User Manual
Contents
1. The calibration data will be lost after this type of reset so you must remember to recalibrate the vPipes after factory default reset Page 16 vPipes Uilleann User Manual 11 Sound Settings In this chapter you will learn all about the configuration parameters that make the vPipes sound one way or another volume transpose reverb etc You will also learn how to save these parameters into a preset so that you can have them readily to hand and use them whenever you wish The remainder of the chapter analyses each of the categories and parameters following the same order as that which appears on the screen 11 1 Presets A preset is a space in the vPipes memory reserved to store a specific combination of parameter adjustments so that they can be easily reloaded at any time You can store up to 10 presets on the vPipes Added to these 10 presets you also have the Default preset at number O that cannot be modified or deleted Each time you turn your vPipes on the last preset that was used will be loaded Sound Settings vs Rest of Settings Sound Setting refers to all those parameters that are related to the sound the vPipes makes These are all the parameters that appear in the menu under the category of Sound Settings and are the only ones that will be saved when stored in a preset Loading a preset To load a preset follow the sequence from the Home Screen 0x3 Then use the A amp w buttons until you reach the pre2. Eb O UT iss ie 2 o e LA e SA oa 2 D E LA LA gt oa o oa o E LA LA WN 2 D gt D 119 Reverse Cymbal Cymbal 118 Synth Drum Gt Fret Noise 120 Page 34 vPipes Uilleann User Manual vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 35 APPENDIX D Midi Note Numbers Note Numbers AA A KJE EN le les els e lalo EM 5 o epe EM 2 EET ESTEE EEES Mmm NN NNN tores EE EE Tee pen fa fam ps pr pe an pr pae s ao fau fau o n o oe m epu m oe o m pr TT ppp p e e ee Page 36 vPipes Uilleann User Manual APPENDIX E Factory Sound Presets The factory presets except Default cannot be recovered once they have been modified or deleted If you want to recover them please apply the adjustments that appear below starting from the Default preset 1 Dfx Sound Number 0 Reverb Level 2 Cfx Reverb Level 3 A fx Reverb Level Transpose 3 4 D plain Sound Number 0 Reverb Level 5 C plain Reverb Level 6 Live 2 ch Sound Number Reverb Level Chanter Pan 10 RIGHT Drones Pan 10 LEFT 7 GM accord Sound number 15 Temperament Equal temp Piping mode General Midi Sound Bank 1 Popping Volume 10 8 GM harpsi Sound number Temperament SR temp Piping mode General Midi Sound Bank 0 Popping Volume 10 vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 37 O 2011 The vPipes Project
3. It is very straightforward Let s see some examples If you want to practice with a reel or hornpipe rhythm 4 4 time select 4 on the Meter Top parameter and 4 on the Meter Bottom parameter If you want to practice with a jig rhythm 6 8 time select 6 on the Meter Top parameter and 8 on the Meter Bottom parameter If you want to practice with a Bulgarian rhythm 7 8 time select 7 on the Meter Top parameter and 8 on the Meter Bottom parameter Sequence for Meter Top vx2 e wx2 e Sequence for Meter Bottom v2 e wx3 e 9 4 Metronome tempo Sequence vx2 e wx4 e You can adjust this parameter from O to 20 O being the slowest tempo and 20 being the fastest tempo One way of doubling the tempo speed is to double the Meter Bottom value For example using 8 instead of 4 when playing a reel Conversely if you want to halve the tempo divide the Meter Bottom by two vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 15 10 Other Adjustments 10 1 Adjusting the LCD light time Sequence vx3 6x2 With the aim of reducing the battery consumption you can choose the length of time that you wish the screen to light up When the external charger is connected the LCD screen is lit all the time 10 2 Reseting the vPipes to factory settings Sequence vx4 e This option will return all the configuration values to default This will not affect the presets in any way The factory presets cannot be recovered once modified or deleted
4. MODE Sound Settings Sound Presets Load Preset Title Save Master Volume Transpose Sound Number Temperament Fine Tuning Piping Mode Emu Options Drones Config Drone 1 Key Drone 2 Key Drone 3 Key Drone 1 Volume Drone 2 Volume Drone 3 Volume Drift Gm Options Base Note Sound Bank Drones Note Drones Volume Popping Volume Effects Reverb Level Type Chorus Level Type Spatial Master Level Delay Equalizer On Off Low Band Bass Med Low Band Med High Band Page 30 vPipes Uilleann User Manual High Treble Stereo Settings Mono Stereo Chanter Pan Drones Pan Metronome Pan Sensitivity Calibration Bag Pressure Adj No Bag Mode View Holes Tightness Proximity Metronome On Off Volume Meter Top Meter Bottom Tempo Lcd Options Light Time Reset Options vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 31 APPENDIX C List of instruments in the preloaded GM and MT 32 sound banks Ol Grand Pianot AcouPiano1 Harpsichord FlecPiamo4 leet ergi Glockenspiel lec Org2 Elec Org 3 Harpsi 3 Page 32 vPipes Uilleann User Manual 38 39 41 42 43 44 45 47 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 61 62 63 65 67 70 71 72 73 74 75 vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 33 Sound Number 78 79 81 82 83 84 85 87 88 91 92 93 94 95 97 100 101 102 103 104 106 107 108 109 112 gogo MelodicDrum 114 115 116 117 Synth Drum Reverse Cymbal Gt Fret Noise
