This article is for blind and vision-impaired amateur radio operators interested in using CHIRP to edit channel information stored in VHF/UHF radios. CHIRP is a free programming tool developed and distributed by Dan Smith, KK7DS, for Windows, Linux, and MacOS operating systems.
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The website has a list of radio models that CHIRP supports, including D-STAR radios. The software version 0.3.1 works with radios produced by 10 different companies.
The documentation is clear and well-organized. It includes frequently-asked questions, and it has a professional-quality system for reporting and tracking problems and feature requests.
CHIRP Programming Software Windows, Linux, Mac Latest Daily Build 1. Getting Started: 1.1: Mixing Old and New Image Files: 1.2: Latest Daily Build: 1.3: How often. Helping you discover great audiobooks at great prices. Send Me a Magic Link Instead. Sign in with one click from your email.
What CHIRP Does
CHIRP is a programming tool designed to edit most of the settings stored in the channel memory of UHF/VHF radios. It can also create new channels on the Wouxun radio, but that capability might depend on the radio.
Blind and vision-impaired hams can use CHIRP to make programming changes that are not accessible via a small radio display screen. Also, editing an existing channel with CHIRP is often more convenient than deleting and reprogramming a channel using internal radio menus.
What CHIRP Will Not Do
CHIRP does not support all functions and features of every radio. It is not designed to replace the internal menus for configuring functions such as the squelch level and VOX.
Using CHIRP with a Screen Reader
The easiest way to use the Windows version of CHIRP with a screen reader is to use an Excel spreadsheet program to read and edit data that you exported from CHIRP in a .csv file. The Documentation has a link to a step-by-step description of how to create a .csv file that Excel can read and how to get the data back into a radio.
The Linux version is directly accessible with the free Orca screen reader bundled with Ubuntu. Unlike the Windows version of CHIRP, no separate speadsheet program is necessary with the Linux version.
Orca is a basic screen reader that (with the default configuration) works automatically with CHIRP as you navigate the table of radio channel data using the arrow keys. The Orca keyboard shortcuts are not required.
If you want Orca to speak the column heading when it reads data, such as 'frequency 146.78000' or 'tone 103.5,' change the Table Rows preference from 'Speak Row' to 'Speak Cell.' (Preferences Dialog > Speech Tab > Table Rows section > Up Arrow to select Speak Cell.)
In the Mac OSX version, radio channel data are not accessible with the Voice Over screen reader. Also, a mouse or other pointing device is required to navigate and edit the table of data. For example, to change a tone you double-click on the current tone setting, hold the mouse button down, and drag the cursor to make a selection from a list of tones in a popup menu.
Choosing What To Display
Updated Chirp Software
There are two choices for how CHIRP displays transmitted CTCSS access tones and DTCS codes:
1. Hide Unused Data. Dan Smith, KK7DS, added this option in the View Menu so blind and vision-impaired hams can read from the CHIRP window more easily. For example with this option, stored CTCSS tones and DTCS codes are hidden for 'No Tone' mode channels.
2. Show Unused Data (default setting). In most radios you can program each channel with a CTCSS access tone and a DTCS code for future use. Transmission of the tone or code can then be turned on or off 'in the field' using a control on the radio. (Wouxun radios are an exception—stored CTCSS tones and DTCS codes are always active.) If you do not select 'Hide Unused Data,' the stored CTCSS and DTCSS data are displayed whether or not the channel is programmed to open in a mode that uses them. Note that showing unused data causes Chirp to display meaningless numbers in the CTCSS and DTCS columns of channels with no programmed tone or code.
Using CHIRP
Figure 1 shows the program window for a Wouxun KG-UVD1P radio when 'Hide Unused Data' is selected.
Figure 1. CHIRP with 'Hide Unused Data' selected.
Figure 2 shows the channel data with 'Hide Unused Data' deselected. Every channel has a tone and DTCS code listed.
Figure 2. CHIRP with 'Hide Unused Data' not selected.
To edit a channel if you are not using a screen reader: Click on the cell you want to edit and either choose an option from the drop-down menu or type the entry, depending on the column. Save the edited file to your PC as a backup, and load it into the radio memory (Radio → Upload to Radio).
In most cases, the editor in CHIRP will be all you need, but in case you have a very large file, you can export it to a spreadsheet, where scripts and formulas can be used for editing and option to make CHIRP easier for blind and vision-impaired hams to use.
Thanks also to Jeremy, W0JRL, for pointing out that CHIRP is accessible with Orca.
Author Information
Peter DeNeef, AE7PD, is an Extra Class amateur radio operator in the U.S. This website has no ads or conflicts of interest.
Email: HamRadioAndVision 'at' gmail 'dot' com
rev. 3/2/2019
What is Chirp?
Turn your laptop keyboard into a MIDI keyboard controller. Capture musical inspiration on the go without having to lug along a hardware MIDI keyboard. Just use your laptop's keyboard or mouse to enter notes and chords in any music software requiring MIDI input or providing MIDI output. Use Chirp to audition soft synth patches in your favorite DAW or recording application. Want to write that masterpiece or work on that string part in your DAW during your cross-country flight? Chirp makes it both possible and easy. The keyboard is resizable on the user's display, and the computer key mappings are shown as labels on the piano keys and trigger pads/controls.
