ZhongTaiko User Manual - PC+NS White E-Box

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ZhongTaiko User Manual PC+NS White E-Box

Your White E-Box works with both PC and Nintendo Switch. This guide covers connecting to both platforms and adjusting your drum's sensitivity.

Contents
1. What's in the Box2. Assembly3. Connecting to PC4. Connecting to Nintendo Switch5. Sensitivity Adjustment6. Configuration & Firmware Tool7. Troubleshooting8. Contact Us

1. What's in the Box

Before you start, make sure you have everything:

Item Qty Description
M8 Screw Set (bolt + nut + 2 washers) x4 Small bag of metal hardware
Wooden Stands x2 Curved wooden pieces that hold the drum up
E-Box + Cable (White version) x1 The electronic converter box that connects your drum to your device
ZhongTaiko Drum x1 The main drum unit
Tip: Keep the small screws in their bag until you're ready to use them -- they're easy to lose!
📦 Note: Your package also includes a spare sensor. You don't need it for normal use — just keep it stored safely as a backup in case you ever need a replacement.

2. Assembly -- Attaching the Wooden Stands

The wooden stands raise the drum off the table and angle it for comfortable play.

Assembly diagram
Assembly diagram
  1. Flip the ZhongTaiko drum upside down so you can see the metal L-brackets on each side.
  2. Place one wooden stand on the outside of each L-bracket. The curved part should face outward.
  3. For each hole, use one complete screw set. Thread them in this order:
    Nut → Washer → Wooden Stand → L-Bracket → Washer → Bolt
  4. Tighten each screw firmly but don't over-tighten -- you don't want to crack the wood.
Tip: Hand-tighten first to make sure everything is aligned, then use a wrench for the final tightening. The drum should feel stable and not wobble when placed on a flat surface.

3. Connecting to PC

Your White E-Box has a Pentagon connector on the bottom (for the drum cable) and a USB output on top. It also has a row of small buttons on the bottom edge.

White E-Box PC connection
White E-Box PC connection
  1. Plug the drum cable into the Pentagon (5-sided) connector on the bottom of the E-Box.
  2. While holding the Circle Button (the round button on the E-Box), plug the USB cable into your PC.
  3. Release the Circle Button. The LED should light up -- you're connected!

The bottom row of buttons (UP/DOWN/RIGHT/LEFT/ESC/ENTER) can be used to navigate menus in PC mode without a keyboard.

Tip: If you forget to hold the Circle Button while plugging in, just unplug and try again. The button tells the E-Box to start in PC mode.

4. Connecting to Nintendo Switch

The Switch connection requires holding the + button while plugging in.

White E-Box NS connection
White E-Box NS connection
  1. Plug the drum cable into the Pentagon (5-sided) connector.
  2. Press and hold the "+" button on the E-Box.
  3. While still holding "+", plug the USB cable into your Switch Dock (the dock must be connected to your TV).
  4. The LED lights up — release the "+" button. You're ready to play!
Tip: The Switch version connects as a Pro Controller. Make sure your game supports Pro Controller input.
⚠ Important: You must hold the + button throughout the connection process. If you forget, unplug and try again.

5. Sensitivity Adjustment

Inside the White E-Box, there are 4 blue adjustment knobs (potentiometers). Use a small flathead screwdriver to turn them.

White E-Box sensitivity knobs
White E-Box sensitivity knobs

Why adjust? If you notice ghost notes (phantom hits you didn't make) or missed inputs, a small sensitivity tweak will solve it.

Knob Position (left to right) What It Controls In-Game Effect
1st — D (leftmost) Left KA (left rim) Blue notes — left rim hits
2nd — J Right DON (right face) Red notes — right center hits
3rd — K Right KA (right rim) Blue notes — right rim hits
4th — F (rightmost) Left DON (left face) Red notes — left center hits
How to turn them:
Clockwise (CW) = Less sensitive (reduces ghost notes / false triggers)
Counter-clockwise (CCW) = More sensitive (helps register lighter hits)
Tip: Adjust one knob at a time and test between each change. A good starting test: try drumrolls on each zone. If the drumroll registers smoothly, sensitivity is good. If it stutters, try increasing sensitivity slightly.

