CHIRP is a free, open-source tool for programming your amateur radio. It supports a large number of manufacturers and models, as well as provides a way to interface with multiple data sources and formats. CHIRP software has many features, some of which are not available using the Baofeng factory software, such as: Uses the familiar RX frequency and ± Offset for repeaters Upper & Lower Band Limits for TX on VHF & UHF TX Inhibit for Scanner Only frequencies. Turn on your radio and wait for radio activity to stop (if any) this may take several seconds. Return to CHIRP and click the Radio menu and choose Download From Radio 6. When the Radio Box opens Select the COM port your radio is connected to; Select “aofeng” as the Vendor and “UV-5R” (or BF.
To get started:
- Download CHIRP for your platform
- Check out the 'How_To_Get_Help' page, and the rest of the Documentation.
- Join the mailing list!
- Be sure to review the FAQ.
- Before you open a new ticket, you might want to consult the documentation. On the right side of this web page, you will find some links to the Wiki. It contains good input for many re-occuring issues.
- Also, please perform a search through all open and closed issues. Maybe someone else had the same problem before, and a solution is already available.
- If your problem is about how to use CHIRP with an already supported radio, then you should ask that question in the mailing list.
- Once you have looked through the Wiki and searched all open/closed issues, you can open a new ticket (did you ask on the mailing list?). There, you may file a bug report, request a new feature, or request the implementation of a new radio. Please be detailed and follow the instructions in 'How To Report Issues'.
If you are a vendor and want to have your radio supported by CHIRP, please see InformationForVendors
Supported Radio Models¶
Abbree
| KYD
|
Note that not all functionality is supported on all radio models. Not all models and variants are listed here. For a more complete view of everything supported, as well as which features are supported for which model, take a look at overview of supported features for the latest build.
Note that radios marked as 'variant' are supported via a Aliasing_for_radio_clones feature.
Other Data Sources¶
File Formats
| Internet |
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
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 Software For Baofeng Uv-5r
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 Software Radio List
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
- 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.
Chirp Software Free
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.