Which chord controller is right for you? We compare three options across price, features, and use cases.
The Rise of the Chord Controller
Chord controllers are having a moment. Whether you struggle with music theory, want to speed up your songwriting workflow, or just want to explore harmony without the finger gymnastics, these devices promise to unlock creativity.
But with prices ranging from £5 to £550, which one actually makes sense for you?
Let’s compare three options: the Telepathic Instruments Orchid (£549), Pocket Audio HiChord (£280), and Flowr (£4.99).
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Orchid | HiChord | Flowr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £549 | ~£280 | £4.99 |
| Form Factor | Hardware synth | Pocket hardware | Android app |
| Built-in Sounds | Yes (3 synth engines) | Yes (12-oscillator synth) | No (MIDI only) |
| MIDI Out | Yes (USB-C + 5-pin) | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB + Inter-app) |
| Chord System | Key mode + voicing dial | Nashville numbers + joystick | Circle of 5ths + petal wheel |
| Voice Leading | Yes (patent-pending) | Basic inversions | Yes (automatic) |
| Looper | Yes | Yes | No |
| Drum Machine | Beat machine | Yes | No |
| Battery | Yes | Yes | Your phone |
| Portability | Carry bag | Pocket-sized | Already in your pocket |
Telepathic Instruments Orchid (£549)
What It Is
Created by Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, the Orchid is a 12-key, 16-voice polyphonic synthesizer built around chord generation. It’s a premium, self-contained instrument with three synth engines, onboard effects, looping, and a beat machine.
Strengths
- Standalone instrument — built-in speakers, battery, gorgeous sounds
- Premium build quality — retro aesthetic, feels like a proper instrument
- Celebrity endorsements — used by Kid Cudi, Diplo, Gracie Abrams, Fred Again
- Community — active “Garden” community shaping development
- Complete package — synth, looper, drums, effects all in one
Weaknesses
- Price — £549 is a serious investment
- Limited availability — sells out in minutes, waitlists common
- No loop storage — can’t save your loops (bring a notebook!)
- No MIDI clock — won’t sync to your DAW’s tempo
- Learning curve — lots of features to master
Best For
Musicians who want a premium, self-contained songwriting instrument and can afford the investment. If you value beautiful hardware, great sounds, and don’t mind the price, Orchid delivers.
Pocket Audio HiChord (~£280)
What It Is
A pocket-sized chord synthesizer using the Nashville Number System. Seven buttons trigger diatonic chords, while a joystick modifies chord quality on the fly. Includes a 12-oscillator synth engine and drum machine.
Strengths
- Truly pocket-sized — fits in your hand
- Nashville Number System — intuitive for those who know it
- Joystick control — quickly shift between maj, min, 7th, sus
- Self-contained — built-in speaker, battery, synth sounds
- Affordable hardware — half the price of Orchid
Weaknesses
- Basic synth engine — functional but won’t wow you
- Small form factor — tiny buttons may frustrate larger hands
- Pre-order delays — shipping timelines have slipped
- Limited expression — joystick is clever but restrictive
Best For
Songwriters who want a portable hardware sketchpad at a more accessible price point. Great for capturing ideas on the go without needing a phone or laptop.
Flowr (£4.99)
What It Is
An Android app that turns your phone into a MIDI chord controller. Features a petal wheel interface (circle of fifths), scale degree pads, and XY expression control. No built-in sounds — it sends MIDI to your DAW, synths, or other apps.
Strengths
- Price — £5 vs £280-549
- Already portable — your phone is already in your pocket
- Three play modes — Songwriter, Explorer, Parallel
- Voice leading — automatic smooth chord progressions
- XY expression — every pad doubles as a CC controller
- Gyroscope MIDI — tilt your phone to control parameters
- USB + Inter-app MIDI — works with hardware and software
- Circle of fifths — visual key relationships
Weaknesses
- No built-in sounds — requires external synth/DAW
- Android only — sorry iPhone users
- No looper — capture ideas in your DAW instead
- Screen-based — no tactile hardware buttons
- Phone dependency — ties up your phone while playing
Best For
Musicians who already have synths/DAWs and need an affordable, expressive chord controller. Perfect for those who want to try chord generation before investing in hardware, or who simply prefer software solutions.
The Real Question: Do You Need Hardware?
Here’s the honest truth: the Orchid and HiChord are beautifully designed instruments, but they’re solving a problem that software can solve for 1% of the price.
If you:
- Already own synths, plugins, or a DAW
- Want to control sounds rather than generate them
- Prefer spending money on actual instruments
- Want to try chord generation before committing
…then a £5 app makes a lot more sense than £280-549 hardware.
Hardware makes sense if you:
- Want a self-contained instrument with no laptop/phone
- Value the tactile experience of physical buttons
- Have the budget and want a premium experience
- Specifically want the Orchid’s synth sounds
Voice Leading: The Secret Sauce
All three devices offer some form of intelligent chord voicing, but they work differently:
Orchid uses a proprietary “patent-pending” voicing system with a dial to shift chord positions. It’s designed to make everything sound musical with minimal effort.
HiChord offers basic inversions through its joystick — functional but simpler.
Flowr uses automatic voice leading on inner petals — the app calculates the smoothest path between chords, minimising movement like a pianist would. Outer petals give you spread voicings for a fuller sound.
MIDI Capabilities
If you want to use these as controllers for other gear:
| Orchid | HiChord | Flowr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB MIDI | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 5-pin MIDI | ✓ | ✗ | Via adapter |
| MIDI Clock | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Multi-channel | ✓ (chord/bass split) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Inter-app MIDI | N/A | N/A | ✓ (Android) |
The Verdict
Buy the Orchid if: Money isn’t the primary concern and you want a premium, self-contained songwriting instrument with beautiful sounds and build quality. You’re buying into an ecosystem and community.
Buy the HiChord if: You want portable hardware at a more accessible price and don’t need premium synth sounds. The Nashville Number System appeals to you.
Download Flowr if: You already have synths/software and want an affordable, expressive MIDI controller. You want to try chord generation before spending hundreds on hardware. Or you just don’t have £300-550 to drop on what is essentially a creativity tool.
Try Before You Buy (Hardware)
Here’s a thought: download Flowr for £5 and use it for a month. If you find yourself constantly reaching for it, wanting better sounds, wishing it was hardware — then maybe the Orchid or HiChord makes sense for you.
But you might discover that chord generation on your phone, connected to the synths you already own, is exactly what you needed.
The best creativity tool is the one you’ll actually use.
Flowr is available now on Google Play for Android.
Download Flowr | Learn more at getflowr.io
Disclaimer: This comparison was written by the developer of Flowr. We’ve tried to be fair and factual about all three products, but obviously we think Flowr is pretty great.