Modular and Instruõ Pocket Scion

video upload by Grain Blanc

"Short version of a new track recorded on modular synthesizers and the Pocket Scion. The Pocket Scion's melody is routed through the Plinky (MIDI), while Marbles/Plaits/Clouds are routed through the Mojave to add the additional sounds."

Designing and troubleshooting a module | Instruō - ceithir

video upload by Instruō

"Hello and welcome!

👉 • Instruō - ceithir | Project Overview
(Here is an introduction to the ceithir with more detailed project background and sound examples.)

In 2015/16 Instruō began as a video project. Specifically a time-lapse of me designing the original troika module.
Ten years later, I’ve returned to that idea with ceithir, a winter holiday project I designed with video documentation in mind.

This video shows the process of ceithir's initial prototype design.
The full module interface was the first part of the process. That stage has its own video feature:
• Designing a Eurorack Module interface | In...

In this first hardware iteration I focussed on the core functionality of a single channel version of the filter. The majority of the circuit was tried and tested in the I-ō47 module. But I made several additions to the design for ceithir:
Temperature compensation of the core
Dedicated oscillator mode with stable peak amplitude
Stereo output utilising modulated phase shift to create discreet L/R
Additional mode morphing to incorporate band-pass response

I forged ahead with a hardware design where priority was not placed on manufacturability of the prototype. It is a two board layout requiring circuitry distributed between two parallel PCBs. This used many header connectors but provided a large "canvas" to lay out all elements of the circuitry in a sectional way that allowed for ease of navigation when it inevitably came to troubleshooting and fixing mistakes/making refinements.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Instruōdio | Konx-om-Pax - Touch Designer Workshop | La Création Du Monde

video upload by Instruō

00:00 Instruōduction
01:15 The background
01:50 The Touch Designer Patch
02:33 The visuals
04:18 CAM MIDI channel control
05:42 Dynamic brightness control
06:17 Ableton control chop
09:32 Kick parameter control mapping
10:48 Particles
13:01 Lighting image
14:50 More Kick control
17:25 Real-time scene changer method
18:46 Timing questions
19:41 Winston cameo
20:03 Future plans
21:55 Outstruōduction

"Welcome to the first published 'Instruōdio' session video.
My studio at Instruō HQ has gradually shifted to become more of a video room with occasional music project focus. But it is working really nicely as a space to record discussion sessions with artists and makers.

This is Tom Scholefield (aka Konx-om-Pax)
I've had the pleasure of gigging with Tom a number of times along side others on the Instruō crew.
Tom is an incredible visual artist and composer/sound designer.
We spoke about doing a session like this for ages and finally got together and recorded a few.
In this video Tom gives me a very detailed tour of the patch behind La Création Du Monde
https://konx-om-pax.bandcamp.com/
This has been toured and performed internationally. It is both visually and sonically spectacular. Tom has been very generous sharing his process and various Touch Designer secrets he's created and discovered. This session was a lot of fun to host and produce.

Tom also has a brand new album out that releases today!
Buy the album - Uaxuctum | Konx-om-Pax
https://konx-om-pax.bandcamp.com
Official Merch - Products | Display Copy
https://konxompax.bigcartel.com/products

Uaxactum marks the fifth studio album from Glasgow-based artist Tom Scholefield, better known as Konx-om-Pax.

Following 2020’s Astronomical Objects, this release transcends the boundaries of a traditional record—serving as the sonic counterpart to an ambitious audio-visual work of the same name, commissioned by Glasgow’s Cryptic.

Conceived during an artist residency at Arthouse Jersey, a former army barracks turned creative haven, the album emerged from a period of focused isolation. This environment afforded Scholefield the rare opportunity to develop both score and visuals in tandem, resulting in a deeply integrated multisensory experience. The piece premiered at Sonica 2024 in the Glasgow Science Centre IMAX Theatre, where hallucinatory visuals collided with immersive sound design. A second performance followed in May 2025 as part of the Glasgow 850 celebrations.

The Wire described the work as -

'a tentacular dreamscape where oil slick rainbow colours mutate across an IMAX cinema screen, in synesthetic flow with his tense Penderecki-inspired soundtrack.'"

OAM Time Machine Funk

video upload by Stazma

"Here is a fun Electro styled jam session using the OAM Time Machine as the main attraction.
I'm running the Instruo Seashell into it, clock sent by the System80 880 also doing the drums and triggering the Seashell envelope.
Simple setup but lot's of cool sounds!"

