HiChord™

Firmware Updater

Firmware Version: Rev 2.8 BETA | Build: 2026-03-31
What's New in Rev 2.8 BETA New Features • Sequencer MIDI Output — sequences now send MIDI notes to DAWs/synths
• Octave −2 Support — extended low range for deeper bass
• Looper + Arp Playback — chord+arp recordings now play back correctly
• Improved Joystick Calibration — movement-based sampling, clearer on-screen guide
• New Boot Screen — updated synth-bot character animation Bug Fixes • Looper playback now matches live audio exactly
• Vocoder stability — eliminated crashes on heavy presets and after randomize
• LEAD mode no longer plays stale chord when switching modes
• ADC button calibration + F3 GPIO fix for Batch 1-3
• Mic sample pitch detection accuracy improved
• Persistent mic & user samples across all 4 preset slots
• Randomizer CPU stability — consistent load across presets
• DSP chain hardened — clamping, filter resets, denormal flush

How to Update

Power on your HiChord

Press and hold all three menu buttons + + for 5 seconds

Screen shows “Entering DFU Mode”

Connect HiChord to your computer via USB-C

Click “Connect” below — a popup appears

Select “Daisy Bootloader” from the popup list, then click Connect

Click “Update Firmware” and wait for it to finish

Important: The popup must show “Daisy Bootloader” — not “HiChord” or “HiChord - Paired”. If the wrong name appears, unplug USB and hold all three buttons again for the full 5 seconds.
Ready to connect

Button Calibration (Batch 1–3 Only)

Batches 1–3 use analog buttons that may need calibration if buttons feel unresponsive or trigger the wrong chord. Batch 4+ does not need this — it uses digital buttons that self-calibrate.

Turn off your HiChord

Press and hold + (the gray and yellow buttons)

While holding them, slide the power switch on. The screen shows “ENTERING CALIBRATE”

Follow the on-screen prompts — press each chord button when asked

When finished, HiChord restarts with calibrated buttons

Tip: You only need to calibrate once. The calibration is saved and persists across firmware updates.
Batch 1 (Kickstarter Edition): Make sure your HiChord is fully charged before updating.
Troubleshooting

Check Your Browser

Google Chrome is the only officially supported browser for firmware updates. Firefox and Safari may work intermittently but are not guaranteed.

Reset USB Driver with Zadig WINDOWS ONLY

If Chrome can't find your HiChord, you may need to install the correct USB driver:

  1. Download Zadig (use the latest version)
  2. Launch Zadig
  3. Put HiChord into update mode:
    • Power on HiChord
    • Hold + + for 5 seconds
    • Screen shows “Entering DFU Mode”
    • Connect via USB-C
  4. In Zadig, click “Options” → “List All Devices”
  5. Select “Daisy Bootloader” from the dropdown
  6. Set the target driver (right side) to “WinUSB”

    It's fine if the left side shows “(NONE)” instead of “libusb0”.

  7. Click “Replace Driver”

After Zadig finishes, go back to Chrome and try connecting again.

Manual HiChord.Shop Support