There is a good selection of piping music related software available that you can use to view, compose, and listen to piping music wih. Most of the tunes on this site are available in a format suitable for use with these programs.
Below is a quick summary of the most widely used software. Most of the suppliers of the software provide a free time limited evaulation of their software so you can try before you buy.
NEW! musicSheet for Android
Website: http://www.clonedbinary.com
Free Evaulation: YES (extended "pro" version coming April 2013)
File Formats: bww
Audio Playback: YES
Operating System: Android
Bagpipe Music Writer GOLD
Website: http://www.robertmacneilmusicworks.com
Free Evaulation: NO
File Formats: bww, bmw
Audio Playback: YES
Operating System: Windows
Bagpipe Reader
Website: --not listed--
Free Evaulation: YES
File Formats: bww, bmw
Audio Playback: YES
Operating System: Windows
Notes: This is essentially the same software as Bagpipe Music Writer GOLD. There was a dispute between those involved in creating Bagpipe Music Writer which resulted in this version being made available for free. The reason the website is not listed above is that to the best of my knowledge this is an illegal download.
Celtic Pipes
Website: http://www.celticpipes.net
Free Evaulation: YES
File Formats: bww, bmw, abc, pio
Audio Playback: YES
Operating System: Windows and Mac
Notes: New. The only piping software that will run on a Mac.
Electric Pipes
Website: http://www.bakedbean.co.nz/Electric_Pipes.htm
Free Evaulation: YES
File Formats: bww, bmw, abc, epm
Audio Playback: YES
Operating System: Windows
Piob Master
Website: http://www.ceolmor-software.com
Free Evaulation: YES
File Formats: bww, bmw, pio
Audio Playback: YES
Operating System: Windows
Pipewriter
Website: http://members.aol.com/Pipwriter
Free Evaulation: YES
File Formats: pip
Audio Playback: NO
Operating System: Windows
Notes: Lack of support for the popular bmw and bww fileformats means this software is not recommended.
I would recommend downloading and trying all the ones with a free evaluation and picking the one that best suits your needs.
Quick guide to piping software
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Quick guide to piping software
Last edited by viperpiper on Tue Dec 11, 2012 8:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Vista problems
If you have upgraded to Vista, and find that once you have re-installed your engraving software you no longer have access to the HELP link in the software, there is a way to remedy this.
Microsoft no longer bundled with new versions of their operating systems, starting with Vista. The link below explains all, and what you can do to resolve the issue.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607
Microsoft no longer bundled with new versions of their operating systems, starting with Vista. The link below explains all, and what you can do to resolve the issue.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607