Electronic bagpipe sets based on optical technology, therefore also a-pipes, require a sufficient distance (a few millimeters) between the hole-open position and the hole-closed position in order to decide whether or not the hole is open.
For those who barely lift their fingers, optical technology is therefore to be avoided and resistive or capacitive technologies are preferable. Indeed, a barely covered hole will then be considered completely covered, while a finger that just loses contact will be considered a wide open hole.
Yes, totally identical to a real bagpipes chanter. It's even one of a-pipes strengths, especially compared to a practice chanter.
Because a-pipes higlight all imperfect fingerings, there are mostly dedicated to personal work and are not recommanded for performing, except in case of high level playing technique.
Moreover, the wireless version of a-pipes + a-box is also not suitable for performing on stage. Indeed, the low electric power of the a-pipes (powered by a simple 1.5V battery) requires playing in front of the a-box and not farer than 4 meters.
In addition, the electromagnetic environment due to the presence of the many modular phones of the public can have a disturbing effect on radio transmission with the a-box.
No, that's not possible. Only sounds played by the remote PC / Mac computer software can be changed.
No, the a-pipes uses Bluetooth only to communicate with the remote software (on PC, Mac or Android device).
On the other hand, it is possible to connect a commercial Bluetooth transmitter to the jack output of the a-pipes; in this case, a more or less sensitive latency time will appear between the moment of the fingering and the note heard.
No, cellphone headsets have a 4-pin jack because of the mic; the jack output of the a-pipes has only three pins.
Indeed, the a-pipes was designed to be used with standard ear buds (8 ohms) and be audible in an airplane.
If used with some headset, it could be necessary to use a male-female jack extension with potentiometer (a few euros on the WEB) to lower the sound at will.
Some guitar amps come into resonance when drones are in use. It's so unpleasant that one should mute drones.
The Cube by Rolland is one of the amps that sounds very well with the a-pipes.
The question is complex.
A rechargeable battery has a limited life, which means returning the instrument after a few years to change the battery.
Another disadvantage: you must always have the USB cable with you.
In addition, the use of electronic devices containing a lithium battery could become prohibited in cabin on different airlines in the future; there are already restrictions on flights to the US.
For these reasons, the choice fell on an external battery, to give the user complete freedom.
... A prototype of a-pipes incorporating a lithium-polymer battery rechargeable over USB (charger in board) is however being evaluated. Charging time is about half an hour and the autonomy is impressive, even when using the radio continuously (via the a-Box).
If you are interested in LI-ION a-pipes, let say it.
The stick allows to take support on the left shoulder so that the top of the chanter can not move back, as on the real bagpipe.
Yes, for example the disposable chopsticks found in Asian restaurants. However, it may be necessary to adjust the tip of the wand with a knife or a knive.
No, except that the current wooden version has a removable top adapter for Chinese baguette. On plastic model, the wand fits directly into a conical hole located on the non removable top stock piece.
The wood chanter is slightly thicker than the plastic chanter.
The exotic wood (padook) is initially orange but darks with the time and the exposure to the light, to draw on the brown chocolate in more or less long term.
The plastic chanter has the same external dimensions than McCallum chanters.
Its body is made by molded resin. It is then lacquered with two-component polyurethane spray paint.
The plastic chanter is very heavier than the wooden one: 180g.
Extreme rigidity and very solid.
The USB "CH341" driver use by the remote software is worldwidely used but has never been supported by Mac OS X.
The fact that the CH341 component is not an American product is likely the cause ... and it should last.
It is therefore necessary to use one of the drivers available on the WEB.
But since Mac OS X is very unstable, every time the system is updated, a specially ported driver must be found and installed.
Some of these drivers are offered on this site.
No, the iOS system is not supported. No development planned.
It would be quite possible to produce a real size "gaïta" plastic chanter, provided that there is sufficient demand. Contact us if you are interested.
No never.
Yes perfectly.
It also works in environments with atypical brightness (full sun, strobes, spotlight ...).
Yes, just adjust a-pipes top end vith hemp to fit into you bag's stock.
It is then possible to play in real position. You even can blow into the bag because the a-pipes let leak as much air as bagipes set with three drones. It is also possible to prevent air leak with an adhesive tape.
One prototype with embedded MIDI output was build, but because a-pipes is powered at 3V3, only MIDI 2 compliant devices can interoperate with it on a reliable way. Because it is not possible to guess which device is compatible, embedded MIDI output has been abandoned.
On the other hand, the remote software is able to output played notes to a MIDI port. If this port is a virtual MIDI port, it is readable by softwares as Universal Piper, running on the same computer.
Generally not: the MIDI a-box outputs 3V3. So only MIDI 2 compliant devices can interoperate with it on a reliable way.
A rechargeable battery has a limited life, which means returning the instrument after a few years to change the battery.
In addition, the use of electronic devices containing a lithium battery could become prohibited in cabin on different airlines in the future; there are already restrictions on flights to the US.
For these reasons, the choice fell on an external battery, to give the user complete freedom, including the use of a rechargeable external battery.
A version of the a-pipes incorporating a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery by USB is however available on request.