INSTRUO Pocket SCÍON Biofeedback Instrument

Description

The Pocket SCÍON is a portable device designed to capture biofeedback data sourced from contact with living organisms. This data is processed by an onboard sound engine to generate evolving soundscapes and a range of MIDI messages. The data is also accessible as OSC messages, broadcast from the accompanying desktop application.

Pocket SCÍON enables anyone to create, shape, and enjoy music, regardless of existing musical experience. Its stand-alone, plug-and-play interface makes it accessible, while its MIDI and OSC output capabilities allow experienced users to integrate it into studios, installations, and audio-visual projects.

The device features custom instruments created in collaboration with Tarun Nayar (Modern Biology), an ecologist, musician, and user of the Eurorack format SCÍON module.

Features

• Four custom instruments
• Sound generation via the capacitive touch pad or sensor clips
• Five note polyphony
• Raw signal output
• TRS-MIDI and USB-MIDI output with single- or multi-channel MIDI voice allocation
• Open Sound Control (OSC) data over USB via the desktop application

Operation

1. Pocket SCÍON can be powered by 3x AAA batteries or a suitable USB power source (computer/laptop, powerbank). For battery operation, ensure the power switch is in the downward ON position.
2. Connect Pocket SCÍON's Stereo Line Level/Headphone Output to headphones or a monitoring system.
3. Connect the included 3.5mm sensor cable to Pocket SCÍON's Sensor Input and attach the sensor clips to an organism of your choice.

Overview

The SCÍON device is named after the biological term for a young shoot or stem useful for sprouting or forming new roots.

How Pocket SCÍON Works

Pocket SCÍON utilizes an analogue pulse oscillator to monitor and track changes in resistance measured at the Sensor Input or Capacitive Touch Pad. The circuit is completed when sensors are attached to an organism or the Capacitive Touch Pad is touched. A capacitor charges until its voltage surpasses a threshold, causing the oscillator to toggle its output HIGH. The capacitor then discharges, and the oscillator toggles its output LOW, creating an oscillating pulse waveform. The resistance of the plant/soil path between the sensor clips controls the frequency of this charge/discharge cycle.

The oscillator accurately measures resistance changes by analyzing the pulse waveform frequency. Each time the oscillator output rises, a timestamp (in microseconds) is created. A window of ten measurements determines how resistance fluctuates over time, calculating minimum value, maximum value, mean, delta, standard variance, and standard deviation. A new note event is triggered when the deviation relative to the delta measurement exceeds a threshold set by the Sensitivity Buttons.

Diagram: Oscillator Waveforms

The diagram illustrates the relationship between capacitor voltage and output voltage. Capacitor voltage shows a series of charging and discharging curves peaking and then dropping. Output voltage shows a corresponding square wave, alternating between HIGH and LOW states, representing the oscillator's output.

Stimulation

Pocket SCÍON's biofeedback sensor can be stimulated in multiple ways:

By touching the Capacitive Touch Pad

• Touching the Capacitive Touch Panel allows the user to complete the circuit that affects the internal biofeedback sensor.

By connecting the sensor cable to a biofeedback source via the Sensor Input

• A sensor cable connecting the Sensor Input to a biofeedback source stimulates the internal biofeedback sensor. Biofeedback sources such as plants, fungi, and human skin generate data that can be used to play Pocket SCÍON's instruments and generate MIDI and OSC information for data sonification. Factors like moisture, sunlight, and contact surface area determine the responsiveness of the biofeedback source, with each source having a different level of responsiveness.

Diagram: Pocket SCÍON Back Panel and Mushroom

The diagram shows the back panel of the Pocket SCÍON with labels for AUDIO, POCKET SCÍON, SENSOR, VOLUME [#/b], [VOICES] SENSITIVITY, MIDI, INSTRUMENT [SHIFT], and USB. Below this is an illustration of a mushroom.

By connecting any audio or control voltage signal via the Sensor Input

• Connecting audio or control voltage signals to the Sensor Input stimulates the internal biofeedback sensor. Rising-edge signals tend to work best, while white noise will continually stimulate the sensor.

Diagram: Pocket SCÍON Back Panel with Waveform

The diagram shows the Pocket SCÍON back panel and a superimposed waveform graphic, illustrating the input of audio signals.

By connecting a standard 3.5 mm TS patch dummy cable to the Sensor Input

• When a 3.5 mm TS patch cable is connected to the Sensor Input, and both the tip and sleeve of the unpatched end are touched by a fingertip, the circuit is completed, affecting the internal biofeedback sensor.

Diagram: Pocket SCÍON Back Panel

The diagram shows the Pocket SCÍON back panel with labels for AUDIO, POCKET SCÍON, SENSOR, VOLUME [#/b], [VOICES] SENSITIVITY, MIDI, INSTRUMENT [SHIFT], and USB.

Sensitivity

The sensitivity of Pocket SCÍON can be adjusted via the [Voices] Sensitivity Buttons. This setting determines the amount of electrical activity from the biofeedback source required for changes to occur.

• Short presses of the [Voices] Sensitivity Buttons adjust sensitivity in coarse increments.
• Long presses of the [Voices] Sensitivity Buttons adjust sensitivity in fine increments.
• Changes in sensitivity are indicated by green LED segments on the Sensitivity Display Graphic.

Diagram: Pocket SCÍON Back Panel and Front Panel Graphic

The diagram shows the Pocket SCÍON back panel with labels and the front panel's circular, abstract graphic with concentric rings.

Instruments

Pocket SCÍON features four instruments playable via the Capacitive Touch Pad and the Sensor Input. Instrument selection is cycled using the Instrument [Shift] Button.

Instrument List

• Secret Garden: Indicated by red LED animations when stimulated.
• Fungal Waves: Indicated by blue LED animations when stimulated.
• Treebeard's Koto: Indicated by green LED animations when stimulated.
• Soil Circuits: Indicated by purple LED animations when stimulated.

Voice Count

Users can define the number of simultaneous notes played by an instrument using the secondary functions of the Instrument [Shift] Button and the [Voices] Sensitivity Buttons.

• Press and hold the Instrument [Shift] Button, then press the upper or lower [Voices] Sensitivity Buttons to adjust the number of active voices.
• Changes in the number of active voices are indicated by blue LED segments across the five rings of the display.
• The minimum number of voices is one; the maximum is five.

Diagram: Pocket SCÍON Back Panel and Front Panel Graphic

The diagram shows the Pocket SCÍON back panel with labels and the front panel's circular, abstract graphic with concentric rings.

Volume

The volume of the Audio Output is adjusted via the primary function of the Volume [#/b] Buttons.

• Changes to volume level are indicated by yellow LED segments across the five rings of the display.
• Pressing the upper Volume [#/b] Button increases the volume.
• Pressing the lower Volume [#/b] Button decreases the volume.

Diagram: Pocket SCÍON Back Panel and Front Panel Graphic

The diagram shows the Pocket SCÍON back panel with labels and the front panel's circular, abstract graphic with concentric rings.

Global Pitch Shift

A global semitone pitch shift can be applied to notes played by all instruments via the secondary functions of the Instrument [Shift] Button and the Volume [#/b] Buttons.

• Press and hold the Shift Button, then press the upper or lower Volume [#/b] Buttons to increase or decrease the pitch shift in semitones. Pitch can be shifted by up to +/- 12 semitones.
• Changes in global semitone pitch shift are indicated by red LED segments across the five rings of the display.
• Exclusive yellow LED behavior indicates a shift of -12 semitones. Red and white LED behavior indicates a shift of +12 semitones.

Diagram: Pocket SCÍON Back Panel and Front Panel Graphic

The diagram shows the Pocket SCÍON back panel with labels and the front panel's circular, abstract graphic with concentric rings.

Raw Output Mode

As an alternative to outputting instrument audio, Pocket SCÍON provides the chaotic raw pulse waveform from the analogue circuit used to generate data at the internal biofeedback sensor.

• Press and hold both [Voices] Sensitivity Buttons for 3 seconds to enable/disable Raw Output Mode.
• When stimulated, raw data is indicated by white LED animations.
• The more stimulation Pocket SCÍON receives, the higher the frequency produced.

Tip: Raw Output Mode is suitable for gestural harsh noise synthesis.

Diagram: Pocket SCÍON Back Panel and Front Panel Graphic

The diagram shows the Pocket SCÍON back panel with labels and the front panel's circular, abstract graphic with concentric rings.

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 to separate MIDI tracks in a DAW or to external hardware devices.

Diagram: MIDI Connection Setup

The diagram illustrates a typical MIDI setup. It shows the Pocket SCÍON connected via USB to a laptop displaying a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) interface. A separate cable runs from the Pocket SCÍON's TRS MIDI output to an external "MIDI DEVICE".

MIDI Modes

Pocket SCÍON has two MIDI modes:

• Press and hold both Volume [#/b] Buttons for 3 seconds to switch between MIDI modes.
• Single-Channel MIDI Mode: Indicated by a momentary green LED animation. When enabled, Pocket SCÍON sends up to 5 note-on messages, note number, velocity, and MIDI CC messages to a single MIDI track in a DAW or an external device.
• Multi-Channel MIDI Mode: Indicated by a momentary red LED animation. When enabled, Pocket SCÍON sends up to 5 note-on, 5 Gate, 5 velocity, and 5 CC messages, to up to 5 individual MIDI tracks in a DAW or external devices.
• MIDI messages can be configured further via the Pocket SCÍON application.
• Note: When in Raw Output Mode, Pocket SCÍON will not transmit MIDI data.

Tip: Try using Pocket SCÍON in conjunction with additional MIDI effects in your DAW.

Connecting to the Pocket SCÍON Application

When Pocket SCÍON is connected to a computer over USB, users can open the dedicated desktop application to customize the behavior of instruments, voices, MIDI, and broadcast Open Sound Control (OSC) messages.

