# MIDI Bagpipes Chanter — MIDI Controller for Bagpipes

> Scottish bagpipe fingering MIDI controller for iPad synthesizers. (iPhone/iPad app by Michael Eskin.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midi-bagpipes-chanter/id580824831 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Michael Eskin](https://appshunter.io/developer/342739369)
- Category: Music, Music, Education
- Price: $4.99
- Rating: 1.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 21 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2012-11-22
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midi-bagpipes-chanter/id580824831/reviews.md

## What is MIDI Bagpipes Chanter?

MIDI Bagpipes Chanter is a Scottish Bagpipes fingering based MIDI controller.

MIDI Bagpipes Chanter doesn't produce any sound on its own, it is designed for playing hardware and software VST-style MIDI synthesizers via a CoreMIDI compatible interface connected to the dock connector or virtual MIDI instruments like Roland Sound Canvas for iOS, Universal Piper, or Sonosaurus ThumbJam running on your iPad.

IMPORTANT: Since this app requires as many as 8 fingers on the screen at the same time, before playing, disable "Multitasking Gestures" on your iPad (in the iPad Settings app, under the General section, turn the Multitasking Gestures switch to the off position).

The chanter fingerings are based on those used for the Scottish Highland Bagpipes (as well as other related Smallpipes).

MIDI Bagpipes Chanter supports two independent MIDI channels, emulating the operation of the drones and chanter of a set of Scottish Highland Bagpipes.

Touch the drone puck to start/stop the drones. For the Highland pipes, you'll want to set the drone transposition two semitones higher than the chanter.

Touch the bar at the top of the screen with your left thumb. It represents the hole on the back of the chanter for the highest note and must be covered for other lower notes to play.

The app uses chanter fingerings based on those for the Highland pipes.

Next, touch the top half of the chanter starting with the tips of your left index, middle, and ring fingers.

Finally, touch the bottom half of the chanter with the tips of your right index, middle, ring, and little fingers.

Touch the MIDI connector icon on the bottom left to bring up the MIDI parameter controls.

You may select the MIDI channel, attack velocity and volume for the chanter and drones independently using the sliders at the top of the screen.

The entire range may be transposed up or down (zero transpose is "C") up to one full octave in semitone increments using the chanter and drone transpose sliders.

Use the "Transmit MIDI Port" switch to choose between "Omni" sending MIDI data to all CoreMIDI apps (matches previous versions of Bagpipes MIDI Chanter) or "Virtual Port" sending to a named CoreMIDI virtual output port. When the "Virtual Port option is selected, MIDIChanter will show up as an input option in apps that support virtual ports like Sonosaurus ThumbJam and MidiBridge. "Omni" mode is selected by default.

All MIDI settings are saved when Bagpipes MIDI Chanter quits and restored the next time it is run.

Touch the '?' icon to show the help screen.

Touch the 'Shhh' icon on the upper left corner to quiet any "stuck" notes if they occur.

Drone puck image courtesy of Mike DeSmidt.

Here's how to use the app with several popular synthesizer apps:

Universal Piper:

In MIDI Chanter, enable the "Virtual Port" MIDI output, and set a -4 Chanter transpose. 
 
In Universal Piper, enable Background Play, Drone Auto ON/OFF, MIDI Chanter, and select "Degerpipe - Extended" as the MIDI Chanter to use.

Refresh the MIDI inputs and when MIDIChanter shows up, enable it by clicking on the dot next to the name (should turn green)

You should now be able to play like any other hardware MIDI chanter.

Other CoreMIDI compatible synth apps will have similar settings.

Be sure to visit the AppCordions.com website for MIDI setup and demo videos!

## Key features

- Scottish bagpipe fingering emulation
- MIDI controller for VST synths
- Independent chanter and drone control
- Adjustable MIDI channels and transposition
- Drone start/stop functionality
- Virtual MIDI port support

## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/midi-bagpipes-chanter/id580824831/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Waste of money

*2020-12-20*

I bought the app and the volume doesn’t work

### 1/5 — Read the details

*2014-08-05*

Waisted my money on this and did not realise until I paid that this is for midi control only and does not produce any sound.