5. Manual This manual is intended for owners of the vPipes Uilleann To fully understand all the chapters in this manual it is important that the reader understands how Uilleann pipes work and at least understands the basic characteristics and ornamentation of the traditional acoustic instrument This manual is not in any case a tutorial for learning to play the Uilleann Pipes You can download the latest version of this manual at http www vpipes com downloads vpipes uilleann user manual en pdf There is also a Quick Start Guide with instructions to allow you to Plug amp Play right from the box The Quick Start Guide is included in the original package and can also be downloaded at http www vpipes com downloads vpipes uilleann quick start guide en pdf 1 1 Software versions covered by this manual vPipes Uilleann software versions 01 XX 1 2 Document version history 1 01 23 03 2011 Correction in section 11 4 1 00 20 03 2011 Initial version vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 1 2 Safeguards Although the vPipes Uilleann is robust please treat with care and observe the following guidelines to avoid damage a Handle this precision instrument with care b Do not attempt to open any of the casings and voiding the guarantee c Keep dry and avoid excessive moisture at all times d Do not expose to extremes of temperature dust or humidity e Do not expose the Li lon battery to direct sunlight f Do not drop or k
6. S C
7. a description of each of the available modes Uilleann Emu This is Uilleann pipes emulation mode This is the most important mode and is the element that differentiates the vPipes Uilleann from all other electronic instruments By using this mode the vPipes Uilleann faithfully emulates the workings and sound of a Uilleann half set This mode uses a synthesis model developed exclusively for the vPipes Uilleann It is based on the use of the sensors that recognise partially covered holes thus affording the possibility of fingering vibratos and slides as if playing a traditional acoustic set In section 11 8 you can see a list of settings that only affect this mode in the vPipes Uilleann General Midi The General Midi mode allows for the selection of one of the 256 preloaded sounds Please see chapter 11 4 and 11 9 Sound Bank to learn how to access these sounds Page 20 vPipes Uilleann User Manual Under this mode the sensors on the vPipes are considered either completely open or completely closed and therefore exclude the fingering of vibratos slides or popping However fingering the notes and changing octave work exactly as in the emulation mode General Midi Out This mode is the same as the previous one with the exception that the MIDI messages are sent to the MIDI OUT port thus allowing you to connect the instrument to the MIDI IN port of an external synthesiser or a computer Under section 11 9 you will find a list of sett
8. chapter 6 e Ensure that the pressure adjustment is correct see chapter 7 e Use the Default preset to eliminate any possible error in the options chosen e Reset to factory settings and calibrate the unit e Ensure a correct connection between the main unit and the chanter see chapter 3 3 I can hear a lot of noise when I connect the vPipes Uilleann to an external amplifier e If you are using a mono jack to connect the unit make sure you have selected Left Mono mode in the settings see chapter 11 12 e Ensure that the jack has been fully plugged in e Ensure that the audio cable is in good condition vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 27 13 Service information For any questions you may have regarding the vPipes or if you want to inform us of a problem or malfunctions please contact us at the following address support vpipes com Page 28 vPipes Uilleann User Manual APPENDIX A Fingering Chart Fingerin i Bottom D 000000 Fnatdose eee0ee e Fnatcoseofiheime 000000 o Ade 0009909 e Ados filme 00000000 des 1 ecoeeee e Bose fieles 6000000 o adas 000000 e Cnatdoseoffihene 0000000 o sharp lose oeeeecee e sharp lose Mieres 09000000 O BsdDdoe H 0000009 e BackDdoseoffihekne 7 0000009 O O Open hole o Closed hole X Indifferent hole can be open or closed vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 29 APPENDIX B Menu map PLAY MODE SETUP
9. default If you prefer to deactivate this characteristic please follow the sequence below starting from the Home Screen ve v3 0 Page 10 vPipes Uilleann User Manual 7 Pressure Adjustment of the Bag Simulator Use the following sequence from the Home Screen to arrive at the pressure adjustment option veveo When you now press the bag simulator you will see gt gt gt gt symbols appearing which indicate the level of force being applied What you see on the screen represents the level of force applied according to the current pressure adjustment setting The force required for the first symbol to appear represents the pressure required for the vPipes to start sounding in Play Mode The arrow symbols vary in number according to the pressure applied from one the minimum force required for any sound to 16 the maximum requirement for maintaining the highest notes Please follow the following instruction to learn how to change these levels 7 1 Setting the low end pressure To set the level at which you want the vPipes to start sounding apply just enough pressure so that you don t drop the bag and press v Ignore the gt gt gt gt symbols displayed in the screen You should now see the following message on the screen which will last for 1 second OK If the following message appears ERROR it means that the pressure applied is greater than that required at the upper end Try setting the low end p
