Augmented PERSIA

Augmented PERSIA brings a carefully curated selection of Persian and Middle Eastern instruments into the modern production environment through a sophisticated hybrid architecture. At its core are six deeply sampled acoustic instruments - Oud, Tar, Saz, Ney, Alto Kamancheh, and Shah Kaman - each captured with multiple articulations to preserve their expressive character. Rather than presenting these as static sample playback, Arturia layers them with five distinct synthesis engines: Virtual Analog, Granular, Harmonic, Wavetable, and a simplified noise engine.

The design philosophy centers on morphing between acoustic authenticity and synthetic transformation. A 2-layer architecture allows stacking and blending of sources, with independent synthesis paths per layer that can be modulated via macro controls and a full modulation matrix. This approach yields everything from recognizable acoustic textures to abstract, heavily processed soundscapes - useful for composers seeking either cultural authenticity or experimental abstraction.

The preset library, numbering over 200, spans practical territory: orchestral underscores, ambient sequences, textural beds, and processed sound design. For film composers and electroacoustic producers, this combination of acoustic sampling and synthesis flexibility addresses a specific gap in the plugin market. While other instruments offer Middle Eastern samples or powerful synthesis separately, the integration here prioritizes the interplay between both approaches.

Augmented PERSIA suits producers comfortable with deep sound design who want non-Western instrumental color without sacrificing synthesis capability. Its granular and harmonic engines provide genuinely useful transformation tools rather than superficial effects, making it a serious option for contemporary composition bridging acoustic tradition and electronic music-making.