Unboxing Review of the Newly Released GrooveBox, the Chordcat!

To all track makers and gadget lovers, here’s an incredible newly released product!

The Chordcat is under the TORIZE brand by AlphaTheta, and it was released on July 17.
This product actually began as a crowdfunding project in November 2024, and it gained attention even before the launch, receiving over 2 million yen in support within the first hour.
It’s rumored to let you instantly play the music in your head just as you feel it and then it suggests useful chord progressions. Apparently, it also comes with demo tracks pre-installed.

In this article, I’ll review the Chordcat unit along with its features.

1. Unboxing
2. How to play the demo tracks
3. Final Thoughts

1. Unboxing!

First, the outer box...

It’s soo cute!

Very kawaii.

The design is just adorable! Just like the product name suggests, the packaging prominently features a cat.
When you open it…

Oh my goodness—it’s very cute.
From the outer packaging to the inside, the product clearly emphasizes the character of Chordcat. It already feels satisfying at this stage.

The contents include: the main unit, a USB cable (Type-C to C), a quick start guide, safety instructions, and a warranty card.

Now, it’s finally time to take a look at the actual unit...

The small icon on the bottom left is so darn cute!
When I picked it up, it felt very light. The unit weighs 400g, so it’s easy to carry around.
Also, based on the layout of the buttons and pads, it seems like it will be very intuitive to use.

Now, let’s look at the back…

There’s a power button, a USB Type-C port, MIDI port, Master OUT (TS phone L+R), stereo mini jack, and volume buttons.
What stands out are the MIDI and Master OUT ports. It offers a good range of external output options.

This time, I’m using six AA batteries as the power source. Even with all six batteries inside, it’s still very light!
Since it can also be powered via a USB Type-C cable, it’s nice to have flexible power options depending on when you might need them.

Now, let’s press the button on the back… and power it on!

Ooooooooooo—
The green light turns on, and it really gives a sense of consistent design. Oh man, this hyping me up!
The pads and buttons are easy to press and they feel natural — no discomfort at all.

2. How to Play the Demo Tracks

Since we have it here, let’s try playing one of the demo tracks!

First, turn on the power and press the "MENU" button on the left side of the display.
Next, when “Project” appears on the screen, press the "Enter" button.

When “Create new” appears, press the “>” button until “open (recent)” is displayed, then press "Enter" again.

There are several demo tracks available. Use the “< >” buttons to choose one you want to hear, then press "Enter".
When “Cancel” appears, press the “>” button.

Finally, press the play button (▶) and the demo track will start playing!

By the way, my favorite demo track is PopHouseDemo.
(It’s such a cheerful BGM, I can’t help but do a little dance.)

3. Final Thoughts

What I introduced today is just a small part of what the Chordcat can do. Even just listening to the demo tracks is fun. Imagine how much fun it’ll be to make your own music!
Since it has line-level output, I would love to connect it to speakers and try it out.

Finally, if you press the SOUND button in the center of the unit, you’ll get an incredible experience…
…but I’ll save the details for next time!

The Chordcat officially launched on July 17—be sure to check it out!