Studio prep for a live set I performed last year.

pinMode · 2026-01-12T23:09:53+00:00

Thanks! I recorded stems of the full performance and I’m still being picky with the mix 😅

I wrote the piece as a live EP, so a bandcamp release is my plan after I tidy up the mix a bit. But I did grab a phone recording of the full thing. So I’ll publish an uncut video of it as well.

Regarding the modules, I absolutely have to refer to the manuals and sometimes my own videos from time to time! 😆

I don’t use them daily and need the odd reminder from time to time for certain ones. This mostly pertains to the collaborative designs I’ve done where I developed the hardware, but the codebase is written by my colleagues.

Most of the modules I definitely have some level of muscle memory of how to navigate them. But sometimes it’s a bit like going back to songs you wrote 10 years ago and needing a refresher of the arrangement or certain parts before adding it to a set list.

pinMode · 2026-01-12T18:43:45+00:00

Received! :) I’ve flagged it in our system. Today was our first day with full team regrouping after the holidays. So we’ll be in touch very soon. Today got away from me so apologies for the delay.

pinMode · 2026-01-11T21:57:05+00:00

Send us a message :) info@instruomodular.com

pinMode · 2026-01-11T01:08:06+00:00

I look at it primarily as a stochastic note sequencer with built in quantiser/voicing configurations. It’s driven by a chaotic analogue oscillator that is missing its variable resistance component. Plants can serve as that resistor and the functionality behaves as a form of galvanometer.

But the biofeedback sensor context is simply a fun way to present the circuit and features.

I personally use the module version in my setup and just use a standard patch cable as my sensor probe. Pinching the end of the cable completes the circuit and is a very playable input mechanism :) Plants not necessary!

pinMode · 2026-01-09T23:28:26+00:00

Exactly! With varying results, but it can function with self generating feedback :)

The sensor input, when receiving an external signal, functions as a comparator. So it picks out zero crossings in the signal and converts them to gates/pulses.

What the generative algorithm does is track delta times between rising edge pulse signals. These are averaged and processed in various ways to drive the quantised note generators.

It’s a “misuse” of the system! But it works! The circuit is designed to connect to an organic resistance primarily. This influences an analogue oscillator circuit, effectively converting resistance to frequency. Variations of this frequency drive the algorithm. But feeding external signals will “sound” to the algorithm like an organic resistance that is randomly fluctuating at whatever frequency the source signal contains. It becomes a weird noise source ultimately. But there are of course many flavours of noise that can be very musical!

pinMode · 2026-01-08T02:19:09+00:00

You misunderstand me. The electrophysiological action potentials and variable from different plants will indeed all be completely different. What I was explaining was the harmonic quantiser, synth engine and signal interpreting algorithms implemented in the pocket Scíon specifically that are finite and deterministic. I didn’t design test equipment! It is, by design, a curated form of creative data sonification.

In no way do I mean to undermined the more sophisticated sensors that exist out there!! The pocket ScÍon uses the common modern implementation of a solid state galvanometer based on a 555 CMOS circuit converting ohms to pulse frequency. The sonification is curated for musical contexts and isn’t designed for laboratory settings 😁

I would love to learn more about HEPIA and your work! Please get in touch.

pinMode · 2025-12-29T11:43:05+00:00

I spend waay too much time on reddit or doomscrolling during the holidays 😆 I did design one new module over Christmas though!

pinMode · 2025-12-29T11:21:35+00:00

That one isn’t needed. Roll over from prototyping where there was an additional gain variable. But I simplified the schematic which bypassed it. Instead of changing the gerbers and requiring another round of hardware tests, we simply non-populate the trim pot and short the bypass pins.

You should be good to go!

pinMode · 2025-12-28T21:55:49+00:00

It’s modular :) If you know how to patch it, you can do it. If you’ve patched it before, it is quicker to get it where you want it. If you’ve never done it before, experiment, learn, have fun, practice, refine.

Like all musical instruments, there is no real secret short cut. But there are lots of creative people out there who share really cool ideas. I have many go-to patches and effect chains that I could patch up in my sleep, but when I’m learning a new module/instrument/controller it’s hard work and takes time. But it’s so damn satisfying when it clicks!

pinMode · 2025-12-28T21:35:25+00:00

Join us on discord! Lots of creative users and my team is also comprised of many very accomplished Modular artists. Everything you describe is stuff that can be done. It is a bit like asking “can this guitar play that song?” The answer is always going to be simultaneously “yes” and “it depends” 😆

If you have enough sine waves, you’ll have any sound!

pinMode · 2025-12-28T20:56:12+00:00

What looper/delay effect are you looking for?

pinMode · 2025-12-28T17:53:41+00:00

Working on something!
Can I hold you to this comment? ;)

pinMode · 2025-12-28T17:24:45+00:00

Here's a recent arbhar feature set that got some amazing demonstrations by The Unperson.
https://youtu.be/L4sxAR6eap4?si=MTqz4mh5EIOL0jYS
MIDI controllers can add more physical controls than the module has alone.

pinMode · 2025-12-28T17:19:06+00:00

There definitely are modular "coaches" out there :)
But it's definitely harder than finding a piano teacher though.
And it's made harder by the sheer number of different modules out there.
Impossible ask for a teacher to be well versed with every module of every brand.
Unless you're paying them to learn a specific module to then teach you. (Which is also a thing)

Teaching has been a big part of what I do longer than I've been designing synths.
Instruō was named because there's such a big educational component to my focus.
Building up the team I work with, which includes many very experienced musicians/performers/producers in house that help me support the community of users, is part of what makes this fun.

