Mike's Oud Forums

www.ambientoud.com - new oud site

ambientoud - 9-26-2005 at 11:32 PM

Hello everyone, what an amazing forum this is,... I am new here. Mike has been so generous to offer up his forum as a means for me to introduce you all to my new web site http://www.ambientoud.com. It is basically a vehicle for my music, Knossos, which is inspired by and dedicated to, the oud. In my opinion, the oud is the most prized and beautiful instrument ever made. My music seeks to explore different perspectives with the oud using modern compositions and electronic manipulation. This is all out of love and respect for traditionalism, of course. I hope you can all take a moment to visit my site and let me know what you think. I've passionately worked to create some unique oud music and a decent site to support it. Thanks for your time and for welcoming me to the forum. Cheers!!!

kasos - 9-27-2005 at 08:39 AM

Very impressed with your site. Your music is very professionally put together, and you make ingenious use of the oud in combination with electronic effects. I think it's wonderful to make use of the oud and other ancient instruments in modern as well as traditional ways, and I encourage your efforts in this direction.

I read your bio, and was intrigued by some of your earlier interests. Are there any sites where I can hear some of your earlier work, where you explore medieval and other acoustic music?

Mark

Greg - 9-27-2005 at 11:51 AM

A very nice site Dann, thanks for sharing. Mike posted a link a few days ago, so I had already checked it out :cool:

I know you play all the stringed instruments, but is the drumming yours as well, or is most of it loops?

I can't imagine how much time you must have put into building all those tracks, but it sure was worth the effort.

The site lists all acoustic instruments used. Would it be possible to also list your inventory of hardware and software, or would that be giving away some trade secrets ;)

Regards,

Greg

Jonathan - 9-27-2005 at 12:16 PM

A beautifully designed, site, as well. Visually stunning. Hope you have a public event sometime soon in the LA area.

Elias - 9-27-2005 at 02:21 PM

Well,I am not a fan of electronic use in music...but i have to say that you wrote an album really interesting also for tipically acoustic ears like mine..., It's nice to listen to the clips.
I think that there is a lot of poor music out played with oriental instrument like oud combined togheter with electronics, really really poor quality stuff...but yours is made with a research spirit and a respect for the instruments theirself that made it a quality product.
Great website also...
Many compliments!:airguitar:
elias

Orahim1 - 9-27-2005 at 08:08 PM

Nice use of different beats & loops mixed in with the oud!

ambientoud - 9-27-2005 at 11:10 PM

I just wanted to give a heartfelt thanks to all who have dropped by to give me some feedback on the site and music. It really means a lot. I was hoping my work would be well received by such a passionate and professional group of oud players and followers. Thanks for the support!

I hope that this music can break a few western barriers and expose new listeners to the texture and emotion of this instrument!

Cheers

ambientoud - 9-27-2005 at 11:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by kasos

I read your bio, and was intrigued by some of your earlier interests. Are there any sites where I can hear some of your earlier work, where you explore medieval and other acoustic music?

Mark


Hi Mark (kasos) Thanks for the kind words! Sadly, most of my compositions in the medieval vein were never commercially released, we do have a bunch of masters that are floating around somewhere. The project that is documented on disk is entitled "Still", however, it is electro-acousitc guitar explorations with a backdrop of middle-eastern percussion (no oud, though) It is heavily "treated" stuff, and somewhat melancholy. I do love the medieval stuff and I'm planning some solo imporvisation performances that will encompass that as well as ambient looping and oud manipulations. Soon I hope. Cheers!

ambientoud - 9-27-2005 at 11:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Greg

I know you play all the stringed instruments, but is the drumming yours as well, or is most of it loops?
The site lists all acoustic instruments used. Would it be possible to also list your inventory of hardware and software, or would that be giving away some trade secrets ;)

Regards,

Greg


Thanks Greg! Well, I converted my studio from analog to digital 2 years ago to complete this project and I must say it was a labor of love - but took forever... I am a detail and texture fiend and I kind of went crazy. Regarding the percussion, about 80% of it is either live tracking or manufactured loops from live performances performed by me. That too, took a long time (digital editing). The remaining 20% are samples - I am horrible at indian tabla. I had a very modest set up of hardware: Cubase SX, Reason, Sound Forge and Soft synths - Reaktor, Absynth. Of course the star of the show was the oud, I used 3. As well as about 20-30 other stringed eastern instruments and percussion. It was fun - my next CD will be less taxing I hope, maybe oud taksims with some reverb! Cheers! :)

kasos - 9-28-2005 at 10:30 AM

Sorry to hear about your earlier material being unavailable. I look forward to seeing your new recordings, in time. Please let us know, through a post on this site, when this occurs. All the best, Mark