Arturia’s Augmented series offerings rely on a mixture of sampling and synthesis, allowing users to seamlessly blend between traditional acoustic instrument sounds and modern electronic soundscapes. The latest instalment — Augmented Persia — has just arrived, combining a set of six Persian and Middle Eastern instruments with a wealth of modern synthesis tools that make quick work of crafting expressive cinematic soundscapes.
Six Instruments
Augmented Persia is made up of the following core instruments:
- Oud (Plucked String): A short-necked, fretless lute from Iran and Syria. It provides a deep, pear-shaped body and a distinctively warm, resonant tone.
- Tar (Plucked String): A long-necked lute from Iran and Azerbaijan with a figure-eight body covered in skin. It produces a bright, percussive attack with rich sustain.
- Saz (Plucked String): Also known as Bağlama, this Turkish long-necked lute features movable frets and produces a bright, metallic tone.
- Alto Kamancheh (Bowed String): a vertically held spike fiddle. It offers a warm, midrange register with a vocal, haunting quality.
- Shah Kaman (Bowed String): a modern evolution of the Kamancheh with a fuller body and broader dynamic range, designed for contemporary performance and recording.
- Ney (Woodwind): An ancient end-blown reed flute (dating back over 4500 years) significant in Persian, Turkish, Jewish, Arabic and Egyptian traditions. Known for its breathy, ethereal sound and spiritual depth.
The instruments in question were recorded in collaboration with Evolution Series, a team of developers who specialise in creating authentic-sounding sample libraries. To ensure authenticity, Augmented Persia’s tremolo swells were recorded at specific dynamic layers — the Oud was captured at a soft dynamic for delicate builds, while the Tar and Saz were recorded at a loud dynamic for maximum percussive impact.
Augmented
The sample-based content in Augmented Persia is complemented by a powerful set of sound design features, with the underlying engine boasting the following four types of synthesis:
- Virtual Analogue: Emulates classic subtractive synthesis with Arturia’s renowned modelling technology.
- Granular: Deconstructs samples into microscopic grains for textured, avant-garde exploration.
- Wavetable: Provides modern, evolving digital timbres and sharp transitions.
- Harmonic: An additive synthesis engine that creates complex, metallic harmonic structures.
In addition to the raw instrument sounds, the Augmented layer also includes alternative versions processed using a range of boutique guitar pedals, digital effects processors and vintage tape machines. There’s also a collection of Additional samples that deliver a range of non-instrumental atmospheric sounds.
Compatibility
Augmented Persia is supported on PCs running Windows 10, and Macs running macOS 10.13 and above. It is available in VST, VST3, AU and AAX plug-in formats and as a standalone application.
Pricing & Availability
Augmented Persia is available now, priced at €149.
www.arturia.com/products/software-instruments/augmented/persia