The Secret Life of Plants | From Instruo Scion to PocketScion

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"This video is about making music with biofeedback from living organisms like plants, animals and humans. I made a video about Instruo Scion five years ago, and I couldn't resist getting the small PocketScion.
I don't know how to explain this, it's a brilliant design with huge potential, but it doesn't come out on its own. Sonically it's a bit tame with the inevitable additive 'organ-ish' sounds, the pluck, a subtractive voice and a very cool noise preset - which sounds amazing, but doesn't really match the mood of plant music. Most presets use a 5 or 6 note scale to avoid dissonants, so it sounds a bit like musical wallpaper.

Its main goal is to take it outside and capture the secret life of plants translated to ambient music, but it can't possibly survive a rainy day in the forest without a cover (or in the pocket).

So is it any good?
YES!

The Controller app allows you to change scales, ranges, midi channels and a control channel (default CC1 - ModWheel) you can route to other destinations (e.g. expression). Since you have five channels, you can make breathtaking generative music in the DAW, controlling five different CC's. It's brilliance is revealed when you hook it up to your DAW and drive 5 midi channels with an ambient VST for each channel (or VCV Rack?). It's truly amazing as a generative midi controller. On it's own, I'd say it's a 6 of 10. With MIDI, it's an 11 (strictly personal opinion)."

FALL - Ambient Synth Jam #22 // Pro3, Subharmonicon, Arbhar, Panharmonium

video upload by David Falcon

"I felt like I needed a change in the setup to spice things up a bit, so it was time to learn how to use the CV ins and outs on my Sequential Pro3, since I've never learned to use them.
Here I am sending gates to Arbhar to trigger a sample, as well as clocking the whole system with LFO 3. Nothing crazy so far, taking baby steps. This arrangement arised so I had to hit record and see where it was taking me.
Abrhar goes into the latest addition to my rack which is the Rossum Panharmonium. It is generating synth notes from the sampled strings in Arbhar.

At the begginning I am improvising with the Nord Felt Piano on top of the Arbhar, and then slowly bring the other elements into the mix.

Subharmonicon is doing some long chords, feeding into Meris Polymoon for delay/reverb with some phaser. This pedal is amazing with synths specially.

The Pro3 is doing a sequence that gives the rhythmic context to the rest.

Hope you like it. Looking forward to explore this setup further.

// Patch notes //
Pro 3 - Clock and gates. Pluck sequence.
Subharmonicon - Chords, into Meris Polymoon.
Arbhar - Drone sample, triggered from Pro3. Into Panharmonium for subtle resynthesis.
Nord Electro - Felt Piano and Hammond Organ.

00:00 Intro - Piano Improvisation
03:10 Pro 3 sequence
04:00 Moog Subharmonicon chords
06:10 More piano improv
09:18 Hammond organ improv
11:00 Outro
13:30 Panharmonium resynthesis"

Pocket Scion / Plinky+ / Modular

video upload by Grain Blanc

"First session with the Pocket Scion from ‪@instruo‬ and Plinky+ from ‪@MakingSoundMachines‬ & ‪@bluespoonery‬ Plinky synth and Modular friends."

Designing a Eurorack Module interface | Instruō - ceithir

video upload by Instruō

"Hello!
Welcome to a video I’ve been wanting to make for a long time.

Instruō actually began as a video project. Specifically a time-lapse of me designing the original troika module. Ten years later, I’ve returned to that idea with ceithir, a winter holiday project I designed with video documentation in mind.

This video explores the initial design stages: sketching, layout, and concept development. There are vlog sections and time-lapse sequences with new voiceover commentary.
If you’ve ever wondered how an Instruō module design begins, this video captures that process in full.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Machina Bristronica: Instruo Pocket Scion

video upload by Sound On Sound magazine

"We caught up with Instruo to learn more about Pocket SCÍON, their new portable device designed to capture biofeedback data sourced from contact with living organisms."

Additional posts

Instruõ - ceithir | Project Overview

video upload by

"Welcome to the instruōduction of the ceithir.
This is the largest module I have designed to date. Measuring in at 58HP!
It’s been a design project I’ve been tapping away at in the background since Christmas Eve 2024. (It was my holiday entertainment)

I’ve been keen for a while to do a design project reminiscent of my approach ~10 years ago when I was designing the troika.
That was the original Instruō module and came about entirely because I wanted more oscillators in my rack! I actively Timelapse recorded the troika design process and scored it using that original troika to be an extremely nerdy music video!
I did a similar video document project when I designed the tràigh filter later that year.
I did actually record the harmonàig PCB design as well… but that never made a cut because I ended up getting too busy focussing more on the module development side of things more so than the documenting.

