# Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer — Chromatic Hammered Dulcimer > Virtual chromatic hammered dulcimer instrument app for iPad. (iPhone/iPad app by Michael Eskin.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dusty-strings-d550-dulcimer/id1068609699 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Michael Eskin](https://appshunter.io/developer/342739369) - Category: Music, Music, Education - Price: $9.99 - Rating: 4.80/5 from 10 App Store ratings · 13 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 10.0 · 153 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2016-01-16 - Data updated: 2026-06-01 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dusty-strings-d550-dulcimer/id1068609699/reviews.md ## What is Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer? Experience playing the full, lush tones of a Dusty Strings D550 chromatic hammered dulcimer right on your iPad. This virtual dulcimer sounds and plays like the real thing! The D550 is one of the popular Chromatic Series models made by Dusty Strings, builders of hammered dulcimers in Seattle, WA since 1979. This model features standard fifth-interval hammered dulcimer tuning, plus an extended bass range (down to G2) and some additional chromatic notes to enable playing in any key. The overall range is 3.75 octaves, with a fully chromatic range of 3.5 octaves. To play, just touch the strings next to the black and white bridge markers. The Treble bridge (in the middle) has playable notes on either side, which are a fifth interval apart. The Bass bridge (on the right) can be played to the left of the markers, and the Superbass bridge (on the left) has the lowest notes, playable to the right of the markers. Toggle between a bright, clear ringing tone using hard hammers and a gentler, more piano tone using soft hammers by touching the image of the hammer in the upper left corner. To get repeated note "drag roll" effects, drag quickly horizontally across the strings. The drag roll sensitivity can be set on the settings screen. The higher the sensitivity, the shorter distance you need to move your finger to get the effect. Touch the ABC button on the upper left area to toggle the note names on/off. Touch the iPad icon on the playing area controls to toggle between "Full" and "Treble/Bass Bridge Only" style instruments. "Full" provides the full D550 instrument including the Superbass bridge. "Treble/Bass Bridge Only" focuses on the treble and bass bridges and provides the maximum string spacing for easier play on smaller screens like the iPad Mini. Touch the mixer icon on the upper left area to show the controls screen where you can adjust the balance and pan for the bass and treble bridges, enable or disable the drag rolls, as well as set the sensitivity for how far you need to drag to get the roll effect. The "Hammer Touches" setting chooses between no visible touches, visible touches, and visible touches + note label highlighting. On the controls screen you may use the "Soft Hammer Filter" control to choose between equalization of the soft hammer sounds for best sound through the iPad speaker or through headphones. The "iPad" setting optimizes the soft hammer equalization for playback through the iPad speaker. The "Headphones" setting optimizes the soft hammer sound equalization for headphones or for use when connected to an amplifier through the headphone jack. The "Headphones" setting allows the full fidelity of the lowest sound to pass through for best quality. On the iPad Pro, with its amazing stero speakers, set the "Soft Hammer Filter" to "Headphones" for best quality sound when playing with the soft hammers. From the controls screen you can also visit the Dusty Strings website to learn more about their amazing hand-crafted instruments. Touch the "Shhh" icon on the upper right corner to quiet all the strings. The app may be used as a MIDI sound module for use with CoreMIDI-enabled MIDI file player apps or controlled from an external MIDI keyboard using a hardware MIDI interface. Select the MIDI channel on the controls page. When used via MIDI, the app responds to MIDI note-on (with velocity), note-off, and volume change messages on the selected MIDI channel. The treble bridge volume and panning is used for all MIDI sounds and will respond to MIDI volume messages. The app is also a Audiobus compatible source module. To truly experience the full stereo spread of the instrument, plug in a set of headphones or amplified speakers. If plugged in, switch the "Soft Hammer Filter" setting to "Headphones" for the fullest possibly sound when playing with the soft hammers. ## Key features - Realistic hammered dulcimer sound - Adjustable hammer tones (bright/piano) - Drag roll effect for repeated notes - Toggleable note name display - Full instrument or bridge-only view - Adjustable drag roll sensitivity - Optimized sound for speakers/headphones ## Recent user reviews (10 of 13) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dusty-strings-d550-dulcimer/id1068609699/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Hammer Dulcimer App a Real Hit! *2018-11-05* 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! ### 5/5 — Incredible sounds, this app is full of musical possibilities *2018-07-09* 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. **Developer response:** Version 4.0 and later, released in June of 2018, has both Audiobus and MIDI control. ### 5/5 — Beautiful tone, very playable *2017-01-12, version 3.0* 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 ### 5/5 — Love it! but Please fix bundle app *2017-01-08* 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! **Developer response:** Your issue has nothing to do with my app, please check with Apple as to why you can't buy the bundle. ### 3/5 — Not fully compatible with Cubasis *2016-09-19* 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. **Developer response:** Version 4.0 and later, released in June of 2018, finally added MIDI control along with Audiobus support, so please give it a try! ### 5/5 — Beautiful! *2016-05-06* 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! ### 5/5 — Very very nice Dulcimer app *2016-05-02* Really like this. Very interactive. Nice job! ### 4/5 — Beautiful *2016-04-17* Nice implementation, looks great and plays well. Audiobus and IAA a welcome inclusion. ### 5/5 — Wonderful dulcimer app *2016-02-03* 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. ### 5/5 — Nice sounding app with authentic D550 layout *2016-02-01, version 2.1* 