Sonification and Plant Biofeedback Devices: A Comparison
I have produced an educational video and a comparative table to present the different sonification or biofeedback devices in order to better understand each device, its design and its use.
With the aim of providing precise expertise and a rigorous perspective on these devices and the quality of the signals emitted.
I remind you once again that " plants do not make music ," there is an anthropomorphism and an intellectual fraud here because scientifically, the observed phenomenon is " inter-species biocommunication " as Cleve Backster evokes in his work since the 1960s when talking about " primary perception " and " biocommunication " between living organisms.
TECHNICAL COMPARISON OF PLANT BIOFEEDBACK DEVICES
The Pocket Scion emerges as a technological leader, heralding a significant revolution in the sector by allowing users to hear raw audio frequencies, while all other devices offer musical interpretation via MIDI. The Pocket Scion delivers both: raw and quantized MIDI output, a true revolution for hearing the sound of living things without distortion or interpretation.
COMPARATIVE TABLE
| Criteria | Pocket Scion | Device U1 PRO | Bamboo M | PlantsPlay 2 | PlantWave |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 144 Euros ⭐ | 638 Euros | 398 Euros | 376 Euros | 260 Euros |
| Polyphony | 5 simultaneous voices ⭐ | Monophonic | Monophonic | Monophonic | Monophonic |
| Built-in sound engines | 4 exclusive engines ⭐ | 128 MIDI instruments | 128 MIDI instruments | 35+ instruments | Soundsets via app |
| MIDI Output | TRS Type-A + USB ⭐ | MIDI mini-jack + USB | Micro-USB MIDI | USB + Bluetooth MIDI | TRS Type-A + USB |
| OSC (Open Sound Control) | ✓ (via desktop app) ⭐ | ✗ | Via separate software | Via GitHub SDK | ✗ |
| Wireless connection | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| Mobile application | Desktop (Win/Mac/Linux) | ✗ | ✗ | iOS + Android | iOS + Android |
| Battery life | 3x AAA or USB-C | Lithium battery | Built-in battery | 8 p.m. | 8-10 hours |
| Portability | Ultra-compact pocket size ⭐ | 22 x 15 x 5 cm (heavy) | Smartphone format | Lightweight, neck warmer | Compact |
| Physical checks | Buttons + capacitive touchscreen | Manual potentiometers | Interface buttons | Buttons | Via app only |
| Built-in speaker | ✗ (headphone output) | External speaker included | Built-in speaker | ✗ | ✗ |
| Registration | Via DAW/USB | Via MIDI card | micro-SD card | Via app | Via app |
| artistic collaboration | Modern Biology (ecologist) ⭐ | ✗ | Damanhur (45 years old, looking for work) | Italian design | Data Garden (artists) |
| Advanced Edition | Complete multi-platform app ⭐ | Physical potentiometers | Bamboo Control Software | SDK developers | Limited firmware edition |
| Available Ranges/Scales | Customizable via app | 18 ranges | 18 ranges | Customizable | Customizable |
| Multi-channel MIDI | 5 independent MIDI channels ⭐ | Single channel | Single channel | Single channel | Single channel |
| LED visualization | Multicolor LED ring ⭐ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Use with a DAW | Class-compliant USB plug & play ⭐ | Via MIDI | Via MIDI | Via Bluetooth/USB | Via MIDI |
| Electrodes supplied | Professional clips | High conductivity copper + aluminum | Standard 1.5m | Adhesive pads + clips + mushroom | Electrodes + pads |
| Software compatibility | Max/MSP, Touch Designer, Pure Data, Unreal Engine | Standard MIDI software | Logic Pro, standard MIDI | Templates Ableton, Processing, TouchDesigner | Limited |
| Artistic depth | 4 custom-made instruments ⭐ | Free configuration | 128 MIDI instruments | 35+ instruments | Proprietary Soundsets |
EXCLUSIVE SCION POCKET BENEFITS
1. BEST VALUE FOR MONEY ⭐
-
144 Euros : The cheapest on the professional market
Offered at 279 Euros at Naturasounds with training , personalized follow-up of one of your projects to support you in your approach but also to be part of a community that shares common values and experiences to enrich together these multi-sensory experiences with living things.
Link to purchase the kit:
https://natura-sounds.com/products/pack-pocket-scion-formation
- 4.5x cheaper than the U1 PRO
- 3x cheaper than the Bamboo M
- 2x cheaper than PlantsPlay 2
- Half the price of PlantWave
2. UNIQUE POLYPHONY ⭐
- The only 5-voice polyphonic device on the market
- Creation of veritable plant orchestras
- Each voice can be controlled independently
- Unparalleled harmonic richness
3. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ⭐
- OSC output for professional audiovisual installations
- Compatible with Touch Designer, Unreal Engine, Max/MSP
- 5 simultaneous MIDI channels (unique on the market)
- Class-compliant USB (plug & play)
4. EXCLUSIVE SOUND ENGINES ⭐
Created in collaboration with Modern Biology :
- Secret Garden : metallic sounds, Csus4 chords
- Fungal Waves : Organic Textures
- Treebeard's Koto : Mixolydian sounds
- Soil Circuits : drones and noisy textures
5. ULTIMATE PORTABILITY ⭐
- Ultra-compact cigarette box format
- Powered by 3 AAA batteries OR USB-C
- Perfect for field recordings
- Award-winning Design Instruo (Glasgow)
6. INNOVATIVE INTERFACE ⭐
- 2-zone capacitive touch
- Hypnotic LED ring visualizer
- “Raw Output” mode for raw signal
- Human-hybrid plant interaction
7. PROFESSIONAL ECOSYSTEM ⭐
- Full desktop application (Win/Mac/Linux)
- Ready-made templates: Ableton, Processing, TouchDesigner, Jupyter Lab
- active "citizen-science" community
- Firmware updates continue
DISADVANTAGES OF THE SCION POCKET
- ❌ No Bluetooth (unlike PlantsPlay and PlantWave)
- ❌ No iOS/Android mobile app
- ❌ No built-in speaker
- ❌ Requires desktop app for advanced editing
For the Botanical Music Therapy Training:
"The Pocket Scion is the benchmark device for sound herbalism professionals."
✅ Unbeatable value for money : Professional technology at an affordable price
✅ Unique polyphony : Create true plant symphonies with 5 simultaneous voices
✅ Creative flexibility : From standalone use to complex audiovisual installations
✅ Scientific collaboration : Developed with Modern Biology, an ecologist and pioneer in the field
✅ Professional recording : OSC + 5-channel MIDI for advanced productions
✅ Total portability : Take it everywhere for your outdoor sessions
✅ Scalability : Compatible with the entire Eurorack ecosystem (SCÍON module)
"The Pocket Scion represents the next generation of plant biofeedback devices. Where other devices limit you to a single monophonic voice and pre-recorded sounds, the Pocket Scion offers 5 polyphonic voices with exclusive generative sound engines created by renowned artists. For less than 300 Euros , you gain access to technology used by music therapists, plant consciousness researchers, and sound artists worldwide."
You also receive high-quality training from a pioneer in the field, who co-organized the world's only "plant music" festival and has been training therapists in botanical sound and music therapy practices since 2021. You'll also gain access to a conscious community for sharing experiences and methods, as well as personalized support for one of your projects.
It's the perfect tool for developing a serious sound herbalism practice without compromising on quality and offering powerful immersive botanical music therapy sessions."
Link to purchase the kit:
https://natura-sounds.com/products/pack-pocket-scion-formation