6. Configuration Tool & Firmware Update (WebHID)

ZhongTaiko provides a free browser-based tool that lets you fine-tune every setting on your E-Box and flash firmware updates — with no drivers and no Python to install. Everything runs directly inside your web browser.

🛠️ Open the WebHID Configuration Tool →
⚠ Browser requirement: This tool uses the WebHID API, which only works in Chrome or Edge on a desktop computer. It will not work in Safari, Firefox, or any mobile browser. If you see the message "此瀏覽器不支援 WebHID" (this browser does not support WebHID), switch to Chrome or Edge.

Step 1 — Connect Your Drum

  1. Connect your E-Box to the computer in PC mode (hold the Circle button while plugging in the USB cable, as in Section 3).
  2. Open the tool and click the 🔌 連接 (Connect) button.
  3. In the browser pop-up, select the device listed as VID 0F0D / PID 0092 (HORIPAD) and confirm.
  4. The status changes from 未連接 (Disconnected) to connected. You're ready to configure.

Step 2 — Adjust Your Settings

The tool exposes every tunable parameter of your drum. The most useful ones:

Setting What it does
Platform mode Switch between PC / NS / MIDI / DigitalOut in real time
Timing (release & cooldown) PC release 1–33 ms (default 20), NS release 25–33 ms (default 25), plus Don/Ka cooldown — tune for a crisper or more forgiving feel
Key mapping Assign each pad (D / F / J / K) to a keyboard key, controller button, or MIDI note
Advanced judgment Crosstalk & self-lock thresholds (1–60 ms) to stop ghost notes and false hits
Rapid-fire (連打) Pulse width and boost options for fast drumroll input
Speed boost Auto-acceleration for DigitalOut (e.g. 45/s → 60/s) with adjustable exit delay
Saving & backups: Some options (key mapping, digital output) apply instantly. Others require clicking 💾 套用設定並儲存 (Apply & Save). Use ⬇ 匯出 JSON (Export JSON) to back up your configuration and ⬆ 匯入 JSON (Import JSON) to restore it later. ↻ 重新讀取 (Reload) re-reads the current settings from the device.

Step 3 — Flash Firmware (Optional)

The 🔥 瀏覽器燒錄韌體 (Browser Firmware Flashing) section updates your E-Box firmware in three steps:

  1. Click ① 進入 bootloader (Enter Bootloader) to put the E-Box into update mode.
  2. Click ② 選埠並燒錄 (Select Port & Flash) and pick the port that appears.
  3. Use the built-in firmware (recommended) or load your own binary, then wait for the flash to complete.
⚠ Do not unplug the USB cable while firmware is flashing. If the update is interrupted, just re-enter the bootloader and flash again — the device will not be bricked.
Tip: Firmware updates are optional — if your drum already plays well, you don't need to update. Prefer a step-by-step NS-specific updater instead? See the Firmware Uploader Manual.

7. Troubleshooting

⚠️ Troubleshooting

PC: LED on but no input?

  1. Did you hold the Circle Button while plugging in? PC mode requires this.
  2. Open Notepad and tap the drum -- characters should appear if the E-Box is working.
  3. Try a different USB port.

Switch: Not detected?

  1. Go to Controllers → Change Grip/Order on the Switch.
  2. Make sure the dock is properly connected (check HDMI and power).
  3. Try unplugging and re-plugging the USB cable.

Need Help? Contact Us!

We're a small team based in Taiwan, passionate about bringing the arcade taiko experience home. If you run into any issues, don't hesitate to reach out!

Email: [email protected]
Website: taiko.ac
Discord: Join the ZhongTaiko Community

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