**Developer response:** This app is a MIDI controller for playing other synthesizer apps. It doesn't make any sound, says so right in the description on the app store.

### 1/5 — Doesn't work!

*2014-04-10*

Absolutely no sound!

**Developer response:** This app is a MIDI controller for playing other synthesizer apps. It doesn't make any sound, says so right in the description on the app store.

## Frequently asked questions about MIDI Bagpipes Chanter

### What is MIDI Bagpipes Chanter?

MIDI Bagpipes Chanter is an application designed to emulate the fingering patterns of Scottish bagpipes, allowing users to control external MIDI synthesizers and virtual instruments.

### Does MIDI Bagpipes Chanter produce sound on its own?

No, MIDI Bagpipes Chanter does not produce any sound independently. It functions as a controller to send MIDI data to other compatible hardware or software synthesizers.

### What devices is MIDI Bagpipes Chanter compatible with?

MIDI Bagpipes Chanter is designed for iPad devices. It requires specific gesture settings to be disabled in the iPad's settings for optimal performance.

### How does MIDI Bagpipes Chanter handle chanter and drone sounds?

The app supports two independent MIDI channels, allowing for separate emulation of the chanter and drone sounds. Users can adjust transposition and volume for each independently.

### Can I use MIDI Bagpipes Chanter with other MIDI apps?

Yes, MIDI Bagpipes Chanter supports sending MIDI data to other CoreMIDI compatible apps. You can choose to send to all apps ('Omni') or a specific named virtual output port.

### What is the price of MIDI Bagpipes Chanter?

MIDI Bagpipes Chanter is a paid application, priced at $4.99. All MIDI settings are saved and restored between sessions.

### How often is MIDI Bagpipes Chanter updated?

The app was last updated on August 13, 2021, to version 2.5. Information on update frequency beyond this is not provided.

### Does MIDI Bagpipes Chanter have ads?

No, MIDI Bagpipes Chanter does not contain advertisements. It is a paid application without any in-app purchases or ads.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.5 — 2021-08-13

Updated metadata for new App store requirements.

Set base iOS level requirement to iOS 13.0.

### 2.4 — 2018-07-30

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

Doubled the width of the detect zones to make it easier to play with flatter fingers, more in the traditional style.

For best results when playing with flatter fingers, turn off the on-screen controls.

### 2.2 — 2016-01-13

Moved the "All Notes Off" button to the upper left corner.

Minor cosmetic improvements.

### 2.1 — 2016-01-07

Added option to choose between transmitting MIDI data to all receivers or to create a CoreMIDI virtual output port for use in other apps that supported named connections.

Use the "Transmit MIDI Port" switch to choose between "Omni" sending MIDI data to all CoreMIDI apps (matches previous versions of MIDIFlute) or "Virtual Port" sending to a named CoreMIDI virtual output port. When the "Virtual Port option is selected, MIDIFlute will show up as an input option in apps that support virtual ports like Universal Piper,  Sonosaurus ThumbJam, and MidiBridge. "Omni" mode is selected by default.

Now works with "Universal Piper" by enabling the Virtual MIDI transmit port and making the following settings:

In MIDI Chanter, enable the "Virtual Port" MIDI output, and set a -4 Chanter transpose. 
 
In Universal Piper, enable Background Play, Drone Auto ON/OFF, MIDI Chanter, and select "Degerpipe - Extended" as the MIDI Chanter to use.

Refresh the MIDI inputs and when MIDIChanter shows up, enable it by clicking on the dot next to the name (should turn green)

You should now be able to play the app with Universal Piper like any other hardware MIDI practice chanter.

### 2.0 — 2015-07-08

Fixes for iOS 8.3 and beyond

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## 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

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*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 2026-06-10.*