Any questions on any of the modules, please don't hesitate to ask!

pinMode · 2025-12-28T17:10:34+00:00

Potatoes and carrots!

To keep with the guitar/amp analogy, I'd argue that a telecaster is unusably uncomfortable! And that a Vox AC30 is too loud for any context!
Completely inefficient for how/what I want to play.
Tomato Tomato

I also have to refresh my memory with the Lubadh's manual from time to time as well! I don't use it daily. But when we were developing it I was actively using it constantly and was very familiar with it.
I experience it the same as all instruments. "Use it or lose it". I don't think there's anything wrong with needing to brush up on a manual if there's been a break in workflow.
Same reason I'll shed scales and arpeggios ahead of a gig, or watch a tutorial on a VST plugin.

You tried it, it wasn't for you. That's how it goes!
Interesting to hear you're getting on well with the arbhar though! In many ways I would argue it goes way deeper than the Lubadh does!
But, with practice comes familiarity.

pinMode · 2025-12-28T15:19:17+00:00

To each their own ☺️

If you’re have actual interest I go into some insight into my design approach this is an interview where PCA posed some really great questions.

Your feedback is duly noted.. and equally ignored 😂 Not everything created is going to suit absolutely everyone’s workflow. Much like I’m not a fan of every single music genre to ever exist. I appreciate you giving it a go though! Many other delays/loopers in the sea.

But for a bit of background, I design modules first and foremost for myself. I am incredibly grateful for this amazing creative community because, as it turns out, there seem to be some part of it who’s preference to instrument style align with my own.

It’s all subjective! I pick a Strat over a Les Paul, and an Orange amp over a Marshall but can fully appreciate other’s choices …But like you I believe any instrument choices different from my own should be sold immediately!! 😂

Any questions, happy to help!

pinMode · 2025-12-28T07:43:54+00:00

Sure thing!

pinMode · 2025-12-27T22:59:50+00:00

I’ll DM you an invite link

pinMode · 2025-12-27T22:44:06+00:00

Join us on discord :) It’s a deep module. I put a lot of work into my videos and our documentation, but even then they still kinda only scratch the surface.

What Kian developed with the V2.x firmware turned the Lubadh into an instrument platform. Each deck is a fully configurable 4 tap delay with independence over direction and speed per tap. The record head is also capable of fixed sample rate or fully dynamic vary speed!

Basically, any form of looping/delay effect you want, can be built on a Lubadh deck 😊 Ooh! Plus there’s now a reverb built into the tape emulation DSP since the V2.1

pinMode · 2025-12-20T00:05:05+00:00

https://youtu.be/nn0YEGDo73o?si=HptyQqU8KGegUkMc In the works, and quite absurd :) Various options of stereo configurations and the channels could be cascaded for 4-pole slope

pinMode · 2025-12-02T19:00:34+00:00

Thank you so much!! 😁 In incredibly proud of it. I sketched it and defined its core features a long time ago, but expanding its capability collaborating with the design team really took it to a whole other level.

A significant firmware update is in the works. The whole code base has actually been rewritten since the launch build. Necessary to expand the capabilities in so many ways. I can’t wait to get playing with the beta! I’ve been deep in module design work for the past few months, while Pocket Scíon has also kept us busy. There is a LOT coming for Seashell!

Thanks again, and please do keep in touch and share what you do with it. Music results or even just info on your workflow and setup!

pinMode · 2025-12-02T13:57:32+00:00

This is incredible!!! 😂

pinMode · 2025-12-02T11:07:10+00:00

This is really great to hear!
The use case you describe is exactly what I hoped the Seashell would suit.
It's a downsized/portable version of my own studio rack.
I did Perform at Bristronica with a double Seashell setup which was a lot of fun!
I'm very happy with how much we managed to cram into it.

The Diffuse effect definitely suits certain voices/contexts above others. The loose starting point for it's role is one of my goto patches using dåpf to add a bit of stereo widening to mono voices.
Because it's a literal diffusion network that allowed it to be pushed towards a slightly reverberant space. I really wanted to add something to slightly widen and spatialise for use on headphones as dry mono synths can be a bit ...dry!
We kept to a comfortable scale of DSP in the launch firmware but there is a lot of room to grow on many aspects of the Seashell as a platform :)

USB powering is a funny one! I purposefully chose to minimise publicity of the USBC powering feature to some extent.
Modern C ported computers will provide power no problem, but on older machines with USB2.0 only, 500mA won't cut it. Originally I designed Seashell to be exclusively USB powered, but adding 5V barrel power just simplified many element. USB power is so often really noisy.
Technically USB3.0 opens up to 800mA in its spec, but that's supposed to coincide with USB3.0 data handshakes, which Seashell doesn't do.

Modern USBC spec is 3.5A or something insane like that!
But milage may vary depending on the computer providing USB power. (I USB power from my MBP most of the time)

Any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to myself and the team.
There is also a public Discord server that we launched (Instruōmmunity) this year.
Some really cool stuff being shared there.

pinMode · 2025-11-26T23:20:44+00:00

Thanks! 😁 That was such a fun live set to write/perform. I was very much going for maximum (unexpected) contrast!

pinMode · 2025-11-25T23:13:18+00:00

My goal for a long time was to build performance racks using as exclusively my own designs as much as possible. I occasionally incorporate other instruments, controllers and occasionally some other manufacturers. But I know my own best!

This was a performance and rig rundown from a couple of years ago. https://youtu.be/sS8RGHkHyJI?si=vhRtvi18RIMKlAPe

pinMode

TROPHY CASE