ADAPTING AUDIO MIXING PRINCIPLES AND TOOLS TO PARAMETER MAPPING SONIFICATION DESIGN
Author(s)
Kantan, Prithvi Ravi
Dahl, Sofia
Spaich, Erika G.
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Abstract
Designing a parameter mapping sonification (PMSon) involves
defining a mapping function that determines how data variables
affect audio signal parameters. The mapping function is represented
using mathematical notation and/or characterized in terms
of scaling, transfer function and polarity; both approaches manifest
in software platforms for PMSon design. Math notation is
not always directly relatable to complex design requirements, and
simple characterizations lack generality and may be ambiguous -
both issues hamper mapping function design, conceptualization,
and dissemination. We seek to address them through knowledge
transfer from audio mixing, a mature craft with strong parallels
to PMSon design. For mixing, it was a versatile and universally
applicable technological platform (the multitrack mixer) that supported
the development of mixing technique, concepts, and recent
formalizations thereof, laying the foundation for modern audio
production. We posit that a PMSon design platform that adapts
the essential elements of the mixer can similarly reinforce PMSon
by supporting a mapping function representation directly tied to
the design process. We define the correspondence between mixing
and PMSon design, outline specifics of mixer functionality adaptation,
and demonstrate the resulting capabilities with our proof-ofprinciple
platform Mix-N-Map that is currently pending user testing.
We believe a general PMSon framework explicitly rooted in
audio mixing can potentially advance theory and practice to the
benefit of PMSon designers and users alike.
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Date
2024-06
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Text
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Proceedings
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Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)