ARIA is a 64-bit sampler and synthesis engine designed with efficiency and reliability at its core. It delivers a lightweight and stable performance focused on simplicity and playability, making it suitable for both professional and hobbyist musicians. The engine supports a wide range of file formats, including the open and powerful SFZ format, which is gaining popularity as a standard in the music production community. Additionally, ARIA is compatible with soundfont files and plans to extend support to more formats, ensuring broad usability.

The modular architecture of ARIA allows for extensive customization and adaptability. Developers can use a custom software development kit to compile specialized modules into native machine code, enabling a variety of sound generation methods such as sample playback, additive and subtractive synthesis, and physical modeling. This flexibility extends to custom DSP processing, including real-time morphing, advanced filtering, convolution for realistic acoustic spaces, and sophisticated MIDI input processing. Each ARIA-based product can feature a unique user interface tailored through XML layouts that support multiple panes, transparent images, and animations.

ARIA supports multiple platforms including Mac OS X, Windows, and an upcoming native Linux version. It functions as a standalone application and integrates with popular plug-in formats like VST, AudioUnits, and RTAS, as well as notation software. Users benefit from seamless access to downloadable instrument libraries via the Garritan online store, allowing them to demo and purchase sounds easily. The engine employs a user-friendly copy protection system that authorizes software through a personalized graphic card key without the need for dongles, enabling use across multiple computers with minimal hassle.