Pocket Scion Makes Plants Playable Synths for $149

Pocket Scion makes plants and skin play synths

A viral TikTok setup from artist Modern Biology — where mushrooms and houseplants helped control a modular synth — has been distilled into an affordable, pocketable device. The Pocket Scion, developed by Glasgow maker Instruo with Modern Biology, translates tiny electrical changes from living tissue into musical control.

Where Scion for Eurorack turns biofeedback into CV for modular setups, Pocket Scion converts those signals into MIDI and sound inside a $149 handheld instrument. That price point and portability bring bio-interactive music out of expensive studio rigs and into classrooms, galleries, and live performances.

The device includes four built-in sound engines for immediate play, plus MIDI out to control external synths. Users touch two sensors to a plant, a mushroom, or their skin to close a circuit; electrical fluctuations then modulate notes, filters, or other parameters in real time.

A companion app for Windows, macOS, and Linux exposes deeper sound design tools and can send data over Open Sound Control (OSC). That means Pocket Scion can control not just synths but also audiovisual platforms like Max/MSP, Pure Data, and even Unreal Engine for immersive installations.

Advanced capabilities punch above the price tag: MIDI and OSC support make it a flexible node in larger setups, while onboard engines allow for immediate experimentation. Unsurprisingly, the first run sold out quickly; retailers report preorders for the next batch shipping soon.

Why this matters

Pocket Scion lowers the barrier to bio-interactive art and education. Instead of buying and patching expensive Eurorack modules, creators can prototype with a handheld unit that outputs standard control protocols. That accessibility could accelerate creative experiments and public-facing installations.

It also raises practical questions: how to map noisy biological signals into musical parameters, how to ensure reliable sensor contact in a gallery setting, and how to scale from one pocket device to multi-sensor installations. Those are design and systems problems, not just musical ones.

• Affordable, portable biofeedback-to-MIDI instrument
• Four built-in sound engines plus MIDI out
• Companion app with OSC for audiovisual integration
• Sold out initial run; preorders open for next batch

How organizations can use it

Museums, educators, and live performers can adopt Pocket Scion for interactive programs and workshops. For technical teams, it’s a useful prototyping tool to validate sensor-to-control mappings before investing in larger custom hardware. For artists, it’s a fast path to surprising, organic textures.

At QuarkyByte we approach these opportunities by mapping technical requirements to creative goals: defining signal conditioning needs, recommending calibration and placement strategies, and building repeatable workflows so installations behave reliably under public use.

Pocket Scion may look like a novelty, but its combination of sensor input, standard control protocols, and software openness makes it a practical tool for makers and professionals. Whether for playful experiments or production-level interactive art, it’s a sign that bio-interactive tech is moving into everyday hands.