For ceithir I have gone a little bit further… I ran timelapse recording for the majority of the process, but also “vlogged” the process and did my best to record key milestones stages.
Over the coming weeks I am going to be publishing these as focussed mini documentaries that focus in on particular design stages.
Some of these include:
• sketching the interface layout/hardware components and then designing the interface graphics
• hardware layout considerations
• troubleshooting initial prototypes
• first power up and then calibration/testing of the first full hardware iterations

As Instruō has grown over the years I have enjoyed collaborating with this team of designers. Sharing ideas and learning from each other is a big part of how we create. I hope some of this series might serve as some form of reference to anyone interested in module design. I feel like it’s becoming more and more common for bands/artists to produce some behind the scenes content surrounding writing and production of new albums. I’m hoping the format translates to some module design bts content. It is perhaps not a step by step tutorial, but I have tried to capture the process quite comprehensively.

This module is a ridiculous one! I don’t know what the current next step is beyond a handful of them existing for my own personal rack(s).
If there is interest, please let me know and I can see what’s possible. This thing is definitely not suited for large scale production! But I am very excited to see what people do with it.

Thanks for reading.
Please feel free to join us on Discord and say hi!
~ Jason"

Plants for peace - lo-fi ambient w/ pocket scion & torso s4

video upload by Somnambule

"Hi folks!
A jam on the Pocket Scion with some audio magic from the Torso S4. Scion was connected to the ginseng bonzai (ficus retusa). Hope you enjoy the peaceful vibes of the plant. PEACE&LOVE TO ALL FOLKS!🖖👽

Best sound with headphones"

Instruo Residency Sessions | 'etre une machine' by Milochka

video upload by Instruō

"Instruo Residency Sessions Presents - 'etre une machine' by Milochka (aka Mila Fossey)

Milochka is a 20 year-old sonic artist from France and Romania. She is a musician, songwriter, producer, and performer currently studying Electronic Production and Design at Berklee College of Music. Having grown up in China, Canada, France, and Belgium, she has been musically influenced by the environments surrounding her and is developing her own sound through her experimental vocal and instrumental style. Music is the translation of fusion between her ideas and inspirations into magnificent prototypes. She has been showcasing her original work for over 12 years through different creative communities and has been creating electronic modular pieces at Instruo Modular as an artist in residence.

With experience as a songwriter in folk, pop, electronic, and experimental music, and playing over 4 instruments, she also creates sound art pieces for contemporary art installations.
Music is the translation of her soul.

⚪️ Instagram Handle - mmilochkaa"

Pocket Scion and Torso S4 with the Rosemary plant

video upload by Somnambule

"Hi folks!

This time I’m diving into something a little different again — biofeedback music! I paired the new ‪@instruo‬ Pocket Scion with the Torso S4, and the Pocket Scion is running three MIDI channels on the S4. For this session, I hooked it up to a rosemary plant, letting it capture the plant’s biofeedback and translate it into sound.

The result? Dreamy, spherical tones straight from this beautiful plant.
Hope you enjoy the vibe!

Best sound with headphones"

WISP - Granular Ambient Modular #17 // Instruo Arbhar, Qu-Bit Mojave, Rhodes

video upload by David Falcon

"noun /wɪsp/
a delicate, thin, and sometimes twisting piece or line of something

Me apetecía algo relajante así que hice una pieza para mí mismo. La idea parte sampleando en el @instruo Arbhar: Rhodes, Piano, Vibráfono, Acordeón, Synth bass y Cuerdas. En mi experiencia, este módulo funciona mejor cuando se samplean frases para luego recorrerlas con su motor en lugar de notas individuales. Lleva a sorpresas y texturas interesantes. En esta jam solo utilicé el vibráfono y el rhodes.

La textura aguda, parecida a una voz, soy yo mismo cantando al micro del @QuBitElectronix Mojave y fijando el búfer. Fui editando el módulo hasta hacerlo funcionar en el tema. La línea de bajo nace en el @MoogSynthesizers Subarmonicon y lo envié al @ShakmatModular Dual Dagger para controlar la dinámica.
En el @WeAreElektron Analog Four añado un Kick, Hi-Hat y dos líneas simples en las frecuencias agudas. También improviso con el Nord con un sonido Rhodes en algunas partes a tiempo real (no he podido montar el vídeo que he hecho en el móvil de esta parte por algun motivo en Davinci Resolve)

Gracias por estar al otro lado!

(eng)
I was in the mood for a relaxing piece so I made one for myself! It started by sampling some new sounds into Arbhar. Rhodes, Piano, Vibraphone, Accordion, Synth bass and Strings. In my experience this module works best when sampling phrases to then sweep around with its engine instead of single notes. It leads to more happy accidents and interesting textures. In this jam only the vibraphone and some rhodes was used.