10. for the activation deactivation of the drones during PLAY MODE or altering notes sharps or flats while playing The menu has been designed as a multi level tree structure such that to navigate vertically you need to press the Av to get to the different options within a particular menu level then pressing 6 to enter the selected option or lil to go up a level within the menu Once you have reached a particular setting whose value you wish to change for example Sound Settings gt Transpose you will be able to vary the values using the A to increase its value or w to decrease it Once the value has been changed press to accept the change or Bi to cancel it To indicate the route for accessing the different menu options we shall always take the initial screen that appears when you first switch on the vPipes and shall call this the Home Screen SETUP MODE Sound Sett inas Fig 1 Home Screen 5 2 Play Mode vs Setup Mode The vPipes has two working modes Play Mode and Setup Mode In PLAY MODE the vPipes will start to sound the moment pressure is applied to the bag simulator main unit and you will only have access to certain basic parameters when no pressure is applied see chapter 5 3 In SETUP MODE you will have access to all the configuration options Upon switching the vPipes on the initial HOME SCREEN will appear automatically and it will show SETUP MODE Entering PLAY MODE from SETUP MODE Simply press M o
11. the 10 available slots 0x2 vx2 Now use the 4 amp w buttons until you find the slot in which you want to save the preset and press to accept Factory Presets The vPipes Uilleann comes preloaded with 8 factory preset configurations Although once modified or substituted these presets can not be recovered see chapter 10 2 DO NOT WORRY they are only examples of what can be done and the possibilities offered by the vPipes Uilleann You will be able to create the same presets and other more interesting ones by following the instructions in this manual Here is a description of the factory setting presets 0 Default Preset in C with a very light reverb not modifiable 1 Dfx Setin D with a medium level reverb Alain Froment D chanter samples 2 Cfx Set in C with a medium level reverb Leo Rowsome C changer samples 3 A fx Set in A with reverb C fx transposed 3 semitones 4 D plain Set in D with no sound effects 5 C plain Set in C with no sound effects 6 Live 2 ch With no effects chanter through left channel and drones through right channel Ideal to send to a mixing table when playing live see chapter 11 12 7 GM accord General MIDI mode with accordion sounds 8 GM harpsi General MIDI mode with harpsichord sound 11 2 Master Volume Sequence eve Range Oto 15 Default value 5 Use the A amp v to adjust the general volume of the instrument and press amp to accept or W to cancel This s
12. to learn more about the tuning of the original sound samples 11 4 Sound Number Sequence e vx3 Range O to 127 Default value 1 Use this parameter to select the sound of your vPipes In emulation mode see chapter 11 7 only 2 sounds are available e 0 Uilleann pipes in D e 1 Uilleann pipes in C Any other value other than 0 or 1 in the Sound Number when in emulation mode will mean that the vPipes Uilleann will make no sound vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 19 11 5 Temperament Sequence e vx4 Range Just intonation Equal temp Default value Just intonation This parameter allows for the selection of either equal temperament or just intonation also called Drone Tuning The variation in tuning for just intonation and equal temperament are taken from the book The Uilleann Pipe Reedmaker s Guidance Manual by Dave Hegarty published by Na P obair Uilleann This guide is freely available at the following link http www pipers ie Documents Reedmakers Guide pdf 11 6 Fine Tuning Sequence e vx 0 Range 100 to 100 semitone cents Default value 0 By means of this parameter you can adjust the general tuning of the vPipes in cents allowing you to fine tune with another instrument 11 7 Piping Mode Sequence e vxo e Range Uilleann Emu General Midi General Midi Out Default value Uilleann Emu The Piping Mode parameter allows you to choose the mode of your vPipes The following is
13. O amplifier such as a guitar or similar amplifier you will need to activate the left mono mode under Settings to avoid having distortion noise on the signal see chapter 11 12 3 3 Connecting the system To put the vPipes together you need only connect the round female connector at the end of the cable of the main unit to the round male connector on the rear of the chanter unit The connector has only 1 position for insertion Carefully align the notch before inserting Please ensure that the chanter cable is not twisted or put under undue strain when playing The screw ring of the female connector on the main unit cable should tighten smoothly onto the male chanter connector If the tightening is not smooth disconnect and reconnect the sockets ensuring a tight and snug fit The connectors only require approximately 3 whole turns without applying too much force to be correctly connected The vPipes Uilleann battery is pre charged If you wish to charge it further it can be connected to the mains DC IN socket found on the main unit vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 3 Connect the external amplifying system of your choice and depress the ON OFF button to the very bottom It may be necessary to use the little finger to do so If correctly depressed a blue coloured light ring should light up around the ON OFF button and the LCD screen on the chanter unit will light up showing the model and software version Read
