libsoni: A Python Toolbox for Sonifying Music Annotations and Feature Representations

libsoni is an open-source Python toolbox tailored for the sonification of music annotations and feature representations. By employing explicit and easy-to-understand sound synthesis techniques, the toolbox offers functionalities for generating and triggering sound events, enabling the sonification of spectral, harmonic, tonal, melodic, and rhythmic aspects. Unlike existing software libraries focused on creative applications of sound generation, the toolbox is designed to meet the specific needs of MIR researchers and educators. It aims to simplify the process of music exploration, promoting a more intuitive and efficient approach to data analysis by enabling users to interact with their data in acoustically meaningful ways.

See the API documentation for a detailed view of the provided functions in libsoni.

Installation Guide

We outline two primary methods for setting up libsoni using pip and setting up a dedicated environment.

Method I: Installing with pip

Utilize Python's package manager, pip, for a straightforward installation of libsoni:

pip install libsoni

Note: We advise performing this installation within a Python environment (such as conda or a virtual environment) to prevent any conflicts with other packages. Ensure your environment runs Python 3.7 or higher.

Method II: Setting Up a Conda Environment

Alternatively, you can establish a conda environment specifically for libsoni by employing the environment_libsoni.yml file. This approach not only installs libsoni but also includes necessary packages like libsoni and jupyter to facilitate running demo files. Run the following command:

conda env create -f environment_libsoni.yml

Running Example Notebooks

To explore libsoni through example notebooks:

1. Install libsoni: Prior to cloning the repository and running the notebooks, ensure libsoni and its dependencies are installed (as described above).
2. Clone the repository: Download the libsoni repository to your local machine using the following git command:

git clone https://github.com/groupmm/libsoni.git

3. Install Jupyter: If not already installed via the conda environment setup, install Jupyter to run the notebooks:

pip install jupyter

4. Launch Jupyter Notebook: Start the Jupyter notebook server by executing:

jupyter notebook

This will open a browser window from where you can navigate to and open the example notebooks.

Contributing

We are happy for suggestions and contributions. We would be grateful for either directly contacting us via email (meinard.mueller@audiolabs-erlangen.de) or for creating an issue in our GitHub repository. Please do not submit a pull request without prior consultation with us.

License

The code for this toolbox is published under an MIT license. This does not apply to the data files:

• Schubert songs are taken from the Schubert Winterreise Dataset.
• Recording of the cantata Ach Gott und Herr by Bach is taken fom Bach10 Dataset.
• Recording of Locus Iste by Anton Bruckner is taken from the Dagstuhl Choir Set.
• Custom piano audio samples are taken from the Single Note Database (SNDB).
• Other audio files are taken from the FMP notebooks.

Acknowledgements

The libsoni package originated from collaboration with various individuals over the past years. We extend our gratitude to former and current students, collaborators, and colleagues, including Jonathan Driedger, Angel Villar-Corrales, and Tim Zunner, for their support and influence in creating this Python package. This work was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Grant No. 500643750 (DFG-MU 2686/15-1) and Grant No. 328416299 (MU 2686/10-2). The International Audio Laboratories Erlangen are a joint institution of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS.