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If you’re trying to put together a home studio for recording oud, you’ve probably noticed there’s no shortage of gear advice out there — but almost none of it is written by someone who actually plays oud. This post is different. Below is the exact oud recording gear I use every day: for recording, online lessons, livestreaming, and making tutorial videos. No fluff, just honest takes.
Already set up and looking to improve your playing? Check out [INTERNAL LINK: e.g. “my beginner oud lessons”] to get started.
My Oud Recording Gear: The Full List
🎧 RODE NTH-100 Headphone Monitors
Hands down my favorite thing in my whole setup. These headphones are so comfortable I can wear them for hours without any fatigue — which matters a lot when you’re deep in a mixing session or editing a long tutorial video. The sound is accurate and detailed, making them great for mixing oud recordings where you need to hear every nuance. If you’re looking for a solid pair of studio headphones that won’t make your ears hate you by the end of the day, these are the ones.
→ Check the RODE NTH-100 on Amazon
🎛️ Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (3rd Gen) — Audio Interface
This was my first audio interface and it was the perfect starting point for oud recording at home. Low latency, plug-and-play, and it just works. When I decided to get serious about home recording, I didn’t want to spend weeks troubleshooting gear — the Scarlett 2i2 let me focus on playing instead. It’s still the interface I reach for every session.
→ Check the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 on Amazon
🎙️ Shure BROADCAST1 Mic Arm
I move my mic around constantly — repositioning between recording oud, running lessons on Zoom, and doing tutorials. My old tabletop stand eventually wore out from the constant adjusting. The Shure BROADCAST1 is built completely differently. It’s solid, articulates smoothly, and I genuinely can’t see it wearing out anytime soon. If you’re hard on your gear like I am, this is the mic arm to get.
→ Check the Shure BROADCAST1 on Amazon
🎙️ BaifeiLi C414 Condenser Microphone
I picked this up because it was a cheap mic with surprisingly good reviews, and it’s held up to that reputation. It has a modern, detailed sound that pairs really well with the mic that comes bundled with the Scarlett 2i2. I run the two together in an X/Y stereo pattern when recording oud, and the combination gives a nice sense of width and depth without needing to spend a fortune on a matched pair.
→ Check the BaifeiLi C414 on AliExpress
🎙️ Shure SM57
If you only have the budget for one microphone, make it this one. The SM57 is an industry standard for recording acoustic instruments, and for good reason — it’s reliable, sounds great, and holds up in pretty much any environment. I use mine both for recording and for live performances. Honestly, this mic alone is all you need to get started.
→ Check the Shure SM57 on Amazon
📷 Logitech C922x HD Pro Webcam
For online oud lessons and livestreaming, the image quality and color on this webcam are genuinely impressive. It’s been reliable throughout — I’ve never had a lesson where I thought the camera was the problem. That said, it’s probably the one piece of gear I’d upgrade next. Still, my experience has been positive enough that I’d go back to Logitech when that time comes.
→ Check the Logitech C922x on Amazon
The Software I Use for Oud Recording and Video
🖥️ OBS Studio (Free)
I went into OBS expecting to eventually outgrow it and pay for something better. That never happened. I use it for recording tutorials, running oud lessons alongside Zoom, and livestreaming — and it handles everything without a hitch. It’s one of the best free tools in any category, not just audio and video. If you’re not using it yet, download it today.
🎚️ Reaper (DAW)
I chose Reaper because it was affordable and I kept hearing that professionals and beginners alike swore by it — which told me it had serious depth. That turned out to be completely true. Whatever I’ve needed to learn, there’s been a tutorial for it somewhere online. It’s been my DAW for oud recording since the beginning and I have no plans to switch.
Final Thoughts on Oud Recording Gear
You don’t need an expensive or complicated setup to start recording oud well. Everything on this list is accessible, battle-tested, and — in most cases — budget-friendly. Start with the interface and a mic, get comfortable recording, and build from there.
Have questions about any of this gear or how I use it specifically for oud? Drop a comment below — I’m happy to go deeper on any of it.
Want to put that new setup to use? Check out [INTERNAL LINK: e.g. “these oud exercises for beginners”] to get started.
