circuito Sonoro Lab—Laura Katic and Ximena Delat’s handmade-modular workshop in Cali. We invited them to patch, and perform through the Picó in real time, instead of sampling the synths. Which resulted in a more dynamic and authentic sound. The sessions buzz with improvisation and electric energy. We stretched those performances into playable textures, layering a modern Colombian identity that’s entirely its own.
Want to experience the same instrument Carlos is using?
Carlos’ short videos inspire you quickly—then you can apply his techniques in your own setup. MNDALA 2 opens door for endless sonic movements and possibilities. Be it El Jaguar or any other MNTRA instrument.
👉 Explore more MNDALA 2-powered instruments
More artist showcases and sonic deep-dives are on the way. Stay tuned!
