When tech makes you pull your hair out!

Instruo Pocket Scion

 As a younger lad, I was into my computer gaming, the old Sega Mega drive, PlayStation and Xbox's. When I took ill, I received some back money from the DWP so bought a rather expensive desktop computer. 

The computer stood for ages as I lost interest in its complicated operating system. Then I decided to invest more time in learning how to use it and even took a computer repair and service course at my local college.

I learnt how to use all sorts of software, things like Adobe paint Shop and copying software, to build up a backup of movies and music. I even figured out how to get free TV, by using a coding machine called an "Elvis."

For years and years whilst isolated with my leg I would play a free multiplayer game called Wolfenstein Enemy Territory and I had lots of virtual online friends. I would play throughout the day and even during the night, becoming addicted, and the game being my whole life at the time.

I could help friends and family out with gadgets, phones, computers, and TV's etc with relative ease...and then as tech evolved.

Well, I became less enchanted, my eyesight started fading, and I had to start wearing glasses. Gaming was difficult as everything moved so quickly and I had no coordination with a gamepad, not a mouse and keyboard had been my weapons of choice.

Then gradually over time I began to hate technology. Yes, I have a modern phone, a Google Pixel 9 Pro, but I hate it. I don't like the fact we all become tied to such devices, it's like an addiction. 

When you are out with people they pick up their phones and start scrolling, they ignore the very people they are with, and go off in search of a fake, virtual world, where everyone appears to have a better life or some dramatic life, or personal insight to share. You are force fed fake news, adverts for shit you neither want or need and told it will be the end of the world soon.

To date I believe it's November 25th when aliens are due to attack.

And so, to why I decided to write, the begin in my whining tone.

Whilst on Facebook, yes you see the very thing I have twisted on about... I saw this small device advertised. It was right up my street as I love nature. So, I investigated further.

Instruo Pocket Scion and packet

Basic "Green" packaging, but looks cool

 

The device was called an Instruo Pocket Scion. It is what is known as. Biofeedback instrument. (I have posted about my interest earlier) Well after not much thought I decided to invest in the little device and eagerly awaited its arrival.

It only took a few days to come and following opening the "green" environmentally friendly packaging attempted to hook the little piece of tech to my Google phone, as you will be aware an Android device. I downloaded an app called n-Track studio for Android and the screen on my phone informed me I was connected. Connection was via a USB-C at my phone end to a MicroUSB at the Scion. I tried and tried to get the software and devices to work with each other over a number of days, with no success. I even tried various other apps, but nada, nowt, nine, nyet - nothing.

Looking at the back with open batteries as part of design

Made up of two Pcb board that you can see into

View from other side, inputs for various things on each side

I emailed n-track, Signal sounds and Instruo all of which got back to me within a day or two and tried again. It wasn't until a further email Instruo  informing of my frustration that a super friendly gentleman named Ben got back to me, apologising for a slightly late reply as he had been to an Expo and just returned. Ben informed me he had downloaded n-track and had a go using the Pocket Scion and the app and got it to work. He had sent me a fairly detailed break down of how he had managed to go about connecting everything up, and I read through each step then had a go last night.

Awesome I was so happy it worked my Scion was connected to the n-track studio and it read the electrical impulse from my fingers, then played through my phone, a piano, a violin and a guitar. I am now going to purchase the full app. My intentions being to create some natural sounding tracks to put on any future biking video's I may shoot.

Okay I am going to leave it there, apologies I know some people will think  "What a geek, and what a total waste of my time in reading this stupid blog." For me though it was a small victory and I am well pleased. I will be off to plug my little Scion into plants and hear them sing Lol.

Oh the first wee plant in the picture below was given to me by my boss from work. She came to visit me and very kindly brought me this cactus. When I first popped the connections onto it, I didn't think my Scion was working. I reckon the little cactus is just the strong silent type. It did eventually start "chatting away."

Playing with plants

AI grew this Lemon plant from a pip

I could hear my lemon plant

The Pocket Scion looks awesome when it light's up and starts playing sounds, like a natural orchestra.

Here is a copy of the instructions I got from Ben just in case anyone fancies one of these and struggles like I did.

 Ben - Service team - Instruo Modular

"Sorry to hear you're having a lot of frustration.
I've just installed n-track here on my Samsung s23 phone.

With the app open, I plugged the Scion into my phone via using a micro-USB cable and a USB A to USB C converter.

A message then prompted me to select either the  USB driver or the Android USB driver. I selected the n-track driver.

Then I added a new instrument, the free Steinway piano, and after pressing on the touch plates of scion the instrument began playing from the incoming pocket scion Midi.

Hitting record on the bottom left of the app also allowed me to record the audio output of the Steinway instrument being played by pocket scions midi data- albeit with an advertisement at the beginning, a limitation of the free version. It seems MIDI file only recorded is locked in the free version of the app.

Now, I don't know if there’s any differences in version of n-tracks or the n-track app between devices, but perhaps some small detail has been overlooked?

I hope with a little more experimentation you're able to get it working. If I come across any other android apps that look promising, I can also let you know."