# Uilleann - Irish Bagpipes — Chanter+Drones+Regulators+MIDI > Authentic Irish Uilleann bagpipe simulator with MIDI support. (iPhone/iPad app by Michael Eskin.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uilleann-irish-bagpipes/id480235326 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Michael Eskin](https://appshunter.io/developer/342739369) - Category: Music, Education - Price: $4.99 - Rating: 4.00/5 from 5 App Store ratings · 7 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 10.0 · 43 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2011-11-18 - Data updated: 2026-06-05 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uilleann-irish-bagpipes/id480235326/reviews.md ## What is Uilleann? Uilleann is an extremely authentic sounding Full Set of Traditional Irish Bagpipes that may be played like the real instrument on screen or with a hardware MIDI chanter. The app emulates the chanter, three drones, and regulators of a full set of Uilleann pipes. It plays in all the traditional keys of D, C#, C, B, and Bb, and is fully tuneable as much as +/- 50 cents. The Uilleann pipes are a bellows driven set of bagpipes with a two octave range. The chanter fingerings are based on those used for the Uilleann pipes and will also be familiar and intuitive for players of the tin whistle and Irish flute. The app supports traditional finger vibrato, and note bending effects. MIDI Chanter Setup: Connect your MIDI chanter first using a hardware MIDI interface, then launch the app. Touch the MIDI icon on the lower left corner to set the MIDI channels and lowest note for your MIDI chanter (55 to 79). MIDI default parameter values are based on the Fagerstrom Uilleann Technopipes: Drone channel: 15 Chanter channel: 1 Lowest Note: 69 The app responds to MIDI Pitch Bend messages (two-semitone range) on the Chanter channel. The Note Bending control enables/disables the feature. Regulator pairs respond on the next MIDI channel after the chanter starting on MIDI note 60. MIDI settings are saved on exit. How to Play: IMPORTANT: Since this app requires as many as 9 fingers on the screen at the same time, before playing, disable "Multitasking Gestures" on your iPad (in the Settings app, under the General section, turn the Multitasking Gestures switch to the off position). Touch the 'i' icon at the upper right corner of the main screen to show/hide the controls. Touch the '?' on the upper left corner to show/hide the on-screen help labels. Select your instrument key from the key selector and adjust the fine tuning with the tuning slider. The number to the left of the tuning shows shows the tuning offset in cents. To reset the tuning to zero, just touch the number. Touch the drone puck to start/stop the drones. To play the chanter, touch the three holes of the left side of the chanter starting with the tips of your left index, middle, and ring fingers. Next, touch the four holes on the right side of the chanter with the tips of your right index, middle, ring, and little fingers. Touch the green "Octave" bar on the left side with your left little finger to play the notes one octave higher. The regulators are played with the right thumb on the circles between the right side of the chanter and the bottom control bars. Use the TB/BB select to choose between Tenor+Baritone or Baritone+Bass regulator pair chords The chords in TB mode are as they would be on the real instrument: D, G, D, G, and A In BB mode they are None (to align with the TB chords), G, D, G, and A Use the Regulator Volume slider to set the balance of the regulators against the chanter and drones. The regulators use the same Reverb Send setting as the chanter. Optional pitch bending of the chanter notes is done by first turning on "Note Bending" in the controls, then sliding the finger up or down very slightly on the root tone hole for the note. Touch the blue "Back-D" bar at the bottom left center with your left thumb to play the second octave "Back-D" on either a press or release based on the setting of the "Back-D Mode" control. Touch the red "Stop" bar at the bottom right center with your right thumb to stop the chanter sound while closing all the holes for traditional staccato closed piping techniques. It represents the bottom of the chanter that is closed with the leg. Touch the purple "Bend" bar on the lower right with your right little finger to bend the pitch or play finger vibrato. You may also perform finger vibrato on the chanter for most notes with the right middle and/or ring fingers. Chanter image based on my Kirk Lynch concert pitch chanter. Drone puck image courtesy of Mike DeSmidt. Crowley drone sample courtesy of Vinnie Kilduff. ## Key features - Full set Uilleann bagpipe emulation - Chanter, drones, and regulators - Multiple traditional keys - Adjustable tuning (+/- 50 cents) - On-screen or MIDI chanter play - Traditional fingerings and effects ## Recent user reviews (7 of 7) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uilleann-irish-bagpipes/id480235326/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Only two notes? *2020-07-08* I just purchased this for my iPad. It plays only on two holes, two notes. All the other holes are the same note. No explanation, no manual, nothing! ### 1/5 — What a shame *2017-10-28* With Audiobus and Inter App Audio support removed in the iOS 11 version, this app has just been consigned to the scrapheap, since it can no longer be recorded into any of the recording apps that it could before. ### 5/5 — Nicely done *2016-02-21* Great sound, great fun... The versatility of the adjustable tones is really impressive ### 2/5 — Nice sound but it keeps crashing *2013-10-22* The app will kick you out while playing either to the first page opening the app or completely. I'm running the latest OS on a ipad 3. **Developer response:** It's 5 years later and I don't think this is an issue anymore with the versions that have been released since. ### 5/5 — Uilleann Pipes on my iPad - Sensational *2013-04-07* Many traditional