Instruo SCION User manual
SCÍON
Quad Random Voltage Generator
/ Biofeedback » CV
User Manual
3
Description
The SCÍON is a biofeedback sensor built into a quad random voltage
generator. This design is based on the MidiSprout by Datagarden
(https://www.midisprout.com/)
It translates biofeedback data, sourced from contact with organic
surfaces, into musically useful control signals. Tiny fluctuations in surface
conductance on organic materials stimulate control voltage and gate
signal changes that can be used to modulate and permutate your patch.
Dynamic control over biofeedback sensitivity allows you to quickly
adapt any input source to a useful range of responsiveness.
Apply the sensor pads (included with the SCÍON) to your house plants,
your own skin, or even attach the sensor clips to your pet (only if it is
willing). When no sensor cables are used simply touching the capacitive
Leaf electrode with your finger will create random voltages derived from
life itself.
SCÍON offers the ability to make music with all living things.
Features
• Four random control voltage outputs
• Four random gate outputs
• Raw signal output
• Conductive Leaf plate
• Semitone, random, harmonic overtone, and clocked modes
• Includes TENS sensor cable pads and TENS sensor cable clips
4
Installation
1. Confirm that the Eurorack synthesizer system is powered off.
2. Locate 14 HP of space in your Eurorack synthesizer case.
3. Connect the 10 pin side of the IDC power cable to the 2x5 pin
header on the back of the module, confirming that the red stripe on
the power cable is connected to -12V.
4. Connect the 16 pin side of the IDC power cable to the 2x8 pin
header on your Eurorack power supply, confirming that the red
stripe on the power cable is connected to -12V.
5. Mount the Instruō SCÍON in your Eurorack synthesizer case.
6. Power your Eurorack synthesizer system on.
Note:
This module has reverse polarity protection.
Inverted installation of the power cable will not damage the module.
Specifications
• Width: 14 HP
• Depth: 27mm
• +12V: 70mA
• -12V: 10mA
5
SCÍON | 'sö:ən |noun (biology) young shoot or stem useful for
sprouting or forming new roots, descendant of a noble family
Key
1. Leaf
2. Sensor Input
3. Sensitivity CV Input
4. Sensitivity
5. Density Fader
6. Density CV Input
7. Raw Signal Output
8. Tree
9. Channel 1 to 4 CV Outputs
10. Channel 1 to 4 Gate Outputs
11 . Channel 1 to 4 Slew
12. Channel 1 to 4 Attenuators
13. Channel 1 to 4 Gate Inputs
14. Channel 1 to 4 Hold Buttons
5
6
4
7
8
9 99 9
11
12 12
11
11 11
10 10 10 10
13
14 14 14 14
13 13 13
23
1
12 12
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Stimulation
Leaf: The Leaf is a conductive electrode plate on the front panel
that is connected to the Internal Biofeedback Sensor.
Sensor Input: Signals present at the Sensor Input will connect to
the Internal Biofeedback Sensor.
• Biofeedback sources such as plants or human skin generate the
information converted to control voltages and gate signals. These
can be thought of as Seeds.
Seeds can be planted in multiple ways:
1. Touching the Leaf
When the Leaf is touched by a fingertip, the two conductive electrode
plates complete a circuit that affects the Internal Biofeedback Sensor.
CONDUCTIVE
ELECTRODE
BIOSENSOR
7
2. Connecting the source via TENS Sensor Cables
• Connect the 3.5mm TS end of the TENS Sensor Cable to the
Sensor Input.
• Connect the two sensor pads (or sensor clips) of the TENS Sensor
Cable to two separate areas of the organic source.
• Factors such as moisture, sunlight, and contact surface area can
determine the responsiveness of a plant.
• Every plant will have a different level of responsiveness.
3. Touching the end of a standard patch cable
• Connect a 3.5mm TS patch cable to the Sensor Input.
• When both the Tip and Sleeve of the patch cable are touched by a
fingertip, a circuit is completed that affects the Internal
Biofeedback Sensor.
4. Connecting any audio or control voltage signal
• Rising edge signals work best.
• White noise will continually excite the SCÍON.
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Sensitivity
The Sensitivity parameter sets the responsiveness of the Sensor Input.
• Turning the knob anticlockwise decreases the responsiveness of the
Sensor Input and/or the Leaf.
• Turning the knob clockwise increases the responsiveness of the
Sensor Input and/or the Leaf.
• It is possible to find a threshold in which direct contact with the
biofeedback source is needed for biofeedback activity.
Sensitivity CV Input: The Sensitivity CV Input is a unipolar positive
control voltage input for the Sensitivity Input.
• Control voltage is summed with the knob position.
• Input Range: 0V - 5V.
Sensitivity Jumper: The Sensitivity Input and the Leaf are connected in
parallel when the Sensitivity Jumper is installed.
• This allows for simultaneous control of the Internal Biofeedback
Sensor via the Sensitivity Input and the Leaf.
• If the jumper is uninstalled, either the Sensitivity Input or the Leaf
can be used, but not both. Using the Sensitivity Input will disable the
Leaf in this configuration.
SENSITIVITY JUMPER
BACK
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Density
The Density fader globally defines the distribution of available voltages
for each channel.
• Moving the fader downward will decrease the available control
voltage density.
• Moving the fader upward will increase the available control
voltage density.
• It is important to note that individual control voltage ranges can be
set via the Attenuators.
• The Attenuators affect the control voltage range set by the Density
parameter on a per channel basis.
• There is more information on the Density parameter in the Modes
section of the manual.
Density CV Input: The Density CV Input is a unipolar positive control
voltage input for Density.
• Control voltage is summed with the fader position.
• Input Range: 0V - 5V.
Raw Signal Output
The Raw Signal Output accesses a pulse waveform from the analogue
circuit used to generate the data at the Internal Biofeedback Sensor.
• This signal can be used as audio or control voltage/clock.
• Pressure applied to the Leaf will result in higher frequencies.
• Output range: 0V - 5V.
10
Channels
Tree: The Tree gives visual feedback of the Internal Biofeedback Sensor
and the signals present at each CV Output. With the bloom of each
colour, a new control voltage and gate duration is generated at the
corresponding outputs. .
CV Output: The CV Outputs generate control voltages based on the
activity of the Internal Biofeedback Sensor.
• Each CV Output corresponds to a different colour of the Tree.
• If the top of the Tree illuminates red, additional coin toss logic
determines the possibility of a higher rate of control voltage activity.
This red illumination can be thought of as a High Activity Indicator.
• From left to right, the CV Outputs correspond to the Blue, Green,
Yellow, and Orange illumination of the Tree from bottom to top.
• Output range: 0V - 5V.
Gate Output: The Gate Outputs generate gate signals with
random durations.
• Each Gate Output corresponds to a different colour of the Tree.
• From left to right, the Gate Outputs correspond to the Blue, Green,
Yellow, and Orange illumination of the Tree from bottom to top.
• If the top of the Tree illuminates red, additional coin toss logic
determines the possibility of shorter gate durations. This red
illumination can be thought of as a High Activity Indicator.
• Duration ranges: 100ms - 3.5s.
• Output voltage: 5V.
Slew: The Slew knobs set the amount of time it takes for the control voltage
signal to reach its final voltage level.
• This is also known as Portamento, Slide, or Glide.
• The Slew knobs individually affect the corresponding control voltage
outputs on a per channel basis.
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