The short version

From viral prototype to the new arrival everyone will want to try

The HiChord Jet Black Aluminium Edition is a pocket-sized chord synth, sampler, looper, drum machine and MIDI instrument built around one irresistible promise: press a button and hear a complete chord instantly.

That simple idea is why HiChord spread so quickly online. A rough early prototype pulled in millions of views; its Kickstarter reportedly raised more than £90,000 on day one; and Pocket Audio now says more than 6,000 units are already in the wild. The hype did not begin with a giant feature list. It began with the wonderfully clear sight of someone turning on a tiny box and making something musical in seconds.

Now the momentum reaches Gsus4. The new listing pairs that playful chord-first workflow with a compact black aluminium chassis, built-in speaker and microphone, OLED screen, rechargeable battery, 30-plus instruments and enough sequencing, looping and connectivity to move well beyond novelty status.

Why it clicks

Seven buttons make the first move. The joystick changes the mood.

HiChord maps seven related chords across its main buttons, so a progression can begin before you have named a key, memorised a shape or opened a laptop.

Choose one of 12 keys, press the numbered chord buttons in any order, then hold a chord and push the joystick to reshape it. A movement can flip major to minor, open the chord into a sus4, add a seventh or ninth, or push the harmony somewhere darker and more colourful. Automatic voice leading can smooth the movement between chords, while the OLED screen keeps names and settings visible.

Beyond the first chord

The hype survives because HiChord keeps opening up

The front panel is simple on purpose. Under it sits a surprisingly broad portable workstation.

There are more than 30 onboard instruments spanning analog-style waveforms, FM synthesis, sampled sounds and hybrid layers. Play modes cover full chords, strumming, lead lines, drones, arpeggios, repeats, drums and sequencing. The drum side brings seven kits and 56 preset beat patterns, while effects including reverb, delay, chorus, filter, tremolo and flanger help each layer find its place.

Pocket-sized without feeling disposable

At roughly 100 × 71 × 29 mm, HiChord is smaller than many phones. The CNC-machined aluminium chassis, tactile buttons and physical joystick make the Jet Black edition feel like an instrument you reach for, not another app competing for attention. The built-in speaker is there for instant ideas; headphones or line out unlock the full stereo sound.

Who should be excited?

Beginners will get it immediately. Musicians will find reasons to keep it close.

HiChord is approachable, but it is not only a beginner instrument. Its best use depends on what usually slows your ideas down.

• Guitarists: add keyboard-style harmony, pads and backing parts without learning a second fretboard-sized system.
• Songwriters: audition progressions and richer voicings while the melodic idea is still fresh.
• Producers: sketch away from the studio, then bring audio or MIDI into Ableton, Logic, FL Studio or GarageBand.
• Singers: find accompaniment quickly, build loops and experiment with the onboard vocoder.
• Educators: make scale degrees, chord families and harmonic movement visible and playable.
• Complete beginners: start making progressions on day one and let the theory arrive through use.

Release snapshot

The essential HiChord specs

Price and availability: the HiChord Jet Black Aluminium Edition was listed by Gsus4 at A$499 and marked available when this article was prepared on 12 August 2026. Live product-page details take precedence if stock or pricing changes.