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Biotron

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Firstly, thank you for your patience! This is work-in-progress manual as we’re getting feedback from our users . Secondly, contact me on WhatsApp, iMessage on +351 937 910 673 📞 , I’ll guide you through anything that is unclear.

1. Update firmware for the first time 👩🏼‍💻

First, you need to update your firmware to the latest version to hear the most recent compositions we’ve created for you. See the steps below and the additional video explanation, relevant only during first update. You can use patches instead of alligator clips, they act the same.

1.1 Connect two small contacts (you can use a paper-clip instead of a cable) on Biotron, to turn it into a USB memory drive named RPI-RP2. You can use a small cable, hairpin, and paper clip for it.

1.2. Go to https://settings.playtronica.com/#/biotron and click on the blue button “Update firmware.” Make sure you’re using Google Chrome browser!

1.3 File download would start, drag and drop the file to “RPI-RP2” drive, it will disconnect itself… Done ✅ Now, you can re-connect the device and it will be recognized as a MIDI device Biotron in your DAW or synth! It would not be seen as a drive anymore, only as a MIDI device.

Quickstart FAQ

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How do I check if the firmware is updated?

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How do I check if my browser is connected to the Biotron?

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Why do I hear same notes repeating notes when I’m not interacting Biotron?

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I updated the device, can’t see “PRI-RP2” or Biotron

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I think the update didn’t happen

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How do I open .uf2 firmware file?

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Nothing is helping

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What USB cable should I use?

💡

No need to connect two small contacts after your first update! We have found a way to make it smooth 🤗

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Updating firmware without connecting the pins

2. Connect to synth and listen to sounds 🔊 🪴

And here is our user’s explanation:

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(Same video in case YouTube doesn’t work for you)

Biotron is a MIDI device with two MIDI channels (Ch1, Ch2) —one from the ‘plant sensor’ and another from a ‘light sensor’. You can connect it to any desktop DAW or iOS music app that supports MIDI or online synth from https://synth.playtronica.com/ using Chrome.

Important advice

Move away (at least 1 meter) from the plant and device for 30 seconds after connection, you would see green light blinking ❇️ and the device would give out 2 high pitched notes.. The device needs to be calibrated. If you don’t do that, the musical range of the device will be limited. As soon as the device slowly pulsates 🟢 with green light, the calibration is done.
Make sure cables do not cross each other
Try to place your computer, phone, and other appliances as far as possible from Bitron and its contacts

Choosing the plant and connection

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📏 Distance between clips is more than 2cm, use on different branches/leaves

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💧 Water the plant! Then it will be more conductive and reactive.

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🪴 Use plants that have plenty of moisture inside and long branches/leaves. Aloe vera is a great example or other succulents and cacti. Grass is not a great choice.

🔄 Update: Button Logic (November 2025)

We’ve released a new Biotron firmware update with improved button logic and an additional control option.

🧠 General button behavior

Fingerprint button — cycles through the default presets installed on our website.

Your custom preset will not return after cycling through all presets.

Mitochondria buttons — currently don’t change parameters.

Their earlier function was temporary and experimental.

🔇 New: Mute Button Mode

We’ve added a Mute button setting that can now be enabled or disabled in your Biotron app interface.

The mute button is located on the top (upper mitochondria, near the USB port).
When the button is ON (1) — all tracks are muted.
When the button is OFF (0) — the tracks that the user previously configured are restored.

You can control this option using the new toggle in the app:

Settings → Buttons Mode → Mute button state

💡

Tell us if you have ideas for other uses of the buttons on manirko@playtronica.com

3. Experiment with web settings

At https://settings.playtronica.com/ you can change settings of the device. Make sure you ‘send’ them to the device using blue button.

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All settings are described here

Make sure you ask as questions about these settings, we’ll update this manual!

Upload our presets

in discussion.txt0.7KB

the performer mode.txt0.7KB

fast roll.txt0.7KB

FAQ Settings

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‘Denied access to MIDI’ error in Chrome

4. Play!

move your hands around the pant
experiment with shadow and light around the device
leave the plant alone for half an hour, hear it play by itself (our favourite)

Common issues

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Playing by touching the device 👋🏻

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Not connecting to a plant 🪴 Connecting device to itself.

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Being too close to the device when it’s calibrating 📡

FAQ

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How does Biotron convert plant signals to MIDI? Is the resulting MIDI chromatic?

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What is the shape of Bitoron?

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Can I use the device from MIDI CC control?

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What are the buttons on the device?

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Can the plant play by itself, without my hands?

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Does it really work? What is being measured?

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What’s the sound of my plant?

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How did you start doing this?

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Can multiple Biotrons work at the same time

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Can I make one myself?

Troubleshooting

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The device suddenly stopped working

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My computer doesn’t recognize the device

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Resetting the device (Nuke)

Opensource

The firmware is open on GitHub, feel free to edit and make sure you contact us if you have any questions regarding the code - Embed GitHub

🎛️ MIDI Ports and Channels

Biotron communicates via one USB-MIDI port named “Biotron”.

All MIDI communication — both sensor output and control input — goes through this port.

🔌 Output (from Biotron to your software)

By default Biotron sends MIDI messages from its sensors as follows, but you can change them in web settings or by SysEx commands:

Source	MIDI Channel	Description
🌿 Plant sensor	Channel 1	Sends note or CC data based on the plant’s conductivity (touch or proximity).
💡 Light sensor	Channel 2	Sends note or CC data based on light intensity. In some setups this channel may be muted in WebMIDI.

🎚️ Input (from software to Biotron)

Biotron can also receive MIDI messages via the same port:

Note On / Off — used for testing and feedback.
Control Change (CC) — reserved for configuration messages.
SysEx — used for firmware updates and advanced setup.

A detailed map of incoming and outgoing MIDI messages is available on our Github.

Videos from our users

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