The high texture vocal-like sound is myself singing into Mojave and locking the buffer. I tweaked the module until I found something that worked. It was mixed with a bass line in the subharmonicon and sent to the Dual Dagger to control the dynamics of the song.
Lastly the Analog Four is adding Kick, Hi-Hat and two simple lines on top. I also improvise with a Nord Rhodes sound on top in some of the parts."

Instruo Modular x Modern Biology Live Demo, Sept 8th 2025 @ Nightlife Electronics

video upload by Nightlife Electronics

"Join us for a live demo and Q&A with Modern Biology showing off the brand new Instruo Pocket Scion.

Pocket SCÍON is a portable device that captures biofeedback data sourced from contact with living organisms. This data is used by the onboard sound engine to generate evolving soundscapes and a range of MIDI messages. The data is also accessible as OSC messages which are broadcast from the accompanying desktop application."

https://nightlife-electronics.com/

Instruo Pocket Scion & GREAT CONJUNCTION - It is bio reactive(?) test jam

video upload by Arman Bohn

"My synths and device can be found here: https://distropolisgoods.com/

This is my first synth/succulent video ... b-b-b-but I have a good reason!

My Pocket Scion from ‪@instruo‬ arrived toady and it is a hit! I tested it out on many things around my house and couldn't resist making a video.

The Pocket Scion has MIDI out, so you can drive other MIDI capable synths with biofeedback. In this case, I plugged it into my GREAT CONJUNCTION and the two immediately starting talking! The Pocket Scion sends both MIDI note and CC data on up to five channels/CCs and was already configured to randomize the preset voices of GREAT CONJUNCTION. :)

I layered the the sounds from the Pocket Scion and GREAT CONJUNCTION together to create another level of textures.

The web app for Pocket Scion opens up another degree of customization. Can't wait to try that out. Hope they open up the synth engines. They sound really good!

Now I just need to bring some plants to work ..."

Music from plants (and not plants!) with the new POCKET SCION from Instruo & Modern Biology

video upload by DivKid

See the announcement post here.

"In this video we take a story led, documentary approach to demoing the new Pocket Scion from Instruo. Sharing the journey through my first experiences with it, giving one to the OG DivBaby on holiday, a trip to Instruo HQ in Scotland, meeting the team and learning all about the history of Pocket Scion and the Eurorack module Scion that preceded it. Check out the timing index below to skip around lots of examples and discussion.

Pocket Scion is a collaboration between Instruo and biologist and artist Modern Biology. Links to everything below.

To hear the full interviews, head to patreon.com/divkid to support and gain exclusive access to them."

Instruō Introduces Pocket SCÍON

Connect with Nature: Pocket Scion by Instruō & Modern Biology

video upload by Instruō

Instruō - Pocket SCÍON | Video Manual

video upload by Instruō

Also see DivKid's video here.

"The Pocket SCÍON is a portable device that captures biofeedback data sourced from contact with living organisms.

This data is used by the onboard sound engine to generate evolving soundscapes and a range of MIDI messages.

The data is also accessible as OSC messages which are broadcast from the accompanying desktop application.

Anyone can create, shape, and enjoy music with Pocket SCÍON regardless of existing musical experience.

Despite its stand-alone, plug-and-play interface, experienced or adventurous users can use the MIDI and OSC output capabilities to integrate Pocket SCÍON and biofeedback into their studios, installations, and audio- visual projects.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Skirting the Narrows

video upload by davidryle

"Instruo Harmonaig and MI Marbles with Acid Rain Technology Ripsaw and Doepfer A-111-4 and A-105-4. These quad vcos and filter setups were used along with some 5U large format modules from Synthetic Sound Labs, synthesizers.com, Grove Audio, Oakley Sound Systems and Moon Modular to present various sound sketches of the Harmonaig's chord outputs.
The percussive opening part trigger pattern was taken from the 4MS Quad Clock Distributor, RCD, and a switch module. The Modcan dual delay was time shifted using a triple switch module in the 5U.
Additional transpose sequences were mixed from the dotcom Q960 and Marbles to the Harmonaig.
All sounds were recorded in real-time to Cubase and video edited in Final Cut Pro."

Instruo Seashell | A marvellous miniature analogue synth!

video upload by Signal Sounds

"Luke takes a look at Instruo's miniature marvel, the Seashell, and shows off some of its killer features using the integrated plug-in. He also shows why it's such a great option for a compact live setup.

Seashell is available here: https://www.signalsounds.com/instruo-...

Download Luke's Seashell preset here: http://bit.ly/4lk1rpI

And check out Ben's Harminuscule preset on the Instruo channel:" [featured here]