Artist Modern Biology gained widespread attention a few years back for his innovative videos showcasing the use of mushrooms to control a modular synthesizer on TikTok. Now, Pocket Scion offers music enthusiasts similar functionality at a fraction of the cost of a traditional Eurorack setup, all in a compact design.
At the heart of Modern Biology’s configuration is a module named Scion, developed by the Glasgow-based company Instruo. Scion converts biofeedback—gathered from sources like houseplants or human skin—into control voltage (CV) to manipulate various synth components. By completing a circuit between sensors and a hand or mushroom, fluctuations in electrical signals can trigger notes or adjust filter cutoffs, among other effects.
After collaborating with Instruo over a year ago, Modern Biology’s latest creation, the Pocket Scion, emerged. This affordable, self-contained instrument can transform minor electrical changes from living organisms into MIDI data, enabling users to craft soundscapes using one of its four integrated sound engines.
Beyond its basic functions, the Pocket Scion boasts advanced features, including MIDI output to control external instruments. A companion app is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing sound design capabilities for personalized synth patches. The app can also transmit data using Open Sound Control (OSC), allowing operation over numerous audio and video programs such as Max/MSP, Pure Data, and Unreal Engine, which supports the creation of visuals and interactive art installations. At a price point of $149, its capabilities are impressively robust.
The initial batch of Pocket Scion instruments sold out rapidly. However, interested buyers can now place preorders for the upcoming shipment, expected to arrive “early next week,” according to retailer Control Voltage.
