BagPipe - Download the free bagpipes and Uilleann pipes software

Introduction

At first, BagPipe software has been created for helping Great Highlands Bagpipes players to :

• Compose tunes scores :
• select note value using the mouse wheel (or Next/Previous keys) then click on the staff to engrave the note,
• as an option, sound of the note can be played as the mouse moves on the staff,
• some embellishments are available via keyboard shortcuts (HA, HG, E and D grace notes, doublings, birl, Taorluath).
• because notes are automatically grouped when is is possible, let use "breaks" (b key) to split a group.
• Digitalize existing scores, scanned as GIF files.
• Transpose scottish scores into breton notation and vice versa.
• Import ABC and BWW files, exports ABC files.
• Highlight score parts, as with a "stabilo boss".
• Put annotations on the scores.
• Produce PDF printable files.
• Help learning a tune or play duo with the computer :
• Play the tune with the GHB or the practice pipe sound :
• the whole score, taking or not into account repeat signs,
• a selected part of the score,
• or starting from a note.
• one shot or continuous playing
• Grace notes and embellishments notes have the same duration ; it is tunable.
• All grace notes and embellishments are maskable.
• Silent reading : in this mode, no sound is played but notes are visualy played, as in a karaoke.
• Optional repeats playing.
• Optional pipe band start and ryhtmic with drums.
• Offer optional visual representation of the fingerings.
• Learn to tune your drones with your chanter, thanks to realtime spectrograms.
• Record yourself using the "parrot" mode : no need to hit the keyoard neither to clik ! Just play : recording starts automatically when the input level is high enough, then stops after a long enough silence. Then the recorded tune is automatically played. When it finishes, let just play again.
• Two metronomes availables : a built in one and a standalone one.

Evolution

In a second time, the software (beginning with 1.3 version) has been opened to other wind based G clef instruments :
• Extended scale (19 notes).
• Accidentals.
• Rest signs.
• Modifiable key signatures (breton mode only).
• Optionnel background bass drum rythmic and "pipe band" start.
• Possibility of changind time or tempo at each staff.
• Staffs justification.
• Configuration of characters fonts and colors.
• Scales samples can be provided by the user.

With 1.4 release come mainly :

• Hight quality graphism (notes antialiasing).
• Tunes lists.
• Embelishments custumisable palette and user's keyboard shortcuts.
• Batch export of a whole tunes folder to a mobile device (PDF and WAV files generation).
• One can compose and listen multi voices tunes, for multiple instruments.
• One can compose and listen specific voices for the snare drum.

Main window - scottish notation (click to enlarge)

Main window - breton notation (click to enlarge)

PDF generated file (click to enlarge)

Preferences pannel (click to enlarge)

Embelishments palette

Mixted score : bagpipes + snare drum

Miscellaneous

• ABC standard format is not fully supported, so reading of non BagPipe's written scores could fail.
• BWW standard format is not fully supported, so some embellishments could be ignored. In such case, a debug message explains it.
• I am thinking about an ANDROID version.