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. ## Frequently asked questions about Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer ### What is the Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer app? The Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer app is a virtual instrument that replicates the sound and playability of a real Dusty Strings D550 chromatic hammered dulcimer on your iPad. It offers realistic tones and various interactive features for a comprehensive playing experience. ### What devices does the Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer app support? The Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer app is exclusively designed for and supported on iPads. This ensures optimal performance and user experience tailored to the iPad's interface and capabilities. ### How much does the Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer app cost? The Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer app is available for a one-time purchase price of $9.99. This grants you full access to all its features without any recurring fees or in-app purchases. ### Does the Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer app have ads? No, the Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer app does not contain any advertisements. It is a paid application designed to provide an uninterrupted musical experience. ### What is the age rating for the Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer app? The Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer app has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for users of all ages, with no mature content present. ### How often is the Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer app updated? The Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer app was last updated on July 6, 2018, with version 4.0.2. While updates may not be frequent, the app is stable and offers a complete virtual instrument experience. ### Can I adjust the sound quality for headphones with the Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer app? Yes, the app features a 'Soft Hammer Filter' on the controls screen. You can select 'Headphones' to optimize the soft hammer equalization for the best sound quality through headphones or when connected to an amplifier. ### What is the range of the virtual dulcimer in the app? The virtual D550 dulcimer in the app features an overall range of 3.75 octaves, with a fully chromatic range spanning 3.5 octaves. It also includes an extended bass range down to G2. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 4.0.2 — 2018-07-06 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. Name changed to "Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer" Bug fixes and performance improvements. The app may now be used as a MIDI sound module for use with CoreMIDI-enabled MIDI file player apps or controlled from an external MIDI keyboard using a hardware MIDI interface. When used via MIDI, the app responds to MIDI note-on (with velocity), note-off, and volume change messages on the selected MIDI channel. Select the MIDI channel on the controls page. The treble bridge volume and panning is used for all MIDI sounds and will respond to MIDI volume messages. Fixed a rare issue that may have caused the sound to stop when used as MIDI sound module in the background. Volume sliders now show a full range from 0 to 100% The app also works as an Audiobus source module. ### 4.0.1 — 2018-06-26 Bug fixes and performance improvements. The app may now be used as a MIDI sound module for use with CoreMIDI-enabled MIDI file player apps or controlled from an external MIDI keyboard using a hardware MIDI interface. When used via MIDI, the app responds to MIDI note-on (with velocity), note-off, and volume change messages on the selected MIDI channel. Select the MIDI channel on the controls page. The treble bridge volume and panning is used for all MIDI sounds and will respond to MIDI volume messages. Fixed a rare issue that may have caused the sound to stop when used as MIDI sound module in the background. Volume sliders now show a full range from 0 to 100% ### 4.0 — 2018-06-20 The app may now be used as a MIDI sound module for use with CoreMIDI-enabled MIDI file player apps or controlled from an external MIDI keyboard using a hardware MIDI interface. When used via MIDI, the app responds to MIDI note-on (with velocity), note-off, and volume change messages on the selected MIDI channel. Select the MIDI channel on the controls page. The treble bridge volume and panning is used for all MIDI sounds and will respond to MIDI volume messages. ### 3.0 — 2016-03-08 The app now supports both Audiobus and Inter-App Audio for use with GarageBand and other multi-track recording apps. ### 2.5 — 2016-02-10 Minor bug fixes and performance improvements. ## Apps similar to Dusty Strings D550 Dulcimer | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [DTXM12 Touch - US](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dtxm12-touch-us/id953529785) | 2.7 (23) | Free | Music | | [iFretless Brass](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ifretless-brass/id915761815) | 4.9 (10) | $9.99 | Music | | [JAX Imperior Grand Piano](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jax-imperior-grand-piano/id6446004720) | 5.0 (1) | $24.99 | Music | | [Isotope MIDI Keyboard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/isotope-midi-keyboard/id1667140170) | 4.9 (9) | $6.99 | Music | | [WoodScaper](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/woodscaper/id1506743297) | 4.9 (7) | $9.99 | Music | ## More apps by Michael Eskin - [Concertina - Anglo Concertina](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/concertina-anglo-concertina/id343270484) - [Regulators for Uilleann Pipes](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/regulators-for-uilleann-pipes/id348529289) - [JustDrones - Tunable Just Intonation Drones](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/justdrones-tunable-just-intonation-drones/id348861427) - [Englitina - English Concertina](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/englitina-english-concertina/id349451473) - [Uilleann - Pocket Irish Pipes](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uilleann-pocket-irish-pipes/id353684178) - [Canntina - MacCann Concertina](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canntina-maccann-concertina/id360579654) All apps by Michael Eskin: https://appshunter.io/developer/342739369 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-01.*