Chirp Features and Quick Specifications
- Runs on Mac OS X to 10.9 or Windows XP/Vista/7.
- High quality re-sizable keyboard display shows piano keys being pressed with photo-realistic shadowing
- Includes 10 programmable trigger pads map-able to any MIDI event-even SYSEX commands
- 2 controller wheels allow mouse or trackpad entry of any MIDI continuous controller
- Installs as a virtual MIDI port-appears in the MIDI Devices menu of any music software application
Chirp Overview Documentation
Chirp Software Manual
This section contains general overview information about the Chirp Virtual MIDI Keyboard application.
Chirp Overview Brochure
Chirp User Manual
Chirp for Windows
For Windows users, these documents provide installation and setup help along with troubleshooting advice in case of an issue.
Chirp Installation Guide
Chirp Windows Troubleshooting Guide
Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth Issues
Windows MIDI Port Limits, SongFrame and Chirp
Chirp for Mac
For Mac users, these documents provide installation and setup help along with troubleshooting advice in case of an issue.
Chirp Installation Guide
Chirp Mac Troubleshooting Guide
Chirp Mac Pro Tools Setup Guide
Changing the Default Settings in Chirp Mac OS X Version
Chirp Virtual MIDI Keyboard ControllerReason Setup Guide - Mac OS X
Chirp will run in Trial Mode for 30 days before you need to buy a license key to unlock it. We encourage you to take it for a test drive before you purchase it to be sure it fits your needs. Please refer to the Documentation tab for installation and getting started guides, as well as detailed operational information.
Chirp Build 1.2 Downloads
These downloads work with serial numbers purchased between 2008 and June 2012. The Pace Interlok anti-piracy protection has been removed, otherwise these versions are identical to the current Build 2.0 in functionality. Please EMAIL us at support@tanageraudioworks.comto get an updated license key for Chirp Build 2.0. This is free for previous Chirp customers.
Chirp Example Screens
Examples of Chirp screen shots can be found below.
Chirp Detailed Information
Chirp turns your computer or laptop keyboard into a virtual MIDI keyboard controller with 18 piano keys, 10 drum triggers and all the control you'd expect from a piece of hardware. The program produces no actual 'sound' itself - instead it produces MIDI notes and messages, which in turn 'drive' any music software application, MIDI instrument or plug-in soft synthesizer capable of generating sound from MIDI input. Many music software applications and soft synths include some virtual keyboard capability, but very few allow the MIDI notes to be generated using your computer keyboard. Many limit input to a mouse click, which makes chord entry and real-time playing virtually impossible. Chirp accommodates up to 7 notes on the keyboard to be played simultaneously and in real-time, allowing for even complex 9/11/13 chord entry over 2 octaves.
Chirp was designed to be a low latency controller capable of both supply MIDI notes and displaying played notes from any music application with MIDI I/O capabilities. We envisioned the primary computer platform as a Windows or Mac laptop, and most likely in a remote environment where the use of a physical keyboard is impractical, such as an airplane seat, bus seat (or even your desk at work!) Chirp allows the user to choose which computer keys are mapped to the piano keyboard keys, as well as assign the trigger pads to any MIDI event.
Chirp Features
Ports
Chirp Software Port
- 16 Channel Virtual MIDI Input/Output Port (installs via driver on Windows or Mac and appears in any MIDI music host application)
- Piano Keyboard and Trigger Pads assignable to different MIDI Channels
Keyboard
- High resolution photo-realistic display - large and small display sizes available
- 18 to 21 notes mapped to computer keyboard keys for generating MIDI data with assignable velocities
- 18 to 21 on-screen keys to display incoming MIDI note data
- Note velocity controlled by graphical slide or preset values assigned to top row number keys graphical octave control allows access to all 127 defined MIDI notes
Controls
- 2 programmable continuous controller wheels operated with the mouse or glide pad - assignable to any continuous controller
- Space Bar assignable as on/off pedal (damper/sustain, etc)
- 10 trigger pads assignable to any MIDI event (on a different channel than the keyboard keys)
- 'All Notes Off' Panic button
- Ability to send note data even when Chirp is not the focused application ('Send Notes Always' function.)
MIDI Data Capable From Continuous Controller Wheels
- Control every MIDI continuous controller defined in the latest MIDI Specification
- Pitch Bend and Mod wheel set up as default controllers; user can define any combination of MIDI Controllers to assign to wheels
MIDI Data From Trigger Pads
- Note On/Off with assignable velocity
- Program Change messages
- Specific Controller Values
- SYSEX Messages
- Default mapping to GM Drums on MIDI Channel 10 for most commonly used drum sounds
Minimum Computer System Requirements
Windows - 2.33GHz or faster x86-compatible processor, or Intel Atom™ 1.6GHz or faster processor for netbook class devices. Microsoft® Windows® XP, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista® Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise (including 64 bit editions) with Service Pack 2, Windows 7, or Windows 8 Classic. 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended.) Chirp also installs the required Adobe AIR framework during the installation process, and also installs the required LoopBe30 MIDI Loopback Driver.
Mac - Intel® Core™ Duo 1.83GHz or faster processor
Mac OS X v10.6, v10.7, v10.8, or v10.9. 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended.) Chirp also installs the required Adobe AIR framework during the installation process.