14. User Manual Document version 1 01 23 03 2011 The vPipes Project S C Contents 1 2 3 About this Manage dE Ee Eege EE ees 1 1 1 Software versions covered by this manual 1 1 2 Document versio nhlstOry 33 3 ere rte oer ore dc he Ess 1 A me A 2 System Components odore ere else 3 3 1 Box contents ie eter Ht A erte 3 3 2 Choosing an external audio amplifier en 3 3 3 CONNECTING the system us o iue e etie Is da dee onde dee eek inte ne a Bea sveise 3 ADAN EE 5 Battery iiec sese t r Fes eS ERR EE Ee eneeier TSS ROT EE Po Ra eue 6 41 BatteryddhdiCatorss ier A IGEN SG 6 4 2 Charging Time and Duration nisreen nieren a a e n a aaa ie E aai 6 4 3 Tips to saving battery DOWerF 5 eei eee eR Eee Eee EA ERE Re HY FLUR aa iaaea E T FUR ed 6 4 4 Increasing the life of your Li lon batter 6 Navigation a 7 5 1 Basic navigation RR AO 7 5 2 Play Mode vs Setup Mode Entering PLAY MODE from SETUP MODE Entering SETUP MODE from PLAY MODE 5 3 Use of Play Mode Quick Menu 7 Tone Hole Sensors Calibration s c c lt c ccccncecwsecsvsersovscsenvecsseessecneteevorscegnsecprtesversconstecpstesveussbenterserevses 9 6 3 When should I calibrate eei ete eee ee E TEE Eoo Bahn 9 RA NN 9 6 3 Tightness and Proximity adjustments iii 9 TIEHTNESS Kleen GSE 9 Proximity RON 10 6 4 elle ad EC KEE 10 6 5 Monitoring the sensor response on the LDC scr
15. Volume 11 9 GM Options EA NN sound BN A ee Sa adore teed Drones Note Drones Volume KE EI Master Level Med High Band High Trebl eee RA A STRENGERE 11 12 Stereo Settings Mono Stereo sense Re need n Chanter Pari 2 ERE E eR BAHREIN E HA ER NIRE NERONE FERES DOMO E Metronome Pals eiii 12 Troubleshooting 5 22 E eere ne eaa nno core nane eben dada deed 27 The instrument does not turn On ini sten nnns ennt seen tenes en rente a ne nen 27 Some sensors appear to be closed or partially closed on the screen even though no fingers are covering thermis is I can not close holes No so nd is heard eere I iao iin ana eit ee Po ub aA iE n dee I can hear a lot of noise when I connect the vPipes Uilleann to an external amplifier 13 Service E E 28 APPENDIX A Fingering Chart een S i eege S Sor ete Edel ee eden dye dd ee po dee Season tte 29 APPENDIX B Menu map e RR 30 APPENDIXC List of instruments in the preloaded GM and MT 32 sound banks 32 APPENDIXD Midi Note Numbers ee eeee eene eene eene nnne tenete 36 APPENDIX E Factory Sound Presets eee eese is eees einen ose ea senes egeo etos ostos esi Ses Eases ENEE eNE AEN 37 1 DE E e RU SR ERST en D SEG 37 SGN OU PWD AE A ih cena ek naman ee 37 EITS SERE 37 Le ET DEE 37 Live A 37 A do EE 37 GM Lee DEE 37 1 About this
16. alibrated Be especially vigilant that the bottom sensor is fully closed when resting on your leg see chapter 6 Do not try and go up to the second octave by applying more pressure on the simulated bag It is not necessary to apply more pressure than the upper end pressure level as defined in the pressure adjustment see chapter 7 2 If you jump to the second octave by mistake repeatedly it is probable that you are applying too much pressure when playing or conversely that you have to increase the upper end pressure level see chapter 7 2 vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 13 8 3 Information on how to finger a vibrato The manner in fingering a vibrato on the vPipes Uilleann is also very similar to that of an acoustic set but there are some differences that are important to be aware of The main difference is that on a traditional acoustic set there are many ways to execute a vibrato and cross finger on each note all with subtle differences that depend on the pipe maker and indeed the reed itself In this first SW version of the vPipes Uilleann we have chosen to implement a vibrato that although very simplified feels very natural when playing and offers very good results To execute a vibrato on a specific note starting from a closed position just flutter one or various fingers of your right hand or left hand for left handed players that are below the open hole on the chanter in such a way that if you were to completely close the
17. as is comfortable for you vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 9 The default value for this parameter is 15 and you can change it by following this sequence from the Home Screen v vx4 e Proximity The Proximity parameter allows you to set the degree of sensitivity of the sensors to the proximity of your fingers A high Proximity value will mean that the sensors will not detect your fingers until they are in contact with them A low Proximity value will mean that the sensors will detect your fingers before actually touch them The default value is 1 To obtain good slides and vibratos we recommend that you keep the default value If after calibrating you see that a sensor doesn t open all the way when you lift a finger completely off increase this values to 2 or 3 You can get to the Proximity parameter by following this sequence from the Home Screen Y wx5 0 6 4 Popping strap It is not normally necessary but if you do have a problem in completely closing off the bottom sensor on your leg i e when wearing thick corduroy or ski ing trousers you can use any metallic object to rest the chanter on instead of directly on your clothes A piece of silver biscuit wrapper or silver foil works quite well 6 5 Monitoring the sensor response on the LDC screen The vPipes allows you to monitor the reaction of the sensors on the LCD screen in graphic form when you place your fingers on them This characteristic is activated by
