Sonification Tools

Unlock new dimensions of musical meaning with Sonification Tools: transform any data into mesmerizing melodies or modulation, seamlessly bridging music, science, and art.

What if you could transform raw data into music, modulation, effects, or even audio?

A collection of unique creative devices, Sonification Tools were designed by Ableton Certified Trainer Noah Pred to allow access to new musical ideas via real-world data sets. Just manually type or simply copy and paste raw numeric data into the text entry field of all four devices to generate corresponding MIDI patterns with in real-time with Data MIDI or offline with Dataforge, modulation sequences with Data Mod, or spectral filtration, wavefolding distortion, impulse convolution and even exported audio waveforms with Data FX.

Data can be typed in manually, randomly generated, or copied and pasted from any text, website, Google Sheet, CSV, Excel file, or basically anywhere to embody a string of numbers as change over time. Then select and loop the data as you like, with the lowest data value automatically corresponding to your lowest allowed output, and the highest data point automatically corresponding to your specified upper output limit — be it note pitch, velocity, length, or modulation. Data MIDI and Data Mod allow you to trigger data at any factored or fractional metrical base rate with optional cycle reset for a wide variety of rhythmic patterns. Offset delay and swing further enhance MIDI output timing. You can also trigger data at a millisecond rate for more abstracted results, or via arbitrary note input.

A variety of trigger modes allow you to engage with Data MIDI’s output in a variety of ways, all of which can be constrained via 69 scales in any key, set locally or via the included Global Hub utility. Better yet, you can expand or contract the range of data pitch, velocity, or length output in real time to dynamically express the data in highly musical ways. Data MIDI and Data Mod can also be Gated to only output MIDI above or below a certain threshold for more rhythmically complex output.

Not sure what data to use? Sites like Our World In Data are a great place to start. You can also type in personally meaningful numbers — or an arbitrary string of data can also be randomized from scratch within each device to easily generate infinite sequences, patterns, and tones. A groundbreaking set of tools for artists and producers, Sonification Tools allow you to embed real-world phenomena into your creative process — and express those phenomena as uniquely as you wish, giving them a voice through your music, and inspiring newly meaningful approaches in the process.

Sonification Tools innovate by offering a comprehensive, flexible, and straightforward approach to transforming real-world data sets into MIDI, sound, and inspiration - directly in Ableton Live.

Prior to our Sonification Tools, data sonification techniques often required multiple platforms and even specialized coding skills in a convoluted process that would still yield rather static, unwieldy results. In contrast, Sonification Tools are designed to be instantaneous, flexible, and user-friendly, easily integrating data from text, spreadsheets, or websites through simple and familiar copy and paste. Offering extensive real-time manipulation capabilities, Sonification Tools allow users to adjust musical parameters such as pitch mapping and modulation ranges on the fly, turning any data source into a playable instrument.

Through this robust and playful feature set, Sonification Tools allow artists to embed layers of meaning in otherwise instrumental music, opening valuable discourse with their fanbase, and even cultivating dialogue with the scientific community. Integration with Live 12’s scale awareness and MIDI Tools make it easier than ever to generate musically coherent ideas from any data set.

For producers seeking to incorporate data-driven elements into their musical practice, educators looking for new ways to explore data with their students, or for artists seeking inspiration from real-world phenomena, our Sonification Tools are a welcome innovation.

There are numerous inspiring uses of Sonification Tools, but some highlights to date would include: neuroscience researchers using EEG data to produce music with Sonification Tools; glaciologists using Sonification Tools to express environmental data for a performance piece in Hobart, Australia; the Sound Obsessed Collective using Sonification Tools to explore data sets around sustainable development goals for a new installation work at this year’s Sónar festival; or Portrait XO and Ali Demirel using Sonification Tools to translate climate data for a performance at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm earlier this spring.

Data MIDI runs as a Max for Live MIDI Effect, and can trigger any virtual or external MIDI instruments running in (or connected to) Live 11 or higher. Data Mod can modulate any MIDI device parameter exposed to Live. And in Live 12, Dataforge can generate MIDI expressions from data directly in the MIDI note editor — which can then be used to trigger any virtual or external MIDI instruments running in (or connected to) Live.

Our Sonification Tools commercialization plan includes the following:

· Identify New Target Markets: Expand into educational institutions offering music and technology programs, as well as professional sound design studios and possibly even gaming companies.
· Introduce Flexible Pricing Models: Introduce a tiered pricing strategy that, along with our existing educational discounts, includes volume licensing for studios and institutions, and potentially a subscription model for long-term user engagement.
· Expand Feature Set: Explore the development of additional modules and pre-configured racks that could appeal to producers in specific genres, as well broader creative fields such as media arts and interactive installations. Meanwhile, our development roadmap includes real-time data input via OSC, as well as sonification of image and other file types. With adequate resources we would eventually explore porting Sonification Tools to VST format to work in other DAWs.
· Education & Support: Along with continued educational content, establish a dedicated support team to assist users with installation, troubleshooting, and creative uses of the tools.

Implementing strategies such as targeting new educational markets, introducing flexible pricing models, expanding the feature set, and enhancing education and support will significantly increase Sonification Tools' commercial potential by diversifying our user base, enhancing product accessibility and appeal, and improving customer satisfaction and retention.

Our Sonification Tools expansion plan includes the following goals:

· Content Marketing: Develop a series of short and inspiring instructional videos, tutorials, and case studies showcasing different uses of the tools in various genres and settings. Post these resources on YouTube, Vimeo, and relevant social media platforms.
· Influencer Partnerships: Collaborate with well-known music producers, composers, and sound designers to use and review Sonification Tools. Their testimonials and content can significantly boost visibility and credibility.
· Strategic Partnerships: Invite Ableton Live to feature Sonification Tools as a featured tool on their shop. Explore partnerships with other DAWs after porting to VST.
· Collaborations with Universities: Establish partnerships with music and technology departments to include Sonification Tools in their curriculum, enhancing its academic adoption and creating early adopters among students.
· Community Engagement: Develop our Discord community platform where users can share their projects, exchange tips, and provide feedback on the software. This can also serve as a think-tank for future product features and updates.
· Trade Shows and Music Conferences: Participate in industry events like NAMM, AES, MUTEK, Sónar, and Superbooth to demonstrate the software’s capabilities to a wide audience of music and audio professionals.

By implementing these strategies, Sonification Tools can enhance its market presence, increase its user base, and establish itself as a leader in the innovative field of data-driven music, media, and art.