Pocket Scíon
A portable biofeedback instrument that captures electrical signals from living organisms and transforms them into evolving soundscapes and musical data.
Developed by Instruō in collaboration with Modern Biology (Tarun Nayar)
Make Music with Living Things
Connect to plants, fungi, or your own skin and let the tiny electrical signals create constantly evolving soundscapes
What is Pocket Scíon?
Pocket Scíon is a handheld instrument that listens to the tiny electrical signals occurring all around us and turns them into sound. It’s portable, affordable, battery powered, and small enough to fit in your pocket.
Connect the sensor clips to a leaf, a mushroom, or your own fingertips. The device translates bioelectric fluctuations into musical parameters, creating a unique feedback loop where the music responds to the organism, and the organism responds to the music.
- No musical experience required — anyone can create and enjoy
- Stand-alone operation — plug in headphones and go
- Studio integration — MIDI and OSC for advanced users
A Collaboration with Modern Biology
Pocket Scíon was developed in partnership with Tarun Nayar (Modern Biology), an ecologist and musician who has been making music with plants and mushrooms for over five years using Instruō’s Scíon Eurorack module.
How It Works
Understanding biosonification — the art of turning biological data into sound
Biofeedback Sensing
The sensor clips measure tiny fluctuations in electrical conductance on organic surfaces. These fluctuations are caused by the movement of ions and water through living tissue — a process influenced by light, temperature, humidity, and even touch.
Pocket Scíon analyses the frequency of these changes and maps them to musical parameters. The result is sound that reflects the bioelectric “mood” of whatever it’s connected to.
- GSR-style sensing — measures surface conductance
- Adjustable sensitivity — adapt to different organisms
- Capacitive touchpad — alternative input method
Input Sources
Sensor clips for plants, fungi, or skin. Capacitive touchpad for direct interaction. Even audio or CV signals can stimulate the sensors.
Signal Processing
Analogue circuit captures raw bioelectric data. Digital algorithm analyses frequency and maps values to note triggers with adjustable sensitivity.
Sound Generation
Four custom instruments respond to the processed data, generating up to five simultaneous voices with evolving textures and rhythms.
Data Output
Alongside audio, Pocket Scíon outputs MIDI notes, velocity, and CC values. OSC messages available via the desktop app for visualisation.
Four Built-in Instruments
Custom synth engines designed specifically for biofeedback, each with its own character and scale
Secret Garden
Metallic, bell-like tones outlining a Csus4 chord. Crystalline and ethereal, perfect for ambient explorations.
Fungal Waves
Deep, evolving drones with organic movement. Rich harmonic textures that breathe and shift with the input data.
Treebeard's Koto
Plucky, organic-sounding tones inspired by traditional string instruments. Rhythmic and melodic character.
Soil Circuits
Noisy, textural landscapes ranging from subtle grain to harsh electronic chaos. Raw and experimental.
Voice Configuration
Each instrument can generate up to five independent voices, creating rich polyphonic textures. Use the buttons on the back to adjust:
- Number of voices — from single notes to full polyphony
- Note density — control how frequently notes are triggered
- Sensitivity — fine-tune response to input signals
The desktop app unlocks deeper customisation including scale editing, octave ranges, and ratcheting options.
Raw Output Mode
Enable Raw Output mode to bypass the instruments entirely and hear the chaotic pulse waveform directly from the analogue biofeedback circuit. Perfect for gestural harsh noise synthesis and experimental sound design.
Beyond Standalone
Integrate Pocket Scíon into your studio, installations, and audio-visual projects
TRS-MIDI Output
Type-A TRS MIDI connection for hardware synths, samplers, and MIDI interfaces. Five-voice polyphony with note, velocity, and CC data.
USB-MIDI
Connect directly to your computer or tablet. Recognised as a class-compliant MIDI device — no drivers required.
OSC Messages
Via the desktop app, broadcast Open Sound Control data for use with Max/MSP, TouchDesigner, Pure Data, Unreal Engine, and more.
Audio Output
3.5mm stereo output for headphones or line-level connection to mixers and audio interfaces.
Desktop Application
The companion app (available for macOS, Windows, and Linux) unlocks the full potential of Pocket Scíon:
- Scale Editor — customise the notes each instrument plays
- Voice Settings — octave range, offset, and ratcheting
- MIDI Configuration — channel routing, CC assignments
- OSC Output — enable data broadcast for visualisation
Settings are stored on the device, so once configured, you can disconnect and use Pocket Scíon standalone.
Specifications
| Dimensions | 71mm × 105mm × 17mm |
| Weight | 56.6g (100g with accessories) |
| Power | USB-C or 3× AAA batteries |
| Audio Output | 3.5mm stereo jack |
| MIDI Output | TRS Type-A + USB |
| Polyphony | 5 voices |
| Instruments | 4 custom engines |
| Included | Sensor cable, QR manual card |