Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer User Reviews

Top reviews

Hammer Dulcimer App a Real Hit!

I knew of Michael's other music apps and had downloaded and had fun with his two row button accordion app. But I didn't know about the hammer dulcimer app until I tripped over it via YouTube. Well, I downloaded it and was able to practice a few of my dulcimer tunes right away. For someone who loves the hammer dulcimer, but hates tuning or hauling it around, this app lets you get in a dulcimer playing fix without the hassle of tuning or setting up - and you can practice quietly with headphones so no one else is bothered. My only gripe has nothing to do with the app itself: I now need a bigger iPad to play more and faster!
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Incredible sounds, this app is full of musical possibilities

UPDATE: My original review is below, I’m updating it since the dev has added MIDI & AudioBus, the only things I felt were keeping it from being a 5 Star app. The MIDI works great & Audiobus too..thank you for the update!
The sounds are crazy good, so realistic. The interface and design are wonderful. The only thing keeping the app from 5 star perfection is the lack of iOS music production integration. This app needs Audiobus and Inter-App Audio compatibility. MIDI would be really useful, but at the very least let us get these sounds to our DAW apps, etc. Aside from the mildly curious who'll mess with it once or twice, the people who would really use the app are musicians/producers who are using iOS and other great apps to make music. Budge up to that market and you'll have a big time following.
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Response from developer

Version 4.0 and later, released in June of 2018, has both Audiobus and MIDI control.

Beautiful tone, very playable

This app is probably aimed at those who know what they're doing, yet is still very accessible to punters like me. Straight away I was able to coax some lovely melodies, and understand how the app worked. The tone is beautiful, and the control surface a joy to work with.

Nic

Love it! but Please fix bundle app

This is exactly what I've been looking for in a dulcimer app and great starter for when you're going to buy a real one!

However, I have tried to purchase the bundle app numerous times and it has not worked for me and thought it was my card and it wasn't. I'd like to get the Bundle App so please fix it soon! I look forward to getting all the other apps but would like to buy the bundle app!!!

Thank you!
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Response from developer

Your issue has nothing to do with my app, please check with Apple as to why you can't buy the bundle.

Not fully compatible with Cubasis

Like the Roland Sound Canvas, this app is NOT fully compatible with Cubasis. I bought it after deciding the sounds were a close substitute for my Dusty Strings dulcimer. Unfortunately, it doesn't show up in Cubasis as an available MIDI instrument. I'm guessing I can send background MIDI to it, but that's not why I bought it. Bummer.
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Response from developer

Version 4.0 and later, released in June of 2018, finally added MIDI control along with Audiobus support, so please give it a try!

Beautiful!

I'm very impressed with this app. Not only does it sound beautiful, but the developer had enough insight to include IAA and Audiobus compatibility, which is an essential element in my purchasing decision. Because of this I can use the D550 with the rest of my studio. In the short time I've it I've already incorporated it into two songs and it sounds amazing! I bought this app while it was on sale for .99 cents but would gladly pay full price.

This was such a good buy that I decided to try my luck with another one of the developers app (bagpipes pro) and was not disappointed. Now for me, bagpipes are a novelty, but its a lot of fun to play, comes with IAA & audiobus so it shows up in a prog rock tune I did and adds a terrific element. Kudos to the developer for these fine products and insight into the needs of electronic musicians!
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Very very nice Dulcimer app

Really like this. Very interactive. Nice job!

Beautiful

Nice implementation, looks great and plays well. Audiobus and IAA a welcome inclusion.

Wonderful dulcimer app

This is a great tool for getting in extra practice time when it's not feasible to bring the real thing along. The sound is true to the real Dusty String dulcimer sound that is well known throughout the hammered dulcimer community. Also handy for impromptu jam sessions when you might have left your dulcimer at home.
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Nice sounding app with authentic D550 layout

This app is much more like playing a top class instrument than the alternatives. It has a full range of notes and great sound with genuine well tuned samples. It even has a portrait view which gives you wider string spacing for the mini iPad for example, although I find the landscape mode still works well on my mini iPad. It's fun using the extra bass bridge so I tend to stick to landscape.

I bought 3 other HD apps before I found this one. The only other one that comes close is the other app by this developer (trapezoid). This is better but dearer. If you play a real life instrument with a similar layout (or aspire to getting one) then choose this app. If you are happy with 15/14 then choose trapezoid which also sounds good but not quite as good as this one.
Actually I got this fee as part of a promotion, but it is worth paying for! I did pay for trapezoid that was before this came out.
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