18. board with 128 keys that we want to sound like the drone when is pressed whilst we play in General MIDI please see chapter 8 5 to learn how to activate and deactivate the drones Drones Volume Sequence vx8 vx3 Range Oto15 Default value 8 This is the relative volume of the drones whilst playing in General MIDI mode Popping Volume Sequence vx8 vx4 Range 15 to 15 Default value 0 This parameter allows for the notes to sound with a different volume when the chanter is lifted off the knee Popping volume O means that there is no change in volume when lifting the chanter off the knee 11 10 Effects Reverb Level Sequence O vx9 0x3 Range Oto 15 Default value 5 Reverb level vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 23 Type Sequence Range Default value Reverb type Chorus Level Sequence Range Default value Chorus level Type Sequence Range Default value Chorus type Spatial Master Level Sequence Range Default value Spatial effect level Delay Sequence Range Default value e vx9 0x2 v Room 1 Room 2 Room 3 Hall 1 Hall 2 Plate Delay Pan Delay Hall 2 vx9 v 0x2 0 to 15 0 evi vev e Chorus 1 Chorus 2 Chorus 3 Chorus 4 Feedback Flanger Short Delay FB Delay Chorus 3 vx9 0 vx2 0x2 Oto 15 0 evi 0 wx2 0 v Oto 15 0 Amount of delay in the spatial effect vPipes Uilleann User Manual 11 11 Equalizer The vPip
19. discharged is approximately 5 hours The duration of the battery charge will depend on the adjustments chosen when configuring the vPipes the length of time spent playing Play Mode the time spend carrying out adjustment Setup Mode and the age and use of the battery In general the battery can last between 6 and 12 hours 4 3 Tipsto saving battery power To make the battery last longer reduce the LCD LIGHT TIME see chapter 10 1 to a minimum even switching off the light permanently only if you know the menus very well of have very very good eyesight Another way to reduce battery power usage is to deactivate the on screen sensor visualisation see chapter 6 5 Using this option the screen will remain off during PLAY MODE We recommend that this option is not deactivated until you feel comfortable with the instrument and fully understand that calibration adjustments see chapter 6 It is also important to switch off the vPipes when not in use 4 4 Increasing the life of your Li Ion battery Although vPipes has a charge controller it is recommended not to let Li lon batteries do too many deep discharges NOTE You can charge the battery and play at the same time Page 6 vPipes Uilleann User Manual 5 Navigation 5 1 Basic navigation concepts As can be seen in the diagram in chapter 3 4 there is a small touch pad on the rear of the chanter unit that allows for navigation in all the menus in SETUP MODE and also allows
20. e variations in the tuning of the drones 11 9 GM Options The adjustments under this category only affect the vPipes when playing in General MIDI mode They have no effect when playing in Emulation mode Please see chapter 11 7 to learn more about the different modes available Base Note Sequence O vx8 0x2 Range 0 to 103 Default value 38 Imagine a grand piano with 128 white and black keys numbered from left to right from 0 to 127 This is a range of almost 11 octaves in which any of the preloaded midi sounds can play in It is a very big range compared to the two octaves that can be played on the Uilleann chanter The Base Note parameter allows you to choose which of the piano keys you want to correspond to the lowest note of the Uilleann chanter i e bottom D The default value corresponds to a D of the second octave Sound Bank Sequence vwx8 0 v Range O to 126 Default value 0 The vPipes Uilleann has two preinstalled sound banks This parameter allows you to choose either of the two 0 or 1 to play in General MIDI Page 22 vPipes Uilleann User Manual Each of these sound banks has 128 sampled instruments Please see APPENDIX C to learn more about the available instruments in each sound bank Any value different to 0 or 1 in the Sound Bank parameter in General MIDI mode will make no sound Drones Note Sequence e vx3 wx2 Range O to 127 Default value 26 This is the note on our virtual key
21. een 10 Pressure Adjustment of the Bag Simulator ss 11 7 1 Setting the low end pressure sese eee eee eee eee 11 7 2 Setting the Upper end pressure cine nent adad Ree eee dri Bre anre denn Ee Ste etes 11 7 3 Playing without the bag simulator en 12 8 vPipes Uilleann Basic Tips en here anni lan EENS 13 8 1 Placement of the bag simulator is 13 e leen 13 8 3 Information on how to finger a vibrato esse eee ee eee eee eee 14 8 amp 4 Sharp or fla EC 14 8 5 Switching the drones on and off ie 14 A A 15 9 1 Switching the metronome on and off iii 15 9 2 Metronome relative volume adlustment iii 15 9 3 How to choose the time signature ak meinen DR Bohn 15 9 4 Metronome tempo EE 15 10 Other Adj stments 5 ierit cacsdscsuscscuesieceineasscecenesacsivedsucsdeosiessdeeesccsiersiesudvodcenssersieed 16 10 1 Adjusting the LCD light time iii 16 10 2 Reseting the vPipes to factory settings sn 16 11 Sound Settings M eee 2 Ou 17 i A c O PE Sound Settings vs Rest of Settings Loading a preset Preset Titles EH PH ee EGG Loading a preset leet EE ARE eee 18 E Va ele TEE 19 EE eeler tu de CO 19 11 5 EN 20 11 6 OICHT 20 11 7 Piping Mode MITIS DIR Sidi TEL G n ral Midi eee et Pee re leashes bide Pee o ke aao e e oe a Pn eR ne ne Rires G n ral Oe Ee TEE 21 11 8 UA ias 21 Drones Config Drone 1 Key Drone 2 Key Drone 3 Key Drone 1 Volume Drone 1