musicians who play flutes and whistles would love to play the Uilleann pipes but the cost is prohibitive and there are few opportunities to 'try them on for size'. Now you can get a really good sounding simulation for less than the cost of a pint of Guinness. This is one of the very best Apps on my iPad. The concept of adapting the touchscreen to allow it to cover fingering sequences is insightful enough but it even allows for bending notes by enabling areas near holes to respond in a similar way to on the real instrument. The sound with drones is very realistic. It doesn't sound fake like so many synth/keyboard sounds. This App caused quite a lot of interest at Comhaltas last week. I'm still a bit slow with it at the moment but I'll be looking for tunes to play that suit and hope to even use it in performances. Wonderful App and well worth the price. Eamon Spillane April 2013 ### 5/5 — Good app *2012-11-13* Turn the screen horizontally to play the pipes! ### 5/5 — Thank you *2011-11-18* Both layouts have their own advantages. I'm glad I can keep this layout without having to purchase it again. ## Frequently asked questions about Uilleann ### What is Uilleann? Uilleann is a music application that provides an authentic-sounding simulation of a full set of traditional Irish bagpipes, including the chanter, drones, and regulators. It can be played on-screen or with a compatible MIDI chanter. ### What keys does Uilleann support? Uilleann supports all traditional keys of D, C#, C, B, and Bb. The app also allows for fine-tuning adjustments of up to +/- 50 cents. ### Can I use a MIDI chanter with Uilleann? Yes, Uilleann supports hardware MIDI chanters. You can connect your MIDI chanter via a hardware interface and configure MIDI channels and the lowest note within the app's settings. ### How do I play the chanter and regulators on Uilleann? The chanter is played by touching holes on the screen, with an octave bar for higher notes. Regulators are played with the right thumb, and you can select between Tenor+Baritone or Baritone+Bass regulator pairs. ### What is the price of Uilleann? Uilleann is a paid application, priced at $4.99. This one-time purchase grants you full access to all its features. ### What devices is Uilleann compatible with? Uilleann is currently supported on iPads. It requires iOS 4.3 or later and was last updated on July 27, 2018. ### Does Uilleann have ads? No, Uilleann does not contain advertisements. As a paid application, it offers an uninterrupted experience for users. ### What is the age rating for Uilleann? Uilleann has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for children and general audiences. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 8.7 — 2018-07-27 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. Performance improvements. The "Note Bending" On/Off control also now controls the enabling or disabling of reacting to MIDI Pitch Bend messages. The app responds to MIDI Pitch Bend messages (two-semitone range) on the Chanter channel. The Note Bend control enables/disables the feature. Regulator pairs respond on the next MIDI channel after the chanter starting on MIDI note 60. More robust support for using the app as a sound module via CoreMIDI with other MIDI file player apps. ### 8.6 — 2018-07-23 Faster response time and sound quality improvements. The "Note Bending" control also now controls the enabling or disabling of reacting to MIDI Pitch Bend messages. The app responds to MIDI Pitch Bend messages (two-semitone range) on the Chanter channel. The Note Bend control enables/disables the feature. Regulator pairs respond on the next MIDI channel after the chanter starting on MIDI note 60. More robust support for using the app as a sound module via CoreMIDI with other MIDI file player apps. ### 8.5.1 — 2018-06-14 The "Note Bending" control also now controls the enabling or disabling of reacting to MIDI Pitch Bend messages. The app responds to MIDI Pitch Bend messages (two-semitone range) on the Chanter channel. The Note Bend control enables/disables the feature. Regulator pairs respond on the next MIDI channel after the chanter starting on MIDI note 60. More robust support for using the app as a sound module via CoreMIDI with other MIDI file player apps. ### 8.4.3 — 2018-06-12 The "Note Bending" control also now controls the enabling or disabling of reacting to MIDI Pitch Bend messages. The app responds to MIDI Pitch Bend messages (two-semitone range) on the Chanter channel. The Note Bend control enables/disables the feature. Regulator pairs respond on the next MIDI channel after the chanter starting on MIDI note 60. Bug fixes: Fixed issue with MIDI Controllers that send Note-On events with velocity zero instead of sending Note-Off events. ### 8.4.2 — 2018-06-09 The "Note Bending" control also now controls the enabling or disabling of reacting to MIDI Pitch Bend messages. The app responds to MIDI Pitch Bend messages (two-semitone range) on the Chanter channel. The Note Bend control enables/disables the feature. Regulator pairs respond on the next MIDI channel after the chanter starting on MIDI note 60. ## Apps similar to Uilleann | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Numa Player](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/numa-player/id1601231132) | 4.7 (924) | Free | Music | | [AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-synth-one-synthesizer/id1371050497) | 4.9 (26,820) | Free | Music | | [KORG Module](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/korg-module/id1048875111) | 4.2 (111) | Free | Music | | [forScore](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forscore/id363738376) | 4.8 (41,242) | $24.99 | Music | | [OnSong 2026](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onsong-2026/id1330350343) | 4.5 (4,434) | Free | Music | | [Sheet Music Scanner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sheet-music-scanner/id884984324) | 4.5 (6,314) | Free | 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 2026-06-05.*