I was just down in Phoenix for a funeral and decided to record some of my good friend Robert Fernandez (yes the author of the book below :), percussion for 2 purposes.

1. I am going to make a sample library with them and,

2. I wanted some patterns I could use not only to demonstrate the samples, but to have “human” feel midi grooves.

It was a long session, but we got a lot done. I focused on percussion that was unique and probably not really available anywhere else. 

I have many notes, and will probably release these as single instruments in Kontakt, SFZ, EasySampler, and, if I can figure it out, VST3. LOL.

What I have so far. All multiple samples and velocities. The patterns will be an addon, but who knows what the “founders” special will be

Please excuse the images (these will be updated when my graphics guy fixes them), and the examples (no real mixing, so you are hearing them pretty much as recorded).

Bata: Recorded with one mic on each side. Iya, Itotele, and Okonkolo, plus boca (high side). Pattern is Oggún.

Quijada: This was recorded with a close mic and an overhead. Patterns include a Cuban style and a Peruvian style.

Quijada with Son Montuno

(Pans) Saltanes: These are from Brazil and I recorded the low and high “saltanes” with both close and overhead mics. Pattern is included

African Bell: Robert picked up this bell during his studies in Ghana. It includes close and overhead, muted and open notes.

Abacus: Yeah, well nobody probably has this. It made him a ton of money back in the studio days in LA. Yes, it’s an abacus, and includes forward and backward hits. Plus a groove.

Dominican Clave: How many of you knew this even existed? There are multiple samples and a typical pattern.

Shell (Caracol): From Oriente de Cuba, this is used in Oriente (Gaga), Haiti (rara), Mexico. I have a short, long, and longer “call”. Why a call? In Haiti this is used in the Call of the Slave traditionally.

Updated 2022-12-12 fixed audio and images