I have a complicated and probably cynical opinion about data sonification. In the abstract it’s a really cool concept; instead of looking at raw data, you listen to it. Practitioners of data sonification are insistent. Some insist that it is more than a mere parlor trick. Others insist that it’s a useful tool for understanding and communication. I think they’re mostly wrong.

Getting started is the toughest part. Advice is plentiful, as are the promises of shortcuts and hacks to circumvent any actual effort. Modern technology has made it easier than ever to get started. At the same time, it has made us question whether getting started even matters.