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Technology review
PipeTech Precision-Plus Tuner THERE are those that think the Large Hadron Collider at Cern has been built to determine the secrets of the origin of the universe, but that’s just a cover. The real reason is to shed some light on the greatest mystery in life. How do you tune the Great Highland Bagpipe? Reports that the Higgs Boson particle may be the key have so far proved wide of the mark. While there are some who have clearly made a Faustian pact in exchange for their Zen-like tuning abilities, the rest struggle along using a mixture of insulating tape, Stanley knives, sandpaper and language that would make a Sergeant Major blush. Strangely, given the technological age, until recently the most sophisticated aid to help with tuning was the good old Korg chromatic tuner. Lately, however, there has been a rash of new electronic products more suited to the Highland Bagpipe scale. The latest of these is the PipeTech Precision Plus tuner. Featuring a flexible clip-on microphone with output to an analogue display, the PipeTech has both a chanter and drone setting. The tuner is a substantial bit of kit
(compared to a Korg or HBT) but still fits easily in your hand (there is a wrist strap for additional security) and has an LED light for those low light situations — pretty much any major championship! The calibration on the dial starts at 454 and runs to 494 in 1Hz intervals. A carry pouch is included with a belt clip.
In band use the bendy microphone works well. At- tach just below the top of the drone and
bend over the end of the end of the drone and you can hold the tuner at a sensible viewing height and adjust the drone as necessary. It does require a slight time overhead in then removing the clip and attaching to the next drone, but you can just hold the mic to the top of the drone and get a reading from there, and if not OK, then attach and adjust. There is also the option of holding the mic next to the tuner with one hand and tuning with the other, although as the increments are close together on the screen that does make fine tuning a little tricky.
In solo use, the tuner suffers from the same issues as all other tuners (with the exception of the Saul tuner) in that you really need an extra pair of hands. Tuning the chanter is OK as you can clip the mic to a tabletop and play close to it, but drones are tricky.
This is a well-made piece of kit that
has a built-to-last feel, although it would have been better to have the microphone plug in rather than hard wired, as a break in the cable or a problem with the micro- phone will mean the unit will need to be sent back for repair. Also, at around £170 it is a bit on the pricey side compared to some of the competition.
In essence though, a useful tool in helping bands get that elusive ‘one piper’
sound. CHRIS MACKENZIE
PIPING TODAY • 49
NEW PRODUCTS
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