The Pocket SCÍON is a portable device that captures biofeedback data sourced from contact with living organisms. This data is used by the onboard sound engine to generate evolving soundscapes and a range of MIDI messages. The data is also accessible as OSC messages which are broadcast from the accompanying desktop application. Anyone can create, shape, and enjoy music with Pocket SCÍON regardless of existing musical experience. Despite its stand-alone, plug-and-play interface, experienced or adventurous users can use the MIDI and OSC output capabilities to integrate Pocket SCÍON and biofeedback into their studios, installations, and audio- visual projects.
The wonderful world of biosonification.
My name is Modern Biology and I make music with plants and mushrooms. I’ve been hosting events around the world for almost 5 years, using Instruō’s SCÍON device as the heart of a system that uses small changes in the bioelectricity of organisms to trigger note and rhythm changes on a modular synthesizer. I believe that this practice is a powerful way to help us reconnect with the natural world. I’m asked almost every day, both online and in real life, “How can I do this myself?”
Just over a year ago I got in touch with Kian and Jason at Instruō and asked them if they’d like to work on a device together. Something affordable, portable, non-dependent on modular synths and simple enough for beginners, yet deep enough for serious musicians. After numerous in-person meetings, Zoom calls between Vancouver and Instruo’s HQ in Glasgow, and the hard work of the entire Instruō team, the Pocket SCÍON is here!
Onboard Sound Engine.
Pocket SCÍON includes four built-in instruments created exclusively for the device, made in collaboration with Tarun Nayar (Modern Biology), an ecologist, musician and prolific user of Instruō’s Eurorack format SCÍON module.
Secret Garden
Red LED animations
Fungal Waves
Blue LED animations
Treebeard's Koto
Green LED animations
Soil Circuits
Purple LED animations
MIDI Output.
Pocket SCÍON can send up to five simultaneous MIDI notes, each with velocity and an assignable varying CC, via the TRS-MIDI Output or USB port. Multi-channel MIDI mode allows these messages to be split across five channels for routing either to seperate MIDI tracks in a DAW or to external hardware devices.
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