22. es includes a four band parametric equalizer Modify the following parameters to your liking On Off Sequence e vx10 ex2 Range On Off Default value Off On to activate the equalizer and Off to deactivate it Low Band Bass Sequence e vx10 0 ve Range 12 to 12 dB Default value 0 Equalizer low band level Med Low Band Sequence vx10 e vx2 e Range 12 to 12 dB Default value 0 Equalizer medium low band level Med High Band Sequence eo vx10 e vx3 e Range 12 to 12 dB Default value 0 Equalizer mid high band level High Treble Sequence vx10 e vx4 e Range 12 to 12 dB Default value 0 Equalizer high band level 11 12 Stereo Settings The vPipes default audio signal is stereo This offers many advantages such as improving the reverb chorus and spatial effects balancing the chanter and drone sound and even completely separating the chanter and drone sounds through two different channels for separate treatment by mixing desks vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 25 Mono Stereo Sequence e vx11 x2 Range Stereo Left Mono Default value Stereo Use the Left Mono option if you are going to connect a mono jack to the vPipes OTHERWISE there will be noise at the output signal Stereo Mono Chanter Pan Sequence e vx110 ve Range 10 to 10 Default value 0 Pans the chanter sound A setting at 10 will only produce chanter sound through the left channel A value of 10 will do the same but throu
23. fingers that you are fluttering the position obtained would be the closed position of the played note see APPENDIX A for further information on open and closed positions for each note Although the explanation seems quite complicated the actual execution is very straightforward and feels very natural when playing It is probable that you have already achieved the vibrato effect on your vPipes before reading this part of the manual 8 4 Sharp or flats It is as if you had a fully keyed chanter Simply use the 4 amp w whilst playing to execute the sharp of flat of the note that is currently being played 8 5 Switching the drones on and off To activate the drones press e whilst playing Play Mode and applying pressure to the bag simulator To switch the drones off press BB whilst playing The drone setting remains when you release the pressure on the bag simulator to access the quick menu and when you resume playing Page 14 vPipes Uilleann User Manual 9 Metronome The vPipes Uilleann includes a complete metronome that you can activate to help strengthen your sense of rhythm 9 1 Switching the metronome on and off Use the following sequence from the Home Screen to reach the metronome options vx2 0x2 9 2 Metronome relative volume adjustment Sequence vx2 e y You can adjust the metronome s volume from O to 15 The volume will be relative to the Master Volume level 9 3 How to choose the time signature
24. ge octave without a problem For some melodies the octave change will prove to be difficult as will achieve a good cranning The no pressure mode is especially useful for those with disabilities that don t allow for applying the necessary pressure on the bag simulator To reach this mode use the following sequence from the Home Screen ve wx2 Page 12 vPipes Uilleann User Manual 8 vPipes Uilleann Basic Tips Although the vPipes Uilleann is a faithful Uilleann pipes emulator you will notice quite a big difference when compared to your acoustic set but that also happens when you play with a borrowed acoustic set and one that you are not used to Please be patient and give yourself some time to get used to this new instrument 8 1 Placement of the bag simulator Although many pipers are used to placing the bag of their pipes very tightly against the arm pit do not adopt the same position with the vPipes The vPipes bag simulator is designed so that the oval shaped block is actioned by the forearm Fig 2 Correct placement of the bag simulator 8 2 Octave change The emulation of the octave change on the vPipes Uilleann is one of the most praised characteristics by pipers around the world The octave change is very very similar to that on an acoustic set notwithstanding please read the following tips which will help you f you have a problem reaching the high octave please check that the sensors are correctly c
25. gh the right channel O produces a completely balanced sound through right and left channels Drones Pan Sequence e vx11 e wx2 Range 10 to 10 Default value 0 Drone pan A setting at 10 will only produce drone sound through the left channel A value of 10 will do the same but through the right channel O produces a completely balanced sound through right and left channels Metronome Pan Sequence o vx11 e vx3 Range 10 to 10 Default value 0 Metronome pan A setting at 10 will only produce metronome sound through the left channel A value of 10 will do the same but through the right channel O produces a completely balanced sound through right and left channels Page 26 vPipes Uilleann User Manual 12 Troubleshooting The instrument does not turn on e Ensure that the battery is charged or connect the unit to the external charger e Switch off and turn on the unit e Ensure a correct connection between the main unit and the chanter see chapter 3 3 Some sensors appear to be closed or partially closed on the screen even though no fingers are covering them e Calibrate the unit see chapter 6 e Ensure that the Proximity parameter is correct see chapter 6 3 I can not close holes e Calibrate the unit see chapter 6 e Ensure that the Tightness parameter is correct see chapter 6 3 No sound is heard e Ensure that the unit is connected to an external sound amplifier see chapter 3 2 e Calibrate the unit see
