Patrick,
Jose Angel Hevia plays this electronic bagpipe on his last two CD's.
www.hevia.es They were developed by a company called VersionMidi which has been folded into the Spanish bagpipe company Hevia, Parada y Aragon I think. I had some correspondence with Version Midi last year. Here are the pix and information they sent me.
MIDI-PIPE SGM200 Model. SYSTEM TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS.
The MIDI-Pipe is composed of the following elements:
- An electronic pointer of identical measures to the traditional that
substitutes the holes by optical sensors.
- A "bag" of similar volume to the real that it does not need be blown, though yes pressed. Of constitution permanently semi-rigid, that furthermore permits the "requinto". A controller that governs the two up described elements and furthermore implements a MIDI
Interface.
The operation of this electronics bagpipe is apparently simple, the controller "sees" the execution of the fingers on the Pointer and of the elbow on the "bag". Across the MIDI interface it sends the information to a informatic system the one which, after the procesed, play the sound pre-programmed.
This new instrument is not a substitute of the traditional bagpipe but rather a help, since emphasize the following advantages:
- Never to be out of tune and it is entirely chromatic, it distinguishes all the tones and semi-tones and it is programmable to each tonality. It's 32 bagpipes in one.
- Encompass any type of finger positions existing (Asturian, Galician, Scottish, Irish, Balkan, etc.) or non-existent (possibility of adjustment to persons with some discapacity, or particular needs of the executing).
- Direct composition by computer with the wide fan of possibilities that this us offers.
The System MIDI Pipe, in addition to SGM200 (Patent Register P-9801170, WO99/65015 and US 6,225,540 B1) is composed of a module of audio and of some simple component
more. The type of modules that accompany to the bagpipe and the other
complements are adapted according to the needs of each user (options, price,
future possibilities of expansion, etc.)
Chanter:
- Fingering on optical sensors, noise and false contacts free. Resolution: 12.500 impulses/sec.
- Sensor for vibrato in the little finger of the right-hand.
- In bottom of the chanter, sensor for staccato in ulliean pipes mode.
- Mini - keyboard in back for performance with the right-hand thumb on:
- Sensors slides for control of pitch change.
- Controlling for program change, mode up and down.
- Sensor for parametric controlling (pitch enable, dron off, ulliean mode, etc.)
Bag (support):
- Carbon fibre ergonomic semirigid support with constant control of pressure and second octave level.
- Console for user adjustments, through keyboard and retro-illuminated backlight green display with two lines of 20 characters located in the lead upper part, for control of following values:
* Adjustment level over pressure for control of the chanter/dron sound-start on.
* Establishment of pressure level for second octave.
* Independent volumes control for chanter, drone and 2-ยบ drone.
* Drones control On/Off.
* Independent control MIDI channels for chanter, drone #1 and drones #2 - 3.
* Control of independent MIDI note value for drones.
- Asturian compatible finger positions, Galician, Scottish, and whistle Possibility programming of personal fingers settings.
- Two complete chromatic octaves (with control of pressure and dominant until of the second octave with fingerings).
- Control of transposition.
- Library sounds "Cornamusas de Europa" in compatible AKAI format
- Soft cover-bag quilted trip.
