JustDronesTunable Virtual Uilleann Pipes Drones for Intonation Practice
for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad
JustDrones is a set of tunable fully chromatic (starting with version 1.5) virtual Uilleann bagpipes drones for intonation practice with any instrument.
An optional additional just-tuned interval drone may be enabled a 3rd, 4th, or 5th scale tone above or a 5th or octave bass below the root.
The volume of the main drones and the interval drone may be controlled independently.
You may adjust the tuning of the main drones and the just-intonation based interval drone +/- 50 cents in one-cent increments using the fine-tuning slider control just below the drone puck.
Pitch selection, interval drone, fine tuning, and volume settings are saved when the app exits and restored the next time the app is run.
The interval drones are tuned using just intonation relative to the drone root pitch for perfect consonance.
JustDrones uses high-quality 44.1 KHz 16-bit seamlessly looped audio samples from my personal set of Uilleann pipes built by Kirk Lynch, not synthesized tones, so it sounds extremely realistic.
All drones are tuned using just intonation for perfect consonance.
Playing against drones is an excellent way to work on improving intonation. Tin whistle, wooden flute, and Irish fiddle players can all benefit from using the JustDrones as a practice aid.
Uilleann pipers, looking for an interesting alternative to standard D drones on a concert set? Set the main drone root to G and enable the 5th interval drone.(I learned this trick from Mikie Smyth).
To get even more usefulness out of JustDrones, try plugging your iPhone or iPod Touch into a set of external speakers. The drones sounds are from acoustic recordings without additional effects. Try connecting to external effects devices such as chorus or reverb boxes for even more interesting sounds.
Fine tuning slider set to +27 cents
JustDrones On: (Fully chromatic version 1.5)
Fine tuning slider set to +27 cents
Q: I'm not hearing any sounds on my iPhone! Help!
A: Make sure your ringer switch isn't in the "mute" position.
To learn more about the Uilleann pipes, please visit the following sites:
Patrick D'Arcy's Uilleann Obsession Site
Chiff and Fipple Uilleann Pipes Message Board
I am very interested in any suggestions for features or improvements to the apps for future updates, please drop me an email anytime with your ideas!
For more information, please contact Michael Eskin or visit the AppCordions website:
registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.