26. ings that only affect the modes under General MIDI 11 8 Emu Options Drones Config This category is exclusive to the Emulation Mode and allows you to transpose and change the volume of the drones independently of each other which affords the possibility of creating any chord Drone 1 Key Sequence O vx 0x3 Range 12 to 12 semitones Default value 0 Transposing for the Base drone Drone 2 Key Sequence vx 0x2 v Range 12 to 12 semitones Default value 0 Transposing for the Baritone drone Drone 3 Key Sequence O vx7 0x2 vx2 e Range 12 to 12 semitones Default value 0 Transposing for the Tenor drone Drone 1 Volume Sequence O wx7 0x2 vx3 e Range Oto 15 Default value 8 Relative volume of the Base drone Drone 1 Volume Sequence e vx7 0x2 vx4 O Range Oto 15 Default value 8 vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 21 Relative volume of the Baritone drone Drone 1 Volume Sequence O vx7 0x2 vx5 e Range Oto 15 Default value 8 Relative volume of the Tenor drone Drift Sequence O vx7 0x2 vxo e Range 0 to 10 Default value 2 The Drift parameter allows for the adjustment of the sensitivity of the drones to the bag pressure applied With high values of Drift the drones will be prone to going out of tune more easily With a Drift setting of O the drones will always be perfectly in tune With a Drift value of 2 default the sound produced is very realistic as it allows for slight almost imperceptibl
27. nce you have reached the top level in SETUP MODE Entering SETUP MODE from PLAY MODE Press M and amp simultaneously 5 3 Use of Play Mode Quick Menu In order to easily access some basic parameters in PLAY MODE when no pressure is applied to the bag simulator the quick menu screen will appear The navigation in this Quick Menu is different to that used in SETUP MODE To change from one option to another press M left vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 7 or right To vary the value of each of the options use the up and down arrow keys A or v and there is no need to press to confirm the change The adjustable parameters on the quick menu are as follows Preset gt Volume gt Transpose gt Metronome Tempo only if the metronome is activated If a change is made in the Preset option the volume and transpose values stored in the selected preset will override the volume and transpose values of the quick menu Once a preset has been loaded and tested the values of Volume and Transpose can be modified subsequently in the quick menu Page 8 vPipes Uilleann User Manual 6 Tone Hole Sensors Calibration A substantial part of the magic of the vPipes Uilleann resides in the optimum working condition and calibration of the tone hole sensors Please follow these instructions to achieve the best response from the tone hole sensors 6 1 When should I calibrate It is not necessary to calibrate the
28. nock or submit the vPipes to heavy vibrations g Do not use any cleaning abrasive products or solvents h Do not twist pull or strain the cable i Keep away from strong magnetic or electrical fields j Only to be used for its intended purpose Page 2 vPipes Uilleann User Manual 3 System Components 3 1 Box content The box in which the vPipes Uilleann is sent contains 4 elements a Main unit large rectangular box with the connection panel underneath b Chanter Unit c Power adaptor personalised according to country being sent to d Quick Start Guide Ensure that these four elements are in the box when it is received 3 2 Choosing an external audio amplifier The vPipes Uilleann does not contain any sound amplification system and you will need one to be able to listen to the vPipes You can use any external amplifier connecting it to the AUDIO OUT jack of the main unit You can use straightforward earbuds headphones or the equipment used in a concert scenario by a supergroup The signal is provided by the 6 35mm jack and 3 5mm mini jack Both jacks can be used simultaneously The vPipes default audio signal is stereo This is useful when wanting to balance the chanter and drone sound or to use independent channels for either one or send to a mixing table separately Some of the sound effects included such as Reverb and Spatial make use of the stereo capability of the instrument If you wish to connect a MON
29. ressure again Now the gt gt gt gt gt symbols show the level of pressure applied taking into account the new adjustment 7 2 Setting the upper end pressure To set the pressure necessary to maintain the top notes in the second octave apply the amount of pressure that you find comfortable or that resembles the pressure required on your acoustic set to maintain the high B in the second octave and press A again ignore the gt gt gt gt gt gt symbols that appear on the screen before pressing A You should now see the following message on the screen which will last for 1 second OK gt gt If the following message appears gt gt gt ERROR lt lt lt it means that the pressure applied is less than that required at the low end Try setting the high end pressure again Now the gt gt gt gt gt symbols show the level of pressure applied taking into account the new adjustment vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 11 When you are happy with the new adjustments press to confirm the changes You can also cancel the changes made by pressing M at any time Using a low pressure adjustment for the upper end may cause the vPipes to respond incorrectly during Play Mode 7 3 Playing without the bag simulator This is a very curious characteristic of the vPipes Uilleann You can play without using the bag simulator and you will be surprised at the fact that with a bit of practice you can play many melodies and chan
