Datascaping: Data Sonification as a Narrative Device in Soundscape Composition

Soundscape composition is an art form that has grown from acoustic ecology and soundscape studies. Current practices foster a wide range of approaches, from the educational and documentary function of the world soundscape project (WSP) to the creation of imaginary sonic worlds supported by theories of acousmatic and electroacoustic music. Sonification is the process of rendering audio in response to data, and is often used in scenarios where visual representations of data are impractical. The field of auditory display has grown in isolation to soundscape composition, however fosters conceptual similarities in its representation of information in sonic form. This paper investigates the use of data sonification as a narrative tool in soundscape composition. A soundscape has been created using traditional concrete sounds (fixed media recorded sound objects), augmented with sonified real-time elements. An online survey and listening experiment was conducted, which asked participants to rate the soundscape on its ability to communicate specific detail with regard to environmental and social elements contained within. Research data collected shows a strong ability in participants to decode and comprehend additional layers of narrative information communicated through the soundscape.