Fagerstrom Technopipes User manual

TECHNOPIPES OPERATION MANUAL
Use a pair of ordinary Walkman stereo earphones. (Typically 16 Ohm impedance and ∅3.5mm plug.)
The chanter is switched on by connecting the earphones to the upper end of the chanter uand
switched off by disconnecting the earphones.
All settings are controlled by the +control vand the -control wtogether with a specific fingering
combination for each setting. The chanter is reset to its default state every time the chanter is
switched on. (The default settings are marked with bold font in the chart below.)
fingering combination +control v-control wboth vw
Drones on turn drones on
Chanter on /
Recording
increase playback
speed decrease playback speed recording mode / normal mode
Sound off turn sound off / stop recording / pause playback
Sensitivity increase decrease -
Pitch increase decrease key
A >Bb >C >D >
Metronome increase tempo decrease tempo two times to turn on
third time turns off
Drones increase volume decrease volumetuning
A>A+E >A+D
>E >D>
Sound smallpipes 2<> smallpipes 1 <> highland pipes -
Scale chromatic
equal
temperament
<>
chromatic
harmonic
tuning <>
GHB/SP
harmonic
tuning -
Volume increase decrease start volume
MIDI increase chanter
channel no. decrease chanter channel no. enter MIDI mode
EARPHONES
SWITCHING ON/OFF
!
REMEMBER TO DISCONNECT THE EARPHONES TO SAVE THE BATTERY WHEN THE
CHANTER IS NOT BEING PLAYED.
SETTINGS
!
DO NOT USE MONO EARPHONES AS THIS MIGHT DAMAGE THE CIRCUITRY.
w
v
u

The output volume depends to some extent on the type of earphone plugged in.
The contacts of the chanter are electrical and not mechanical, meaning they do not have to be
pressed down to become activated. The grip does not have to be any firmer than that on the pipe
chanter.
Start-up sequence:
1) Start drones by playing the Drones on fingering combination.
2) Start chanter by playing the Chanter on fingering combination.
It could happen, from time to time, that your fingers are very dry, causing them to become poor
conductors. The chanter, being dependant of electrical conductivity, may then have some trouble
playing the note your fingers indicate, instead producing a squeaky sound, or the wrong note. You
then need to increase the sensitivity. Sometimes, on the other hand, your fingers may be very warm,
and short-circuit the chanter through a very thin film of sweat, causing the chanter to, for example,
play a low A when in fact you play an E. You then need to decrease the sensitivity. The sensitivity can
be set to five different levels.
The low A goes from 185Hz up to 738Hz in steps of 0.1 to 0.7Hz. With Sound set to Smallpipes, the
chanter starts in the key of A (440Hz). With Sound set to Highland Pipes, the chanter starts in the key
of Bb (466Hz). The key of the chanter can easily be set to A, Bb, C, or D. The accuracy is within
±3Hz.
MIDI mode is entered if MIDI combination is fingered at the time the MIDI cable is connected.
The chanter is initially set to channel 1, but can be set between 1 and 14. The bass is fixed on
channel 15and the tenor fixed on channel 16. The default Low A is MIDI note number 69 (A5). In
MIDI mode, the volume settings for chanter and drones affect the note velocity. It is up to the receiver
to interpret the velocity data. With Sound set to Smallpipes, all notes have equal velocity. With Sound
set to Highland Pipes, the low notes have higher velocity than the high notes, simulating the
characteristics of the Highland chanter. The sound is set to Smallpipes as default. (In MIDI mode,
metronome and recording are not available.)
The chanter can record more than 500 notes. You can play along with the recorded notes to practice
phrases, seconds, etc. When recording, the first note and the last note preceding the Sound off note
are not stored for simplifying the creation of loops. The recorded track is played back on the right
channel, and you play along on the left channel. The playback speed can be set between ¼and 2
times the recorded speed.
Typical recording sequence:
1) Start drones and chanter.
2) Play the Recording fingering combination.
3) Put your lower hand thumb on both the +control and -control. A high pitched beep indicates
recording mode.
4) Record as long as you like, or until the memory is full (indicated by a low pitched beep).
5) Play the Sound off note.
6) Start playback by turning drones on.
7) Start chanter and play along.
8) Exit recording mode by 2) and 3) above. A low pitched beep indicates normal mode.
VOLUME
PLAYING
SENSITIVITY
PITCH
MIDI
RECORDING
!
PLAYING AT HIGH VOLUME MIGHT DAMAGE YOUR HEARING.

The metronome does not start at any given tempo. You set the tempo like this:
1) Hold the Metronome fingering combination.
2) Think of a tempo in you head.
3) Beat the tempo two times on the +/-controls (both contacts at the same time)
4) The metronome continues in that tempo.
5) Touch +/-controls again holding the Metronome fingering combination: the metronome turns
off.
The chanter can play three different scales:
1) The standard GHB/SP scale, tuned to harmonise with the drones:so called harmonic tuning.
2) Achromatic scale, also with harmonic tuning.
3) Achromatic scale with equally tempered tuning. This tuning is usually the best for playing
together with other instruments. N.B. With this tuning some notes may seem out of tune with
the drones.
low G low A Bb B C natural C D Eb E F natural F natural F natural F high G high Ab high A
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v = vibrato
SP
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GHB
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Chromatic
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The chanter uses one 1.5Volt AAA/LR03 alkaline battery, or one 1.2Volt AAA/HR03 NiMH
rechargeable battery. The chanter will run approx. 10 hours on a 1000mAh NiMH rechargeable
battery, or 20 hours in MIDI mode. A rechargeable battery is recommended as it will be cheaper in
the long run.
If the chanter does not start correctly, or runs only for a few minutes before shutting itself off, the
chanter needs a new battery.
Remove the end cap xfrom the chanter by firmly pulling it outwards. Move the battery holder to the
side to allow the battery to slide out slightly. Tap the battery end of the chanter against the palm of
your hand in order to get the battery out. Insert the new battery with the negative pole towards the
end cap. Make sure the battery holder makes electrical contact with the negative pole. Put the
end cap back on.
x
+
—
BATTERY
METRONOME
SCALE
/TUNING
CHANGING THE BATTERY
Holder must
make
contact with
battery pole!

Do not expose the chanter to high temperatures (e.g. in a car during daytime). High temperatures
can damage the batteryand distort plastic parts.
Handle the chanter carefully. Dropping it can damage the circuit board and housing, and can cause
the chanter to malfunction.
Keep out of reach of small children. Product contains small parts.
Symptom:Chanter does not start at all.
Solution:Make sure the battery is ok.Make sure the battery holder makes electrical contact with
the battery pole.
Symptom:
Chanter does not start correctly, or runs only for a few minutes before shutting itself off.
Solution:Change/charge the battery.
Symptom:Chanter makes a clicking noise on one channel, and sounds with a low pitch on the
other.
Solution:Chanter is in MIDI mode.Disconnect and reconnect the earphones without fingering
the combination for MIDI mode.
Symptom:Chanter gets hot by the bottom end.
Solution:Battery is inserted the wrong way. Insert the battery the correct way.
Anders Fagerström Electronics
Anundsgatan 8
S-753 34 Uppsala
Sweden
e-mail: [e-mail]
Web page: www.technopipes.com
Telephone: [phone]
VAT No: SE630518025601
This device complies with
the following standards:
FCC part 15, subpart B,
EN 55 013, EN 55 020,
AS/NZS CISPR 13
Technopipes manual version 1.7
(Check the webpage for updates.)
MAKER
PRECAUTIONS
TROUBLESHOOTING