30. set that you want to load and press e to accept An alternative way of loading a preset is to use the 4 amp w buttons when in the Quick Menu in Play Mode see chapter 5 3 Preset Titles Before saving a preset make sure you name it so it will be easily identifiable for you when you want to use it again Use the following sequence from the Home Screen to get to the preset title editor e2 v You will see the name of the last preset loaded or saved If the last preset used was the Default then the title screen will be blank You can use up to 10 characters to name a preset Use the M amp e buttons to move the blinking cursor left or right according to the character that you want to change vPipes Uilleann User Manual Page 17 By pressing M when the cursor is at the first position the operation will be cancelled and you will be taken back to the previous screen without any changes being saved By pressing when the cursor is on the last position to the far right of the screen this will confirm the operation and the next time you save a preset it will be saved with the title you have just written If you want to keep the same title as the previous preset loaded or saved there is no need to go to the title editor as the title will be kept the same Loading a preset Once you are happy with the selected Sound Settings and with the title that you have chosen follow the sequence from the Home Screen to save these settings in one of
31. tep will be taken for granted in the following adjustments Page 18 vPipes Uilleann User Manual It is sometimes quite uncomfortable for the general volume to be associated to the Sound Settings because every time you change the preset the volume changes according to the preset volume level Imagine that you are playing in bed with headphones the volume of which you have adjusted to 1 but you load a preset from the quick menu which has a volume of 12 Remember to check the volume each time you change a preset to avoid harming your hearing Both things can be done from the quick menu under Play Mode The advantage of having the general volume associated to Sound Settings is that you can adjust the volume of each preset individually when wishing to compensate the increase in volume caused by the reverb and chorus effects or that you simply want a particular preset to have a specific volume when playing live 11 3 Transpose Sequence e vx2 0 Range 12 to 12 semitones Default value 0 With this parameter you can transpose the tuning of the instrument 1 octave below to 1 octave above tinkerbell pipes Please note that this transposition is relative to the original key in which the sound samples were made If you are using the samples of the D pipes and you transpose 3 semitones you will be playing in the key of B The same transposition of 3 when playing the pipes in C will change the key to A Please see chapter 11 4
32. the rest of this manual to understand the basics of beginning to play and the different configuration options available Page 4 vPipes Uilleann User Manual Diagram 3 4 This diagram shows a complete image of both the main unit and the chanter unit with all the components AUDIO OUT e chanter connector audio out mini large jack midi in midi out program battery lcd indicator dc in on off switch VPipes Uilleann accept drones on cancel drones off down up half tone down half tone up backlit Icd display bag connector back d tone hole sensor thumb controled key pad for menu options thumb rest area bottom tone hole sensor Page 5 vPipes Uilleann User Manual 4 Battery The vPipes includes a Li lon battery and internal charger To charge the battery connect the supplied mains charger to the main unit DC IN 4 1 Battery indicators When the main unit is running on battery power the LCD screen on the chanter unit will show the percentage of battery top right hand corner whilst in the main menu SETUP MODE If connected to the mains charger the word EXT will appear instead of a percentage number Whilst plugged in to the mains the red and green LED lights on the main unit show the battery charging status Red charging green charging complete 4 2 Charging Time and Duration The charging time of the battery when completely
33. vPipes each time you play It is recommended to recalibrate if you haven t used the vPipes for a while or when you change location Overall if you feel that any one of the sensors is behaving erratically then recalibrate When viewing tone hole sensors on the screen see chapter 6 5 you can tell if the sensors are responding incorrectly if when lifting a finger the image doesn t show a U shape or conversely when fully placing a finger on a tone hole sensor the image should be a filled in O 6 2 Howto calibrate Follow this sequence from the Home Screen position v Sensitivity 6 Calibration 6 Confirm You have 3 seconds to hold the chanter by the head and hold it away from any nearby objects including yourself Don t forget that there is also a sensor on the end of the chanter the bottom hole sensor 6 3 Tightness and Proximity adjustments By using the Tightness and Proximity adjustments you can modify the degree of sensitivity of the sensors Tightness The Tightness parameter determines how easy or difficult it is to completely cover the holes A high Tightness value will mean that the tone hole sensors are more difficult to cover properly requiring very precise fingering A low Tightness value means that the tone hole sensors will be easier to cover properly The downside is that the slides will have a shorter run and the vibratos will be less smooth We advise to set the Tightness parameter as high
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