Arabic Oud

The Unmistakable Sound of the Middle East

Warm, expressive, and full of character: The oud is one of the most distinctive instruments in Middle Eastern music. For centuries, its unmistakable sound has shaped melodies and rhythms from North Africa to the Mediterranean and is also considered a predecessor of the European lute.

Arabic Oud brings this rich musical tradition directly into your productions. Together with Syrian musician and oud virtuoso Bassam Ayoub, Engine Audio recorded three different ouds with a particular focus on authentic playing techniques, expression, and natural dynamics.

From delicately ornamented melodies and fast runs to rhythmic accompaniment, 39 articulations, multiple velocity layers, and up to 8 round robins give you the flexibility to create lively and convincing oud performances. Arabic Oud is equally at home in traditional music, film scoring, world music, pop, and modern productions.

Authentic Performances with Microtunings

Traditional tuning systems are an essential part of the characteristic oud sound. That's why Arabic Oud includes integrated microtunings for Bayati, Rast, Saba, and Seka, each available in two variations and with a freely selectable root note. This allows you to create authentic Maqam performances without the need for additional tuning tools.

Direct Workflow in Engine Player

The Engine Player puts all essential functions right at your fingertips. Latch and Hold keyswitches let you switch flexibly between articulations while playing, making it easy to incorporate ornaments and different playing techniques intuitively into your performance.

The integrated MIDI Songs and Loops demonstrate typical phrases and rhythmic playing styles while providing inspiration for your own ideas. The Full instruments offer an expanded selection with 22 MIDI Songs and Loops, while the Lite versions include 14 MIDI Songs and Loops.

Full & Lite Instruments

All three ouds are available as Full and Lite instruments. The Lite versions focus on the most essential articulations while using fewer system resources. This makes them especially suitable for live performances or whenever you want quick and easy access to the characteristic sound of the oud.

At a Glance

• Three authentically sampled Arabic ouds

• 39 articulations for melodic and rhythmic playing styles

• Multiple velocity layers and up to 8 round robins

• Microtunings for Bayati, Rast, Saba, and Seka

• Latch and Hold keyswitches for intuitive performances

• 22 MIDI Songs and Loops in the Full instruments

• 14 MIDI Songs and Loops in the Lite instruments

• Full and resource-friendly Lite versions

• Ideal for traditional music, world music, film scoring, pop, and modern productions

Requires Engine Player 1.6.0 or higher.

Mac

• macOS 10.15 or newer
• 64 bit: Stand-alone, AU, VST3, AAX (native Apple Silicon or Intel)
• RAM: 4 GB (more recommended)

Windows

• Windows 10 or newer
• 64 bit: Stand-alone, VST3, AAX
• Intel Core Processor
• RAM: 4 GB (more recommended)

The latest Engine Player tutorial video can be viewed here: Engine Audio