Instruo Pocket Scion is a new pocket-sized multi-voice Synthesizer that your plants and mushrooms can control.
Electronic instruments, such as synthesizers and drum machines, are machines that require human interaction to produce sound. Sequencers also need to be programmed before they can play the same 4-step sequence 24/7.
But what if you remove the human element and let living organisms take on this role, like plants, fungi, etc? You can now discover this in the new Instruo Pocket Scion Synthesizer, which they developed in collaboration with the musician Modern Biology.
Instruo Pocket Scion
Modern Bilogy is a musician who makes music with plants and mushrooms. A central element of his studio/live setup is Instruo’s Scion Eurorack module, which he uses to translate the bioelectricity of organisms into notes and rhythms.
Instruo Pocket Scion was created in collaboration and brings together his love and workflow with plants and music in a special Synthesizer.
Visually, it is a very compact, beautiful instrument, shaped like a cigarette box, but with more attractive and healthier contents.
The concept is adopted from Modern Biology’s workflow with the module. Pocket Scion captures biofeedback data sourced from contact with living organisms.
A newly developed onboard analog/digital sound engine translates this data and uses it to generate evolving, non-stopping soundscapes.
“Secret Garden”, “Fungal Waves”, “Treebeard’s Koto”, and “Soil Circuits” all have their own unique sonic character and rhythm. They range from melodic sounds to drones to noisy experimental soundscapes.
On the backside of the unit, you can adjust various parameters, including the number of voices and the note density.
Human Or Plant-Based Interaction
Pocket Scion has a user front panel that consists of a touch plate with two dedicated zones and a hypnotic-looking ring-shaped LED visualizer. There are various options for working with the built-in engines.
The most straightforward option is to use and interact with the touch plates that trigger the four available engines. The sound changes depend on where and how hard you touch the surface. Indeed, that’s human interaction.
But you can also let the plants play the synth. By using the included sensor clips, you can connect the Instruo Pocket Scion to a plan or other living being. The synth then responds to the currents and frequencies from the living organism
Connect it, and the plants communicate with the Synthesizer. You can also work in a hybrid way, interacting with it by touching the sensors or adjusting their position on the plan to achieve different results.
Plant-Controlled MIDI Controller
There is also a companion editor software (available for macOS, Windows, and Linux) that allows you to adjust more settings, including scales, octaves of the voices, and MIDI and OSC settings. Yes, that’s right, the Pocket Scion is also a MIDI controller.
It outputs MIDI data via a mini-jack and USB. This transforms the plant-controlled Synthesizer into a plant-controlled MIDI controller for whichever sound sources.
On top of that, you can also use it as an OSC controller. It is powered by three batteries or via USB-C.
First Impression
An exciting, unconventional instrument that brings variety to the constant flow of clones or inspired synth releases.
Anyone looking for options to create music in new and fascinating ways, this could be a good fit. It’s also very affordable. I think I’ll have to grab one for myself as it looks really fun. It would be beneficial to have more customization options for synthesis settings in the future.
Instruo Pocket Scion is available now for $149/149€.
More information here: Instruo
Available at my partners
what we realy want to know is: can it be played ON mushrooms?
sure
Just got one! Love it so far.
I think it’s worth mentioning it’s not USB-C but Micro USB.