Sonification Field Guide
A practical record for moving from astronomical data to a testable, accessible and fully disclosed listening instrument.
Working method · SLOP3255
Keep the evidence beside the sound
This guide is the course's working memory. Start it when you choose a dataset, update it when a mapping changes, and publish it with the final instrument.
Four records, one chain
A claim should survive every handoff
- 01Data passport
Names the publisher, identifier, units, sampling, licence and exact selection.
- 02Mapping ledger
Separates preparation, sound mapping and musical additions.
- 03Listening test
Turns a scientific question into an observable participant task.
- 04Release audit
Checks disclosure, keyboard control, non-audio access and resilient layouts.
Worked entry
One field through the ledger
A mapping earns trust when each operation has one job and one visible consequence. This example uses invented brightness values to isolate the method.
| Stage | Record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Relative brightness, evenly sampled | Defines what a value can support |
| Preparation | Clamp 0.83 to 1.00, no interpolation | Exposes the chosen domain and gaps |
| Mapping | Linear pitch, 220 to 660 Hz | Lets a reader reconstruct every note |
| Constant | 320 ms interval, sine timbre | Keeps time and timbre out of the comparison |
| Claim | Locate the lowest region | Bounds the interpretation to a testable task |
Thirty-minute evidence loop
A small test can reject a beautiful mapping
0–5 minWrite one answerable listening task before changing the sound.
5–12 minMake two versions from identical source values and constants.
12–22 minAsk a listener to attempt the task without an explanation from the maker.
22–30 minRecord the largest mismatch, revise one cause and repeat the same task.
Release question
Can a stranger tell what the universe supplied and what you designed?
If the answer depends on you standing beside the work, the disclosure is not finished.