Diagram: Pocket SCÍON Application Interface

The screenshot displays the Pocket SCÍON application interface. It features sections for "INSTRUMENT SETTINGS" (allowing selection of four instruments: SECRET GARDEN, FUNGAL WAVES, TREEBEARD'S KOTO, SOIL CIRCUITS), "VOICE SETTINGS" (with configurable parameters like Octave Range, Octave Offset, MIDI Channel, and MIDI CC for five voices, supporting SINGLE CHANNEL and MULTI CHANNEL modes), and "OPEN SOUND CONTROL" (listing OSC addresses like /min, /max, /mean, /delta, /variance, /deviation, along with IP Address and OSC Port details).

Instrument Settings

• Scale: The Scale Buttons enable and disable chromatic notes that quantize the selected instrument and associated MIDI notes.
• Ratcheting: With Ratcheting enabled, notes played by the selected instrument and associated MIDI notes repeat at stochastic subdivisions of the note duration.

Voice Settings

• Octave range: Selects the total span of octaves for the selected voice.
• Octave offset: Selects a +/- 2 octave offset that can be applied to the selected voice.
• MIDI Channel: Selects the MIDI channel of the selected voice.
• MIDI CC: Selects the MIDI CC address for outgoing CC messages of the selected voice.
• SINGLE Channel: When enabled, note-on messages, note number, velocity, and MIDI CC messages are sent to a single MIDI channel (Defaults to Channel 1).
• MULTI Channel: When enabled, note-on messages, note number, velocity, and MIDI CC messages are sent to multiple MIDI channels (Defaults to Channel 1 - 5).

Open Sound Control (OSC)

Simultaneous to audio and MIDI, when used alongside the desktop application, Pocket SCÍON can broadcast OSC messages from the selected OSC port, based on the stimulation of the internal biofeedback sensor. This feature allows Pocket SCÍON to serve as a portable means for data sonification and visualization with various audio and visual software, such as Max/MSP, Pure Data, Touch Designer, Unreal Engine, and more.

When connected to the desktop application, the following six values (in ms) are broadcast as OSC messages:

• /min: The minimum time between stimulation events.
• /max: The maximum time between stimulation events.
• /mean: The average time between stimulation events.
• /delta: The range between minimum and maximum time between stimulation events.
• /variance: The average of difference from the mean value.
• /deviation: The standard deviation of values (variance²).

Autosave and Factory Reset

Autosave

To retain its state between power cycles, Pocket SCÍON automatically saves the most recent settings. A 5-second timer begins whenever a parameter change is detected. If no additional changes occur within these 5 seconds, a save is executed. If another parameter is changed during this time, the timer resets. Saving only occurs after 5 continuous seconds without any changes.

When connected to the app, the save status is indicated by the Pocket SCÍON logo. A pending save is shown by the logo appearing as grey in the top right corner. Once the save is complete, the logo turns gold.

Factory Reset

A factory reset can be performed to initialize the settings of Pocket SCÍON. To perform a factory reset, press and hold all 5 buttons for 5 seconds.

• A factory reset will initialize the following parameters:
• Clear any pitch shifting that was previously applied.
• Restore the number of active voices to 5.
• Restore sensitivity to its mid point.
• Restore volume to its mid point.
• Revert to MIDI channel 1, Single Channel MIDI mode, CC's numbers 1-5.
• Disable Raw Output Mode.

Glossary

• SCÍON: |'sʌɪən| noun (biology) young shoot or stem useful for sprouting or forming new roots, descendant of a noble family.
• Generative (art): A creative practice where a system is built for the purpose of generating works partially or completely autonomously. E.g. Recording an EP made entirely by connecting a Pocket Scion, a lion's mane mushroom and your favourite hardware/software synth.
• MIDI: "Musical Instrument Digital Interface", a communication protocol designed to primarily pass musical data from one device to another. E.g. A Pocket SCÍON transferring pitch information to a hardware/software synthesiser via TRS/USB MIDI.
• OSC: "Open Sound Control", similar to MIDI, is another communication protocol used for sending data to and from devices. Its applications are flexible and not necessarily related to music production. E.g. A pocket SCÍON providing data to generate graphics in Touch-Designer.
• TS Cable: "Tip Sleeve," a 3.5 mm mono audio cable with one black ring on the plug. Commonly known as a "patch cable" in the world of modular synthesisers, it's used to connect audio and control voltage signals between modules in a modular synthesiser system.
• TRS Cable: "Tip Ring Sleeve", a 3.5 mm stereo audio cable with two black rings on the plug. It can be used to connect stereo audio between devices or transfer MIDI data between devices. It's used as one end of a TRS-MIDI adapter.
• Modular Synthesiser: A type of hardware synthesiser where individual "modules" are arranged into a system. Unlike typical keyboard/desktop synthesisers, connections are not hardwired and can change with the user's needs.
• Eurorack: A specific format of modular synthesiser that was developed by Doepfer. For a modular synthesiser to be Eurorack format, it must adhere to a specific height, width, power supply and other specifications.
• Data Sonification: A creative practice that translates data into sound.
• Data Visualisation: A creative practice that translates data into images, graphics, and video.
• DAW: "Digital Audio Workstation" - Software designed for playing, recording, and arranging audio. E.g. Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Xfiverr, Pro Tools, FL Studio, Bitwig Studio, Reaper, or Cubase/Nuendo.